OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND, NOW FIRST COLLECTED From the Originals IN ROYAL ARCHIVES, AND FROM OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES, EDITED, WITH AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION AND NOTES, BY Phillipps JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, ESQ., F.R.S., HON. M.R.I.A., HON. M.R.S.L., F.S.A., ETC. "Nothing is so capable of giving a true account of History as Letters are; which describe VOL. I. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1846. THE NEW YORK ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. 1899. Frederick Shoberl, Junior, Printer to His Royal Highness Prince Albert, 51, Rupert Street, Haymarket, London. INTRODUCTION. Although the leading facts of English History may be regarded as universally known, it must be acknowledged that an intimate acquaintance with the subject is by no means widely diffused; and, as it cannot be considered foreign to the purpose of a work of this nature to enter briefly into the probable causes of this deficiency, which appears somewhat paradoxical in an age when the progress of educational knowledge of every kind is boasted of as a proof of our gigantic advance in civilization, we may perhaps be permitted to preface a Collection of Letters of the Kings of England by a few general observations with reference to this point; not considering it in any way necessary to enlarge on the vast importance of the study which these volumes are intended to illustrate, nor to expatiate on the manner in which that object has been attempted to be accomplished, The first and most obvious reason for the defect we have alluded to is undoubtedly to be sought for in our limited and confined system of public and University a |