The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-14
Aist0nraI
Compiled for The Democratic Adveczte
BY ]. g. q.

divided England into seven distinct gov
ernments or kingdoms, called the Hept-
archy; between which wars prevailed for
three centuries, till Egbert, Of Wessex, in
default Of issue, united the whole in 827.
These Kingdoms were Kent, the South,
the West, and the East Saxons, Northum.
bria, the East Engles, and Mercia. Kent,
the first was established by Hengist IN
400; and Mercia, the seventh, and the
Midland Counties, about 585. Hence,
the heptarchy lasted about 243 years, and
ths kingdom Of Kent 372 years.
Previous to the conquest, the crown Of
England had long been held by priest
ridden, superstitious, weak prince, Edward
the Confessor; brother and successor Of
Edmund Ironside. Edward had no chill.
dreni and Edward, son of Edmund, his
nephew and heir-apparent, died in his old
age, leaving son Edgar, under age; while
two turbulent sons Of his sisters, Harold
and Tosti, were all-powerful. He made
will in favor Of William, Duke of Nor
mandy, whom he had entertained few
years before at his court. Harold setting
aside Edgar, Edmunds son, seized the
crown, and hence division in the country
facilitated the conquest BY William. Hen.
ry l., grandson of William, afterwards
married granddaughter of the superse.
ded Edgar, for the purpose Of reconciling
claims
William the Conqueror was seventh in
descent from Rollo, the Danish pirate.
The Bayeux tapestry, wrough by Ma
tilda, wife Of William the First, represent.
ing the circumstances attending the inva-
sion of England, is 214 feet long, and 19
inches wide, divided into compartments
representing the train Of events from the
signature of the will Of the besotted Con-
fessor, down to the crowning Of William.
This very curious relic is now preserved 10
the Royal Library, at Paris.
The Normans, or north-men, from whom
our English nobility claim descent, were
northern pirates, who, about the middle of
the 9th century, infested the coasts of
England and the English channel, aud at
length made landing in Neustri, and was
ted tho country, three times besieeing
Paris. AT length, Charles the Simple, ia
9l2, entered into treaty with Rollo, their
chief, giving him his daughter in mar
riage, and setting upon him the province
then first called Normandy, with the title
of duke, requiring him to do homage for
it. Rollo was then baptized by the name
Of Robert, but known to the Normaus as
Haro, or Harrow. He was succeeded BY
his son, Richard l.; he by Richard H.; he
by Robert H., who, by Herleve, or Herlot,
a mistress, had the bastard William, who
conquered England. aaI.
During the Roman conquests, Spaniards
and Lucitanians fed to Ireland, and Gauls
and Belgians to Britain; hence, there was
always foreign mixture with the natives,
and, to this asylum, afforded to fugitiyes.
is to be ascribed the subsequent Roman
invasion.
The Doomsday-book, or register Of the
lands of the kingdom, was made by Ave
justices, between 1851 and 1886, and is
still preserved in the Exchequer.
Our ancient kings used to keep jouqIers,
or minstrels and then testers, under the
Tudors; and James l., converted them
into poet-laureates.
Magma Charta provides that fines or
amercements shall never destroy man,
and, therefore, all such are unlawful. Il
saves freeholders estate, merchants
merchandise, scholars books, work
mans tools, &c.
By Magma Charta 10d. was fixed as the
price per day Of cart with two horses,
and Is. I'd. with three.
Parliaments were fixed by the 18th
chapter Of Magma Charta, by pledge TO
summon archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls
and great barons, and, by the sheriffs, all
of whom held fief; after 40 days notice,
which was to express the cause, and, BY
chapter l3, it is provided that no scutage
or aid shall be imposed, unless by this
common council Of the kingdom.
The barons, or tenants in chief, or free
holders, by doomsday.book, were 200; but
being split into small parts, were greater
and lesser, all of whom were entitled to
sit in parliament; but, in 1907, the hitter
or lesser barons, were allowed to choose
two representatives; hence knights of the
shire.
Common law is the unwritten law of
the country, founded on custom, usage,
and maxims derived from common sense (;
but is varied by written, printed, or statute
law, made for the purpose Of correcting
and defining common law.
Adrian Nv. permitted Henry III. to in
wade Ireland, on condition that he com
PEELED every Irish family to pay carolus
to the Holy See, and held il as a fief Of
the church. Nst
England was under an interdiet from
1907 to 1214. Archbishop Langton alb
solved King John, on promise that he
should restore the charter Of Henry l.:
and John afterwards yielded his kingdom
twice to the Pope. In 1915, the barons
took the field at Stamford, under Robert
Fitzwalter, Baron Of Dunmow, and al de-
scrting John, he met them on June Is, az
kunnemede, q meadow between Staines
aud Windsor, when the great seal was
affixed to the charter, and 25 barons were
elected to secure lis fnlflmeut, and they
we're put in possession Of the Tower Of
London. Twelve knights were also an
pointed to rectify the forest laws John
was 50 indignant, that he died 10 Octcber.
at Newark, as was said by poison, or Of
broken heart His son, Henry III. after
wards confirmed them IN 1886 and IN
1858, in Westminster ball, with great sol.
emnity. Edward |, did the same, before
he could obtain supplies or service. There
were, therefore, Eve charters-one Of John.
three Of Henri, and ono Of Edward I. the
same IN spirit but slightly varied IN ex-
preston.
In countries where the coffee tree &
cultivated, the leaves are used 10 make an
infusion which, BY many persons, Is held
TO be superior 70 the infusion from the
berry. Hitherto they have not been an
article Of commerce, and the planter has
studied to obtain as large a crop az posi-.
Bile Of the berry. neelectinr tbe ieayeu