Essay on the Life and Institutions of Offa, King of Mercia

E S S A Y

ON

THE LIFE AND INSTITUTIONS

OF

O F F A,

KING OF MERCIA,

A. D. 755–794.

BY THE

REV. HENRY MACKENZIE,

M. A.

OF PEMBROKE COLLEGE, OXFORD; MASTER OF

BANCROFT’S HOSPITAL.

“Offa restauratus regali stirpe creatus Erigitur; spernit quæ degenerantia cernit—

Armis donatur: Cato, Mars, Paris, hic reputatur.

Quo floret tuta duce Marcia lege statuta

Ense superborum vires reprimens, dominatur.

Hunc Rex Francorum Carolus timet et veneratur.

Communi voto cum clero Marcia toto

Offæ concedit sese, cui mitis obedit,

Ergo coronatur: ex tunc Rex jure vocatur!”

V. Matth. Westm., A. D. 779.

LONDON:

HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW; SMITH, ELDER, & CO., CORNHILL; AND H. WIX, NEW BRIDGE

STREET.

1840.

Printed by E. Couchman, 10, Throgmorton Street, London.

TO

JOSEPH BOSWORTH, D. D.

OF

TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,

F. R. S., F. S. A.,

BRITISH CHAPLAIN AT ROTTERDAM,

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY OF LEYDEN,

MEMBER OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF THE

NETHERLANDS,

&c. &c. &c.

IN TOKEN OF

RESPECT FOR HIS LABORIOUS

ACQUIREMENTS,

(MORE ESPECIALLY WITH REFERENCE TO

THE ANGLO-SAXON LANGUAGE AND

LITERATURE,)

ESTEEM FOR THE

CHRISTIAN SINGLE-MINDEDNESS OF HIS

CHARACTER,

AND

AFFECTIONATE REGARD FOR HIMSELF,

THIS ESSAY

IS INSCRIBED.