HISTORY.
Of the inhabitants of England before the first century n.c. little is known. In some of the ancient geographers there are a few scattered notices of a rude population, with whom a limited commerce in tin was carried on by the Phmnieian merchants; but further than this our information scarcely extends. (See BRITANNIC.E INSUL:E.) With the two invasions of Julius Cwsar, in a.c. 55 and 54, the recorded history of England may be said to begin. It was not until a century later, however, that the Romans made a serious attempt to conquer the island. Between A.D. 43 and 84 they subdued all that portion of the island south of the Firth of Forth, and after that they held possession for over 300 years. The Chris tian religion VMS introduced, and the people be came Roman to a very great extent. During the period of migrations the Romans were compelled, early in the fifth century. to recall the legions from Britain. (See BRITANNIA.) An account of the country during the period intervening be tween the withdrawal of the Romans and the Norman Conquest will be found under ANGLO SAXONS.
During., the latter half of the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042-66) the Government was actually directed by Harold, son of Earl Godwin; and on the death of Edward, Harold, although not of the royal line, was chosen king by the nobles and bishops. William, Duke of Normandy, claimed that this election was illegal, and that the crown belonged rightfully to him. He based his claim (1) on the fact that he was Edward's nearest relative ; (2) on an alleged promise of the crown made by Edward; (3) on an oath of sup port which Harold was said to have given. With the blessing of the Pope and at the head of an army of adventurers, William invaded England in 1066. On October 14th the two rivals engaged in battle at Senlac, near Hastings, and the army of Harold was overthrown and he himself slain. The greater part of the nation was soon weary of the strife, and on Christmas Day. 1066. received the crown through election by the Witan. During the next five years the conquest was com pleted and William was universally recognized.
He remodeled the Church. replacing the English clergy with Normans. and asserting his own sit prenacy. Ile checked the power of the nobility lov the Salisbury Oath. in 1086. when every free
man swore fealty directly to the King; by the abolition of the treat earldoms which had existed under Edward: by bestowing many small and stattered fiefs, instead of large contiguous tracts of lands on Ids chief tenants; and by maintaining the old local moots. which were independent of the baronial courts. lie conciliated the people by his strict justice and by confirmation of the laws of Edward the Confessor. William caused a survey to be made of all the lands in England, the results of which were embodied in the Domes day Book, completed in I0S6. His son, William Ruins ( tOS7-11001. ruled tyrannically, and pro voked revolts both among the chief barons and the clergy after his death. Henry I, (1100-35), his brother, usurped the throne and Avon general support. lie granted the Charter of Liberties (1100). by which the evil customs of the preced ing reign were abolished. He married an Eng lish wife. and showed especial favor to his Eng lish subjects, who, in return, supported him against his brother Robert. Duke of Normandy. He made pence with the Church by recalling the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had been exiled by his brother, and by arranging a compromise concerning the subject of investitures (q.v.) on practically the same lines as the Concordat of Worms. (See Henry's son and heir was (frowned in the White ship. in 1120. and this led to a civil war. for Henry persuaded the Great Council to swear allegiance to 1114 daughter Matilda; but after his death the Council. not wishing to be ruled by a woman, chose his nephew Stephen. The war between the adherents of Stephen and Ma tilda dragged on front 1136 to 1153. During this time the nobles became all-powerful, building many 'adulterine' (i.e. unauthorized) castles, and the clergy became independent of royal con trol. In 113S King David of Scotland. who was supporting Matilda, was defeated in the 'Battle of the Standard.' From 1139 Matilda herself waged war in England. Stephen was generally unsuccessful, and in 1153 lie was obliged to con clude the Peace of Wallingford, by which Henry, son of Matilda and of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou. was accepted as Stephen's suc cessor.