CHAPTER II.
Many days did not pass away before Edward and Lewis had made themselves pretty well acquainted with the town of Brighton; its principal streets, public buildings, squares, esplanades, &c.
Mr. Ashton was obliged to leave his family sooner than he had anticipated; but the little boys ever found a friend and companion in their affectionate mother, ready to enter into their plans, and assist them in any difficulty.
The children spent much of their time out of doors, but sometimes it happened, that their mamma was not at liberty to accompany them; or, worse than all, the weather would not permit their leaving the house; and there was then little passing in the streets. At such times the question was, “What shall we do to amuse and employ ourselves? If we were at home, we could look at some of the large books of prints in the library, or read some of our own, or play with our historical or geographical games.”
At last mamma thought of a plan, and the boys agreed that it would be a very good one. Edward and Lewis were each provided with a little book, in which they intended to write an account of any thing that interested them, during their stay at Brighton, Mrs. Ashton promising to assist them with any information in her power; and thus they were furnished with amusement and instruction for many a leisure hour. Then came the comparison of the memorandums each had made.
Lewis found Edward had mentioned many things that had never entered his little giddy head; at any rate, he seemed to think them not worth remembering. Perhaps you would have thought Lewis’s history the most entertaining; but then there were many blotted leaves, and sentences left unfinished. Often, when he was seated at the table, intending to write very industriously, the sound of a horn, or of a passing vehicle, would draw him to the window; then he must wait to see the passengers mount, and the coach start: then a gay party on horseback would pass, or a pretty little chaise drawn by a goat, till he found it very difficult to recall his scattered thoughts; and the memorandum-book stood a poor chance of coming in for a share of his attention. He really was sorry, however, when he compared his brother’s neatly written pages with his own, and thought how much more pleasure his papa would have in looking at them.
“Edward,” said he, one day, looking over his brother’s shoulder, “where did you learn all this about the early history of Brighton?”
Edward confessed that he should have known very little about it, if his mamma had not assisted him, and pointed out the accounts in some of the books at the library.
Lewis looked half ashamed; for he recollected that he had had the same opportunity of gaining information.
“Now, Edward,” said he, drawing his chair close to the table, “you shall tell me all you can about it; but I will not promise to write it all in my manuscript book; only the most entertaining things.”
Edward was pleased with the office Lewis had chosen for him.
“First, then,” said he, “I must tell you that Brighton, or more properly Brighthelmstone, is of Saxon origin; for it is said, the Saxons invaded it in the fifth century, and afterwards settled here. It is said, also, that it took its name from Brighthelm, a Saxon chief, to whom Ella, the invader, gave the place. Many years afterwards it was possessed by the family of Godwin, earl of Kent, and from him it descended to his son Harold.”
“Ah! poor king Harold,” said Lewis, “I recollect he was killed in the battle of Hastings, while he was fighting against William the Conqueror. I think I shall write something about that famous battle.”
Edward thought it would be well to do so, because the battle was fought on that very coast, and because Brighton changed masters in consequence; for William the Conqueror gave all poor king Harold’s possessions to his son-in-law, William de Warren.
“Perhaps,” Edward said, “you will not think it worth while to notice the next thing my book mentions; which is, that a charter for a weekly market was obtained for the town of Brighton, in 1313.”
Lewis thought it was a sign of its being, even at so early a period, a place of some consequence; and supposed it had been getting larger and richer ever since, until it had grown into what they saw it.
Edward told him he was in a great hurry to finish the story; but that the thievish Danes had no mind for letting Brighton alone so quietly, whilst it remained open to their attacks, and offered so fair a prospect for their enriching themselves. After the Danes, the French made frequent warlike incursions on this line of coast, plundering and shedding blood wherever they appeared.
“But,” asked Lewis, “why did not the people do something to keep away these troublesome Frenchmen? If they let them come quietly and take away their property, I think they were poor tame things, and did not deserve much pity.”
“Ah! but you are mistaken there,” said Edward: “though their king, Edward III., was engaged in a war in France, and had left his own country undefended, the people here established a protective guard of their own: they were some of the bravest men among the seamen and inhabitants, and mounted on their fleet horses, they were ready at a moment’s call, when danger was apprehended.”
“Many years after this, during the war between Henry VIII. and Louis XII., the French appeared on the coast, with the intention of burning Brighton. Soon, however, the beacons were lighted; and the people seeing them, far and near, came together in such numbers, that the French thought it best to take themselves off without putting their cruel plan into execution. Queen Elizabeth afterwards granted some money to the town of Brighton, with which land was purchased, and a building made to hold their stores and ammunition: beside this, she ordered four strong gates to be built, leading from the cliff to the town beneath it, and a high wall of flints, which extended on both sides of the storehouse.”
“Well,” said Lewis, “I think they were pretty well off then, and had no need to fear the French, or any other foes.”
Edward said he thought it was much better to live in peaceable days, such as they lived in, and to have no foes to fear. “But see, Lewis!” he exclaimed, “mamma is coming across the Steyne, and she has something in her hand: who will be there first, to see what it can be? Never mind the history now; you can have my book in the evening.”
Lewis soon forgot the history and all belonging to it, and was at his mother’s side.