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LECTURE II.
THE LEGENDARY PERIOD OF BRITAIN: KING LEAR.
Legendary period prior to the Roman invasion-Julius Cæsar
Malone's comment-Fabulous antiquity of British kings—
Brutus of Troy-Authentic ancient history limited to Southern
Europe-Britain out of the path of the ancient world-Faber's
idea of the Mediterranean-Milton's History of England-
Faith in ancient legends-Claim of Edward the First to the
sovereignty of Scotland-The Papal reference-Difference of
British and classical legends-Grote on Greek legends-Min-
strelsy and romance-Washington, in our sense, a legendary
idea in America-Lives of the saints-Symbolical legends-
Popular faith in legends-Identified with reverence for an-
cestry-Sir Robert Walpole's false idea of history-Niebuhr-
Modern colonies-King Lear a dramatic legend-Filial rela-
tion-Illustrations appropriate to paganism-Lear's invocation
of heathen gods-Charles Lamb's criticism on Lear........ Page 46
LECTURE III.
THE ROMAN AND SAXON PERIODS: CYMBELINE AND MACBETH.
Legendary history continued-Artegal and Elidure-The North-
ern and Southern nations-Geographical divisions of Europe
-Attempts of invasion frustrated-Rome sacked by the Gauls
Greece invaded and rescued-Defeat of Varus in the forest
of Teutoburg-The memory of Arminius-Hermann-His un-
finished monument-Decisive battles of the world-Professor
Creasy's volumes-The fall of the Roman Empire-Effect of
Roman subjugation of Britain-British kings-Cymbeline a
British king-Imogen-Roman remains in Britain-Sir Walter
Scott and Ritson-Diocletian's persecution—Arthur and Mer-
lin-Ethelred-Paulinus-Alfred-Coleridge's estimate of his
character-Difficulty of discussing historical questions--Po-
lemics-Dunstan, an illustration-Sir Roger de Coverley-
Saint Dunstan-Want of a poetic view of his character-The
Danes-Canute the Great-Ballads-Edward the Confessor-
Touching for the "king's evil"-Reference in Macbeth-The
palace and the tombs of English kings...........
78
LECTURE IV.
THE REIGN OF KING JOHN.
Interval between the last Saxon kings and King John-De-
generacy of the Saxon race-Contagion of Danish vice-The
Bristol slave-trade-The Northmen-The Normans-Their
conquests-Death of Harold-Effect of the conquest on the
conquerors-Their despotism-The Royal Forest lands-The
Curfew-Death of William the Norman-Tyranny of his suc-
cessors-Marriage of Henry the First to a Saxon princess-
The Plantagenets-Richard Coeur-de-Lion-Romance of Ivan-
hoe-Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury-King John, the first
of the "Chronicle-Plays"-Imaginative power developed-
John, a usurper-Shakspeare's view of his character—“ Eng-
land" the great idea of the play-Falconbridge its exponent
-His character-Shakspeare's power "in minimis"-James
Gurney's four words-France and Austria-Constance and
Arthur-His death-Pandulph-Struggle with the Papacy-
Innocent the Third-Stephen Langton-The interdict-Strug-
gle with the barons-The Great Charter-Shakspeare's Eng-
lish loyalty............ ........ Page 115
LECTURE V.
THE REIGN OF RICHARD THE SECOND.
Henry the Third and the Edwards passed over by Shakspeare
-De Montfort's Rebellion-Growth of the Constitution-The
Commons-Extent of parliamentary government Our repub-
lican institutions-The highway of nations-The Plantagenet
kings-Edward the Third and the Black Prince-Chaucer-
War with France-Arnold's view-Southey-From Richard
the Second the "Chronicle-Plays" continuous-The fifteenth
century-King John and Henry the Eighth, prologue and
epilogue-Richard the Second strictly historical-Character
of the king-His previous career-Popular element in France
and Flanders and England-Wat Tyler's Rebellion-Its effects
-Revolt of the nobles-Opening of the tragedy-Norfolk and
Bolingbroke - Exile - Character of Bolingbroke - Death of
John of Gaunt-Moral degradation of the king-His misfor-
tunes elevate him-Bolingbroke's return-Divine right of
kings-Richard's deposition, imprisonment, and death..... Page 147
LECTURE VI.
THE REIGN OF HENRY THE FOURTH.
Henry the Fourth's accession to the throne an usurpation-Cha-
racter of the king-Error of historical reasoning-Carlyle on
Cromwell-Henry's education and exile-Analogy to Macbeth
His popularity-Counsel to his son-His visit to foreign
lands-Palestine-Castile-His return-Severe policy after his
coronation-The Bishop of Carlisle-Shakspeare's "Chronicle-
Plays" tragic-Comic element here-Falstaff and Prince Hal
-Henry the Fourth's reign without national interest-Unquiet
times-Plan of his crusade-Its origin and his visit to the
Holy Land-Intercession of the Greek emperor for English aid
-Visit of Palæologus to London-St. Bernard-Plan of cru-
sade frustrated---Insurrection in Scotland-Percy and Douglas
-Battle of Otterbourne-Mortimer-Glendower-Chevy Chase
-Hotspur and Falstaff-The Battle of Shrewsbury-Death
of Henry the Fourth......
181
LECTURE VII.
THE CHARACTER AND REIGN OF HENRY THE FIFTH.
Sorrowful but vigorous reign of the fourth Henry-His successor
Shakspeare's favourite His reign of conquest-His career as
Prince of Wales-Not profligate but popular-A prince and a
gentleman-His honour to Richard's memory-Veneration for
his father-Relations of heirs-apparent-Statute against heresy
-The Proto-martyr-Contrast of the prince and his brother,
Prince John-Macbeth's want of children-Henry the Fifth a
genial character-His associates of early life-The character
of Falstaff considered-Morgann's essay-Friendship--Hamlet
and Horatio-Henry and Falstaff-Falstaff's cowardice-Mr.
Senior's criticism-Henry's accession to the throne-The war
with France-Battle of Agincourt-Henry's relations to his
soldiers-Sir Thomas Erpingham-Death of York and Suffolk
--The tragedy a triumphal song.
213
LECTURE VIII.
THE REIGN OF HENRY THE SIXTH.
The treaty of Troyes-Its details-The last hours of Henry the
Fifth-His intended crusade-Hume's comments-Henry the
Sixth an infant-His reign and these "Chronicle-Plays" un-
promising subjects--Genuineness of the plays-The Minority
-The French wars-State of France-The Regent Bedford-
The Siege of Orleans-Joan of Arc-Various criticisms on her
character-Her sincerity-Imputed witchcraft-Defective edu-
cation-Her influence-Relief of Orleans-Coronation of the
king at Rheims-Exemption of Domremy-Capture of the
Maid-Her trial and examination-Her martyrdom-Cardinal
Beaufort and the Bishop of Beauvais-The cardinal's death-
Statue of the Maid at Versailles-Death of the Duke of Bedford
-His monument-Magnanimity of Louis the Eleventh.... Page 245
LECTURE IX.
THE WARS OF THE ROSES.
Closing scenes of the Plantagenet dynasty-Want of interest in
the War of the Roses-The question of genealogy—No actua-
ting principle in the contest-Its obscurity-A series of bloody
battles-Saintly character of the king-His solitary sadness-
Loss of the French conquests-The Duke of Suffolk-Popular
tumult-Jack Cade-The Temple Garden-Richard of York
and Somerset-The battle of St. Albans-The Earl of War-
wick, the king-maker-Henry's captivity-The Parliament-
Margaret of Anjou-Her character-King René-Injustice of
English writers to her memory-The battle of Wakefield-
Two crowned Kings of England-The slaughter at Towton-
Tewksbury-The queen-Sir Walter Scott's tribute to her-
Political effects of the civil war-Death struggle of the military
power of the nobles-The last of the barons-Clifford-No feud
among the people or vassals-The separation of the church
from the conflict-Education-The foundation of Eton............ 278
LECTURE X.
RICHARD THE THIRD-HENRY THE EIGHTH.
The character of Edward the Fourth-His death-Richard's
usurpation - Its character of intrigue and violence-The
princes in the Tower-Attempted vindications--Their inefficacy
Sir Thomas More-Richard's deformity, mental and physical
-Effect of personal deformity-Commanding intellect of the
king-Power of will-No sympathy-No repentance-Contrast
of Macbeth-Richard's dream-The last of the Plantagenets-
The Tudor kings-Henry the Eighth-The progress of society
and government-Henry's reign nearly contemporary with
Shakspeare-The play of Henry the Eighth history-Wolsey's
character-Catharine of Arragon-Wolsey's fall and death—
The approaching Reformation-Henry's character the worst in
history-His death-Conclusion
.......... Page 309