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THE

CONTINUATOR'S PREFACE.

THE name of GOLDSMITH is familiar to every class of readers. His poems and other works have passed through many editions, and are yet in a state of requisition. He was a better poet than historian: but his efforts in the latter capacity have been honored with praise; and the work, of which a continuation is now given, is sufficiently popular to claim a renewal of publication. It is, perhaps, too concise; but it is to be considered that a great number of readers are content with an abridgement of more voluminous histories, and that many of those who have read larger works upon the same subject are occasionally inclined to have recourse to a compendium.

The Continuation embraces a very remarkable period; and the events and transactions, worthy of record, are so numerous, that it is difficult to bring into a small compass the vast fund which offers itself to an historic writer.

Omissions and errors will, therefore, be more readily excused by the candid reader. The author has endeavoured to unite propriety of remark, purity and force of language, with authenticity and correctness of statement; but he cannot boast of complete success. Every one is not a Livy or a TACITUS, a DAVILA or a GUICCIARDINI, a HUME or a GIBBON.

HISTORY

OF

ENGLAN D.

CHAPTER I.

Of the BRITONS before the arrival of the ROMANS.

IT is fortunate for mankind, that those periods 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, those early ages when the Britons were wholly barbarous, and their country uncultivated. But these researches have generally terminated in conjecture; so that whence Britain was at first peopled, or took its name, is still uncertain. The variety of opinions upon this head serve to prove the futility of all.

It will, therefore, be sufficient to observe, that this beautiful island, by some thought the largest in the world, was called Britannia by the Romans long before the time of Cæsar. It is supposed that this name was originally given to it by the merchants who resorted hither from the continent. These called the inhabitants by one common name of Briths, from the custom among the natives of painting their naked bodies and small shields with an azure blue, which in the language of