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WHEN the contending Petty Kings of the Saxons had for many Years Elbowed each other, and (discontented with a Part) strugled who should become Masters of the Whole, and Amass the Light Crowns into one more Ponderous,
we find Fortune (or rather Providence) gave this ad∣vantage to Egbert, the Seventeenth King of the West Saxons; though to attain it, he waded (as I may term it) through a Sea of Blood in his Wars with the Welsh (for so I must henceforth stile the poor remainders of the Antient British Race, as taking upon them that Epi∣thite, and calling their Principality Wales, after the Name the Saxons had many Years before given it) also with the Cornishmen who Rebelled against him, and were assisted with Supplies from Armorica, or Britany in France; in his Wars against Bernulf King of Mercia, and his subduing the Kingdom of Kent, and compelling the East, South, and Angle Saxons to submit to him. In these Enterprizes, which took him up for the most part the Nineteen Years he Reigned as Petty Monarch over the West Saxons, about one Hundred Thousand are held to be Slain on all sides; so that the Crown, purchased at so large an expence of Lives, being set on his Head (as has been said) at Winchester, he commanded the Name of Saxons to be changed into that of Englishmen; corresponding with the Name given to the Country they Inhabited, That by this change they by degrees might forget the Distinctions they be∣fore were under, and so firmly Unite as one Kingdom and People, not tending to different, but one and the same Interest. This Egbert, gaining, through many difficulties, what he long before aspired to, made divers good Laws for the better Establishment of his new acquired Soveraignty; so that the Welsh (though they put not themselves under his Protection, yet desirous to be at Peace) sent him many Presents out of their divided Dominions, of North and South Wales, which Provincees (for no more must I call them Kingdoms) were Governed by Petty Princes. After this, Egbert made a Progress through the greatest part of England,
appointing Judges and other Magistrates, to see the Laws put in Execution against Offenders, and to re∣dress the Wrongs and Grievances of such as were Op∣pressed, being received every where with great respect; and then thinking to lead a quiet Life, he found by sad experience the Inconstancy of Fortune.
The Danes having been formerly worsted and driven out of this part of the Island, again took Courage to Invade it, Landing from 33. big Ships, and divers smaller Transport Vessels, an Army of 23000 of their best Souldiers; and before Egbert could raise his Forces to oppose them, they Ravaged the Country, Burning and Destroying all in their way, not sparing the Men from their Swords, nor the Women from their inordinate Lusts, destroying in a more dreadful manner the Religious Houses, and those that Inhabited them; Ravishing the Nuns, and Ripping open some Women with Child for Pastime. This made the grieved King hasten towards them, with such Forces as he could readily get together, to prevent the further desolation of his Country; commanding his Lieutenants to raise what Forces they could, and hast to joyn him; but ere they could do it, he fought the Danes, and was overthrown by them in a bloody Battel, loosing 5000 common Souldiers, two of his Dukes commanding under him, and two Bishops; by his Valour hardly winding himself out of the press of his Enemies, and escaping. However, the Danes finding the Courage of the English to be beyond what they expected, losing a great many Men, and perceiving the Country in Arms against them, thought it the safest way to depart with the Rich Booty they had got in the spoile of the Counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Middlesex, &c. But the second Year after they Landed with greater ••orces at Holy Head in Wales, and between Fear and
Perswasion, the Welsh were prevailed on to joyn with them; but Fortune turning on the English side, Egbert gave their United Forces a great Overthrow, on the Marches of South Wales; yet having tasted the sweet∣ness of the Riches and Plenty this Kingdom afforded, They made another Invasion in the last year of this Kings Reign; Sacking the Isle of Sheppy by Kent, and with much difficulty were expelled it: This Egbert was the First Sole Monarch of the English Saxons, he began his Reign as such Anno Dom. 819, and Reigned Seventeen Years, and was Buried at Winchester.
Having promised to give a (Brief) Description of England and its Rarities, &c. To make good my Word I conceive no better Method to do it in, than placing the Counties, and what I find in them worthy of Remark, after the respective Reign of each Sole Monarch, taking them Alphabetically, and first of
THis County is bounded on the North, with part of Oxfordshire, and part of Buckinghamshire; on the East, with part of Middlesex, and part of Surry; on the South, with Hampshire; and partly on the West, with Wiltshire. It is Rich in Clothworking, Fat Pasture, abundance of Cattle, rare Artificers, Rivers stored with Fish of divers sorts, particularly the River Kennet abounds with Trouts.
It Containes 140 Parishes, 20 Hundreds, 12 Market Towns, and 3 Rivers of note; and to the Parliament, Ab∣ingdon sends one Member, New Windsor two, Reading two, and Wallingford two, besides two Knights of the Shire. The Towns Memorable for things of Note are these viz.
At Reading was Interred the Body of King Henry the
First, in a Collegiate Church of an Abby, Founded by him∣self, as also his Queen, and Daughter, Maud the Empress. This place is also Memorable for the Birth of William Laud Arch Bishop of Canterbury, the Son of a Poor Clothier.
At Englesfield the Danes were defeated. Wallingford is the Gallena of Ptolomy, it was the Antient station of the Romans, and chief City of the Atrebants. Windsor was Builded by King Edward the Third, who Instituted the most Noble Order of the Garter. The Burying Place of Henry the Sixth, Edward the Fourth, Henry the Eighth, and King Charles the First; Eaton was Founded by King Henry the Sixth, and Renouned as a Nursery for bringing up of Youth, being one of the chiefest Free-Schools in England. Sunning was an Episcopal See during the Resi∣dence of Eight Bishops, which afterward was translated to Sherbourn, and so to Salisbury, where it now is fixed.
At Wantage King Alfred (Sir Named the Scourge of the Danes) was Born. Waltham in the East of this County, was an Antient station of the Romans, as also was Sinodum in the North, as appears by many Roman Coins and Medals of their Emperours Digged up there.
Newbury is Renowned for the Birth of Thomas Hide, a famous Historian; and Memorable for the Two great Battels between the King and Parliament in the late Civil War. As for Castles that of Windsor in this County is accounted the most Exalted of all others, having not only been the Burying Place, but Pallace of divers Kings; and much delighted in by King Charles the Second, who made it his chosen place of Pleasure and Retirement; being, be∣sides its delightful situation, advanced on a high Hill, arising with a gradual ascent, which affords the pleasantest Prospect imaginable. On the North side of this County the River Thames glides, washing its verdant Banks in many Meanderings with its Silver Streams; and out of it
goes many Creeks, which much advantages those parts of the County by cheap Water-Carriage from London, and other places. It is likewise Beautified with some Seats of the Nobility, which give a good Prospect to Travelers, viz. A Noble Seat of the Earl of Craven near Newbery, the Earle of Clarendon's at Swallowfield, Hurly belonging to John Late Lord Lovelace Barron of Hurley; with a great many stately Houses belonging to the Gentry of the County; so that it claimes an Equality with most of the English Counties.