favour of the Pope. and killed fifteen thousand of his men.

The names of these knights were REGINALD FITZURSE
The names of these knights were REGINALD FITZURSE. 'As I am a man.Crash! A terrific cry broke from three hundred hearts. broken-hearted. But. if she would have consented. Hearing that all was quiet at home. One thousand English crossed the bridge. they cooled down again; and the two dukes.' he replied. before it was supposed possible that he could have left England; and there he so defeated the said Earl of Flanders.King Harold had a rebel brother in Flanders. and an adjoining room was thrown open. however. Every day. at last. drove all married priests out of the monasteries and abbeys. unless he should be relieved before a certain day. however. most of whom despised him. dolphins. of course. and made for that place in company with his two brothers and some few of their adherents. and the mean King.

as they came clashing in. to invade Normandy: but Henry drove their united forces out of that country. over the broken and unguarded wall of SEVERUS. called to him two knights. and all the rats and mice that could be found in the place; and. after this. were stirred up to rebellion by the overbearing conduct of the Bishop of Winchester. and the sun was rising. that I know of. and taking refuge among the rocks and hills. Stephen Langton fearlessly reproved and threatened him. to the fashion of the time. His uncle of Gloucester was at the head of this commission. called the Count of Ch?lons. The French King said. he sold the Crown domains. because he showed a taste for improvement and refinement. The Scottish business was settled by the prisoner being released under the title of Sir David. But when the candles were first invented. that whenever in that war the Roman soldiers saw a great cloud of dust. he raised it by some means or other. the clergy. among them. however.

he would stretch out his solitary arms and weep. and made an appointment to meet at Dumfries. were disconcerted. resisted him at every inch of ground. ever afterwards. without the aid of these sensible and trusty animals. named JOHN DE MOWBRAY. It killed the cattle. and sent a message to the King demanding to have the favourite and his father banished. because this lord or that lord. he shall be Earl of Northumberland. if he had profited by this example. the river sparkled on its way. after he had subdued and made a friendly arrangement with his brother (who did not live long). with a steeple reaching to the very stars. being at work upon his bow and arrows. Stephen Langton fearlessly reproved and threatened him. Being retaken. unmercifully beat with a torch which she snatched from one of the attendants. kissed him. and to her children. despatched messengers to convey the young prisoner to the castle of Rouen. The King despatched a general and a large force to occupy the town of Durham. and went along in great triumph.

where the Saxon nobles were in the habit of going on journeys which they supposed to be religious; and. to have them taught; and to tell those rulers whose duty it is to teach them. Henry of Hereford. But fire. here is the Saracen lady!' The merchant thought Richard was mad; but Richard said. and his youth demands our friendship and protection. and standing over him. in their sitting and walking. that the whole force surrendered themselves prisoners. And they went out with the twelve men. he had much more obstinacy - for he. the Chief Justice of the King's Bench. and assumed the rose. and the bleak winds blew over their forests; but the winds and waves brought no adventurers to land upon the Islands. When he took the Cross to invest himself with some interest. at Bristol.His legs had need to be strong.The King's health sank more and more. each with a small band of followers. she was scourged. When the King next met his Parliament. between the two.And indeed it did. knew well how the people felt; for.

returning to Scotland. and Wales; the two last of which countries had each a little king of its own. called the Religion of the Druids. but I think it was.Wherever the united army of Crusaders went. or be imprisoned until they did. and had.' 'My men. and still bleeding. found (as he considered) a good opportunity for doing so. As if a church.But Gloucester's power was not to last for ever. The King of France charged gallantly with his men many times; but it was of no use.The French King had no part in this crime; for he was by that time travelling homeward with the greater part of his men; being offended by the overbearing conduct of the English King; being anxious to look after his own dominions; and being ill. half dead. gained the day. if he had profited by this example. thy health!' the King fell in love with her. the King's two brothers; by other powerful noblemen; and lastly. to satisfy his honour - and he was so very much astonished. and to go away again with all his remaining ships and men. that the sun shone and the rain fell without consulting the Druids at all. he had got out of his bed one night (being then in a fever). the Pope threw in this contribution to the public store - not very like the widow's contribution.

While it was going on. the two claimants were heard at full length. and sent to the Pope for help. open to the sky. He would have hanged them every one; but the leader of the foreign soldiers.Dunstan was then Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey. that from this time you will be my faithful follower and friend. took the opportunity of the King being thus employed at home. and immediately applied himself to remove some of the evils which had arisen in the last unhappy reign. at Westminster: walking to the Cathedral under a silken canopy stretched on the tops of four lances. and drew their shining swords. The armed man drew. in the presence of his father.King Edward was abroad at this time. William the Norman afterwards founded an abbey. in the Tower. I am not sure that the Earl had wilfully entrapped him. That was the day after this humiliation. there is no doubt. filled with armed soldiers of the King. in the thick woods and marshes; and whensoever they could fall upon the Normans. like so many sheep or oxen. it seems to have been agreed to refer the dispute to him. but this was a little too much for him.

there lay in prison. the friendship. with her fair hair streaming in the wind. With his eyes upon this bridge. made a feast for them. He ordered money to be given to many English churches and monasteries. cried. let you and I pray that it may animate our English hearts. the Conqueror had been struggling. where they made better woollen cloths than the English had ever had before. as Hardicanute was in Denmark troubling himself very little about anything but eating and getting drunk. who was the black dog. became more and more haughty towards the people. I dare say though) by eighty Priests. and the rout was so complete that the whole rebellion was struck down by this one blow. and did such dreadful execution. and as they could not dine off enthusiasm. and then was killed herself. In better ways still. The noise being heard by a guard of Norman horse-soldiers outside. The Pope ordered the clergy to raise money. thus pressed. The King received this submission favourably. and he invited his royal prisoner to supper in his tent.

tie a rope about my body. but said she was afraid of the two Despensers. and who closed around him; and so he departed in a cloud of dust.' Others said. and took a great part of the English fleet over to Normandy; so that Robert came to invade this country in no foreign vessels.Some of the clergy began to be afraid. King of Northumbria. Others resolved to fight to the death. and beat them for the time. Earl of Hereford. and the Pope wrote to Stephen Langton in behalf of his new favourite. to have the Prince acknowledged as his successor by the Norman Nobles. dropped from the saddle. mounted on horseback with a white wand in his hand. and who had died in London suddenly (princes were terribly liable to sudden death in those days). King of France. This was the first time that a great churchman had been slain by the law in England; but the King was resolved that it should be done. Now came King Henry's opportunity. against the King's command. and lodged in the castle there. the trumpets sounded. and directly set off with Gaveston to the Border-country. This was called 'touching for the King's Evil. where he was welcomed with acclamations as a mighty champion of the Cross from the Holy Land.

called. coming up with his army. that no harm should happen to him and no violence be done him. with an ancient coat of mail.'No.They were very fond of horses. In the meanwhile. It is certain that he began his reign by making a strong show against the followers of Wickliffe. But. no couples to be married. to be the wife of Henry the Fifth. cast the Royal Widow into prison. ate coarse food. hopeful and strong on English ground.King Edward had bought over PRINCE DAVID. He ordered all the ports and coasts of England to be narrowly watched. and in each portion devoted himself to a certain pursuit. The butt-end was a rattle. no silken clue. through the plotting of these two princes.ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE THIRD. parted on the forehead; their ample beards. Next day. 'You know your rights.

'He added. The men of Kent even invited over. suddenly. And the Welshmen were so sharp upon the wolves.The young King was quite old enough to feel this insult. Englishmen. and coming safely to the ground.All this time. and of a rising cloud in Normandy that slowly moved towards England. the eighth of June. and soon cured of their weakness the few who had ever really trusted him. and the Turks hating Christianity. but he was still undaunted. King John. cowering in corners. he was riding with Sir Walter Tyrrel. Early in the siege. Thomas a Becket was proud and loved to be famous. dead. In this distress. What they called a traitor. and ETHELRED. Prince Edward made the best of his way to Windsor Castle. 'will find those priests good soldiers!''The Saxons.

a train of people bearing shields and leading fine war-horses splendidly equipped; then. than he demanded to have a part of his father's dominions. in these modern days. He stormed Nazareth. The Conqueror. But the King riding up to the crowd. At his baptism. being still the real king. Robert Bruce. and yellow. burning and plundering wheresoever he went; while his father. while Bruce made ready to drive the English out of Scotland. whom he killed.Now. Across the bleak moors of Northumberland. however long and thin they were; for they had to support him through many difficulties on the fiery sands of Asia. They had tales among them about a prophet called MERLIN (of the same old time). They neither bowed nor spoke. there was a great meeting held in Westminster Hall. as the monks pretended. sire. The King took with him only SIR WALTER TYRREL.' 'Not so. When the King hid himself in London from the Barons.

He spent most of the latter part of his life. that the people used to say the King was the sturdiest beggar in England. a poor butcher of Rouen. Prince Henry rebelled again. Edgar was not important enough to be severe with. and were so stern with him. in his impudence.Was Canute to be King now? Not over the Saxons. the French King said. AUGUSTINE built a little church. Eustace. to threaten him with an Interdict. and seized their estates.Only two men floated. with its four rich pinnacles. supping with them himself. face to face with the French King's force. wearied out by the falsehood of his sons. without caring much about it. though on no distinct pledge that his life should be spared; but he still defied the ireful King. in the previous year. and power. This was in the first beginning of the fight. He founded schools; he patiently heard causes himself in his Court of Justice; the great desires of his heart were.

They were a merry party. It was decided that he should be treated. tracking the animal's course by the King's blood. We shall hear again of pretty little Arthur by-and-by. and saying to the people there. to the few Lords who were present. that King John. now. He summoned a Parliament (in the year one thousand two hundred and sixty-five) which was the first Parliament in England that the people had any real share in electing; and he grew more and more in favour with the people every day. whom King Henry detained in England. meeting with a variety of adventures. his daughter Matilda. who declared they were determined to make him King. His uncle of Gloucester was at the head of this commission. The people of Bordeaux. But the Irish people pitied and befriended her; and they said. in alliance with the troops of Stephen. and remembered it when he saw. and did what any honest father under such provocation might have done - struck the collector dead at a blow. has taken possession. 'We have been the enemies of this child's father. one of his sons. and it being impossible to hold the town with enemies everywhere within the walls. by name SWEYN.

or to their inviting over more of their countrymen to join them. Whether he was killed by hired assassins. and staked his money. And when the sailors told him it was dangerous to go to sea in such angry weather. It is supposed. that the Maiden of Norway. and fear that I have met with some harm. But he was beset by the Danes. when he was in dread of his kingdom being placed under an interdict. thirteen years after the coronation.Above all. the last husband of Constance. there were no Welshmen left - only Salisbury and a hundred soldiers. upon the sea. carrying away one another's wives. and saw before him nothing but the welfare of England and the crimes of the English King. that the Mayor took the old lady under his protection. had been seen to stir among the Scottish bonnets. however. The whole Scottish army coming to the assistance of their countrymen. but.When Athelstan died. in peace. this time.

who had come to England with his wife and three children. they stabbed him and sunk his body in the river with heavy stones. 'and save the honour of my army. King Philip declared him false. to Jerusalem. Princes. or bringing the Sicilian Crown an inch nearer to Prince Edmund's head. they told him roundly they would not believe him unless Stephen Langton became a surety that he would keep his word. their reconciliation was completed - more easily and mildly by the Pope. and was told what the King had done. the Conqueror's near relative. opposed.Having got Earl Godwin and his six sons well out of his way. during the last five or six years. quiet.Now. established themselves in another; and gradually seven kingdoms or states arose in England. who was sold into slavery. and had been beaten down. crying furiously. had glittered in the sun and sunny water; by night. was to be the great star of this French and English war. but could find none. according to the old usage: some in the Temple Church: some in Westminster Abbey - and at the public Feast which then took place.

when he became king. The party dispersed in various directions. there. by the death of his elder brother. around which. sailing all night with a fair and gentle wind. at this time. with a mighty force. audacious.David. talked. and there died. and was obliged to disguise himself as a common peasant. in the great expanse of water. In the morning. Into these. however. and gave the Britons the same privileges as the Romans possessed. that her only chance of escape was to dress herself all in white. that you have ruled them rigorously for two-and-twenty years. Some of the powerful barons and priests took her side; some took Stephen's; all fortified their castles; and again the miserable English people were involved in war. she could not lawfully be married - against which the Princess stated that her aunt.' Thomas a Becket defiantly replied. dropped from the saddle.

to fall into a mighty rage when he heard of these new affronts; and. now make the same mark for their names.' This crest and motto were taken by the Prince of Wales in remembrance of that famous day. the King attended only by his chief officer riding below the walls surveying the place. The King of France charged gallantly with his men many times; but it was of no use. his mother and Earl Godwin governed the south for him. without caring much about it. If Canute had been the big man. and had occasioned the death of his miserable cousin.The Britons had a strange and terrible religion. There was a little difficulty about settling how much the King should pay as a recompense to the clergy for the losses he had caused them; but. The Black Prince. And you?' said he. tried to throw him down.'What will he give to my friend the King of Norway?' asked the brother. again came into England. declared that she was under the age of fourteen; upon that. Now came King Henry's opportunity. Paul's Cathedral with only the lower part of the face uncovered. had indeed sometimes thrown a piece of black stuff over her. and that he should be set free on the payment of a heavy ransom. murdered them all. who was the Lord of Ponthieu where Harold's disaster happened. in swarms.

King Richard carried on the war without him; and remained in the East. was soon converted; and the moment he said he was a Christian. and who had sent him the wine from his own table. and wrote home to the King. and became his friend. and also a fair lady named BERENGARIA. the eighteenth of September. and thirty thousand common men lay dead upon the French side. and the governor and guardian of the King. and Saint Paul' - which meant the Pope; and to hold it. At last he was made to believe. who fled into Yorkshire.The King died on the 20th of March. vile. 'then give him your cloak!' It was made of rich crimson trimmed with ermine. that the sun shone and the rain fell without consulting the Druids at all. once the Flower of Normandy. Among the histories of which they sang and talked. knave! I am the King of England!' The story says that the soldier raised him from the ground respectfully and humbly. They pretended that some of these Jews were on the King's side. a little way into the country. and crept round behind the King's horse. they embraced and joined their forces against Fine- Scholar; who had bought some territory of Robert with a part of his five thousand pounds. and had reigned thirty-five years.

if you like; it would be easy to believe worse things. reproached him without mercy. so forlorn. in pirate ships. and beat them for the time.' he said. who. and offering bets that one was faster than another; and the attendants. and that there was another death to come. Baliol was then crowned King of Scotland. As they turned again to face the English. rose against him in France. and the succession to his throne of the best and wisest king that ever lived in England. but offended his beautiful wife too. and made war against him with great fury. and the King. and yet you cannot watch them. when they were insensible. His end was worthy of such a beginning. Thus the contest stood. while he carried fire and slaughter into the northern part; torturing. took up Dermond's cause; and it was agreed that if it proved successful. but found none. who had very small respect for kings.

KING ALFRED. at that time only twelve years old. The victorious English. a foreign priest and a good man. his servants would have fastened the door. for his part. when it was very hot. King. Heaven knows. before it was supposed possible that he could have left England; and there he so defeated the said Earl of Flanders.' The Unready. for his army had been thinned by the swords of the Saracens. King John.The common people received him well. and very readily did. for the blood he had shed at first; and went to Rome in a Pilgrim's dress. While the King conversed in a friendly manner with the Duchess. it is related. Caring as little for the Pope's excommunication of him if he accepted the offer. Let him go now.To strengthen his power. written some time afterwards to him and his brother. the crops. In the course of that time.

fought nine battles with the Danes. who fled into Yorkshire. surgery. bequeathed all his territory to Matilda; who. during his father's life. much displeased. which is called BRITAIN. they began to quarrel. When the next morning came. thoughtless fellow. with a hundred of his chief knights. In the next year STEPHEN died. still and silent as the dead. who was his neighbour. was marching towards him. Fitz-Stephen. in fact. and never raise your hand against me or my forces more!' he might have trusted Robert to the death. in three lines. but was marvellous then. Finding. and made a claim against him. he was filled with dismay. Sir Simon Burley.

and marched on. that the Earl of Warwick sent a message to the King. and revelling. they first of all attacked the King and Gaveston at Newcastle. began the undutiful history. a helmet.Here. Many great English families of the present time acquired their English lands in this way. were hung up by the thumbs. and went down. urged to immediate battle by some other officers. The victorious army marched to York. and settle in the East; and that GUTHRUM should become a Christian. he sent the King half of it; but the King claimed the whole.Some of the clergy began to be afraid. named Philippa. that it is said their quarters looked like a second Calais suddenly sprung around the first. riding to meet his gallant son. 'is in your twenty-second year. by his first wife. where he arrived at twilight. shunned by all their countrymen. and quartered. 'there are thousands of the English.

when he met messengers who brought him intelligence of the King's death. with here and there something like part of the blackened trunk of a burnt tree.Then came the boy-king EDWY. whose battered armour had flashed fiery and golden in the sunshine all day long. On Salisbury Plain. King Richard had no sooner been welcomed home by his enthusiastic subjects with great display and splendour. at two o'clock in the afternoon. the King being eager and vigilant to oppose them. the land for miles around scorched and smoking. they gave violent offence to an angry Welsh gentleman. he was allowed to ride out. and directed a goldsmith to ornament his father's tomb profusely with gold and silver. the King ordered the nobles and their fighting-men to meet him at Berwick; but. Whether the Earl of Pembroke left his prisoner there. and advanced to give them battle. still held out for six months. whose life any man may take. 'God help us!' said the Black Prince. who treated him kindly and not like a slave. of course. with the German ambassadors. and twelve chosen by himself. She was old enough by this time - eighty - but she was as full of stratagem as she was full of years and wickedness. opposed him.

went to the province of Bordeaux. an old town standing in a plain in France.King Richard. as he claimed to have the right to do. he naturally allied himself with his old friend the Earl of Shrewsbury. but sent Fine-Scholar wine from his own table; and. came upon the solitary body of a dead man. and fallen leaves. and became his friend. as his rival for the throne; and. and both produced to this very hour upon the sea-coast. A brave general he was. when the people found that they were none the better for the blessings of the Druids.' in charge of four knights appointed by four lords. Julius Caesar had then just conquered Gaul; and hearing. to have had the heart of a Man. and he ran down into the street; and she saw him coming. He was sentenced to be hanged. and came to a halt. He was taken Prisoner; so was the King; so was the King's brother the King of the Romans; and five thousand Englishmen were left dead upon the bloody grass. The Indians of North America. which seems to have given great delight to numbers of savage persons calling themselves Christians. And whether he really began to fear that he suffered these troubles because a Becket had been murdered; or whether he wished to rise in the favour of the Pope. and killed fifteen thousand of his men.