Per Deus Ut Meus Testis
Foreword
It is a common contemporary misconception amongst much of the world’s population that the pre-eminence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain is a modern phenomenon. While this may be correct in one respect, historians and the informed citizen know better. In actuality, the ascendency of the British was a progression over a period of time, whereby England was politically, economically, and socially transformed from a veritable backward nation into a nation which is incontestably considered the most influential, if not powerful, nation in the world. Alas, it is regrettable that the proliferation of this knowledge has not occurred in a desirable manner, as most individuals (barring historians, school children, and some worldly men and women) are quite ignorant to the colourful, and, indeed, awe inspiring history of Great Britain, and, before her, England.
In penning this book, it is my humble intention to rectify the aforementioned issue, which is untenable and unacceptable. I deem it my mission to provide an accurate, informed summary of the major events in the history of the English people with a degree of observation and insight. While I may not always succeed in this goal, I hope, nay, pray that I achieve a measure of success whereby I provide even a rudimentary understanding of British history to the general populace.
While I am indeed a PhD in history, I urge the reader to critically analyze all that he/she reads within this book regarding relevant British historical events, for academic opinions are just that – opinions. The insight which I shall frequently provide need not be taken for gospel truth, as it can neither be considered a uniform judgment on historical events or an established fact in and of itself. In seeking to pen this manuscript, my foremost intention is to allow you, the reader, to establish a knowledgeable opinion on British, and this cannot be done through the suppression of your right to debate. Thus, I implore you not to place that crippling self-imposed suppression upon yourself by taking my regarding my insight as an “established fact.”
At this juncture, I would seek not to dissipate the time you would spend reading this book. I would merely end with the following note; whatever your preconceptions may be, approach the content discussed herein openly and attempt to derive amusement from the study of British history.
Dr. Nathaniel Augustus Cooper, PhD History