England

Southern and larger part of GREAT BRITAIN (q.v.); originally inhabited by Celts; known to Phœnicians; conquered by Cæsar 55 B.C. Roman civilization was extensively introduced. The Romans withdrew ab. 420, and the Romanized inhabitants invited the Saxons to defend them against the Picts and Scots; these remained and others followed, Jutes, Angles, and Saxons, who subdued the country and established the Heptarchy. E. was consolidated under Egbert of We ex ab. 130: conquered by the Danes under Cnute 1017-41; by William the Norman 1066, who laid the foundation of the modern kingdom and made it a European power. The Plant a genets ascended the throne with Henry II., great-grandson of William, 1155. His vast estates in France were lost by John, 1199-1216, who conceded to the barons the charter of English liberty. Out of the contest with the barons grew the English Parliament, founded by the Earl of Leicester. The 100 years' war with France strengthened the power of Parliament, and fused Norman and Saxon into one people. E. then took its modern shape. The War of the Roses, 1455-85, diminished the nobility and threw a greatly enhanced power into the hands of Henry VII., who united the opposing families. The tendency to absolutism was reflected in Henry VIII., 1519–47. He separated the Ch. from Rome, and was conspicuous in the continental complications. Under Elizabeth, 1588-1603, the ecclesiastical character of the realm was fixed and the acme of intellectual brilliancy was obtained. With James I. the conflict between Royalty and Parliament began, culminating in the execution of Charles I.. Jan. 30, 1649. The Commonwealth IMG:content-1322.png:[graphic] IMG:content-1323.png:[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed] Carlyle, Macaulay, Hazlitt, M. Arnold, and Lang are conspicuous; as philosophers, Sir W. Hamilton and J. S. Mill; as theologians or preachers, Newman, Robertson, Maurice, and Liddon; as scientists. Darwin, Huxley, and Tyndall.