LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP and Other Early Works also spelled LOVE AND FREINDSHIP

Italy and to bring him his little Louisa whom both her Mother,

Step-mother, and himself are equally desirous of beholding. As

to our accepting his invitation, it is at Present very uncertain;

Lady Lesley advises us to go without loss of time; Fitzgerald

offers to escort us there, but Matilda has some doubts of the

Propriety of such a scheme–she owns it would be very agreable.

I am certain she likes the Fellow. My Father desires us not to

be in a hurry, as perhaps if we wait a few months both he and

Lady Lesley will do themselves the pleasure of attending us.

Lady Lesley says no, that nothing will ever tempt her to forego

the Amusements of Brighthelmstone for a Journey to Italy merely

to see our Brother. “No (says the disagreable Woman) I have once

in my life been fool enough to travel I dont know how many

hundred Miles to see two of the Family, and I found it did not

answer, so Deuce take me, if ever I am so foolish again.”So says

her Ladyship, but Sir George still Perseveres in saying that

perhaps in a month or two, they may accompany us.

Adeiu my Dear Charlotte

Yrs faithful Margaret Lesley.

*

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND

FROM THE REIGN OF HENRY THE 4TH TO THE DEATH OF CHARLES THE 1ST

BY A PARTIAL, PREJUDICED, AND IGNORANT HISTORIAN.

*

To Miss Austen, eldest daughter of the Rev. George Austen, this

work is inscribed with all due respect by

THE AUTHOR.

N.B. There will be very few Dates in this History.

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND

HENRY the 4th

Henry the 4th ascended the throne of England much to his own

satisfaction in the year 1399, after having prevailed on his

cousin and predecessor Richard the 2nd, to resign it to him, and

to retire for the rest of his life to Pomfret Castle, where he

happened to be murdered. It is to be supposed that Henry was

married, since he had certainly four sons, but it is not in my

power to inform the Reader who was his wife. Be this as it may,

he did not live for ever, but falling ill, his son the Prince of

Wales came and took away the crown; whereupon the King made a

long speech, for which I must refer the Reader to Shakespear’s

Plays, and the Prince made a still longer. Things being thus

settled between them the King died, and was succeeded by his son

Henry who had previously beat Sir William Gascoigne.

HENRY the 5th

This Prince after he succeeded to the throne grew quite reformed

and amiable, forsaking all his dissipated companions, and never

thrashing Sir William again. During his reign, Lord Cobham was

burnt alive, but I forget what for. His Majesty then turned his

thoughts to France, where he went and fought the famous Battle of

Agincourt. He afterwards married the King’s daughter Catherine,

a very agreable woman by Shakespear’s account. In spite of all

this however he died, and was succeeded by his son Henry.

HENRY the 6th

I cannot say much for this Monarch’s sense. Nor would I if I

could, for he was a Lancastrian. I suppose you know all about

the Wars between him and the Duke of York who was of the right

side; if you do not, you had better read some other History, for

I shall not be very diffuse in this, meaning by it only to vent

my spleen AGAINST, and shew my Hatred TO all those people whose

parties or principles do not suit with mine, and not to give

information. This King married Margaret of Anjou, a Woman whose

distresses and misfortunes were so great as almost to make me who

hate her, pity her. It was in this reign that Joan of Arc lived

and made such a ROW among the English. They should not have

burnt her –but they did. There were several Battles between the

Yorkists and Lancastrians, in which the former (as they ought)

usually conquered. At length they were entirely overcome; The

King was murdered–The Queen was sent home–and Edward the 4th

ascended the Throne.

EDWARD the 4th

This Monarch was famous only for his Beauty and his Courage, of

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