to its enemies. The northern nations as if by general consent, issued forth and assailed it through the whole length of its frontiers; and though often repelled, they reiterated their attacks, till at length they obtained a final conquest. The Romans, unable to stand before their enemies on the Continent, withdrew their legions from Britain, four hundred and three years subsequent to their first settlement in the country.

From their possession of the country for so long a period, it is natural to infer, that their customs, laws, and arts, had become deeply rooted among the Britons; and that on their departure these would be observed, and continue to maintain their influence. It is not possible for a people in any degree civilized to relapse all at once into a state of barbarism; and it is probable the Britons would adhere to those institutions the Romans had established among them.

The Britons do not appear to have adopted their language. The higher ranks acquired it as an elegant and necessary accomplishment; but the lower orders continued to speak in their native dialect. Conquerors find it more difficult to change the language of a people, than their institutions and manners.

On the departure of the Romans from this place and neighbourhood, many of their buildings would be left uninhabited, and would soon become ruins: and subsequent events would obliterate the remembrance of those which had preceded. Few vestiges of the Roman name and greatness now remain; and had not the page of History outlived the works of art, it would have been impossible to have traced the existence of this once famous people either in this place or neighbourhood,

D

The Romans flattered themselves with the hope, that their government and dominions would be eternal. And if we consider the wisdom of their institutions; the propriety and equity of their laws; the elegance of their arts; their military achievements; their high spirit and invincible courage, such a hope may appear to be well founded; but when on the other hand we contemplate their vices, luxuries, and oppression, we see the falacy of their hope and the principal causes of their ruin. The same virtues which acquire dominion are requisite to preserve and keep it; and if a people cease to be virtuous, they will ultimately cease to command. While the rise, greatness, and duration, of the Roman state for so many ages, shew what the union of wisdom, justice and valour can accomplish; their final subversion and ruin shew also what must be the end of every state in which vice prevails over virtue.

Vain fluctuating state of human empire!

First small and weak it scarcely rears its head,
Scarce stretching out its helpless infant arms,
Implores protection of its neighbour states,
Who nurse it to their hurt. Anon it strives
For pow'r and wealth, and spurns at opposition.
Arriv'd to full maturity it grasps

At all within its reach, o'erleaps all bounds,
Robs, ravages and wastes the affrighted world.
At length grown old, and swell'd to bulk enormous,
The monster in its proper bowels feeds
Pride, luxury, corruption, perfidy,
Contention, fell diseases of a state,

That prey upon her vitals. Of her weakness
Some other rising pow'r advantage takes,
(Unequal Match !) plies with repeated strokes
Her infirm aged trunk: she nods-she totters—
She falls-alas! never to rise again.

The victor state upon her ruins rais'd,

Runs the same shadowy round of fancy'd greatness,
And meets the same certain end.

SECTION II.

On the Saxon period, and the introduction of Christianity.

THE name of this place in the time of the Saxons was Kirkby a name evidently posterior to the introduction of christianity, and imposed on the erection of a christian church. A church is called kirk* in many parts of this country, and is invariably so denominated in Scotland. The term Bye, is Saxon for an habitation, and when joined with kirk, signifies the town or hamlet near to or around the church.

There is in this neighbourhood a South-Kirby, a place of considerable antiquity, as it is so called in Doomsday-book. It is not improbable that as this name was imposed for a similar reason, it was

* The term Kirk is derived from the Greek, (Kufiaxos) denoting what belongs to the Lord; and has been applied to the building in which he is worshipped. The word translated church, in the New Testament, is (Exxn) and in no instance denotes a building, but an assembly of people; and in the old versions of the Bible, it was always rendered congregation; a word which conveys the sense of the original much better than the technical term adopted by King James's translators; and it has this further advantage over the word church, that the bulk of the common people could not misunderstand it.

In the articles, the word church is defined to be, "an assembly of faithful men," but how few are there, who on using the word church, affix to it the same ideas as are contained in the definition. The popular has nearly obliterated the theological sense. Vid. Pearson in Cred.

called south, to distinguish it from this Kirkby which lay north of it,

The Saxons at their arrival in Britain were equally strangers to the doctrines and genuine spirit of christianity. The idols of their fathers were the objects of their profound veneration and regard; and their mythology while it displays the wildness of the untutored mind, strikingly delineates their habits and character. It seems wholly designed to inspire a contempt of death and a love of martial glory. By attaching disgrace and infamy to cowardice, both in the present and in a future world, it forcibly operated on all the energies of the mind, and contributed in a considerable degree to form their warlike character. The fear of disgrace prompted to deeds of the most daring valour.

This mythology equally flattered the hope and ambition of the brave. It held out to them the never fading laurels of fame, and the enjoyment of the spoil and wealth of their vanquished enemies. Amid the dangers of war and the carnage of battle, they were taught to believe, that though they should fall on the ensanguined plain, they should enjoy in the invisible state, "their airy hall," the luxury of drinking ale out of the skulls of those they had slain *.

*The mythology of the Saxons is interwoven with our lan-' guage, and many of their wild notions are still entertained among the vulgar. From the objects of their worship, the days of our week have derived their names. The first and second, they dedicated to the Sun and Moon-Hence, Sun-day and Moon-day. The third and fourth, were dedicated to Tuisco and Woden, hence, Tuisco's-day and Woden's-day. The fifth, sixth and seventh, in like manner to Thor, Freea, and Seater; and hence, Thor's-day, Freea's-day, and Seater's-day.

Besides the above Gods and Godesses, inferior kind, to whom they paid respcct

they had others of an Such was Eostre, to

The influence of this mythology on the manners and conduct of our Saxon ancestors may easily be inferred. Strangers to the decencies and refinements of civilized life, they delighted in the turbulence of war and the effusion of blood. Unaccustomed to reason on the propriety or equity of any undertak ing, and governed solely by interest, or impelled by caprice, they attacked all who opposed their de signs. Like the corsairs of Barbary they infested for a century the northern seas; and whatever fell into their hands was deemed a lawful prize*. By their

whom they sacrificed in the month of April, which was from thence denominated Eostur monath; and on their conversion, the name was continued and applied to the resurrection. Another of their Gods was called Mara, supposed to terrify people in theit sleep, whence comes the word night-mare. The doctrines of Elfs and Fairies is purely Saxon; and to these imaginary beings, they offered a peculiar kind of sacrifice called Alf-blot. Many still believe, that the green circles which are seen in meadows, have been the theatre of their midnight gambols; and that an exudation from a particular species of plant, is the butter they have made. Vid. Brands. pop. Ant.

* TACITUS observes, that they accounted it more honourable to take the necessaries of life from others, than by honest industry to provide them for themselves. Their laws and customs had all a tendency to inspire courage, and form them for warriors. No man could bear arms till he was solemnly admitted to the privilege in a general assembly.

A man was not suffered to cut his beard, till he had slain his enemy, or taken his standard from him.

If any one quitted the field of battle without success, he was under a temporary disgrace.

If any left the field, where his general was slain, he wat branded with perpetual infamy.

If a soldier lost his shield in battle, he was interdicted their sacred rites, on account of which many committed suicide.

For a man to die of disease or in bed, they held to be dishonourable, and believed that all such could be excluded from the joys of a future happy state.