From Extracts, Describing the Ancient Manner of Placing the Kingdom in Military Array; The Various Modes of Defence Adopted for its Safety in Periods of Danger; and The Evidence of Foreigners as to the National Character and Personal Bravery of the English. Taken from Original State Papers of the Sixteenth Century Collected on the Continent, and hitherto Inedited. Anonymous [Rev. William Gunn], London: W. Bulmer and Co., 1803: pp. i-vi.
EXTRACTS,
DESCRIBING THE
ANCIENT MANNER OF PLACING THE KINGDOM
IN MILITARY ARRAY;
THE
VARIOUS MODES OF DEFENCE ADOPTED FOR ITS
SAFETY IN PERIODS OF DANGER;
AND
THE EVIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS AS TO THE
NATIONAL CHARACTER AND PERSONAL BRAVERY
OF THE ENGLISH.
TAKEN FROM ORIGINAL STATE PAPERS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
COLLECTED ON THE CONTINENT, AND HITHERTO INEDITED.
______________
_______________
———— è rimasta (Inghilterra) tanto potente, — che non ha bisogno d’ altri per la propria difesa : anzi non solo è difficile, ma si può dire impossibile, se non è divisione nel regno, che per via di forza possa essere conquistata. (Pag. 8.)
_______________
______________
LONDON :
_______
_______
PRINTED BY W. BULMER AND CO. CLEVELAND-ROW,
AND SOLD BY G. AND W. NICOL, BOOKSELLERS TO HIS MAJESTY,
PALL-MALL.
1803.
< ii >AS A
TRIBUTE OF THE HIGHEST VENERATION AND ESTEEM,
THE
FOLLOWING EXTRACTS
ARE INSCRIBED
TO THE
HONOURABLE COLONEL WODEHOUSE,
BY
HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT
THE EDITOR.
A FEW years ago, the Editor obtained from the Library of the Pontifical and other Palaces in Rome, copies of State Papers relating to the affairs and history of this country, and which had escaped the researches of former travellers. As circumstances have hitherto retarded their appearance, in the original form, the following Extracts are now offered to the Public.
His motive in the selection has been to shew, not only the conduct of our forefathers, in times claiming some analogy to our own, but also to exhibit the testimony which foreigners, and those frequently enemies, bear to the unsubdued valour and successful bravery of the English. It is, indeed, an encomium of high distinction to this nation, that fm the period she dates her importance among the states of Modern Europe, she has preserved unimpaired her honour and independence; and counteracted both the open and the insidious attempts of a necessitous and rapacious foe; who, stimulated by envy of her happiness, and incited by the allurement of her treasures, has ever meditated < vi > her destruction; but who, yet, in the contest of ages, has never, with impunity, set foot on her shores, or insulted her coasts. — A homage so flattering, and offered by men who can incur no imputation of partiality, must be gratifying to every lover of his country, as those best entitled to the esteem of posterity are most inclined to exult in the merits of their ancestors.