A.D.

400 Bells were invented by Paulinus, of Campagnia.

CHAP. LXVIII.

MEMORABLE EVENTS FROM THE BEGINNING OF

THE FIFTH TO THE END OF THE TENTH CENTURY.

404 THE kingdom of Caledonia, or Scotland, revived under Fergus.

406 The Vandals, Alans, and Suevi, spread into France and Spain, by a conceffion of Honorius, emperor of the Weft.

426 The Romans, reduced to extremities at home, withdrew their troops from Britain, and never returned. Before their departure, they advised the Britons to arm in their own defence, and trust to their own valour. 428 Eutropius published his abridgment of the Roman history.

476 The western empire was finished; and out of its ruins feveral new ftates arofe in Italy and other parts, confifting of Goths, Van

dals,

A. D.

dals, Huns, and other Barbarians, under whom literature was extinguished, and the works of the learned were deftroyed.

513 Conftantinople was befieged by Vitalianus, whose fleet was burnt by a speculum of brass.

581 Latin ceafed to be spoken in Italy.

622 Mahomet, a false prophet, fled from Mecca to Medina, in Arabia, in the 44th year of his age, and 10th of his miniftry, when he laid the foundation of the Saracen empire, and from whom the Mahometan princes to this day claim their defcent. His followers compute their time from this æra, which in Arabic is called Hegira, that is, the Flight.

653 Jerufalem was taken by the Saracens, or followers of Mahomet.

653 The Saracens extend their conquests on every fide, and retaliate the barbarities of the Goths and Vandals upon their posterity. 664 Glafs was invented in England by Benalt, a monk.

685 The Britons, after a brave ftruggle of near 150 years, were totally expelled by the Saxons, and driven into Wales and Corn

wall.

735 Bede,

A. D.

735 Bede, a priest of Northumberland, published the hiftory of the Saxons, and Scots. Being almoft the only learned man of his time, he was honoured with the title of the venerable Bede.

800 Charlemagne, king of France, began the empire of Germany, afterwards called the western empire. He gave the prefent names to the winds and months, and endeavoured to reftore learning in Europe; but mankind were not yet difpofed for it, being folely engroffed in military enterprizes. 838 The Scots and Picts had a decifive battle, in which the former prevailed, and both kingdoms were united by Kennet, which began the second period of the Scottish hiftory. 896 Alfred the Great, after fubduing the Danish invaders, against whom he fought 56 battles by fea and land, compofed his body of laws, divided England into counties and hundreds, erected county-courts, and founded the univerfity of Oxford.

901 .King Alfred published his history, his philofophy, and his poetry.

915 The university of Cambridge was founded. 979 Coronation oaths are faid to have been firft used in England.

991 The

A. D.

991 The figures in arithmetic were brought into Europe by the Saracens from Arabia. Letters of the alphabet were formerly used.

1000 Paper made of cotton rags was in use; that of linen rags in 1170. The manufacture of it was introduced into England at Dartford, in 1588.

CHA P. LXIX.

REMARKABLE EVENTS OF THE ELEVENTH, TWELFTH, AND THIRTEENTH CENTURIES.

2015 CHILDREN

were forbidden, by law, to be fold by their parents, in England. 1017 Canute, king of Denmark, got poffeffion of England.

1066 The battle of Haftings was fought between Harold, and William, duke of Normandy, in which Harold was conquered and flain; after which William became king of England.

1070 William introduced the feudal laws into Eng

land.

1071 Mu

A.D.

1071 Musical notes were invented.

1075 Henry IV. emperor of Germany, and the pope, quarrel about the nomination of the German bishops. Henry, in penance, walked barefoot to the pope, towards the end of January.

1076 Justices of the peace were first appointed in England.

1080 The Tower of London was built by William, to curb his English subjects, numbers of

whom fled to Scotland, where they introduced the Saxon or English language, were protected by Malcolm, and had lands given them.

1096 The first crufade to the Holy Land began, under feveral Chriftian princes, to drive the infidels from Jerufalem.

1118 The order of the Knights Templars was inftituted, to defend the fepulchres at Jerufalem, and to protect Chriftian strangers.

1163 London bridge, confifting of 19 fmall arches, was first built of stone.

1172 Henry II. king of England, and first of the Plantagenets, took poffeffion of Ireland; which from that period has been governed by an English viceroy, or lord lieutenant.

1180 Glafs