The exigencies of space have compelled the authors to pass briefly over the later period of attempted invasions, and to concentrate attention upon those attempts which actually succeeded so far as to effect a landing upon English soil. An exception has, however, been made in regard to Napoleon’s project of 1804-5, which has been briefly discussed. It was the last attempt of an ancient enemy, France having been actively organizing invasions of England in 1744 and again in 1759. The latter project was ably planned by Choiseul and Belleisle, and was at least as feasible as Napoleon’s far more celebrated design; but it shared its fate of hopeless failure owing to Britain’s supremacy on the sea. To Mr. Julian Corbett the authors are indebted for his kindness in reading the proofs of the chapters on the Armada period. The observations on Napoleon’s project of invasion are based entirely upon the works of Mr. Corbett and Colonel Desbrière. In writing on a subject of such permanently vital interest to the British nation as the question of invasion, it may be thought desirable that the authors should express the conclusions to which they have been led in the course of their researches. They, however, prefer to merely direct the attention of their readers to the fact that no successful invasion of England has taken place since 1066 without the active sympathy and assistance of a considerable section of the population. Prior to that date Britain and England were not in any real sense of the word single united communities. The salient fact is that so long as England remained strong at sea, and her strength was intelligently and vigorously directed, she was able to beat off every serious attempt against her. It is unnecessary to insist here on the universally accepted axiom that British national and imperial existence rests on the maintenance of a supreme navy. The maps have all been drawn by the authors for the express purpose of illustrating their deductions, and among the objects illustrated are several which have never before, it is believed, been depicted in any published work. EDWARD FOORD. GORDON HOME. _September, 1913._ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. CÆSAR’S INVASIONS 1 II. THE CLAUDIAN INVASION AND THE ROMAN CONQUEST 30 III. THE ROMAN PROVINCE AND THE EARLIER TEUTONIC INVASIONS 58 IV. THE ENGLISH CONQUEST 85 V. THE VIKING RAVAGES 114 VI. ALFRED AND THE SAVING OF WESSEX 132 VII. THE CONQUEST OF THE DANELAW 152 VIII. LATER VIKING RAIDS AND THE DANISH CONQUEST 162 IX. THE INVASIONS OF 1066 177