John Charles Curtis

“ No English sovereign shall leave the kingdom without consent of parliament. 4. All important matters of state are to be transacted in the privy council, and all resolutions adopted signed by such of the privy council as shall advise and consent to the same. 5. No foreigner shall hold any office, civil or military, or receive any grant from the crown. 6. No person, holding any office or place of profit under the crown, and receiving a pension therefrom, shall be capable of sitting in the house of commons. ”

“ An armament, commanded by Harold and Canute, sons of Sweyn, king of Denmark, arrived in the Humber. The invaders were joined by Edgar Atheling (the grandson of Edmund Ironside, and heir to the throne on the death of Edward the Confessor) , Waltheof (the son of Siward) , and other Saxon nobles. William is said to have bought off the hostility of the Danes. He captured York, which had fallen into the hands of the insurgents, and ordered the whole district, from the Humber to the Tees, to be laid waste,—an order most effectually and cruelly carried out. ”

“ Lambert Simnel appeared in Ireland, and, personating the earl of Warwick, was proclaimed king as Edward VI. He and his supporters landed in England, and were defeated at Stoke, near Newark (June 16) .
1492. Perkin Warbeck appeared in Ireland, and declared himself to be Richard, duke of York (son of Edward IV.) , generally supposed to have been murdered in the Tower. Columbus discovered America. Henry invaded France, but soon concluded a peace with Charles VIII. at Estaples (Nov. 3) . ”

“ By the terms of the union with Ireland, four spiritual peers, twenty-eight temporal peers, and a hundred commoners were to represent Ireland in the united parliament. The churches of England and Ireland were to be united into one Protestant episcopal church, called the United Church of England and Ireland; both countries were to enjoy the same commercial privileges; and the laws and courts of each country were to remain the same as before, subject to alterations by the united parliament.
1802. Treaty of Amíens, between England, France, Spain, and Holland (Mar. 27) . ”

“ The Scots gave Charles up to the parliament on payment of part of their arrears. The latter endeavoured to disband the English army, but failed: and the army seized the king. About five months after, he escaped to the Isle of Wight, but was arrested and imprisoned in Carisbrooke Castle.
1648. SECOND CIVIL WAR. A royalist insurrection in Wales was soon suppressed by Cromwell, who also defeated, at Preston, a Scotch army that had invaded England in behalf of the king (Aug. 17) . The Presbyterians, in the absence of the army, being predominant in parliament, began a treaty with Charles at Newport ”

“ An insurrection broke out, and the royal forces were defeated at Edgecote, near Banbury (July 26) . The queen’s father and one of her brothers captured soon after, and beheaded by the insurgents.
1470. An insurrection in Lincolnshire. The insurgents defeated by the king at Stamford (Mar. 12) . The earl of Warwick, the duke of Clarence (brother of Edward IV.) , and Queen Margaret, met at the court of Louis XI. of France, and were reconciled. Warwick and Clarence invaded England, and proclaimed Henry VI. Edward escaped to Flanders. ”

“ France declared war against Great Britain. Anson returned from his voyage round the world, during which he inflicted great damage on the Spaniards. Coalition ministry, of which Henry Pelham was head.
1745. The English and their allies, under the duke of Cumberland, were defeated at Fontenoy, in Belgium (May 11) . Cape Breton taken from the French. REBELLION IN SCOTLAND in behalf of the Pretender; his son, Charles Edward, landed, and defeated the royalists at Preston Pans, near Edinburgh (Sept. 21) . ”

“ The Russians, Prussians, and Austrians invaded France. Wellington defeated the French at Orthes (Feb. 27) and Toulouse (April 10) . NAPOLEON ABDICATED, and was allowed to retire to Elba. Louis XVIII. acknowledged king. Treaty of Paris (May 30) . Washington taken by the English. Peace concluded between England and the United States at Ghent (Dec. 24) .
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By the treaty of Paris, France was reduced to its limits as they stood in 1792. ”

“ The Bill of Rights declared—1, That it is illegal to suspend laws without consent of parliament; 2, That the pretended power of dispensing with laws, as it hath been exercised of late, is illegal; 3, That the commission for creating the late court of commissioners for ecclesiastical causes is illegal; 4, That it is illegal to levy money without consent of parliament; 5, That subjects have a right to petition the king; 6, That it is illegal to maintain a standing army in time of peace without consent of parliament; 7, That Protestant subjects may have arms for their defence ”

“ Charles shut up the exchequer, and thereby ruined a large number of persons whose money was in the hands of the government. He issued a declaration of indulgence to Catholics and Protestant Nonconformists, but it was withdrawn the next year, at the request of parliament. England and France declared war against Holland, and the Dutch were defeated off Southwold Bay (May 28) .
1673. Test Act passed. The duke of York, being a Catholic, resigned his office of lord high admiral. Sir Thomas Osborne, better known as the earl of Danby, became chief minister. ”

“ The crown, which was left by the late king to his daughter Matilda (widow of Henry V., emperor of Germany, and wife of Geoffrey Plantagenet, earl of Anjou) , usurped by Stephen.
1138. David I. of Scotland invaded England to support the cause of his niece Matilda. He was defeated at Northallerton (Aug. 22) . This battle generally called the Battle of the Standard.
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1139. Peace concluded with Scotland. Matilda, accompanied by her natural brother, Robert of Gloucester, invaded England. Civil war, which lasted for several years, and enabled the nobles to plunder and oppress the people. ”

“ Prince Rupert, the king’s nephew, took Bristol, but the king himself failed in an attempt on Gloucester. Royalists defeated at Newbury, in Berkshire, where the earls of Sunderland and Carnarvon and Lord Falkland were slain (Sept. 20) . Death of Pym.
1644. The king assembled a rival parliament (consisting of the loyal members) at Oxford. The Scots entered England to aid the Long Parliament. Royalists defeated at Nantwich (Jan. 25) . The parliamentarians, mainly by the military genius of Oliver Cromwell, gained a great victory at Marston Moor, in Yorkshire (July 2) . ”

“ Charles, on his death, left the whole to Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis, who determined, in spite of his agreement with William, to support his grandson; and hence ensued the war in the next reign.
1700. Death of the duke of Gloucester, son of the Princess Anne, and heir presumptive to the throne.
1701. ACT OF SETTLEMENT passed. William formed a grand alliance against France in behalf of the Archduke Charles, whom the allies recognised as king of Spain. Death of James II., whose son James was acknowledged king of England by Louis XIV.
By the Act of Settlement, Anne was to succeed William ”

“ Several provisions were inserted which were to take effect from the accession of the new line:—1. The sovereign must join in communion with the Church of England. 2. The nation shall not be obliged to go to war for the defence of any dominions not belonging to the English crown. ”

“ Quadruple Alliance between England, France, the emperor, and Holland, to resist the aggressive policy of Cardinal Alberoni, the chief minister of Spain. Sir George Byng defeated the Spanish fleet off Cape Passaro, in Sicily (Aug. 11) .
1720. The South Sea Company was invested with certain exclusive commercial privileges, and authorized to take up the whole of the National Debt, so as to become the sole public creditor.
1721. Robert Walpole and Lord Townshend became the king’s principal ministers. ”

“ Marlborough gained a great victory over the French at Ramilies, in Belgium (May 23) .
1707. Act of Union passed between England and Scotland. The English and their allies disastrously defeated at Almanza, in Spain, by the duke of Berwick (April 25) . First United Parliament of Great Britain met (Oct. 23) . ”

“ All persons charged with treason or felony must be tried at the next sessions after commitment, or else admitted to bail, and if not tried at the second sessions they must be discharged. 3. No person could be recommitted for the same offence. ”

“ Several of the principal Norman nobles conspired against the king. The insurrection suppressed by the aid of the Saxons.
1090. William intrigued against his elder brother Robert, duke of Normandy, in the hope of acquiring the duchy.
1091. William invaded Normandy. A treaty concluded between the brothers, by which the king obtained several towns in the duchy. Malcolm III., king of Scotland, invaded England, but was repulsed. ”

“ Edward returned, and was soon joined by Clarence. The Lancastrians, under Warwick, defeated by Edward at Barnet: Warwick, “the king-maker,” slain (April 14) . Margaret landed at Weymouth, and was defeated by Edward at Tewkesbury (May 4) . Prince Edward assassinated, and the duke of Somerset (brother of the commander at Hexham) executed.
1475. Edward demanded the crown of France, and invaded the country to enforce his claim. Treaty of Pecquigny (Aug. 29) . ”

“ Some of the presbyterians rose in Scotland, and were defeated on the Pentland Hills (Nov. 28) .
1667. The Dutch sailed up the Medway, and burnt several ships; and for some time insulted our coasts. Treaty of Breda, between the English, Dutch, and French (July 21) . Lord Clarendon, the king’s chief minister from the beginning of the reign, dismissed and banished. The Cabal ministry formed; the chief ministers being Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale.
1668. Triple Alliance between England, Holland, and Sweden, to check the aggressive policy of Louis. ”

“ D. Edward was the eldest surviving son of Richard, duke of York, who was the lineal descendant of Lionel, duke of Clarence, son of Edward III. B. at Rouen, 1441. M. Elizabeth Woodville. Dd. at Westminster, April 9, 1483. R. 22 years (1461 to 1483) .
1461. Edward defeated the Lancastrians, under the duke of Somerset (son of the duke slain at St. Alban’s) , at Towton, in Yorkshire: total loss 38,000 (Mar. 29) . Henry and Margaret escaped into Scotland. ”

“ Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More attainted of high treason for refusing to acknowledge the invalidity of Henry’s marriage with Catherine.
1535. Fisher and More executed for declining to acknowledge Henry as head of the church. Cromwell appointed the king’s vicar-general in ecclesiastical matters.
1536. Wales incorporated with England, and subjected to English laws. Suppression of the lesser monasteries. Insurrection in Lincolnshire, and another in Yorkshire, called the Pilgrimage of Grace, both of which were caused by the changes in religion. ”

“ Henry gained a great victory at AGINCOURT (Oct. 25) ; the French loss 10,000, the English, 1,600.
1419. Rouen captured by the English, after a siege of nearly six months (Jan. 19) . The duke of Burgundy assassinated in the presence of the dauphin: the duke’s son at once joined the English.
1420. Treaty of Troyes (May 21) : Henry was to marry Catherine, to govern France in the name of Charles, who was insane, and on his death to succeed him.
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1421. The duke of Clarence, the king’s brother, defeated and slain by the dauphin’s troops at Beaugé in Anjou (Mar. 22) . ”

“ Death of the duke of Gloucester,—said by most historians to have been assassinated. Death of his rival, Cardinal Beaufort. Edmund Beaufort, duke of Somerset, succeeded the duke of York as regent in France. ”

“ The amount of information is surprising, and it is sure to be popular.”—Catholic Educator.
“This careful summary of English History is intended for pupils in the middle forms of public and private schools; it is well adapted for this purpose.”—Educational Times.
“Mr. Curtis is successful in presenting the facts of English History, clearly and concisely.”—Literary World.
2.—School and College History of England. Containing Chapters on Religion, Government, Trade, &c. 28,000 sold. Cr. 8vo. 5/6
“It is a pleasure to meet with a history that is correct in its facts. ”

“ Will be found one of the best books for teaching grammar to elementary classes. The examples have a merit that we believe is peculiar to the work. Mr Curtis gives full directions for parsing every class of word in each of the eight divisions. ”

“ IRISH REBELLION. The rebels defeated several times, and the rebellion suppressed. Battle of THE NILE, in which Nelson almost destroyed the French fleet (Aug. 1) .
1799. Generals Harris and Baird besieged and captured Seringapatam: Tippoo Saib killed (May 4) . Buonaparte unsuccessfully besieged Acre, which was defended by Sir Sidney Smith. He returned to France, and was declared First Consul.
1800. The Irish parliament agreed to a legislative union with England. Malta taken from the French (Sept. 5) . Maritime confederacy formed against England by Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Denmark. ”

“ The Scots having made incursions in the north of England, Richard advanced against them, and burnt Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Perth, and Dundee.
1386. The king’s favourites, De Vere, duke of Ireland, and De la Pole, earl of Suffolk, removed from office, and Suffolk impeached. ”

“ Dissolution of parliament. Mr. Gladstone became premier. Burial Laws Amendment Act passed, permitting nonconformists to be buried in Church of England burial grounds, without the service of that church. The Speaker of the House of Commons invested with the power of the Closure. Rising of the Boers in the Transvaal. Abdul Rahman (nephew of Shere Ali) proclaimed Ameer of Cabul by the British: and end of the second Afghan war.
1881. Defeat of the British by the Boers at Majuba Hill. Assassination of Alexander II., Emperor of Russia. Death of Lord Beaconsfield. ”