C II A P. II.

sr

Eghert — Ethehaolf — Ethelbaldand Ethelbert — Ethered— Alfred the Great—J dward the elder—At heist an—Edmund — Edrcd — Eduuj — Edgar — Edward theMartyr.

EGBERT.

T'hE Kingdoms of the Heptarchy, though united chapby so recent a conquest, seemed to be firmly ce- n -

mented into one state under Egbert; and the in- Sl7 *

habitants of the several provinces had lost all desireof revolting from that conqueror, or of restoringtheir former independent governments. Theirlanguage was every where nearly the same, theircustoms, laws, institutions civil and religious;and as the race of the ancient kings was totallyextinct in all the subjected states, the people rea-dily transferred their allegiance to a prince, whoseemed to merit it, by the splendour of his victories,the vigour of his administration , and the superiornobility of his birth. An union also in governmentopened to them the agreeable prospect of futuretranquillity; and it appeared more probable, thatthey would thenceforth become formidable totheir neighbours, than be exposed to their inroadsand devastations. But these flattering views weresoon overcast by the appearance of the Danes,

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