THE HISTORY O F ENGLAND, AS WELL Ecclefiaftical as Civil. H BAY V Mr. DE RAPIN THOYRA S. VOL. II. In Two PARTS. PART I. Contains the Reigns of ETHELRED II, Sweyn, PART II. Contains the Reigns of WILLIAM the Conque- Done into ENGLISH from the FRENCH, with large and N. TINDAL, M. A. Vicar of Great Illuftrated with the Heads of the Kings, &c. Curiously LONDON, Printed for JAMES and JOHN KNAPTON, 98. 96.98 96 96 96 96 96 96 (96) 96196 96 966 (96) (96) 96 (96) (96) (96) (96) : 96) (96): (96) (96) (96) (96) To the HONOURABLE Sir CHARLES WAGER, K One of the Lords Commiffioners for Executing the Office of Lord High-Admiral of GreatBritain, Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron of his Majefty's Fleet, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Squadron of Ships now in the Baltick, and Plenipotentiary to the Court of Sweden. SIR, T HIS Tranflation, to which I make bold to prefix your Name, amongst other remarkable Occurrences, gives an Account of Two great Revolutions in England; the Firft by the Danish, the Second by the Norman Arms: Both which are are ftanding Monuments of the Neceffity of a Naval Force, not only for the Grandeur, but the Safeguard of our Ifland. For as the Weakness of our Ancestors, their little Reputation Abroad, their being continually liable to Foreign Invafions, was chiefly, if not altogether, owing to the want of a Fleet; fo on the contrary, they grew more Strong and Powerful, their Dread of Invafions difappear'd, and their Fame gain'd Ground in the World, in Proportion as their Shipping encreas'd. And now that we are at this prefent Height of Grandeur and Glory, have the Balance of Power in our Hands, are more Formidable than ever, not only to the Neighbouring, but most Distant Nations, keep in Awe (as You your Self experience at this very Time) the Disturbers of the Peace of Europe, and compel them, tho' never fo unwilling, to fit down in Quiet, proceeds entirely from the Flourishing Condition of our Navy, which for Number of Ships, for Stout and Able Sailors, and for Brave and Experienc'd Officers, I may venture to fay is not to be equall'd by all the Maritime Powers of Europe. WE have likewife in this Part of Mr. de Rapin's Hiftory, an impartial Account of the Origin of our Conftitution, particularly in the Dif fertation on the Government, Laws, &c. of the Anglo-Saxons, and a plain Refutation of that groundless and pernicious Notion, started among us of late Years, that all the Rights and Privi. leges of the People of England are but fo many Conceffions of their Princes. For here all may |