16

CHAP.

I.

Amal-gamationof races.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

by their united exertions, and framed for their commonbenefit.

Here commences the history of the English nation. Thehistory of the preceding events is the history of wrongs inflictedand sustained by various tribes, which indeed all dwelt onEnglish ground, but which regarded each other with aversionsuch as has scarcely ever existed between communities se-parated by physical barriers. For even the mutual animosityof countries at war with each other is languid when comparedwith the animosity of nations which, morally separated, are yetlocally intermingled. In no country has the enmity of racebeen carried farther than in England. In no country has thatenmity been more completely effaced. The stages of the pro-cess by which the hostile elements were melted down into onehomogeneous mass are not accurately known to us. But it iscertain that, when John became King, the distinction betweenSaxons andNormans was strongly marked, and that before theend of the reign of his grandson it had almost disappeared. Inthe time of Richard the First, the ordinary imprecation of aNorman gentleman was “May I become an Englishman! ” Hisordinary form of indignant denial was “Do you take me for anEnglishman?” The descendant of such a gentleman a hundredyears later was proud of the English name.

The sources of the noblest rivers which spread fertilityover continents, and bear richly laden fleets to the sea, are tobe sought in wild and barren mountain tracts, incorrectlylaid down in maps, and rarely explored by travellers. Tosuch a tract the history of our country during the thirteenthcentury may not unaptly be compared. Sterile and obscureaa is that portion of our annals, it is there that we must seekfor the origin of our freedom, our prosperity, and our glory.Then it was that the great English people was formed, thatthe national character began to exhibit those peculiaritiesWhich it has ever since retained, and that our fathers became