Textpedia
david hume

The History of England

First published 1754–62 · the edition of 1778, with the author's last corrections
begin readingcite

contents

Volume I

From the invasion of Julius Cæsar to the death of King John (1216), with two appendices on the government and manners of the Anglo-Saxons and of the feudal age.

i
The Britons, Romans, Saxons
The Britons,——Romans,——Saxons,——the Heptarchy.——The Kingdom of Kent——of Northumberland——of East-Anglia——of Mercia——of Essex——of Sussex——of…
ii
The Anglo-Saxons
Egbert——Ethelwolf——Ethelbald and Ethelbert——Ethered——Alfred the Great——Edward the elder——Athelstan——Edmund——Edred——Edwy——Edgar——Edward the…
iii
The Anglo-Saxons
Ethelred——Settlement of the Normans——Edmund Ironside——Canute——Harold Harefoot——Hardicanute——Edward the Confessor——Harold.
appendix i
The Anglo-Saxon Government and Manners
First Saxon government——Succession of the Kings——The Wittenagemot——The aristocracy——The several orders of men——Courts of Justice——Criminal…
iv
William the Conqueror
Consequences of the battle of Hastings——Submission of the English——Settlement of the government——King’s return to Normandy——Discontents of…
v
William Rufus
Accession of William Rufus——Conspiracy against the King——Invasion of Normandy——The Crusades——Acquisition of Normandy——Quarrel with Anselm,…
vi
Henry I
The Crusades——Accession of Henry——Marriage of the king——Invasion by duke Robert——Accommodation with Robert——Attack of Normandy——Conquest of…
vii
Stephen
Accession of Stephen——War with Scotland——Insurrection in favour of Matilda——Stephen taken prisoner——Matilda crowned——Stephen…
viii
Henry II
State of Europe——of France——First acts of Henry’s government——Disputes between the civil and ecclesiastical powers——Thomas a Becket,…
ix
Henry II
State of Ireland——Conquest of that island——The king’s accommodation with the court of Rome——Revolt of young Henry and his brothers——Wars…
x
Richard I
The king’s preparations for the crusade——Sets out on the crusade——Transactions in Sicily——King’s arrival in Palestine——State of…
xi
John
Accession of the king——His marriage——War with France——Murder of Arthur, duke of Britanny.——The king expelled from all the French…
appendix ii
The Feudal and Anglo-Norman Government and Manners
Origin of the feudal law——Its progress——Feudal government of England——The feudal parliament——The commons——Judicial power——Revenue of the…

Volume II

From Henry III to the death of Richard III (1216–1485).

xii
Henry III
Settlement of the government——General pacification——Death of the Protector——Some commotions——Hubert de Burgh displaced——The bishop of…
xiii
Edward I
Civil administration of the king——Conquest of Wales——Affairs of Scotland——Competitors for the crown of Scotland——Reference to…
xiv
Edward II
Weakness of the king——His passion for favourites——Piers Gavaston——Discontent of the barons——Murder of Gavaston——War with Scotland——Battle…
xv
Edward III
War with Scotland——Execution of the Earl of Kent——Execution of Mortimer, earl of March——State of Scotland——War with that kingdom——King’s…
xvi
Edward III
Institution of the garter——State of France——Battle of Poictiers——Captivity of the king of France——State of that kingdom——Invasion of…
xvii
Richard II
Government during the minority——Insurrection of the common people——Discontents of the barons——Civil commotions——Expulsion or execution of…
xviii
Henry IV
Title of the king——An insurrection——An insurrection in Wales——The earl of Northumberland rebels——Battle of Shrewsbury——State of…
xix
Henry V
The king’s former disorders——His reformation——The Lollards——Punishment of lord Cobham——State of France——Invasion of that kingdom——Battle of…
xx
Henry VI
Government during the minority——State of France——Military operations——Battle of Verneüil——Siege of Orleans——The maid of Orleans——The siege…
xxi
Henry VI
Claim of the duke of York to the crown——The earl of Warwic——Impeachment of the duke of Suffolk——His banishment——and death——Popular…
xxii
Edward IV
Battle of Touton——Henry escapes into Scotland——A parliament——Battle of Hexham——Henry taken prisoner, and confined to the Tower——King’s…
xxiii
Edward V. and Richard III
Edward V.——State of the court——The earl of Rivers arrested——Duke of Glocester protector——Execution of Lord Hastings——The protector aims at…

Volume III

From Henry VII to the death of Mary (1485–1558).

xxiv
Henry VII
Accession of Henry VII.——His title to the crown——King’s prejudice against the house of York——His joyful reception in London——His…
xxv
Henry VII
State of foreign affairs——State of Scotland——of Spain——of the Low Countries——of France——of Britanny——French invasion of Britanny——French…
xxvi
Henry VII
Perkin retires to Scotland——Insurrection in the west——Battle of Blackheath——Truce with Scotland——Perkin taken prisoner——Perkin…
xxvii
Henry VIII
Popularity of the new king——His ministers——Punishment of Empson and Dudley——King’s marriage——Foreign affairs——Julius II.——League of…
xxviii
Henry VIII
Wolsey’s administration——Scotch affairs——Progress of Francis I.——Jealousy of Henry——Tournay delivered to France——Wolsey appointed…
xxix
Henry VIII
Digression concerning the ecclesiastical state——Origin of the reformation——Martin Luther——Henry receives the title of defender of the…
xxx
Henry VIII
Scruples concerning the king’s marriage——The king enters into these scruples——Anne Boleyn——Henry applies to the pope for a divorce——The…
xxxi
Henry VIII
Religious principles of the people——of the king——of the ministers——Farther progress of the reformation——Sir Thomas More——The maid of…
xxxii
Henry VIII
Disputation with Lambert——A Parliament——Law of the six articles——Proclamations made equal to laws——Settlement of the succession——King’s…
xxxiii
Henry VIII
War with Scotland——Victory of Solway——Death of James V.——Treaty with Scotland——New rupture——Rupture with France——A Parliament——Affairs of…
xxxiv
Edward VI
State of the regency——Innovations in the regency——Hertford protector——Reformation completed——Gardiner’s opposition——Foreign…
xxxv
Edward VI
Discontents of the people——Insurrections——Conduct of the war with Scotland——with France——Factions in the council——Conspiracy against…
xxxvi
Mary
Lady Jane Gray proclaimed queen——Deserted by the people——The queen proclaimed and acknowledged——Northumberland executed——Catholic religion…
xxxvii
Mary
Reasons for and against Toleration——Persecutions——A parliament——The queen’s extortions——The emperor resigns his crown——Execution of…

Volume IV

The reign of Elizabeth (1558–1603), with an appendix on the government and manners of her age.

xxxviii
Elizabeth
Queen’s popularity——Re-establishment of the protestant religion——A parliament——Peace with France——Disgust between the queen and Mary queen…
xxxix
Elizabeth
State of Europe——Civil wars of France——Havre de Grace put in possession of the English——A parliament——Havre lost——Affairs of Scotland——The…
xl
Elizabeth
Character of the puritans——Duke of Norfolk’s conspiracy——Insurrection in the north——Assassination of the earl of Murray——A…
xli
Elizabeth
Affairs of Scotland——Spanish affairs——Sir Francis Drake——A parliament——Negociations of marriage with the duke of Anjou——Affairs of…
xlii
Elizabeth
Zeal of the catholics——Babington’s conspiracy——Mary assents to the conspiracy——The conspirators seized and executed——Resolution to try the…
xliii
Elizabeth
French affairs——Murder of the duke of Guise——Murder of Henry III.——Progress of Henry IV.——Naval enterprizes against Spain——A…
xliv
Elizabeth
State of Ireland——Tyrone’s rebellion——Essex sent over to Ireland——His ill success——Returns to England——Is disgraced——His intrigues——His…
appendix iii
Appendix to the Reign of Elizabeth
Government of England——Revenues——Commerce——Military force——Manufactures——Learning.

Volume V

James I and Charles I, to the king's execution (1603–1649), with an appendix on the government and manners of the reign of James I.

xlv
James I
Introduction——James’s first transactions——State of Europe——Rosni’s negociations——Raleigh’s conspiracy——Hampton-court conference——A…
xlvi
James I
Gunpowder conspiracy——A parliament——Truce betwixt Spain and the United Provinces——A parliament——Death of the French…
xlvii
James I
Death of Prince Henry——Marriage of the Princess Elizabeth with the Palatine——Rise of Somerset——His marriage——Overbury poisoned——Fall of…
xlviii
James I
Sir Walter Raleigh’s expedition——His execution——Insurrections in Bohemia——Loss of the Palatinate——Negociations with Spain——A…
xlix
James I
Negociations with regard to the marriage and the Palatinate——Character of Buckingham——Prince’s journey to Spain——Marriage treaty broken——A…
l
Charles I
A parliament at Westminster——At Oxford——Naval expedition against Spain——Second parliament——Impeachment of Buckingham——Violent measures of…
li
Charles I
Third parliament——Petition of right——Prorogation——Death of Buckingham——New session of parliament——Tonnage and…
lii
Charles I
Peace with France——Peace with Spain——State of the court and ministry——Character of the queen——Strafford——Laud——Innovations in the…
liii
Charles I
Discontents in Scotland——Introduction of the canons and liturgy——A tumult at Edinburgh——The covenant——A general assembly——Episcopacy…
liv
Charles I
Meeting of the long parliament——Strafford and Laud impeached——Finch and Windebank fly——Great authority of the commons——The bishops…
lv
Charles I
Settlement of Scotland——Conspiracy in Ireland——Insurrection and massacre——Meeting of the English parliament——The remonstrance——Reasons on…
lvi
Charles I
Commencement of the civil war——State of parties——Battle of Edgehill——Negociation at Oxford——Victories of the royalists in the west——Battle…
lvii
Charles I
Invasion of the Scots——Battle of Marston-moor——Battle of Cropredy-bridge——Essex’s forces disarmed——Second battle of Newbury——Rise and…
lviii
Charles I
Montrose’s victories——The new model of the army——Battle of Naseby——Surrender of Bristol——The west conquered by Fairfax——Defeat of…
lix
Charles I
Mutiny of the army——The king seized by Joyce——The army march against the parliament——The army subdue the parliament——The king flies to the…
appendix iv
Appendix to the Reign of James I
Civil government of England during this period——Ecclesiastical…

Volume VI

From the Commonwealth to the Revolution (1649–1688).

lx
The Commonwealth
State of England——Of Scotland——Of Ireland——Levellers suppressed——Siege of Dublin raised——Tredah stormed——Covenanters——Montrose taken…
lxi
The Commonwealth
Cromwel’s birth and private life——Barebone’s parliament——Cromwel made protector——Peace with Holland——A new parliament——Insurrection of the…
lxii
The Commonwealth
Richard acknowledged protector——A parliament——Cabal of Wallingford House——Richard deposed——Long parliament or Rump restored——Conspiracy of…
lxiii
Charles II
New ministry——Act of indemnity——Settlement of the revenue——Trial and execution of the regicides——Dissolution of the…
lxiv
Charles II
A new session——Rupture with Holland——A new session——Victory of the English——Rupture with France——Rupture with Denmark——New session——…
lxv
Charles II
A Parliament——The Cabal——Their Characters——Their counsels——Alliance with France——A Parliament——Coventry act——Blood’s crimes——Duke declares…
lxvi
Charles II
Schemes of the cabal——Remonstrances of Sir William Temple——Campaign of 1674——A Parliament——Passive obedience——A Parliament——Campaign of…
lxvii
Charles II
The popish plot——Oates’s narrative——and character——Coleman’s letters——Godfrey’s murder——General consternation——The parliament——Zeal of the…
lxviii
Charles II
State of parties——State of the ministry——Meal-tub plot——Whig and Tory——A new parliament——Violence of the commons——Exclusion-bill——Arguments…
lxix
Charles II
State of affairs in Ireland——Shaftesbury acquitted——Argyle’s trial——State of affairs in Scotland——State of the ministry in England——New…
lxx
James II
King’s first transactions——A parliament——Arguments for and against a revenue for life——Oates convicted of perjury——Monmouth’s invasion——His…
lxxi
James II
Conduct of the prince of Orange——He forms a league against France——refuses to concur with the king——resolves to oppose the king——Is applied…