PART II. OF THE ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF LYNN, WITH A SKETCH OF THE

HISTORY FROM ITS FIRST RISE TO THE NORMAN CONQUEST.

CHAP. I.

_Of Lynn while Britain formed a part of the Roman empire_. SECT. 1. Present town or borough of Lynn of no great 213 antiquity—its site not the same with that of the original town—the probable site of the latter, and era of its origin. SECT. 2. Digression relating to the first introduction of 216 Christianity into Britain—Bardism. SECT 3. Ancient history of Lynn continued—town supposed to 220 have been founded by a colony of foreigners introduced by the Romans—etymology of its name—mistakes of Camden, Spelman, &c. SECT. 4. Lynn the mother-town of the fens—further account 223 of its supposed founders and original inhabitants—remarkable works executed by them—great improvers of the country—account continued to the extinction of the Roman power. CHAP. II.

_Immediate consequence of the abdication of the country by the Romans_, _and probable fate of Lynn_. SECT. 1. Character of the Anglo-Saxons, with general 228 observations on the invasion and conquest of this country by them, and their barbarous treatment of the inhabitants. SECT. 2. Of the ANGLES, from whom England and the English 235 language derive their names—they seize on the parts about Lynn, and the whole province of the ancient ICENI, which receives the denomination of East Anglia, and forms one of the kingdoms of the Heptarchy—revival of Lynn in the mean time—with remarks on the adjacent country. SECT. 3. Of the _Saltworks_ formerly at and about 239 Lynn—paucity of appropriate materials to elucidate that subject—apology. CHAP. III.

_Of the religious profession of the first Anglian inhabitants of Lynn—their renouncing heathenism_, _and assuming the christian name—account of their conversion_, _and character of their Christianity_. SECT. 1. Heathenism the religion of this town at the 241 commencement of the Heptarchy—our townsmen and the rest of the East Angles, with the other branches of the Heptarchy, become professors of Christianity—account of their conversion. SECT. 2. Effects of the conversion of the East Angles, and 244 the sister kingdoms—character of their Christianity. SECT. 3. Christianity of the ancient inhabitants of Lynn 248 and of this country further characterized—whether very materially improved during the reign of ALFRED—remarks on that reign—papal instructions to the first missionaries. CHAP. IV.

_Miscellaneous observations_, _on the social distinctions and the general state of the community among the Anglo-Saxons_. SECT. 1. State of society at Lynn, and in this country, 253 before the conquest. SECT. 2. Of the _Wittenagemote_ and other courts—maxims of 258 jurisprudence—institution of tythings—nuptial and funeral rites—sacerdotal, domestic, and other customs among the Anglo-Saxons. SECT. 3. State of learning, and of the medical profession, 264 among the Anglo-Saxons. SECT. 4. Expressive and remarkable names of the 266 months—state of the coinage or currency—general value of different commodities in this country before the conquest—slavery—comparison with the present course of things. SECT. 5. Probability that Lynn was formerly concerned in 270 the exportation of slaves—comparison between the ancient and modern English slave dealers—_slaves_ and _horses_ the chief exports of this country in those days—_corn_ not then exported, though it had been formerly—imports, commerce, miscellaneous hints and observations. SECT. 6. Population of Lynn and the country in general, 277 before the conquest—condition of the bulk of the inhabitants in the mean time—sufferings of the inhabitants of Lynn and the adjacent country from the _Danes_—intrepid and ferocious character of that people—instruments of vengeance on the Anglo-Saxons—their despotism and character not much changed by their conversion to Christianity, so called—remarkable instances of imposition, superstition, and credulity. SECT. 7. Of the Heptarchy and its history—remarks on 284 _Egbert_, _Alfred_, and their most renowned successors—character of _Canute_ and _Edward the Confessor_—the latter the first of our monarchs that touched for the Evil—remarks on that circumstance, and the prevalence of that complaint in these parts. SECT. 8. State of Lynn in the confessor’s time—chief sway 289 borne here then by Stigand, Ailmer, and Harold—great power of the latter, and sketch of his character—obtains the crown at the confessor’s death—is soon disturbed by two formidable invasions; one from the Danish or Norwegian shores under _Halfagar_, whom he vanquishes; the other from France, under William the Norman bastard, in opposing whom he is himself vanquished and slain, which places the conqueror on the English throne without further struggle, through the defection and machinations of our bishops and clergy. SECT. 9. Sketch of the practice of the _royal touch_ in 298 England, or a historical essay on the memorable _empiricism of our English sovereigns_, from Edward the confessor to George the first—credulity of _Whiston_ and _Carte_—quackery, medical, political, and theological still prevalent among us, though that of the _royal touch_ has ceased—_Richard Brothers_, _Joanna Southcote_, and _William Pitt_—memoir of the _Dumb doctor_.