Two well-form'd Englishmen were ask'd at

Rome,

By Pontiff Gregory, to name their home. "We're Angli called," the British spokesman cried.

Say rather Angeli," the Pope replied.

"So would ye be, were you of Christian race." And AUSTIN's mission, hence, 'tis said, took place.

This Gregory, most pious and most wise,
Made, at that time, three similar replies.*
We have thought proper to select but one,
To shew the Ancients not disdain'd a pun;
That even POPES, of Toleration full,
A joke enjoy'd, and patroniz'd a bull.
While this dull age, as duller people name it,
Sees wit, folks tell ye, winking in the socket,
And swears, who makes a pun, howe'er he frame
it,

* Enquiring further the name of their Province, he was answered Deiri; (a district of Northumberland) "Deiri” replied he, "that is good; they are called to the Mercy of God from his Anger; that is, DE IRA." "But how is the King of that Province named?" He was told ÆLLA, or ALLA; "Alleluia !" cried he, "we must endeavor that the praises of God be sung in their Country.".

HUME.

The

With equal eagerness would pick a pocket.*
The son of Ethelbert, unlike his sire,

(To Woden's worship and incestuous fire
Basely devoted) scorn'd religion's ties,

And, in too-late repentance, clos'd his eyes.— ERCOMBERT, EGBERT, LOTHAIRE, WIDRED, reign'd,

EADBERT and ETHELBERT the crown sustain'd; Next ALRIC, EGBERT, CUTHRED, BALDred, sway'd,

'Till one great EGBERT all the land obey'd.

* Vide Murphy's Grays-Inn Journal.

THE

KINGDOM OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

Began A.D. 547.-Ended 792.-Comprised two Kingdoms, Bernicia and Deira.-BAMBURGH and YORK were the Capitals.

SCENE of full many a desp'rate border fight! (Where Northern Chiefs, in ancient order dight, By PERCYS led, met gallant Scots in arms;— Percys, for prowess fam'd and female charms,) Thy first king ADELFRID historians name, 'Till conquest prov'd young EDWIN's better claim.

(Such just administration his, we're told, Infants might safely bear uncounted gold!) 'Till slain by Mercian PENDA. Civil jars Divide Northumbria; and continued wars By OSRIC, EAN FRID, OSWALD, Oswy, waged, Destroyed those monarchs; nor less furious raged,

While EGFRID, ALFRED, OSRED, CELWOLF,

all,

Fought but to reign; and only reign'd to fall.

Like

Like OSWALD, MOLLO, AILRED, slain; deposed

Like CELWOLD, OSRED, ETHELBERT, they closed

A list of horrors, fated not to cease,

'Till EGBERT Union gave, and Union Peace.

THE

THE KINGDOM OF EAST-ANGLIA.

Began 575.-Ended 793.-Included Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, and the Isle of Ely.-DUNWICH was the Royal Residence.

MATTER of fact is dull, when told at best,
Then how can coarsest poetry digest

Such names as UFFA, EARPWOLD, and a host
Of EGRICS, ALDUFFS, ELFWOLDS; who but boast
Short usurpation, or sad length of feud,
With fate of friends and subjects' blood imbrued!
The sanction of the venerable Bede,

Who saw so many monarchs reign and bleed,
Pourtrays a cheerless picture of that time,
When crime expelled was but expelled by crime;
When chiefs, alternate doom'd to smile or groan,
Saw Anglia fall before the Mercian throne!

Yet here, 'mid deeds that sullied British earth, CAMBRIDGE! thy seat of learning first had birth From SIGEBERT;-like the eastern star it rose,

To cheer the dim horizon ;-SIGEBERT's name Derives from hence more enviable fame, Than from a thousand fields of slaughter'd foes.

By some supposed to have been founded by Edward the Elder.

THE