Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 16.djvu/14

6 was so famous for beating the Saxons in several battles.

A. D 600. The Britons received Christianity very early, and, as is reported, from some of the disciples themselves: so that, when the Romans left Britain, the Britons were generally Christians. But the Saxons were Heathens, till pope Gregory the Great sent over hither Austin the monk, by whom Ethelbert king of the South Saxons and his subjects were converted to Christianity; and the whole island soon followed the example.

A. D. 800. After many various revolutions in this island among the kingdoms of the Saxons, Egbert descended from the West-Saxon kings, became sole monarch or England.

The language in Britain was British (now called Welsh) or Latin; but with the Saxons, English came in, although extremely different from what it is now. The present names of towns, shires, &c. were given by them; and the whole kingdom was called England from the Angles, who were a branch of the Saxons.

As soon as the Saxons were settled, the Danes began to trouble and invade them, as they (the Saxons) had before done the Britons.

These Danes came out of Germany, Denmark, and Norway; a rough warlike people, little different from the Saxons, to whom they were nigh neighbours.

After many invasions from the Danes, Edgar king of England sets forth the first navy. He was entitled "King of all Albion" (an old name of this island) and was the first absolute monarch. He made