h

DEPREDATIONS committed by a new enemy, who inva- Danes ded the coasts, convinced the English of the necessity of equipping a maritime force. The Saxons, who had remained in Germany when their brethren established themselves in Britain, continued to maintain the character, and follow the pursuits of their ancestors, being distinguished for naval power, and becoming, from its exertion in piracy, formidable to all the southern coasts. As they still adhered to the pagan superstition, Charlemagne undertook their conversion by means more agreeable to the violent bigotry of the benighted ages, than to the generosity, magnanimity, and wisdom of his own character. In the progress of his conquests having subdued northern Germany, by the most rigorous edicts against paganism he endeavoured to establish christianity, and severely punish the transgressors of his decrees, in many instances decimating the refractory. Some of these pagans complied with the imperious mandates of the conqueror; while others, more intrepid and independent, refused to yield to injunctions so cruelly enforced, and, to avoid the fury of the persecution, retired into the adjoining peninsula of Jutland. Meeting there with inhabitants of similar manners, institutions, and religious faith, they easily coalesced with the ancient possessors, and having assumed a common appellation, the Saxons and Jutlanders, under the name of Danes, about the end of the eighth century, commenced a very extensive system of maritime invasion; in the course of which invade they were induced to visit England, at that time unpro- England. tected by an adequate naval force. In their inroads they showed that, though barbarians, they were not destitute of judgment or prudence. Learning that the natives were. as valiant soldiers as themselves, they trusted chiefly to their skill and activity as sailors; and having previously explored the state of the coasts, they landed in the most defenceless and fertile parts; which having pillaged before an English force could assemble, they retired to their ships; and soon after descended, in a similar manner, and with similar success, on other parts of the coasts. These

h Hume, vol. i. p. 37.

Alfred dis

the securi

grandizement of England

must arise from her

navy.

enterprises harassed the vigorous reign of Egbert, who had not acquired the only force by which they could have been effectually repressed. Elated with their success, and farther encouraged by the feebleness and inaction of the superstitious Ethelwolf, they enlarged their schemes, and formed the project of subduing the whole of that country, with the devastation of whose coasts they had hitherto been contented. During the reign of this weak prince. and his elder sons, the Danes made rapid strides to the attainment of their object; when the genius and wisdom of his youngest son, Alfred, not only extricated his country from present danger, but established the most effectual means of future security and aggrandizement to the kingdom.

HAVING restored his country from a state of humiliacerns that tion and subjection, to honour, independence, and glory, ty and ag- the illustrious Alfred turned his philosophic mind to a comprehensive survey of its situation and circumstances, and its relation to foreign powers. He saw that the safety and greatness of England must chiefly depend upon maritime effort. To promote trade, and to establish a navy, after the expulsion of the Danes, was a principal object of his renowned administration. For the attainment of these purposes, as well as to gratify the inquisitive spirit incident to genius, he cultivated an intercourse with foreign and even remote countries. His agents not only explored the shores of the Baltic and the White Sea, but investigated the state of Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Persian and Arabian Gulf. He introduced new manufactures, which furnished many articles for exportation, as well as for consumption within the kingdom. By his inventive talents, he made great improvements in the art of shipbuilding. The vessels constructed under his direction, were much superior to any that were known in the northern or western seas, in the three important qualities of celerity, force, and facility of management. As the founder of English jurisprudence, and the establisher of internal security and tranquillity, Alfred is not more deservedly celebrated, than as the founder of Eng

i Henry, vol. iv. p. 221.

dence, na

merce.

lish navigation and commerce, and the establisher of ex- Alfred ternal security and greatness. This extraordinary prince founder of English juso clearly demonstrated and vigorously pursued the real rispru interests of his country, that other Anglo Saxon kings, vigation, according to their adoption or neglect of the policy of and comAlfred succeeded in resisting the efforts of foreign aggressors. The abilities and vigour of the English sovereigns for several generations maintained a powerful navy, which prevented the northern plunderers from seriously infesting a country so strongly secured, and impelled them to seek pillage and settlement among our continental neighbours.

THE weakness of Ethelred in the neglect and mismanagement of naval affairs, manifested in its effects the wisdom of Alfred, as clearly as it was shown in the able measures of his immediate successors; for when the system of defence, which Alfred by his precept and example inculcated, was either abandoned or feebly executed, the evils recurred, which he had so vigorously repelled and afterwards prevented. But, though the invasions of the Danes impressed the English with a high idea of the importance of commerce, it was rather with the view of affording the means of defence, than of being productive of prosperity and civilization. Export traffic, so much interrupted by northern cruisers, did not, in the time of the Saxons, rise to that magnitude which Alfred had proposed and expected. The total subjection of England to the Danes was salutary to the commerce of the kingdom, by putting an end to those bloody wars between the two nations, which had raged about forty years with little intermission. Canute the Great, a wise as well as a warlike prince, endeavoured to gain the affections of his English subjects, by affording them the most effectual protection, and every encouragement in his power. He employed the influence which his high reputation, extensive dominions, and mighty force had obtained, among foreign prin ces, to procure favours and privileges from them to his trading subjects. From his time, during the reign of his sons, and after the restoration of the Saxon line, the navigation and commerce of England continued comparatively flourishing till the conquest. The Danes, having betaken. themselves to cultivate the arts of peace, no longer disVOL. I. C

Contest

with the maritime

turbed their neighbours by piracy. By the contest with the northern navigators, the Anglo Saxons were losers in depreda the interruption of agriculture and of internal improvement, but gainers in acquiring naval power, commercial England. ideas, and promoting an intercourse with the continent..

tors benefi

cial to

From the accession of Canute, when the internal disadvantages ceased to be felt and the external advantages increa sed, the benefit which they now derived, exceeded the loss that they had formerly incurred. Though England, from religion, had hitherto some intercourse with southern Europe, her chief political connexion was with the north. She had very little acquaintance with her adjacent neighbours the French. The conquest of the kingdom by conquest. William of Normandy, made a most important change, both in her internal state, and in her relation to the continent.

Norman

COMPLICATED as the feudal system was in its nature, and extensive in its subjects, it was extremely simple in its principle, and confined in its original objects it was a policy, which, overlooking every other consideration, narrowed its provision to national defence; and was merely a reciprocal guarantee of acquisitions proceeding from conquest. The leaders and officers among the northern subduers of middle and southern Europe, in their respective tribes and divisions, entered into agreements to prevent themselves from being dispossessed of their lands by other invaders. The insulated state of the Anglo Saxons rendering them less exposed to ambitious depreAffecting dators than their continental neighbours, the feudal system the consti- had not been established in England. The people had laws, and retained more of the ancient German liberty than on the England. continent, where an enslaving aristocracy was generally prevalent. Hence was preserved that spirit of freedom which the most aspiring monarchs could never thoroughly subdue, and which has rendered this comparatively small territory, this "little body with a mighty heart!" the admiration and terror of most extensive and powerful empires. The manners of the Saxons, though rude and unpolished, were frank, manly, and independent; totally

tution,

manners of

k Robertson's Charles V. vol. i. p. 13.

void of that servility and submissiveness which characterize the subjects of either monarchial or aristocratical slavery: they were barbarians, it is true, but bold and generous. The conquest of the kingdom by the Normans effected a considerable change; though by no means, like that by the Saxons, a complete revolution in laws and manners. William attempted to model his new dominions according to the feudal system, with partial, but imperfect success. The Saxon spirit of liberty continuing, extended to the Normans, with whom, in a few ages, the former inhabitants became entirely intermixed; and obtained, from the prudence of wise, or extorted from the fears of weak, princes, the revival, and even the improvement, of the Anglo Saxon constitution. Still, however, the Norman laws and establishments subsisted in a considerable degree, and long continued to affect the condition and manners of the people."

m

wars be

THE changes produced by the Norman conquest were Interstill greater at the beginning, and eventually more perma- continental course with nent in other respects, than in our laws and establish- Europe. ments. Hence is to be dated the commencement of our intercourse with middle and southern Europe, and especially with France, which has formed so important a branch of our political history. From that growing intercourse with continental Europe, proceeded also, in the progress of time, the beginning of our commercial efforts, and the revival and extension of our naval force. From the pos- Origin of session of Normandy by the English princes, proceeded tween those wars which so long raged between France and Eng. England land to their mutual detriment. The crusades at certain France: times, by giving them identity of object, produced alliance; but this was soon after followed by hostilities. The weakness and wickedness of John abroad as well as at home, produced most beneficial effects to his country. The murder of prince Arthur excited a war, which, terminating in the conquest of the English dominions in France, extirpated the principal cause of dissension; while the weakness of Henry III., and the wisdom and good

1 Henry I. and Henry II. and Blackstone, vol. iv. c 33. Progress, and Completion of the

m John and Henry III. See Hume, vol. ii. n Blackstone, vol. iv. c. 53. on the Rise, British Constitution.

and