THE KINGDOM OF MERCIA.

Began 582.--Ended 847.-Contained Huntingdon, Rutland, Lincoln, Northampton, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Oxford, Chester, Salop, Gloucester, Worcester, Stafford, Warwick, Bucks, Bedford.-Metropolis, LEICESTER.

O'ER midland MERCIA, WIBBA rul'd;-his

crown

He left to LEORL.-PENDA's chief renown Sprang from his turbulence; by Oswy slain, PEADA, and swift-succeeding sovereigns reign, Then OFFA, well-beloved by CHARLEMAGNE. WIGLAFF, last ruler, EGBERT taught to yield Lord of his fate, and master of the field.

THE

THIE KINGDOM OF ESSEX,

OR, EAST SAXONS.

Began 527.-Ended 746.-Contained Essex, Middlesex, Part of Herts.-Capital, LONDON.

OF ESSEX monarchs, little more is said

Than, that two kings among them lov'd white bread :*

That OFFA took great PENDA's child to wife,
And vow'd, when married, to be chaste for life:
That Westminster, if records are believ'd,
From SEBERT's gift her Abbey Church receiv'd;
By SLEDA govern'd first, by SIGERED last,
This state, with other states, to EGBERT pass'd.

* SEXTED and SEWARD, Sons and conjunct successors to Sebert, grandson of Erkinwin, who founded the kingdom of Essex. To shew the rude manner of living in that age, Bede tells us, that these two kings expressed great desire to eat the white bread distributed by Mellitus, the bishop, at the communion. But on his refusing them, unless they would submit to be baptised, they expelled him their dominions.

HUME.

THE

THE KINGDOM OF SUSSEX,

OR, SOUTH SAXONS.

Began 490.-Ended 600.-Contained Sussex and Surrey.Metropolis, CHICHESTER.

SUSSEX! of modern summer beaux the boast, When British beauty gladdens Albion's coast; Where waves transparent soften, more than hide, Those charms, encircled by the happy tide. Sussex! which erst saw conqu❜ring William land, And subject England to his iron hand.

Thine ancient chronicles have less in store,

Than the imperfect legends sung

before;

A long parenthesis of names, I ween
From ELLA down to ADELWALCH is seen;
'Till EGRERT's, paramount by all confess'd,
Like Aaron's pow'rful rod engulphs the rest.

THE

THE KINGDOM OF WESSEX,

OR, WEST SAXONS.

Began 519.-Ended 1066,-Comprised Hants, Berks, Wilts, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Part of Cornwall, and the Isle of Wight.-Chief City, WINCHESTER.

A RACE of warlike princes, whose success
This realm increas'd, and other realms made less,
From CERDIC and his sons, to BRITHRIC reign'd,
And still accession of domain obtain❜d.

WESSEX each neighbouring monarch could controul,

And spread, like snows that gather as they roll.
'Till EGBERT's genius, by misfortune taught,
In camps and courts each gainful lesson caught;
By travel tutor❜d, and by woes made wise,

By others' fall instructed how to rise,

Egbert

Egbert securely mounted England's throne,

And made the Seven Kingdoms all his own.

[A. D. 828.]

-Though Egbert became Monarch of England, he was not perfectly absolute;-he actually possessed Wessex, Sussex, Kent, and Essex, which had been peopled by Saxons and Jutes, and contented himself with preserving the sovereignty over the other three Kingdoms, (originally inhabited by the Angles) and permitting them to be governed by Kings who were his vassals.

END OF PART THE FIRST.

ENGLAND.