as if he reverenced, and to others as if he ridiculed it. He feems fenfible of the political neceffity of religion in every ftate; but at the fame time he would every where infinuate, that it owes its authority to no higher an origin. Thus he weakens its influence, while he contends for its utility, and vainly hopes that while free-thinkers fhall applaud his fcepticism, real believers will reverence him for his zeal.

In his opinions respecting government, perhaps, alfo, he may be fometimes reprehenfible; but in a country like ours, where mutual contention contributes to the fecurity of the conftitution, it will be impoffible for an hiftorian, who attempts to have any opinion, to fatisfy all parties. It is not yet decided in politics, whether the diminution of kingly power in England tends to encrease the happiness, or the freedom of the people. For my own part, from feeing the bad

effects

effects of the tyranny of the great in those republican ftates that pretend to be free, I cannot help wishing that our monarchs may ftill be allowed to enjoy.

the power of controlling the encroachments of the great at home. A king may easily be restrained from doing wrong, as he is but one man; but if a number of the great are permitted to divide all authority, who can punish them if they abuse it Upon this principle, there fore, and not from any empty notion of divine or hereditary right, fome may think I have leaned towards monarchy. But as in the things I have hitherto written, I have neither allured the vanity of the great by flattery, nor fatisfied the malignity of the vulgar by fcandal, as I have endeavoured to get an honeft reputation by liberal purfuits, it is hoped the reader will admit my impartiality.

i.

THE

HISTORY

O F

ENGLAND.

CHA P. I.`

Of the BRITONS before the Arrival of the ROMANS.

IT is fortunate for mankind, that those pe

riods of history which are the least serviceable, are the least known. It has been the study of many learned men to rescue from obscurity, and throw light upon thofe early ages when the Britons were wholly barbarous, and their country uncultivated. But these researches have generally terminated in conjecture; fo that from whence Britain was at first peopled, or took its name, is ftill uncertain. The va VOL. 1. riety

B

riety of opinions upon this head ferve to prove the futility of all.

It will therefore be fufficient to observe, that this beautiful ifland, by fome thought the largest in the world, was called Britannia by the Romans long before the time of Cæfar. It is fuppofed, that this name was originally given it by the merchants who reforted hither from the Continent. Thefe called the inhabitants by one common name of Briths, from the cuftom among the natives of painting their naked bodies, and small shields, with an azure blue, which in the language of the country was called Brith, and which ferved to diftinguish them from thofe ftrangers who came among them for the purposes of trade or alliance.

The Britons were but very little known to the rest of the world before the time of the Romans. The coafts oppofite Gaul indeed were frequented by merchants who traded thither for fuch commodities as the natives were able to produce. Thefe, it is thought, after a time, poffeffed themselves of all the maritime places where they had at first been permitted to refide. There, finding the country fertile, and commodiously fituated for trade, they settled upon the fea-fide, and in

troduced

troduced the practice of agriculture. But it was very different with the inland inhabitants of the country, who confidered themfelves as the lawful poffeffors of the foil. These avoided all correfpondence with the new comers, whom they confidered as intruders upon their property.

The inland inhabitants are reprefented as extremely numerous, living in cottages thatched with ftraw, and feeding large herds of cattle. Their houfes were fcattered all over the country, without obfervance of order or distance, being placed at fmaller or greater intervals as they were invited by the fertility of the foil, or the convenience of wood and water. They lived mostly upon milk, or flefh procured by the chace. What cloaths they wore to cover any part of their bodies, were ufually the fkins of beafts; but much of their bodies, as the arms, legs, and thighs, was left naked, and those parts were usually painted blue. Their hair, which was long, flowed down upon their backs and fhoulders, while their beards were kept close shaven, except upon the upper lip, where it was fuffered to grow. The dress of favage nations is every where pretty much the fame, being calculated rather to inspire terror than to excite love or refpe&t.