i86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

progress towards cultivation , that, on the deathof William , his son , Richard , though a minor ”,inherited his dominions : A sure proof, that theNormans were already somewhat advanced incivility, and that their government could nowrest secure on its laws and civil institutions , andwas not wholly sustained by the abilities of thesovereign. Richard , after a long reign of fifty-four years, was succeeded by his son of the samename in the year 996 " ; which was eighty-fiveyears after the first establishment of the Normansin France. This was the duke, who gave hissister, Emma, in marriage to Ethelrcd, king ofEngland, and who thereby formed connexionswith a country, which his posterity was so soonafter destined to subdue.

The Danes had been established during a longerperiod in England than in France ; and thoughthe similarity of their original language to that ofthe Saxons invited them to a more early coalitionwith the natives , they had hitherto found solittle example of civilized manners among theEnglish, that they retained all their ancientferocity , and valued themselves only on their na-tional character of military bravery. The recent,as well as more ancient achievements of theircountrymen , tended to support this idea ; andthe English princes , particularly Athelstan andEdgar , sensible of that superiority, had been

” Order. Vitalis, p. 459. Gul. Gemfet. lib. 4. cap. I.

" Order. Vitalis, p. 459.