Citation
Simple stories from English history

Material Information

Title:
Simple stories from English history
Series Title:
The Century historical readers
Cover title:
Longmans' simple stories from English history
Creator:
Speed, Lancelot, 1860-1931 ( Illustrator )
Paget, H. M ( Henry Marriott ), 1857-1936 ( Illustrator )
Millais, John Everett, 1829-1896 ( Illustrator )
Lucas, Seymour ( Illustrator )
Lodge, George Edward ( Illustrator )
Van Dyck, Anthony, 1599-1641 ( Illustrator )
Turner, J. M. W ( Joseph Mallord William ), 1775-1851 ( Illustrator )
Longmans, Green, and Co ( Publisher )
Spottiswoode & Co. ( printer )
Place of Publication:
London ;
New York ;
Bombay
Publisher:
Longmans, Green, and Co.
Manufacturer:
Spottiswoode and Co.
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Edition:
New ed.
Physical Description:
191 p., [6] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.), ports ; 18 cm.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile literature ( lcsh )
Conduct of life -- Juvenile literature ( lcsh )
Kings and rulers -- Juvenile literature ( lcsh )
History -- Juvenile literature -- Great Britain ( lcsh )
Bldn -- 1896
Spatial Coverage:
England -- London
United States -- New York -- New York
India -- Bombay
Target Audience:
juvenile ( marctarget )

Notes

General Note:
Frontispiece and plates printed in color; illustrations by Lancelot Speed, H. M. Paget, Millais, Seymour Lucas, G. E. Lodge, Vandyck and Turner.

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Holding Location:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections (special@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide.
Resource Identifier:
026959506 ( ALEPH )
ALH8027 ( NOTIS )
232334727 ( OCLC )

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Full Text








Gbalvesite Ne s a “

Vea ke







SIMPLE STORIES

FROM ENGLISH HISTORY





TBUS LANDING IN AMERICA.

coLU



SIMPLE STORIES

' FROM

ENGLISH HISTORY

FOR YOUNG READERS



NEW HDITION

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
_ LONDON, NEW YORK, AND BOMBAY
i 1896

All righis reserved



CONTENTS

LESSON

HG

The Celts

2, Agil the Hunter

co ot me Ww

cw

10.
ahi
12.

14,

15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

20.
21.

‘Children

. The Britons
. Who the Romans were

The Romans Land

Britain

in

. What the Romans did i in

Britain

. The Saxons
. The English
. English Slave Children

in Rome
Bede
Alfred and ie Mother
England in the Olden
Time (1)

3. England in the Olden

Time (2)

in the Olden
Time

The Danes

Alfred the Good

King Canute

Canute and Bodge .

Canute Teaches
Friends a Lesson

The Last Saxon King

William the Norman Sails
to England .

his

ee eae
PAGE LESSON PAGH
9 | 22. The Fight at Senlac 51
10 | 23, Englandin Saxon Times. 54
13 | 24. William the Norman 55
15 | 25. The Red King. 57
26. The White Ship . 60
17 | 27. The English under the
Normans 63
19 | 28. Richard Lion- eat 66
91 | 29. King John and Arthur 68
93 | 80. A Great King . 71
81. The Black Prince at Gey 72
94 | 82. A Good Queen and the
26 Men of Calais elo)
99 | 38. The Black Prince and the
French King vie
30 | 34. Wat Tiler 78
85. King Henry the Vitth i in
33 France. 81
86. Joan Darc 83
34 | 387. The First English prmees 86
37 | 38. The Princes in the Tower 88
40 | 39. Columbus Finds a New
41 World . 91
42 | 40. Sir Thomas More 94
41. Lady Jane Grey - 100
45 | 42. Drake’s Voyage round the
48 World . . 102
43. Sir Philip Sidney . 109
49 | 44. The Armada . lil





CONTENTS

vi

LESSON PAGE
45, The Fight of the Revenge 119
46, Englandin Tudor Times (1) 121
47. ” ” ” (2) 124
48. rn », - (8) 126
49, Sir ‘Walter Raleigh . . 180
50. The Pilgrim Fathers . 133
51. Charles the First . 187
52. A Patriot . . 140
53. The Civil War . . 142

54.

55.

The Escape of Prince

Charles . 145
A Hero of the ‘Great
Plague » 148



LESSON

56.
57.
58.
59.

60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.

A Young Hero

General Wolfe

George Washington

John Howard and John
Lawrence

Lord Nelson

The Iron Duke

The Stephensons

Grace Darling . :

The English in India (1)

obey ” (2)
General Gordon
A Good Queen

PAGE

. 152

154

. 156

. 159
. 161
. 167
. 172

. 176
178
181

. 183
- 186



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Coloured.
Columbus Landing in America. (Lancelot Speed) . . Frontispiece
Gregory and the English Slaves. (Prom the ‘Chro-
nicle of England, by J. £. Doyle) . , . to face page 25
Richard I. Pardons the Archer who Shot Him. no
the ‘ Chronicle of England, by J. #. Doyle) . Mi shia ose 68
The Black Prince waiting on King John. (Prom the
‘ Chronicle of England,’ by J. 2. Doyle) F Snes V4
Prince Charles Escaping after the Battle of Worcester.
(Lancelot Speed). : ‘oo mn) 4s
The Death of Nelson. (2rom the picture in Greene ich
Hospital by Benjamin West) | . : : es » 166
In the Text.
i ct eee gees eal ARTIST PAGE
‘ Don’t be afraid, father, said the boy, ‘I will | Lancelot Speed WW
stand quite still’ . : 3
Early British Pottery Phe ast ¢ : " : ‘ coed!
Julius Cesar. : : F : : 5 . 16
The Landing of the Homes in een : . Lancelot Speed . 18
Part.of the Roman Wall at Leicester : 5 : 5 : 2920)
‘Yes, it is ended,’ Bede said . ¢ 5 . Lancelot Speed . 27
‘Thus Alfred won his first book’. ; Lancelot Speed . 31
Old English Map of the World : ; : : : : . 36
A Danish Ship of War. : : . ; : : : peo)
Danes Robbing a Monastery . : Hf. M. Paget . 39
Bodge Running in Front with a Stout Pole in| Dance Scene
his Hand . 3 :
‘Sea, come no further !’ . z Lancelot Speed . 47
Normans and Saxons one at the Battle 1 Lancelot Speed . 63
of Hastings . : J
The Red King Shot by an ero 5 : . : : 5)
‘So many leaped into the boat that it ean . Lancelot Speed . 61
Keep of Rochester Castle : : : : : : . 63
Part of Durham Cathedral builtin Norman i imes : 5 : . 65
Richard Lion-Heart. : : 5 ; . 67

Edward the Black Prince, rom his Tomb a
Canterbury: showing the kind of armour
worn in those days . : , : Z . 73
4 wes is ae my men? Will you EAGOr your) aM Ene MaTO
ing q



viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ARTIST

Henry the Fifth ; ; : : : :

Joan Dare Struck by an sow: : . . Lancelot Speed

The Princes in the Tower : : : _ . Millais

The Tower of London

‘King Henry the Highth

Sir Thomas More

The Great Harry ; built co King ery ang

Eighth

Sir Francis Drake in Gre Forty-third ea

Queen Elizabeth

‘Oh! no,’ said Drake, ‘ there is Rien of fine

to finish our game and beat the Spaniar | Seymour Lucas

.

too’
The onenen Rem : : z ,
Wreck of one of the Ships of fie ees . Lancelot Speed

A Falcon with Hood, &c., ready fora Flight . G. E. Lodge
William Shakspere 3 : : : : : ;
Wollaton Hall, NOTEmpuamenter built about

1580-1588 : ‘ :
A Coach in Tudor Times .
Sir Walter Raleigh and his Eldest Sen Walter,

at the Ageof Hight . : :
A Puritan . : : : . 3 ; 5 ; ;
King Charles the First : P : . : . Vandyek
Happy Days of Charles the First : . : :
A Cavalier
A Soldier Armed with a Pike (Stuart Times) .
A Soldier with Musket and Crutch (Stuart

Times) . 5
Oliver Cromwell ;
The Sovereign of the Seas ; built fon the Royal

Navy in 1637. : a @ ; ;
General Wolfe .
Picture of a Battle that was Rouse in the

same Year that Wolfe took Quebec .

Lord Neison y : 5 : : 3 : :
The Battle of Tesla : ; , i i . Lurner
The Vietory :
The Duke of Woumeton :
An English Soldier who F ie in Spain
x Puffing Billy’. : :
General Gordon
Queen Victoria at her evession

PAGE
82
85
89
90
95
99

. 108
. 105
. 107

. 1138

. 115
. 117
- 123
. 125

. 127
. 128

. 181
. 184

137

. 139
. 143
. 144

. 144
. 146

. 149
. 155

. 157
. 163
. 165
-. 166
. 168
sealitel:
. 175
. 185
. 187



SIMPLE STORIES

FROM

HNGLISH HISTORY



1. THE CELTS

Lone, long ago the people who lived in this
land were the Celts. They came from the far
east, and moving to the west, they came at
length to the great sea that stopped them from
going any farther. Some of them came to dwell
in the land in which we now live.

They could not read or write, and so they
could not leave behind theni books to tell us
about them. But at the time in which they
lived, there were men who lived in other lands,
who could both read and write, and these have
~ left writings that tell us much about the Celts.

From these writings we learn, that the Celts
were tall, strong men, with bright blue eyes, and
long fair hair that hung down their backs.

We know, too, how they talked with each
other, for there are men still living, who speak



10 SIMPLE STORIES

in the same way. For what we now call Welsh,
is the same as that spoken by the Celts so long
ago.

The Celts who came to live in this land were
called Britons, a word that means ‘clothed.’
For the Britons had found out how to make very
many things, and among others, how to spin and
weave woollen cloth.

They had both gold and silver, and out of
them they made many pretty things to wear.

They had also learned the use of copper, lead,
and tin. Their tools, their swords, and their
spears were made of bronze, which is made by
mixing tin and copper. We also use bronze
nowadays, for our pennies are made of it.

The Celts had herds of cattle and pigs. They
were very fond of horses and dogs, which they
kept for hunting. They also made boats for
fishing in the rivers and lakes, but the Celts
were never very fond of sailing on the water.

Write out and Learn

. Two thousand years ago the Celts lived in the land.

I. aley were tall, strong men, with bright blue eyes and long fair
air.

. They spoke Welsh much as it is spoken nowadays in Wales.

. The Celts were also called Britons, a word that meant ‘clothed.’

. They had cattle and pigs, and used gold, silver, and bronze. _

oe oo RO

2. AGIL THE HUNTER

There are many stories told of what took
place in far-off times. One of the best of these
tales is about Agil the hunter and his little son.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 11











































































































































































































































































































































































































































‘DON’T BE AFRAID, FATHER,’ SAID THE BOY, ‘1 WILL
STAND QUITE STILL’



12 SIMPLE STORIES

Agil had done something to make the king
very angry. Soon afterwards some of the king’s
men caught him and his little son and took them
to the king. The king was a very cruel man,
and he said: ‘I have it in my mind to slay you,
but I should like to see if you can shoot with the
bow as well as folks say. So I will give you a
chance to save your life.’

Then he had the boy placed a little way off,
and put an apple upon his head. ‘Now,’ said he
to Agil, ‘you must shoot at that apple. If you
miss the mark you shall die. But if you hit the
apple, you and your son shall be set free.’

What a cruel thing to tell a father to do!
But Agil was a brave man, and felt sure that he
could hit the apple. He took up his bow, and
then chose two smooth, straight arrows. One he
put in his belt, and the other he fitted to the
string.

‘Don’t be afraid, father,’ said the boy, ‘I will
stand quite still.’

Then Agil shot, and the arrow went so true,
that it cut the apple in two, and the pieces fell
to the ground.

‘You have saved your son’s life and your
own too,’ said the king. ‘ But tell me, why did
you put that arrow into your belt ?’

‘ Because,’ said Agil, ‘if I had missed the
apple and hit my son, J should have shot with
that arrow at you. And I should not have
missed.’



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 13

This made the king very angry, but he kept
his word and let Agil and his son go free.

(Adapted from York Powell's ‘ Old Stories from English History.’)

8. THE BRITONS

We have seen that ‘ Britons’ is only another
name for the Celts, and it. is by this name that
we must now think of them.

At the time of which we are speaking, that
is, about two thousand years ago, our country
did not look just as it does now.

There were no big towns, for the Britons
lived in small huts. These huts were not built
very close together, but there were wide spaces
between them. They were made of thin branches
of trees woven closely together, and the roofs
were made of straw or of ferns.

Nearly all the land was covered with woods,
but the Britons cut down some of the trees, and
made clearings where they could grow their
crops. Their pigs roamed about in the woods,
and fed on acorns and the roots of plants, while
the cattle and horses grazed in the open spaces.

The people were split up into tribes, and each
tribe had a chief who was over all. The tribes
very often fought each other, and each tribe had
a strong place, where the women, children, and
cattle could be put, so as to be safe in time of
war.

Such a strong place was called a ‘dun,’ and
was often upon the top of a hill. Round the



14 SIMPLE STORIES

dun a high mound of earth was raised, and into
the mound strong wooden stakes were firmly
driven.

Outside the mound big trees were placed, so
as to make it a very hard task for a foe to get
into the dun.

The Britons were very fond of fighting, and
_they stained their faces with a blue dye to





EARLY BRITISH POTTERY

make themselves look very fierce. They fought
with swords, knives, and axes. When the fight
began, all the men made as much noise as they
could, hoping thereby to frighten their foes.

For hundreds of years the Britons lived in
the land, but in all that time they did not learn
very much. At last some men came from over
the sea to fight the Britons. In our next lesson



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 15

we shall see who these men were and whence

they came
Write out and Learn

. The Britons lived in small huts made of branches of trees.

They were split up into many tribes. Each tribe was ruled
over by its own chief.

. A strong place upon a hill top was called a ‘ dun.’

. Here the women and children were safe in time of war.

. The Britons were very fierce, and when they went to war they

dyed their faces a blue colour.

be

oR co

4. WHO THE ROMANS WERE

Though the Britons knew so little, you must
not think that all the men who lived at that
time were like them. In other lands, there were
men who had found out very many things, and
of these men the best known were the Romans.

Far away to the south, there stood in those
days, as there does now, a fine city called Rome.
This was the chief town in the land where the
Romans lived.

The Romans were very strong men and also
very clever. They knew how to build fine
houses, and bridges, and towns. Some of their
buildings stand even to this day.

They could read and write, and their learned
men wrote many books, some of which are read
in some of our schools. It is from the writings
of a great Roman that we learn nearly all. we
know about the Britons.

You must know that above all things the
Romans were great fighting men. Not only did
they fight the men of other lands near to them,

i ee oe ee ee ee) ee

siren



16 SIMPLE STORIES

but they sent their armies to fight people who
lived far away.

At length one of their armies reached the
sea-shore of a country from which could be seen,
over the sea, the cliffs
of the land in which we
live.

The Roman at the
head of this army was a
great man named Julius
Cesar. He had fought
for many years, against
many tribes, and ‘had
-nearly always won his
fights. So he made up
his.mind that he would
cross the sea to fight
the Britons.

|) The Romans had
ag fine ships which they

Pama aan: had built, and in these

Ceesar and his men set

sail. We will leave his fights with the Britons to

the next lesson, but it was he who wrote a book,

from which we learn nearly all we know about
our country in those far-off times.
Write out and Learn

1. The Romans came from a land far away in the south. Their
chief town was Rome.

2. They were very clever and strong men. They could write books.
They were great fighters. ‘ :

3. A great Roman named Julius Cesar made up his mind to
come and fight the Britons. ;

4. So he came with an army, sailing in many ships.





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 17

5. THE ROMANS LAND IN BRITAIN

The Britons saw the Roman ships sailing
towards their shores, and so they got ready to
fight. They sent men running as fast as they
could to bring all the fighting men they could
find to come and help them.

When the ships came near to the land, the
Romans saw large numbers of fierce-looking
men, with swords, and spears, and war-chariots,
running along the cliffs, and all ready for the
fight.

So the Romans sailed along, till they came
to a place where the shore was low, and then
they ran their ships ashore. For these ships
were small, and could be run aground without
hurting them.

And now the fight began. The Britons
loved fighting, and had made up their minds,
that the Romans should not take their country
away from them.

Rushing into the sea, they threw their darts
at the Romans, who had to jump from their
ships, and wade to land through the shallow
water. For some time, it looked as if the
Britons would beat the Romans back. But
at last the Romans drove the Britons to the
cliffs, and in time all were landed. The ships
were then drawn up on the beach.

Though for the time the Britons had to fall
back, they did not lose heart, but were ready

B



18

SIMPLE STORIES

85

OEE

=

Le ie

OI



THE LANDING OF THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN -



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 19

to fight every step of the way, if the Romans
tried to march into their land. The Romans
saw that they would have a very hard task to
take the country. So, after stopping a very
short time, they sailed back to the land from
which they came.

The next year they came again, but after
much fighting they left the country, and it was
a long time before any other Romans came over
to fight the Britons.

Write out and Learn

1. The Britons saw the Roman ships coming, so they made ready
to fight them.

2. They were armed with swords and spears, and had war-chariots
drawn by small horses.

8. The Romans ran their ships ashore, and the Britons rushed
into the sea to stop them.

4, At last the Romans were all landed. But they did not stay long.

6. WHAT THE ROMANS DID IN BRITAIN

Nearly a hundred years went by, and then
the Romans came again to fight the Britons.

The Britons fought bravely, but it was all of
no use, and after a time they had to give in to
the Romans. For about four hundred years the
Romans were masters of the country. During
that time they taught the Britons very much that
helped to make their lives happier and better.

They cut down many of the trees, and made
open places, where crops were grown. Instead
of poor huts, such as the Britons had lived in,
good stone and brick houses were built.

B22



‘

20 SIMPLE STORIES

Instead of the ‘dun’ with its mound of earth
and. rows of stakes, strong towns sprang up with
high and thick walls all round them. that was built by the Romans may be seen still
standing around a large part of the town of
Chester.

Good roads were made, so that men could



ci

PART OF THE ROMAN WALL AT LEICESTOR

pass easily from one part of the land to another.
Even bridges were built across the rivers.

Before the Romans came the Britons were
often fighting each other, but now the land was
at peace, and men had time to learn how to till
the ground, to vead and write, and to do many
other things that made them wiser and better.

And best of all, good men came from Rome
to teach the Britons about God. For before



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 21

this the Britons knew nothing about God, and
did many cruel and wicked deeds, because they
did not know any better. So in time. churches
were built, and the Britons learned how to live
better and nobler lives.

But a bad time was in store for them, for
at last the Romans went away to fight their
foes in their own land, and the Britons were left
to take care of themselves.

Write out and Learn

1. The Romans came again, and stayed for four hundred years.
2. They taught the Britons many things. They built houses of
brick and stone.
3. They also built towns with walls all round them. They made
good roads and built bridges.
4. They kept peace in the country for all that Nora time, and the
Britons learned about God.
. But at last the Romans left the country and qwent home to
fight their foes in their own land.

Or

7. THE SAXONS

At first the Britons were very glad that the
Romans were gone, for they en now co as
they liked. But they soon found out that it
would have been better for them if the Romans.
had stayed.

Far away in the north, in the land we now
call Scotland, there were fierce tribes of men,
whom the Romans had never been able to
master. To keep them back, strong walls had
been built right across the country, and many
soldiers were always kept upon the walls.

Now that the Roman soldiers were gone,



22 SIMPLE STORIES

these wild tribes came in swarms, to rob and kill
the Britons of the south. The Romans had
never taught the Britons how to fight, and so
they were not able to beat back their foes.

They were in sad trouble, and sent again and
again to the Romans, to beg them to come over
and help them. But it was all of no use, for
the Romans had so many foes near their own
homes, that they could not spare any men to go
to Britain.

The Romans, for a long time before they left
the country, had kept ships always sailing up and
down the coast, to drive back some sea-robbers
who were called Saxons.

When the Britons found that the Romans

could not spare any men, they asked some of |
these Saxons to come and help them. The ©
Saxons were glad of the chance, and in a very —

short time draws the fierce men from the north |

back to their own homes.
But when the Saxons saw whata good country

this was, they made up their minds to stay here. |
So they sent for their friends, who came in |

swarms, sailing over the sea in their ships called

keels, and bringing their wives and children and |

cattle with them.

The coming of all these people made the |

poor Britons worse off than ever.

Write out and Learn

1. -At first the Britons were glad that the Romans were gone.
2. But wild tribes from the north began to come south to rob,
burn, and kill.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 28

3. So the Britons sent to ask the Romans to come back to help
them. :

4, But the Romans could not come back, and the Britons asked
some sea-robbers called Saxons to help them.

5. The Saxons soon drove the wild tribes back, but seeing how
good a land this was, they made up their. minds to try to
take it from the Britons.

8. THE ENGLISH

Now a cruel time began. For two hundred
years the Saxons fought the Britons, or the
Welsh, as they were now called. Bit by bit, the
Welsh were driven further and further to the
west. They fought bravely, but they had not
been trained to fight as the Saxons had been.

Many of their brave men had gone away to
fight in the Roman armies. Worst of all, they
could not agree among themselves, and they
were beaten many times only because they would
not help each other.

It was asad time. The Welsh were driven
from their homes. ‘heir towns and houses were
burned down. Their cattle and gold and silver
were taken from them. Their churches were
burned, and many thousands of men, women,
and children were killed by their cruel foes.

Now and then they won a fight, and now and
then a hero rose up among them. A hero, you
know, is a man. who is willing to do all he can
for others, even to giving up his own life. One
hero that we read of was King Arthur. It is
said that he won twelve great fights against the
Saxons, but at last he also was killed.



24 SIMPLE STORIES

And so in the course of time the Welsh were
either killed, or driven away to the west, into
the land we now call Wales. Nearly all the
best parts of the country, the middle, the east,
and the south, were taken. The many tribes
who had come over became one people, and were
called English ; and their land came to be called
England.

But the English had never learned about
God, and so this land was once more in the hands
of men, who cared little for what was good.

Write out and Learn

1. For two hundred years fighting went on. And at the end of that
time all the country but Wales was in the hands of the Saxons
or English, as they were now called.

2. Hence this land came to be called England, or the land of the
English.

8. But the English did not know about God, and so the land was once
more in the hands of men who cared little for what was good.

9. ENGLISH SLAVE CHILDREN IN ROME

We know many things about the Enelish,
because in their time there were men in Eng-
land who were able to write books.

We learn that they were tall, stout men, and
very strong. ‘Their heads were round, and were
covered with thick light brown hair, which they
wore long. Their eyes were grey or brown, and
most of them had rosy cheeks. Their faces were
pleasmg to look upon, and though they were
very fierce and cruel to their foes, or to strangers,
they were kind to their wives and children.

Still they were brave men, and were never -





















GREGORY AND THE ENGLISH SLAVES IN ROME.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 25
afraid of hard work. Perhaps the best thing we
know about them is, that they spoke the truth.

For a long time after they came to live in
England, they knew nothing about God. They
fea many gods, some of whom they loved and
others they feared. But after a time, some good
and holy men came from far away in the south,
from the city of Rome, to teach them about the
true God.

In those days, rich men had slaves in their
houses and on their farms. These slaves were
bought and sold just as if they were cattle.

In most towns there was a slave market.
One day a good priest named Gregory was walk-
ing through the slave market in Rome. There
he saw for sale some pretty English boys. He
was struck with their white skins, and blue eyes,
and fair hair.

On asking about them, he was told that they
came from England. ‘Their faces are like those
of angels,’ he said. He thought it was a pity
that such folks as the English should know
‘nothing of God.

So he tried to get leave to go to teach them
and preach the Gospel to them. But the Roman
people loved him so well, that they would not
let him go. -Still Gregory did not forget the
faces of the little slave boys. And years after,
when he became a great man, he sent some good
men to teach the English about God and how to
lead better lives.



26 SIMPLE STORIES

It took a long time to make the English give
up their old gods; but at last most of them came
to trust in the true God, and once more churches
were built all over the land.

Write out and Learn

. The English were tall, strong men. They were fierce and cruel |
to strangers, but kind to their friends. I
. They were brave men who always spoke the truth.
. Some English children were taken to be sold as slaves in the
market in Rome.
- Here they were seen by a good man named Gregory, who liked |
their pretty faces. iiok ; |
- When he found out where they came from, he wanted to go |
to England to teach the people about God. |
6. He could not go himself, so he sent good men in his place. [|
And in time the English gave up their old gods, and churches [|
were once more built in the land. L

tod ww bo H

Or

10. BEDE

Many good men came to teach the English,
and some of them, whom we speak of as monks,
gave up their lives to the work. These good
men lived in houses by themselves. They spent
their time in writing or copying books, or in
hard work in their fields, or in teaching the |
people, or in praying. at

They lived hard lives, but they did not mind |
so long as they could do good. They took care
of the poor, the sick, and the helpless. They
taught reading and writing, and in time some of
the English began to write books.

Perhaps the best known of all the monks was
Bede. He was a very good man, who spent his
life in doing good to others.





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY

‘YHS, 1T 18 BNDED, BEDE SAID

27







28 SIMPLE STORIES

He worked very hard, so that he might leave
books, which might be useful to those that came
after him. He lived at Jarrow, and there may
still be seen part of the old church in which he
used to preach and pray, and also an old chair
that is said to have been his.

The last work he did was to turn part of the
Bible into English. The day before he died he
was doing this. He had a little boy sitting near
him to write down the verses as fast as he
turned them into English.

Now and again, as the boy wrote, Bede would
say: ‘Get on as quickly as you can, for I do not
know how soon I may be gone.’

The next day, as the church bell was ringing
in the evening, the little boy said to him: ‘ Dear
master, still there is one verse to be written.’

‘Then write quickly,’ said Bede; and told
him the words to put down.

‘Now it is ended,’ said the boy, as he laid
down his pen.

‘Yes, it is ended,’ Bede said. ‘And now lift
my head and hold me up, so that IT may turn my
eyes to the church, where I have been used: to
pray.’

And as the boy lifted him up he drew his last
breath, and died with a prayer on his lips.

Write out and Learn

1. Bede was a good monk who lived at Jarrow.

2. He taught the people to live good lives, and took care of the
sick and poor.

3. The last work he did was to turn part of the Bible into English,
so that men might be able to read it.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 29

11. ALFRED AND HIS MOTHER

he English who came over the sea in their
ships and took the land, were not all of the same
tribe. There were men of many tribes, and for
a time each had its own chief or king.

But there was always one chief, who had
more power than the others. In time the tribes
learned that it was best for them to be under one
ruler. And so England came to have kings over
it. "There were many English kings, of whom
the gréatdst nd best was King Alfr ed.

When he wag quite a little boy, he was so
bright antl. goal hat everyone was fond of him.
He was alwaysNtrying to learn something new.
He liked to follow the men into the fields, and
see them at their work. And he was fond of
hearing the harper play and sing his strange old
songs.

One day, his mother was showing him and
his brothers a very pretty book. In those days
books were all written by hand. The men who
wrote them loved their books, and made them
look as pretty as they could, by painting the first
letter of each page in gay colours.

Seeing how pleased the boys were, their
mother said: ‘I will give this pretty book to the

‘one who can first learn by heart the songs that
are in it.’

‘Will you really ?’ said Alfred. ‘Yes, that I
will,’ said his mother.





30 SIMPLE STORIES

' So Alfred took the book, and ran off with it to
a kind old priest who could read it. The priest
read the songs over and over to him, and so he
soon learned every one of them. Thus Alfred
won his first book, and, as you may think, he
was very proud of it.
Alfred’s father was a wise king, who knew
that the only way to be truly great was to have
learning. So he sent Alfred all the way to
Rome to be taught. It was a very long way for
such a small boy to go, for Alfred was then only
- about five years old.
There he learned many things, that helped
him, when it became his turn e
better and wiser than those who “had been kings

before him.
Write out and Learn

1. Alfred was the greatest and best of the Saxon kings. He ruled
over the land about a thousand years ago.

2. When quite a boy his father sent him to Rome. There he
learned many things that helped him to rule his people wisel y.

12. ENGLAND IN THE OLDEN TIME (1)

Life in England a thousand years ago was not
like what it is now. King Alfred was born, and
spent his early days in a house no larger than a
farmhouse in our days. From old books we can
tell what the house was like.

There was a large yard, shut in by a high

fence, with very strong doors. Inside the yard -

stood a sroup of buildings. One of them was

the -church, a small building very much like a

e king, to be





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY a1





































‘THUS ALFRED WON HIS FIRST BOOK’



82 SIMPLE STORIES

barn. People could tell that it was a church, by
~ the steeple with its cross on the top of it.

Near by was the hall, and it was in this that
the king and his family lived. Deer’s horns
were nailed to the door, and the wooden walls
inside were hung all round with spears, and
swords, and bows.

The windows were very narrow, for glass was
not much used in those days. In the middle of
the floor was a big fire of logs, une smoke from
which rose up to the roof.

There were no lamps, and the room was
lighted by torches, that were stuck into places
on the walls.

If we could have peeped into the hall at
noon, we should have seen that dinner was just
being served. A long table ran down the middle
of the room. At the upper end, which was
raised a little, sat the king and his family. THis
friends sat on each side of the long table.

The meat was handed round on sharp bits of
wood called spits. Each man cut off as much as
he wanted with his knife, that always hung at
his belt. Drink, such as wine and beer, was
served in cups that were mostly made of horns.

The king wore a long silk gown, that was
covered with figures of birds and beasts. The
gentle-folk wore gay clothes made of fine cloth.

After dinner the table was cleared, and the -
broken bread and meat were given to the
beggars, who were waiting in the eres yard.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 33

Then the harper was told to play and to sing
of the brave deeds of the heroes, who lived long,
long ago.

Write out and Learn

1. In Alfred’s time kings lived in houses no bigger than farm-
houses are now.

2. There was a large yard with a fence round it. Inside were the
church, the hall, and other buildings.

- Houses had no glass windows and there were no lamps.

. The king and his friends all dined together in the large hall.

. Drink such as beer and wine was passed round in horn cups.
Meat was passed round on spits and each man cut off as
much as he wanted.

OUR GO

18. ENGLAND IN THE OLDEN TIME (2)

Men had to work hard in the olden time, just
as they have to do now.

In the spring the farmers got out their
ploughs, which were drawn by oxen, and broke
up the ground. They sowed barley and oats
chiefly, for many plants that we grow were not
known to them at all. In summer they cut
their hay, and the men who lived near the sea
went out fishing. In autumn they reaped their
crops, and stored them up in their barns for food
in the winter. They drove their pigs into the
woods to feed on the acorns and beech nuts.

Their cattle and sheep always needed to be
looked after. And in the winter, both men and
dogs were ever on the watch, to drive away the
wolves, which at that time came out of the
woods to try to steal the sheep.

In those days there were no shops, where

c



B4 SIMPLE STORIES

men could go and buy what they wanted. So
every family had to make all the things that
were needed for use in the house and for wear.

The women and girls were always busy, after
the work of the house was done, in weaving
cloth, of which clothes were made.

Meat was salted and put into tubs for the
winter. Beer was brewed and put into big
casks. Great stacks of firewood were heaped up
ready for the cold weather. Milk and barley
bread were the chief food. Fresh beef and
mutton were eaten in the summer, and salted
meat in the winter.

In the winter months hunting was carried
on, and beasts and birds were killed for food.

So we see that, in the olden time, most of the
people had to work hard, and live quietly, just
as men do now.

Write out and Learn

1. In the spring the farmers sowed their crops of oats and barley.

2. In the summer they cut their hay and went fishing.

3. In the autumn they reaped their erops, and drove their pigs
into the woods to feed on acorns.

4. In the winter they tended their sheep and cattle, and made
all kinds of things for use and wear. They also hunted
beasts and birds.

5 So we see that in the olden time men had to work hard just as
they do now.

14. CHILDREN IN THE OLDEN TIME

We do not know very much about what
children did in the olden times, for the old books
do not say very much about them.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 35

In those days there were some people who
were free, and others who were slaves. Children
of free people were dressed like their mothers
and fathers. Their hair was nicely combed and
braided, and left to grow all its length. The
children of slaves had en hair cut short.

They wore strings of glass beads round their
necks. The little girls played with dolls made of
wood and rag, and no doubt they washed them
and dressed ‘them, just as little girls do now.
When they grew older, they were taught how to
sew, and spin, and cook.

The boys played at football and marbles.
They helped to feed the beasts, and when they
grew older they learned how to fish and hunt.
They dared not go far into the woods for fear of
the wolves.

But their time was not all spent in play.
They had to learn lessons too. The master held
the book in his hand, and he read the lesson over
and over again to the children, until they knew
it by heart.

We have some of the old books that they
learned from. Tere are some of the things they
had to learn :—

“What is snow ?’

‘ Dried water.’

‘I know a thing that flies. It has an iron,
beak ; its tail is of feathers, and it carries death
with it. What is it?’

‘ An arrow.’











36 SIMPLE STORIES

‘What do you get to eat?’

‘Meat and herbs, and fish, and butter, and
cheese, and. beans.’

‘And what to drink ?’



OLD ENGLISH MAP OF THE WORLD

Here is a map of the world taken from one
of these old books. You will see that it is not
much like the map of the world that we have

now. (Adapted from York Powell's ‘ Old Stories from English History.’)

Write out and Learn

1. Childven of free people were dressed like their fathers and mothers,
and wore their hair long.

2. Children of slaves wore their hair short.

8. When young they played as children do now. As they grew.
older they were taught to sew, to spin, and to cook.

4, They also had lessons to learn. The teacher held the book,
and the children had to learn by heart all he told them.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 37

15. THE DANES

We have read that after the Romans went
away, the Saxons came and took the land from
the Britons.

In the Saxon times, other fierce robbers came
in their ships from over the sea to rob and kill.
These men were called Danes. They were great





A DANISH SHIP OF WAR

sailors, and came from a land that was not so
good to live in as England was. So they used to
come in their ships, and after landing they would
kill the people, and rob their houses, and burn
the churches.

For a long time the Saxons did their best to
drive them away. But in the times when Alfred
was king, so many of them came, that* even



H
i







38 SIMPLE STORIES

Alfred had for a time to run away and_ hide.
However, he beat them at last in a great fight,
and made peace with them.

The Danes had good ships. From this pic-

ture of one you will see that it was long and

narrow. It had only one mast and a great
square sail, that was made of strips of red, and
white, and green cloth, which was very bright
and gay, when the sun shone upon it.

All round the sides of the ship were placed
the shields of the men, who sat behind them,
rowing with the long oars.

The Danes were good sailors and brave
fighters, and though they were often very cruel,
still they were brave men. They would die
rather than give in. :

But they had never heen taught that it is
wrong to fight except in a good cause. They
did not know that it is a noble thing to help the
weak against the strong. Though they often did
evil deeds, they were true to their friends, and
did their duty as far as they knew it,

Write out and Learn

1. The Danes came to try to take the land away from the English.
2. They were good sailors and came from over the sea.
. When Alfred was king so many Danes came that he had to
go into hiding.
4, era he beat them in a great fight and made peace with
hem.
5. The Danes had good ships that were painted very gaily.

6. They were cruel men, but they did their duty as far as they
knew it. :













- DANES ROBBING A

MONASTERY

i

:

Ia
Le

\

|

caine
4





40 SIMPLE STORIES

16. ALFRED THE GOOD

" Alfred is often called ‘the great ;’ but per-
haps it would be better to call him ‘the good.’

For he spent his life in teaching his people, and. -

in helping them to live better lives.

He was wise enough to see, how learning
and the love of good books can make men better.
And so he sent to other lands for good men to
come and teach his people. He set up schools,
and sometimes went and taught the children
himself.

The fame of all this spr ead abroad, and wise |
and learned men came to England, for they
heard that Alfred was sure to “be glad to see
them. He was so kind to them, that many
stayed with him to help him in his good work.

He also wrote books. And he turned other
books into English, so that his people might be
able to read them.

Alfred also built churches, and houses in
which he put good men and women, so that they.
might work, and read, and pray in peace.

After he had beaten the Danes in a great
fight, he set to work to build a fleet of ships.
These ships were always sailing along the coasts,
so as to be ready to meet the Danish ships and
drive them away.

It would take a long time to tell of all the
good that Alfred did. cm one of his books he
says, ‘As long as I have lived, I have striven to





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 41

live worthily,’ and the best men can do no more
than that.

He died after ruling for thirty years, and for
a long time he was spoken of as ‘ Alfred the
Truth-teller,’ and ‘Alfred the Darling of his
people.” And though it is a thousand years
since he lived, we still love him, as a king who
did nobly, and always loved that which was
good.

Write out and Learn

1. Alfred was King of England about a thousand years ago.

2. He was a wise and good man. He spent his time in ruling
and teaching his people. :

3. He set up schools and built churches. He wrote some books
and turned others into English, so that his people might
read them.

4, He built many ships to. beat back the Danes. After he died
he was spoken of as ‘ Alfred the Truth-teller.

17. KING CANUTE

After Alfred’s death, the Danes. came again,
and tried to take part of the land for themselves.
Fighting went on for about a hundred years, and
at last a Dane was chosen to be King of all
England.

This was Canute, one of the wisest of our
kings. He said he would always do his best to
take care of his people, and try to make them
happy. He kept his word, and so all men
learned to trust him and to love him.

He built many churches, most ‘of which were
built of stone. Up to this time churches had
been built of wood.



42 SIMPLE STORIES

He also loved singing, and at times he made
verses for his men‘to sing.

There was a great church and a home where
good monks lived in the town of Ely. At that
time the town stood on an island, and one day, as
Canute and his queen were being rowed in their
boat, they heard the monks singing.

They could not make out the words that were
being sung, though they could hear the sweet
sounds. And so the king made this verse for his
men to sing :—

The Ely monks sang merrily

As King Canute was rowing by;

Row, men, to the land more near,

That we the good monks’ song may hear.

Canute was very good to the monks of Ely,
and gave fine gifts to their church, where he
often went to hear them sing.

We have had handed down to us, in old
books, some good stories of Canute, and two of
these we will next read about.

Write out and Learn

1. Canute the Dane became King of England about a hundred
years after the death of ‘ Alfred the Good.’

2. He was a very good king.

8. He built many churches and ruled his people justly.

4. He loved singing, and sometimes made verses for his men to
sing.

18.. CANUTE AND BODGE
One morning in the winter, Canute wanted

to go from the place where he was staying to the
island of Ely.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 48

In those days, most of that part of the
country was under water, and was called the
Fens. Small islands were dotted about here and
there. In summer, men went from place to
place in boats. In winter, they could cross on
che ace.

It had been very cold for some time, and so
the water was frozen all over. The ice was too
thick for a boat to be forced through it, but
Canute and his men thought it was too thin to
bear the weight of a horse and sledge.

So they did not know what to do. The king
wanted to go very badly, but he knew that he
and his friends might be drowned if the ice broke
under him.

Now there was quite a crowd of people look-
ing on, and among them was a poor man who
was called Bodge. This name had been given to
him because he was so very big and stout.

Seeing that the king was afraid that the ice
was too thin, Bodge stood forth and said: ‘ Sir,
may I lead the way? Iam so heavy, that if the
ice will bear me, it will bear any weight.’

This was very brave of him, and all the
people said: ‘ Well done, Bodge.’

The king was much pleased, and _ said :
‘Thank you, my brave fellow. I shall be very
glad for you to run in front and find a safe
track.’

So off they went, the brave Bodge running
in front with a stout pole in his hand. Bodge —







tY















































SHINOLS BIdWIS

















































































FROM ENGLISH .HISTORY 45

knew the best way across the ice, and so they
soon reached Ely in safety.

Then the king called Bodge to him, ‘and
when he knew that Bodge was a slave, he at
once set him free, and gave him some land for
his own. (Adapted from York Powell’s ‘ Old Stories from English History’)

Write out and Learn

iL. This is a story about Canute.

2, He wanted to cross the ice with his horses and sledge, but

was not sure that the ice was strong enough to bear them.

3. A brave man named Bodge said he would run in front.

4, He was so big and heavy that if the ice would bear him it
would bear any weight.

5. So he went in front, and the king crossed safely. Canute was
so pleased that he made Bodge a free man.

19. CANUTE TEACHES HIS FRIENDS A
LESSON



Canute was a wise and good man. Though
he was such a great king, he was not proud.

When he was away in Rome, he wrote a long
letter to his people. In the letter he said that
he had made up his mind to try to rule them
better than before. We can see by this letter,
how Canute wished to serve God in all things,
and how much he'wished his people to be good.

Now Canute bad some men about him, who
tried to win his favour by praising him.

He was too wise to believe all the fine things
they said about him, and one day he made up
his mind to teach them a lesson. - They were all
down by the sea-shore, and some of them began













46 SIMPLE STORIES

to say how wise Canute was, and that he was the |
greatest king that had ever lived.

‘Bring my chair,’ said he, ‘and place it close |
to the water’s edge, where the tide will soon |
begin to flow.’

Seating himself in his chair, he raised his
hand in command and shouted: ‘Sea, come no |
further. Thou art under my rule as much as
the land. I forbid thee to flow over my land or
to wet my feet.’

But the sea crept nearer and nearer. Soon
the little waves beat around his chair and wetted |
his feet and clothes.

Then, turning to his men, he said: ‘See how
weak is the power of an earthly king. God
alone has power over all, and can make the tide
to ebb and flow. He only is worthy of the name
of King.

‘Honour then God and serve Him, for Him
do all things obey.’

It is said that from that day Canute never
wore his crown. He hung it up in a church, so |
that all men might see how little he thought of |
earthly power.





Write out and Learn

. Though he was a great king, Canute was not proud.

. Some of his friends tried to win his favour by praising him.

. So he had his chair set by the sea-shore. Then he stood up
and told the waves to come no further. :

. When the water began to flow round his chair he pointed out
the weakness of the power of an earthly king. ‘God alone
is worthy to be called.a King,’ he said.

oo be

a





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 47

‘
i

FURTHER !

NO

COME

A,



SH

‘













oe ge coee Ve *
EB SSF ar NENA: ?

SS



a







48 SIMPLE STORIES

20. THE LAST SAXON KING

For nearly two hundred years after the death
of the great King Alfred, Saxon kings ruled in
England. But in that time there were also three
Danish kings.

The last Saxon king but one was a very good
man, named Edward. He spent most of his time
in reading and praying.

He built many churches and was very good
to the poor. But he had one very bad fault.
He liked the men who lived in a land not far
from England, better than he liked his own
people. These men were the Normans, and they
were ruled over by a brave man named William,
who was cousin to the English king. |

It was said that Edward had told William
that he should be King of England. And when
at last Edward lay dying, his friends came to
him, and begged that he would say who should
be king after him. :

Lifting his head he said: ‘I should like my
cousin William to be king, and I think some of
you have bound yourselves to him.’ |

But his friends said: ‘Sir, if we have any
king but Harold, we shall have no peace.’

‘Then choose whom you will,’ said the dying
man.

He died soon afterwards, and was buried in a
fine church, where his tomb stands to this day. _





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 49

And so Harold, the last of the Saxon kings,
came to rule over England.

William the Norman thought he had a better
right to be king than Harold. But Harold was
chosen king by the people, and thus he was the
only man who had any real right.

Harold was a strong and brave man, and was
loved by his people. But he did not rule over
them long, for William the Norman made up his
mind that he would turn Harold off the throne,
and be king in his place.

Write out and Learn

1. For nearly two hundred years after the death of Alfred the
Good there were Saxon kings in England. But in that time
there were also three Danish kings.

2. Edward was the last but one of the Saxon kings.

3. He wanted William the Norman to be king after him.

4. But the people chose Harold, and he was the last of the Saxon

kings.

Harold was strong and brave, and was loved by his people.

But William the Norman was angry, and said he would turn
Harold off the throne.

on

21. WILLIAM THE NORMAN SAILS TO
ENGLAND

William the Norman lived in a land just over
the sea to the south of England.

It is said that when he was born, an old
nurse laid him down upon a bed of straw. The
baby put out his little hand, and when his nurse
came to pick him up, she saw that each hand
was full of straw.

‘You will be a great lord some day,’ said she,

D











50 SIMPLE STORIES

‘and win lands and riches, since you begin to
take hold of things so early.’

When he grew up to be a man, he ruled his
people firmly and wisely. Men dared not do
wrong for fear William should hear of it.

When he heard that the people of England
had made Harold king, he was very angry. He
called his great men about him, and told them
how he ought to have been made king. Then
he said that he had made up his mind to go and
fight Harold.

He asked them if they would go with him to
help him. At first they did not want to go, but
after a time William talked them all over. He
told his friends that, if they would help him to
take England, he would give them fine lands and
houses and: slaves.

Then they began to get ready, and men were
soon busy in every town making swords and
spears. Large stores of food were got ready,
and ships were built in every port.

At last they set sail. There was quite a
large army, and as ships in those days were ver Vv
small, it took many hundreds of them to carry
the army across.

William had a fine new ship, that was a gift
to him from his wife. The sails were red and
white, and at the top of the mast was a big
lamp to show the way to the other ships .
night.

And so the Normans came over to England,



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 51

They landed on the south coast, and then waited

for Harold and his men to come and fight them.

Write out and Learn

1. William the Norman lived in a land that lies over the sea to
the south of England.

2. When he heard that Harold was made king he was very angry,
and said he would go over and fight him.

3. His men said they would go with him. So they set sail in
many ships.

4. They landed on the south coast, and waited for Harold and his
men to come and fight them.

22. THE FIGHT AT SENLAC

The English took up their post upon the top
and side of a hill. They dug a ditch in front of
them, and inside the ditch they put up a fence
of strong stakes.

The English fought on foot, and each man
was armed with a sword and a big axe, that was
held by both hands.

Harold planted his great flag on the top of
the hill, and there he stood with his best friends
about him, ready for the fight. He told his men
to stand firmly close to each other. ‘ For,’ said
he, ‘if we break our line, the Normans will beat

us: but if we stand steady, we must win the

3

day.

The Normans fought on horseback, and ~

many of them could shoot with the bow.
The fight began in the morning, and lasted.
for many hours without either side getting the

better of the other.

Da















52 SIMPLE STORIES

Once a cry was raised that William was slain.
But, jumping up, he shouted to his men: ‘I am
here, safe and sound, and: mean to win the day.’

As long as the English kept close to each
other at the top of the hill the Normans could
not beat them. But in the afternoon some of
the English forgot the king’s order, and rushed
down the hill after some Normans who were
running away. Thus the English line was
broken. ;

Then William told his archers to shoot their
arrows high into the air, so that they might fall
upon the heads of the English. As the sun was
setting an arrow struck Harold in the eye. At
the same time the Normans made a fierce charge
upon the Saxons, and Harold and two of his
brothers were slain, and his flag was beaten to
the ground.

And so ended the great fight at Senlac, and
so died the last of the Saxon kings.

At night, by the light of the bonfires, good
men and women went over the battle-field, tend-
ing those who were hurt, and burying the dead.

Write out and Learn

. The English were posted on a hill, Here Harold planted his flag.

. The English fought on foot. Most of the Normans were on
horseback.

. The English were beaten, and Harold was killed.

. This great fight is called the ‘ Battle of Hastings’ (1066).

. William the Norman became king.

. In time all the land came into the hands of the Normans

Doe

> or OD





THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS

NS FIGHTING AT

AND SAXO

NS

NORMA



54 SIMPLE STORIES

23. ENGLAND IN SAXON TIMES

For about five hundred years the English
had lived in the land, and for more than two
hundred years their own kings had ruled over
them. During this long time the English had
learned very many things that helped to make
them wiser and better.

After William the Norman had beaten the
English, he wanted to find out all about the land
he had taken.

So he had a big book made, in which was put
down all that could be learned about the country.
This book was called the Domesday Book. In
it were set down the names of the towns, and
the people who lived in them; the size and
shape of the farm lands; what was grown upon
them; and the number of sheep, cattle, and
pigs. e

From it we learn, that the greater part of the
land was still covered with woods. But many
clearings had been made, in which corn and
other crops were grown.

Towns had sprung up in many places, and
London had become the chief sea-port. There
were more people living in the south and east,
than in the other parts of the country. Large
flocks of sheep were fed on the downs just as
they are to this day.

Churches were built in the towns and villages,.
and men learned to know the true God.



‘FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 55

The English had many ships, and traded with
people who lived over the sea. They sent away
slaves and wool, which they sold for such things
as wine, silk, and glass, or for gold and silver.

A large part “of these times was filled up
with cruel wars. But there were always the
wise and good monks who were ever teaching
the people how to do what was right. And
there were always the hard-working farmers who
raised crops, and kept cattle and sheep.

During the Saxon times the English, instead
of being split up into many tribes, each with its
own chief, grew up to be one nation, ruled over
by its king.

Write out and Learn

1, The English lived in the land for about six hundred years before
William the Norman became king.

2. We learn much about England in those days from the
‘Domesday Book. This was made by William, the Norman.

8. Much of the land was still forest. Towns had sprung up in
many places. London had become the chief sea-port.

4. The English had learned to trade, and sent their ships to other
lands.

5. They had learned about God, and had become one nation,
ruled over by their own king.

94. WILLIAM THE NORMAN

William was made King of England on
Christmas Day, in the year 1066. He wished to
please the English, and said that he would rule
over them as well as any king had done before
him.

Then he went to his home fora time. But
he soon had to come back again. For the Eng-



56 SIMPLE STORIES

lish began to think that they had given in too
easily, and so they tried to get their lands back
from the Normans.

For five long years William had no rest.
First the people in the West rose against him.
When he was away fighting them, the men of
the North rose up, and killed many of his
friends.

At last William became very angry, and did
many cruel things. In the North, he drove all
the poor people out of their homes, and burnt
their houses, and laid all the land waste.

Then for a time there was peace in the land.
The king kept up the good old English laws, and
wicked men dared not do wrong, because they
feared the king.

But there was not much peace for William.
Robert, the eldest of his sons, was both lazy and
careless. He wanted his father to give him a
large part of his lands to rule over. ‘ No,’ said
William, ‘it is not my way to take off my
clothes before I go to bed.’

Then the wicked young man made war upon
his father. Having hurt his father im battle he
was very sorry, and begged for pardon. At first
the king was very angry, but at last he forgave
his son, and so peace was made.

When William lay upon his deathbed, he
sent for his three sons, and told them the story
of his life.

He said: ‘When I think of my sins, I am.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 57

sore afraid. I have been a man of war from my
youth up. I won a crown by force of arms, not
by right.

‘But I have tried to rule rightly over the
land which I won by wrong.

‘And now, I pray you, my sons, follow me
so far as I have done rightly, but shun the faults
imto which I have fallen.’

Then he blessed his three sons. He gave
orders for some of his money to be given to the
poor, and the rest to the Church. And soon
after he died.

Write out and Learn

1. William was made King of England on Christmas Day, 1066.

2. The English soon rose against the Normans, and it took five
more years before the land was at peace.

8. William kept up the good old English laws, and ruled justly.

4. When he died he left money to be given to the poor and
money also to the Church.

95. THE RED KING

After William the Norman was dead, his son
William ruled in his stead. This son is often
called the ‘Red King.” He began his reign
well, and did what his father had told him. He
was very brave and proud. Once, when he was
about to set sail, the master of the ship said the
sea was too rough, and that they might all be
drowned.

‘Set sail!’ said the Red King; ‘I never
heard of a king being drowned.’

His father had been very fond of hunting

"Fie Neem

a

x=

me geag ee

ee











58 SIMPLE STORIES

the deer, and had made many great Deer Parks.
To make one of them, he had driven hundreds of
poor people out of their homes, and turned all
their lands into a big hunting ground. This was
called the New Forest. It has been kept as a-
forest unto this day, and still has the same name.

It was said, that William the Norman loved
the deer better than he loved his people. And
he had no mercy on men who killed the deer.

One day, the Red King started with some
friends to hunt the deer in the New Forest. As_
he was mounting his horse, a man came up and
gave him six fine new arrows.

The king was very pleased, and, picking out
two of them, he handed them to a friend, at the
same time saying: ‘ Here, Walter, take these
two arrows; [I know you will make the best use
of them.’

Then they rode off in search of the deer.
Soon a fine stag came rushing past them. The
king shot with his bow but missed him.

So he shouted to his friend: ‘Shoot! Walter !
Shoot! You will not miss him.’

Walter shot with all his might, but the arrow
glanced off a tree and struck the king, who fell —
dead from his horse. Seeing that the king was
dead, Walter turned and fled.

At sunset some poor men came by, and find-
ing the dead king they put him into a cart, and
took him away to a great church at Winchester,
where he was buried. :



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 59



THE RED KING SHOT BY AN ARROW



60 SIMPLE STORIES

Thus we see, that the Red King was killed
in the same forest that his father had driven so
many poor people away from.

Write out and Learn

. The Red King was very brave and proud. He was very fond
of hunting in the New Forest, which his father William the
Norman had made.

. In order to make this forest, many poor people had been driven
from their homes.

. One day, when hunting in the New Forest, the Red King was
shot by an arrow, and there died.

4, Some poor men coming by, saw the dead body of the king.

They put it into a cart and took it to Winchester, and in the

great church there the Red King was buried.

me

bo

qo

26. THE WHITE SHIP

The next king was Henry the Scholar. |
Once, as he was about to set sail from France to |

England, a man came to him and said :

‘Sir, my father served your father all his life
upon the sea. I have here a fine vessel called
the White Ship; I pray you come on board, and
let me carry you to England.’ :

‘I am sorry, friend,’ said the king, ‘that I
cannot sail with the son of the man who served
my father. But my son and his friends shall go
with you.’

So the young prince set sail in the White |

Ship. It was a fine night, and the prince and
his friends sat wp on the deck, and talked, and

laughed, and sang. He was so pleased with the |
ship, that he did a very foolish thing. He gave |
the sailors a great deal of wine to drink, and this |

made them unfit to take care of the ship. .





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 61





‘sO MANY LEAPED INTO THE BOAT THAT IT SANK’



62 SIMPLE STORIES a Al

All at once the ship struck on a rock and
began to sink.

The captain got out a boat, and the prince
and a few of his friends stepped into it. ‘ Push
off,’ said the captain, ‘and row to the land. It
is not far, and the sea is smooth. The rest of us
must die.’

But as they rowed away, the prince heard
the voice of his sister calling for help.

‘Row back,’ he eried, ‘row back. I cannot
beax to leave her.’

They rowed back, and as the prince held out
his arms for his sister, so many leaped into the
boat that it sank, and all were drowned.

Of all the people in the ship only one man |
was saved, and he was a poor butcher, who kept
himself afloat in his big sheep-skin coat until he
was picked up.

For a time no one dared to tell the king. But
at last the king’s friends sent a little Enid: who,
with tears in his eyes, told him that the White
Ship was lost. It is said that, when he heard
the sad news, the king fell to the ground like a
dead man, and was never seen to smile again.



Write out and Learn

. Henry ‘the Scholar’ was the next king.
Once, when he was about to sail back to England, a man |
begged that he would go with him in the White Ship.
. The king could not go himself, so he said that his son should
sail in it.
. But the ‘W. hite Ship’ struck on a rock, and the prince was |

j

Bm oo POR

drowned.
. It is said that the king neyer smiled again,

on





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 63

27. THE ENGLISH UNDER THE NORMANS

When the Normans took the country, evil
times fell upon the poor English. Though most
_ of the kings tried to see that the English were





































































































































j
1
i



























































KEEP OF ROCHESTER CASTLE

well treated, they were not always strong enough
to make their great nobles do that which was
right and just.

The lands, and houses, and cattle of many of



64 SIMPLE STORIES

the rich English were taken away from them,
and given to the men who had helped William
the Norman in his great fight with Harold. The
poor people were made to work hard for their
Norman masters, and were little better than
slaves.

There were not nearly so many people in the
land as there are now. London has three times
as many as there then were in all England.

The Normans were fond of living in big
castles, which they built in all parts of the
country. The ruins of some of them may be
seen to this day, and so we are able to see the
kind of houses in which the rich Normans lived.

They also built many grand churches. The
picture on the next page shows us what one of
them was like.

Most of the houses, even in the towns, were
still built of wood, and were covered with thatch.

The Normans brought many new ways into
the country. They were very fond of: gay clothes,
and also of good cooking. The English soon’
learnt to do as the Normans did, but they never
gave up their own. speech, and in time the Nor-
mans also learnt to speak English.

Write out and Learn

1. Much of the land, and houses, and cattle of the English was
taken by the Normans.

2. The poor English people were made to work hard for their
Norman masters.

3. The Normans built many strong castles, and also some fine
churches, some of which stand to this day.

4, In time the Normans learned to speak English.



65

FROM ENGLISH HISTORY



































































rapier













































Tt Pert tr

| |



























PART OF DURHAM CATHEDRAL, BUILT IN NORMAN TIMES



36 SIMPLE STORIES

28. RICHARD LION-HEART

This was a very brave king, and so men.
called him the ‘ Lion-Heart.’

He was very fond of music and singing. But
he was not a good king, for he w ont away for
many years to fight i in other lands.

While he was away, bad men were cruel to
the poor, and did many wicked things, because
there was no strong king to keep them in order.

Richard was very brave, no doubt, and many
tales are told of the great deeds he did, when
fighting in the Holy Land.

On his way home he fell into the hands of a
man who hated him, and shut him up in a strong
‘castle.

For a time no one in England knew where
Richard was. An old story tells us how one of
his friends, a man who had many a time sung
and played to the king, started off to find him.
He went from castle to castle, and stood below
the walls, and sang some songs which he knew
that Richard loved.

One day as he sang, he heard a voice that
came from gome room high up in the castle,
singing the same song, ont ne knew that the
singer must be his king.

When it became known where Richard was,
a large sum of money was paid to set him free.

Even when he came back to England, he did
not rule as justly as he ought.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY . 67

He built a strong castle in France which he
called the ‘Saucy Castle.’ But he did not live
long after it was done.



RICHARD LION-HEARY

When fighting outside the walls of a castle
that he was trying to take, he was struck by an
arrow and soon lay dying. The man who fired



68 SIMPLE STORIES

the shot was brought before him. ‘What have
I done to thee,’ asked Richard, ‘that thou
shouldest slay me ?’

‘Thou hast slain my father and two of my
brothers with thy own hand,’ said the man.

On hearing this, and seeing how brave he
was, Richard forgave him, and “hs that he was
to go free. But fe friends kept the man till the
king was dead, and then put him to death.

Write out and Learn

1. Richard Lion-Heart was a very brave man, but was not a very
good king.

2. He spent some of his time fighting in the Holy Land. On
his way home he was taken and shut up in a strong castle.

3. A large sum of money had) to be paid to set him free,

4. When he lay dying he was noble enough to forgive the man
who shot the arrow that killed him.

29. KING JOHN AND ARTHUR (

John was not a good king. He was so cruel
to his people, and ruled so unjustly, that they
were very unhappy, and rose up against him.

They soon had a large army, and John found
that, if he wished to be king any longer, he must
be willing to rule better than he had done before.

So he said he would do-as they wished, and
that he would be just to all men. All the good
things he told his men he would do, were written
down on a paper, that was called the ‘ Great
Charter.’

_ And ever since that day, England has ‘been a
better land for men to live in “than ever it was
before. .





RICHARD PARDONS THE ARCHER WHO SHOT HIM.



FROM HNGLISH HISTORY 69

But the worst of all John’s wicked deeds was
his treatment of his brother’s son Arthur.

He shut him up in a prison in France, far
away from his home. Poor Arthur was very sad
and lonely at first, but he soon made friends with
aman named Hubert, who was put in charge of
him.

One day Arthur saw that Hubert had a very
sad face. ‘What is the matter, Hubert?’ he
said. ‘ Why do you look so grave ?

‘It is only I that should be sad. If I were
out of prison and kept sheep, I should be merry
as the day is long.

‘Are you sick, Hubert? You look so pale
to-day. I wish you were a little sick, that I
might sit all night and watch with you.

‘Tam sure I love you more than you do me.’

But Hubert only shook his head, and did not
speak. or in his hand he held a letter from
King John, telling him to put out both poor
Arthur’s eyes.

Hubert had not the heart to tell the boy
what a cruel thing he had to do. So he gave
the letter to Arthur for him to read.

As be read it his face grew pale, and big
tears rolled down his cheeks.

‘What, Hubert!’ Must you with hot irons
burn out both my eyes P’

‘My boy, I must, or the king will take my
lite?

‘Oh, Hubert, have you the heart to do such



70 SIMPLE STORIES

a cruel deed ? Have I not always loved you as
a son P

‘When you have been sick, have I not
nursed you? And will you put out my eyes,
that never did, nor ever shall, so much as frown
upon you ?’

And Hubert’s heart grew soft within him, as
he heard the ery of the boy he loved so well.
He felt that he could not do such a cruel deed,
and so for the time Arthur’s life was safe.

But John was afraid that his men would
turn him off the throne and make little Arthur
king in his stead.

So he kept Arthur in prison, and soon after
it was said that he was dead. How he died no
one knows, but there is no doubt that John was
the cause of his death.

After this, people hated John more than ever.
They rose up against him, and made him do what
they wished. He lost much of his land, and
when he died all his people were glad that such
a bad king no longer ruled over them.

Write out and Learn

1. John was a bad king, and did many evil deeds. His people
rose against him, and made him sign a paper saying he would
rule them better. This paper is called the Great Charter (1215).

2. He shut Arthur up in a strong castle. He was afraid his

people might make Arthur king.

. At last poor Arthur was killed, and his wicked uncle was the

cause of his death.

4. When King John died his people were glad.

oo



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 71

30. A GREAT. KING |.

Edward the First was one of our greatest
kings. He was a strong and wise man, who
made all men obey the laws. He made many
wise laws, and in his days, men were able to do
their work and live in peace.

In an earlier lesson, we read that when the
English came and took this land for themselves,
the Welsh were driven into Wales.

There they had lived since that time. They
had their own kings, and never had an English
king to rule over them. The Welsh were brave
men. They were very fond of poetry and
singing, and played on the harp with great
skill.

King Edward made up his mind, that he
would rule over the Welsh. So he went to war
with them, and in the end the Welsh king was
killed. Then his people gave in. And since
that time Wales has been ruled by the King of
England.

In order to please the Welsh, the king said
that his eldest son should be Prince of Wales.
And ever since that time, the eldest son of the
king has been called by that name.

Not only did Edward beat the Welsh, but he
also tried to make the Scotch king and people
take him for their over-lord—that is, their
master.

At first Edward got his own way, but the



72 SIMPLE STORIES

Scotch king ‘soon grew tired of having him as
lord, and rose up against him.

For a time, Edward was able to make nearly
all the country give in to him, and he put the
Scotch king in prison.

But as soon as he left to go to England, other
brave men took up the fight, and Edward had to
begin his work all over again. The bravest of
these men were Wallace and Bruce. And it was
when Edward was an old man, and was on his
way to fight Bruce, that he was taken ill and
died.

' Edward was a good man, and a wise and
hard-working king. It was said of him, that he
was always truthful and ‘ kept faith.’

Write out and Learn

1. Edward the First was a great and wise king. He made many
good laws,

2. He made the Welsh take him for their king, and his son was
the first Prince of Wales.

3. He tried to make the Scotch take him for their king. He spent
much of his time in fighting the Scotch, who were led by
Wallace and Bruce.

4. But the Scotch won in the end.

5. It was said of him that he was always truthful and ‘kept
faith.’

81. THE BLACK PRINCE AT CRECY

Edward the Third ruled over England for
fifty years. He was very fond of fighting, and
made up his mind to try to be king of France, as
well as of England.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY

So he set sail with
a big army and soon
reached France. His
men were very brave,
and were ready to go
anywhere their king
might lead them.

The French came to
meet him with a larger
army, hoping to beat
the English, and send
them back to their own
country again. At last
the two armies met,
and a great fight took
place. This was the
battle of Creey.

Most of the English
had been taught how
to shoot with bows and
arrows. 'Their bows were
very strong, and their
arrows were very sharp.
And the English were
such strong men, that
they could shoot their
arrows a very long way.

They shot them so
thick and fast, that the
French could not stand
against them.

oe

ae

Hi

ea



EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE, FROM
HIS TOMB AT CANTERBURY:
SHOWING THE KIND OF ARMOUR
WORN IN THOSE DAYS.



TE a A ae

74. | SIMPLE STORIES

Now the king had with him his eldest son,
who was-then quite a boy. At one time during
the fight, the Prince was hard pressed by the
French, and some of his friends were afraid that
he might be killed. :

So they sent to the king for help. The king
asked: ‘Is my son dead, or hurt, or felled to the
ground P’

~ ©No, Sir, but he is hard pressed.’

‘Then,’ said the king, ‘ go back to those who
sent you, and tell them to send no more for help,
as long as my son is alive. I wish the glory of
winning the fight to be his.’

So they kept on with the fight, until many of
the French were killed and the rest ran away.

When the fight was over the king came
down to the field of battle and said to his son :

‘Sweet son, God grant that you may go on
as you have this day begun; and you will be
worthy to be a king.’

But the prince bowed and gave all the glory
to his father. And this was the first great fight
won by the Black Prince, as he came to be
called.

Write out and Learn

J, Edward the Third ruled over England for fifty years.

2, He tried to make the French take him for their king. So he
went to France with his army.

8. The English won a great fight at Crecy. This was the first battle
won by his son the Black Prince, as he came to be called.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 75

32. A GOOD QUEEN AND THE MEN OF
CALAIS

After the great fight at Crecy, the English
made up their minds to take the town of Calais,
so that they might always have a safe place in
France for their ships.

They made a strong camp all round the town,
so that no one could go either in or out.

The French, who were inside the town, were
very brave men. They said they would rather
die for want of food, than give up their town.

The English would not let any food go in,
and in time the people were starving. But still
they held out. Many months passed like this,
and King Edward was very angry. He sent to
say that he knew they must give in, for want of
food.

‘ But,’ he said, ‘if six of the chicf men of the
town will come to me with chains round their
necks, and the keys of the town in their hands,
then I will forgive all the rest.’

The people were very sad when they heard
this. At last a brave man rose up and said: ‘ It
would be a great pity to let so many people die
for lack of food. I have such faith in God’s
soodness to me, that I am willing to give up my
life to save my friends.’

Then five others said they would go with
him. And so these six brave men were brought
before the king.



76 SIMPLE STORIES

They fell upon their knees, and begged him
to have pity upon them. But he only looked
angrily at them, and ordered that their heads
should be cut off.

Now the queen, who had crossed over to
France to see the king, was so sorry for the poor
men, that she fell upon her knees, and with
tears in her eyes, she said :

‘Ah, gentle Sir, since I have crossed the sea,
I have not asked you one favour. Now I most
humbly beg, for the sake of the love you have
for me, that you will spare the lives of these
poor men.’

The king looked at her for some time without
speaking. Then he said: ‘Dear lady, you have
asked in such a way that I cannot say nay.
Take the men and do as you will with them.’

Then everyone was glad. And the good
queen took them, and having ted them, sent
them back happy to their homes.

Write out and Learn

1. Bee the great fight at Crecy, Edward tried to take the town of

alais.

2. He would not let any food be taken into the town, and so in time
the people were starving.

3. At last he said he would forgive the rest if six of the chief men
would come: to him with the keys of the town in their hands
and chains round their necks.

4.. Six brive men said they would go, so that the rest might be
saved.

. The king was very angry, and gave orders that their heads

should be cut off. But his good queen begged for their lives,
and so they were set free.

oN









EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE WAITING ON KING JOHN OF FRANCE
AFTER THE BATTLE OF POICTIERS.





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 77

33. THE BLACK PRINCE AND THE FRENCH
KING.

The Black Prince spent nearly all his life in
fighting in France.

He was a noble prince, and it seems a pity
that his life should have been spent in this way.
But those were cruel times, and the most a good
man could do was to do his duty as far as he
knew it.

Though the Black Prince did many cruel
deeds, he also did many kind ones.

In one great battle that he won against the
French, he was able to take the King of France.
Some men would have been harsh and unkind to
the French king. But the Black Prince knew
that it was far nobler to treat him well, now that
he had him in his camp. i

So he served him at table with his own
hands, and when he came back to London, he
made the king ride side by side with him
through the streets.

In this way he taught all men the lesson
that it is noble to be kind to fallen foes.

The French king showed that he could act as
nobly as the Black Prince. He was sent back to
France to try to raise a large sum of money to
pay the Black Prince to set him free.

And when he found that he could not get the
money, he kept his word, and came back again
- to London, where he spent the rest of his life.



78 SIMPLE STORIES

The Black Prince never became king of
England, for he died a year before his father.
But we are proud of him, for he was a brave
man, who tried to do his duty.

Write out and Learn

. The Black Prince spent nearly all his life in fighting the French.
. After one great battle that the Black Prince won, the King of
France gave himself up to him.
. The Black Prince was kind to his fallen foe, and waited upon
him with his own hands.
He never became King of England, as he died the year before
his father.

oo woe

a

84. WAT TILER

The long wars with Fiance had made food
very dear in England. Poor people were often.
very hungry, ind they began to think that the
king and the rich men did not treat them fairly,
and did not care what became of them.

At last, large numbers of the people made up
their minds that they would go to the king, and
tell him of their troubles. So they marched. to
London under a leader whose name was Watt
Tiler, ud

The king was quite a boy. His name was
Richard, oak he was a son of the Black Prince.

He was sorry for the poor people; and so,
with some of his friends about him, he rode
forth to meet Wat Tiler and his men. He was
u brave young king to be willing to go to meet
such a nimber of angry men.

Seeing the king coming, Wat Tiler rode up


































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































at

SHOOT YOUR KIN

WILL YOU

AT IS THIS, MY MEN?

‘WH



80 SIMPLE STORIES

to him, and begged him to be just to the poor,
and to let all men be free to kill wild beasts and
game in the woods.

As they talked, one of the king’s friends
became angry, and, drawing his sword, he struck
Wat Tiler to the ground.

When the men saw their leader fall they
shouted: ‘Let us stand by each other. We will
die with our leader. Shoot! lads, shoot !’

In another moment a dreadful fight would
have begun, but the young king rode to them as
quickly as he could, and called out: ‘ What is
this, my men? Will you shoot your king? I
will be your leader, and will give you what you
ask for!’

Seeing the boldness of the king, they turned
and went with him out of the city. ‘This was
the end of the rising. Most of the men went
back to their homes, but many were taken by
the king’s friends and killed.

For the king could not do for them as he said
he would. And so for the time the poor people
were no better off than they were before.

Write out and Learn

1. The next king was Richard, son of the Black Prince. He was
quite a boy when he became king.

2. These were bad times for poor people, and many of them went
to London to ask help of the king.

3. Their leader was Wat Tiler. Ono of the king’s friends killed
Wat Tiler, and the king rode up to the angry men and
euaueed ‘I will be your leader, and will give you what you
ask for.’

4. So the men went home again. But the king did not help them.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY esi

35. KING HENRY THE FIFTH IN FRANCE

| And now we come to another king, who
| wanted to be king of France, as well as king of
| England. This was King’ Henry the Fifth. He
was wild and thoughtless when he was young,
| but as soon as he became king, he showed him-
self to be just towards all men.

| He was slow to promise, but he always kept
| his word.

He was tall and strong, and: so oft of foot
that he is said to have once run a hare down in
} a park. _

He sailed to France with a fleet of ships, that
| carried a big army of men. They soon landed,
and as they marched across. the country, they
came to a place where the French army was
drawn. up ready tevineet them.

| Many of Henry’s men had been killed, and
| many had died of sickness. So there were not
| many left to fight the French. But though they
saw such ab: large army in front of nen, none
wished to turn back.

The next day was Sunday, and, after prayers,
the English were drawn up in a field of fresh-cut
corn face to face with the Frencli host.

‘What time is it now ?’ the king asked.

‘The bells are ringing for church,’ someone
told him.

‘Now is good time,’ said he. ‘Our friends at
F







82 SIMPLE STORIES

home are praying for us, so let us be of good
cheer.’
Then the fight began. The king fought with
his own hands like one of his men.
After a time the French gave way. Many



HENRY THE FIFTH



thousands of them were killed, and great treasure
fell into the hands of the English.
You may think how glad the people of
England were when they heard of the great fight
at Agincourt.
Though Henry won a large part of France,
he did not. live long to enjoy it.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY — 83

Write out ‘and Learn

i. Henry the Fifth tried to make the French take him for their
king, just as Edward the Third had done.

2.. He was a very strong man. He was slow to promise, but he
always kept his word. ;

3. He sailed to France with an army of men. He won a great
fight over the French, who then said that Henry should be
king when their king was dead.

4, Having won a large part of France, he died soon after.

36. JOAN DARC

For some years after Henry’s death the
English leaders were able to beat the French.
But at last the French began to be able to beat
the English, and this is how it came about.

The English had for a long time been try-
ing to take a town that had high walls all
round it.

The people inside the town were starving, and
made up their minds that, if help did not come
very soon, they would have to give in and open
the gates to the English.

There was at that time a young girl named
Joan Dare living in a small village in France.
She was about seventeen years old, and spent her
time in minding her father’s cattle and in sewing
and spinning. ;

She was very good and kind, and had often
felt her heart full of pity for the poor soldiers,
who came home hurt from the wars.

She was also very sorry for the young king
of France, who was bravely fighting against the
‘English,

F2



84 SIMPLE STORIES

She thought so much about these things,
that at last she fancied she could see bright
angels, who bade her go and try to save her
country.

So she went to the French king and told him
all about it. He thought so much of what she
said that he let her go to try to put hope into the
hearts of his men.

Mounted upon a white horse, she led the
soldiers against the English. ull of new hope
and spirit, the French fought so well, that
they were able to force their way into the
town.

And so the English gave up trying to take
the town and marched away.

Though she was only a poor girl, Joan Darc
had done for the French what neither the king
nor his nobles had been able to do.

She had filled the minds of the soldiers with
hope. From this time they fought as if they
thought they should win, and after a time they
drove the English from all parts of the country
except one small town.

But before this took place Joan Dare was
dead.

After the first fight she wished to go home
again. She thought her work was done. But
the king begged her to stay longer. So she kept
with the army and led the men, who would follow
her anywhere.

But at last she was taken by some Frenchmen



p
iY
NK AWA ou =

AN \



JOAN DARG STRUCK BY AN ARROW

AUOLSTH HSTIONG WoW

98



86 SIMPLE STORIES

who were not friendly with their king, and given
up to the English.

The English were very angry with her. They
were very cruel in those days, and they now did
a very cruel thing. They thought that Joan
Dare was a witch, and so they made up their
minds to burn her alive.

As the flames leapt about her she cried out:
‘God sent me to help my countrymen. Iam no
witch, and great evil shall fall upon you for the
cruel deed you are doing this day.’

«As she said this great fear fell upon all who
stood near.

‘We are undone,’ they said, ‘ for this woman.
whom we have put to death was a saint indeed.’

But Joan’s work was done. She had given
her life to save her country. And so we love and
honour her name, and are sad at the thought
that they were Englishmen who put her to such
cruel death.

e

Write out and Learn

. Joan Dare was a poor girl. She was very sorry to see the
English winning so many fights against the French.
At last she made up her mind to go and help the French soldiers.
. Mounted on a white horse, she led them against the English,
and they soon began to win. ‘They took back nearly all that
the English had won.
But Joan Dare fell into the hands of the English. They thought
she was a witch, and burned her to death.

be

t

SD

G

te

387. THE FIRST ENGLISH PRINTER
~ Instead of talking about wars and cruel deeds we
will now read about one of the greatestarts of peace.
Up to about four hundred year's ago, all books





FROM ENGLISH HISTORY _ 87

were written by hand. Most were written by
the monks, who loved to make their books look
as nice as they cou

But there were very few books in those days,
and only very rich men could afford to have them.

At last a clever man found out how to print
books from wooden letters, that he could move
about as he wished. In this way, after putting
letters together to form words, he was able to
print the same book many times.

So, instead of there being only one copy of a
new book, many copies could be made.

The first English printer was a man named
Caxton, who set up a printing-press in London.
The fame of his work soon spread about, and
the king and his nobles went to see Caxton at
his work.

He printed many books after this. TTe was a
good and kindly man, and was always grateful to
God for let ting him be the first to ati books in
this country. It was not till books were printed,
that poor people learned how to read and write.

There is now more printing done in London
in one day, than there was all over the world in
a year in Caxton’s time.

Caxton’s is a name that we must love and
honour, for reading good books is one of the best
things in life.

Write out and Learn

1. Up to about four hundred years ago all books in England were
written by hand.



88 SIMPLE STORIES

2. Then a good and clever man named Caxton set up a printing-
press in London.

8. Before that time only the rich could learn to read and have
books. Since then books have become cheaper and cheaper.
Now both rich and poor can learn'to read and write.

38. THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER

The Tower of London still stands as it has
done for many hundreds of years.

Many sad scenes and evil deeds have taken
place within its walls, but perhaps the worst deed
of all was the murder of the two young princes,
Edward and Richard.

They were but boys, who loved each other,
and were good and kind to all about them.

But they had a very wicked uncle, who had
been made king of England, though the eldest of
the two boys should have been king. , So he put
the two boys into the Tower of London, and there
he kept them fast for a time. of

At length he made up his mind that they
should be killed. So in the dead of night he sent
two wicked men to the Tower.

They found the two princes sleeping soundly
in their bed, and they killed the poor boys where
they lay.

Their bodies were buried in a secret place in
the Tower, and it was long before the exact spot
became known. When men heard what had
been done, they were very angry. Many of
them rose up against the wicked king.

















































































































a ny ia e !

Naa j
in

THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER



Le EE Se a,

—

90 SIMPLE STORIES

They got an army together, and at last they
won a great fight, in which the wicked king was
killed.

This took place not very long after the death
of the poor little princes.

If ever you go to see the Tower of London,
you will think of the sad fate of the two princes,















































































































THE TOWER OF LONDON

and be glad that we live in times when such
deeds are not done.

Write out and Learn

i. Richard the Third was a wicked king. There were two young
peingss named Edward and Richard who had a better right to
e king.
. So he put the two poor boys into the Tower of London.
. And one night he sent wicked men to kill them.
. This made the people very angry. They rose up against the
king, 4nd he was killed in a battle.

Ror bp



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 91

39. COLUMBUS FINDS A NEW WORLD

Four hundred years ago, men who lived in
Europe did not know that there was another
continent far away across the western seas.

They had heard of India, and they had seen
in shops some of the lovely things that were
made there. A few men had set out, mostly
on foot, to the far Hast, and had brought back
strange stories of the people who lived there.
Fine silks and lovely shawls, and many pretty
things, had been brought to Europe, and wonder-
ful tales were told of the gold and silver and
precious stones that were seen by travellers.

But it was a long and toilsome way to go, and
for many years men had wanted to find a shorter
and easier road to these wonderfw lands.

In those days, men knew very little about
the sea. They sailed in the waters that washed
their coasts, but were afraid to go far from land.
Their ships were small, and they had no good
maps and charts as sailors have now. It was
thought that the nearest way to India would be
found by sailing away to the West.

At length a brave sailor named Columbus
became sure in his own mind that he could
find the way. So he went to see the King of
Spain, and told him what he thought he could
do. ae

The king was so pleased with Columbus that



92 SIMPLE STORIES

he gave him some ships. And what small ships
they were! The largest was no bigger than the
small craft that sail only from port to port around
our coasts. Other brave men said they would
go with him, and after spending some time in
gotting the ships ready, Columbus and his men
set sail.

Their friends were very sad at seeing them
start, for very few thought that they would ever
come back again.

The weather was fine and the wind was fair,
and for some days the ships sailed gaily away to
the west. At length they left the last land
behind, and the hearts of some of the men began
to fail them. Rough sailors might have been
seen on their knees, with the tears running down
their cheeks.

But Columbus cheered them by telling
them of the wonderful lands which they were
going to find. He told them of the gold and
silver and precious stones that were to be had,
and so with better spirits they kept on their
way.

As day after day passed without any sign of
land, the sailors began to think they had lost
their way in the boundless sea, and that they
would never find the land they had set out to
seek. In spite of all their grumblings, Colum-
bus kept on his way. And at last, just as he
had begun to think of giving up the search, land
was seen not very far away.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 93

Now all was joy on board the ships. The
anchors were dropped. Columbus put on his
gayest clothes and was rowed ashore.

On landing, he and his men fell on their
knees and thanked God for having brought them
safely so far across the seas.

At first the men who lived there were very
much afraid. They had never seen either white
men or ships before. They thought the latter
must be big birds that had come down from the
clouds.

Columbus gave them some pretty things as
gifts, and when they found that no harm was
meant to them, they got over their fears and
became very friendly.

After spending a few days in this island, for
so it proved to be, Columbus set sail in search of
other lands. There was no grumbling now on
the part of the sailors. They were happy in the
thought that they had found the land they came
to seek, and that they might soon return to their
homes in Spain.

But it was not India that they hadfound. It
was part of a New World, and it was not till
some years after that it was found what a strange
error they had fallen into.

After staying for a few months, Columbus
set sail for home. He wanted to tell the King
of Spain of the new lands he had found. He
took with him some of the natives, as well as
pretty birds and fine fruits, and many other



94 SIMPLE STORIES

things. But, above all, he thought most of the
gold and silver that he brought back with him.

After meeting with many storms, he at
length reached Spain, where he had long been
given up for lost. Great was the joy on his
~return. The church bells were rung, guns were
fired, and the people rushed to the Hen oear to
see the ships come sailing in. The king was so
pleased, that he gave rich gifts to Columbus and
his men.

The news of finding new lands in the West
soon spread all through Europe. Many other
ships started out, and in a few years a large part
of the land ‘which we now call South America
was taken for the King of Spain.

Write out and Learn

1. About four hundred years ago Columbus set sail from Spain to
try to find a new way to India.

2. He did not find India, but he found the New World that we now
call America,

8. He took these new lands for the King of Spain, who in time
became master of nearly all South America,

40. SIR THOMAS MORE

It is by reading about the lives of good men
that we learn how to be good.

One of the best and noblest men that ever
lived was Sir Thomas More. He lived at a time
when great changes were taking place in Eng- ~
land. Henry the Kighth was king in those days.



FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 95







































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































KING HENRY THE BIGHTH



Full Text


Gbalvesite Ne s a “

Vea ke




SIMPLE STORIES

FROM ENGLISH HISTORY


TBUS LANDING IN AMERICA.

coLU
SIMPLE STORIES

' FROM

ENGLISH HISTORY

FOR YOUNG READERS



NEW HDITION

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
_ LONDON, NEW YORK, AND BOMBAY
i 1896

All righis reserved
CONTENTS

LESSON

HG

The Celts

2, Agil the Hunter

co ot me Ww

cw

10.
ahi
12.

14,

15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

20.
21.

‘Children

. The Britons
. Who the Romans were

The Romans Land

Britain

in

. What the Romans did i in

Britain

. The Saxons
. The English
. English Slave Children

in Rome
Bede
Alfred and ie Mother
England in the Olden
Time (1)

3. England in the Olden

Time (2)

in the Olden
Time

The Danes

Alfred the Good

King Canute

Canute and Bodge .

Canute Teaches
Friends a Lesson

The Last Saxon King

William the Norman Sails
to England .

his

ee eae
PAGE LESSON PAGH
9 | 22. The Fight at Senlac 51
10 | 23, Englandin Saxon Times. 54
13 | 24. William the Norman 55
15 | 25. The Red King. 57
26. The White Ship . 60
17 | 27. The English under the
Normans 63
19 | 28. Richard Lion- eat 66
91 | 29. King John and Arthur 68
93 | 80. A Great King . 71
81. The Black Prince at Gey 72
94 | 82. A Good Queen and the
26 Men of Calais elo)
99 | 38. The Black Prince and the
French King vie
30 | 34. Wat Tiler 78
85. King Henry the Vitth i in
33 France. 81
86. Joan Darc 83
34 | 387. The First English prmees 86
37 | 38. The Princes in the Tower 88
40 | 39. Columbus Finds a New
41 World . 91
42 | 40. Sir Thomas More 94
41. Lady Jane Grey - 100
45 | 42. Drake’s Voyage round the
48 World . . 102
43. Sir Philip Sidney . 109
49 | 44. The Armada . lil


CONTENTS

vi

LESSON PAGE
45, The Fight of the Revenge 119
46, Englandin Tudor Times (1) 121
47. ” ” ” (2) 124
48. rn », - (8) 126
49, Sir ‘Walter Raleigh . . 180
50. The Pilgrim Fathers . 133
51. Charles the First . 187
52. A Patriot . . 140
53. The Civil War . . 142

54.

55.

The Escape of Prince

Charles . 145
A Hero of the ‘Great
Plague » 148



LESSON

56.
57.
58.
59.

60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.

A Young Hero

General Wolfe

George Washington

John Howard and John
Lawrence

Lord Nelson

The Iron Duke

The Stephensons

Grace Darling . :

The English in India (1)

obey ” (2)
General Gordon
A Good Queen

PAGE

. 152

154

. 156

. 159
. 161
. 167
. 172

. 176
178
181

. 183
- 186
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Coloured.
Columbus Landing in America. (Lancelot Speed) . . Frontispiece
Gregory and the English Slaves. (Prom the ‘Chro-
nicle of England, by J. £. Doyle) . , . to face page 25
Richard I. Pardons the Archer who Shot Him. no
the ‘ Chronicle of England, by J. #. Doyle) . Mi shia ose 68
The Black Prince waiting on King John. (Prom the
‘ Chronicle of England,’ by J. 2. Doyle) F Snes V4
Prince Charles Escaping after the Battle of Worcester.
(Lancelot Speed). : ‘oo mn) 4s
The Death of Nelson. (2rom the picture in Greene ich
Hospital by Benjamin West) | . : : es » 166
In the Text.
i ct eee gees eal ARTIST PAGE
‘ Don’t be afraid, father, said the boy, ‘I will | Lancelot Speed WW
stand quite still’ . : 3
Early British Pottery Phe ast ¢ : " : ‘ coed!
Julius Cesar. : : F : : 5 . 16
The Landing of the Homes in een : . Lancelot Speed . 18
Part.of the Roman Wall at Leicester : 5 : 5 : 2920)
‘Yes, it is ended,’ Bede said . ¢ 5 . Lancelot Speed . 27
‘Thus Alfred won his first book’. ; Lancelot Speed . 31
Old English Map of the World : ; : : : : . 36
A Danish Ship of War. : : . ; : : : peo)
Danes Robbing a Monastery . : Hf. M. Paget . 39
Bodge Running in Front with a Stout Pole in| Dance Scene
his Hand . 3 :
‘Sea, come no further !’ . z Lancelot Speed . 47
Normans and Saxons one at the Battle 1 Lancelot Speed . 63
of Hastings . : J
The Red King Shot by an ero 5 : . : : 5)
‘So many leaped into the boat that it ean . Lancelot Speed . 61
Keep of Rochester Castle : : : : : : . 63
Part of Durham Cathedral builtin Norman i imes : 5 : . 65
Richard Lion-Heart. : : 5 ; . 67

Edward the Black Prince, rom his Tomb a
Canterbury: showing the kind of armour
worn in those days . : , : Z . 73
4 wes is ae my men? Will you EAGOr your) aM Ene MaTO
ing q
viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ARTIST

Henry the Fifth ; ; : : : :

Joan Dare Struck by an sow: : . . Lancelot Speed

The Princes in the Tower : : : _ . Millais

The Tower of London

‘King Henry the Highth

Sir Thomas More

The Great Harry ; built co King ery ang

Eighth

Sir Francis Drake in Gre Forty-third ea

Queen Elizabeth

‘Oh! no,’ said Drake, ‘ there is Rien of fine

to finish our game and beat the Spaniar | Seymour Lucas

.

too’
The onenen Rem : : z ,
Wreck of one of the Ships of fie ees . Lancelot Speed

A Falcon with Hood, &c., ready fora Flight . G. E. Lodge
William Shakspere 3 : : : : : ;
Wollaton Hall, NOTEmpuamenter built about

1580-1588 : ‘ :
A Coach in Tudor Times .
Sir Walter Raleigh and his Eldest Sen Walter,

at the Ageof Hight . : :
A Puritan . : : : . 3 ; 5 ; ;
King Charles the First : P : . : . Vandyek
Happy Days of Charles the First : . : :
A Cavalier
A Soldier Armed with a Pike (Stuart Times) .
A Soldier with Musket and Crutch (Stuart

Times) . 5
Oliver Cromwell ;
The Sovereign of the Seas ; built fon the Royal

Navy in 1637. : a @ ; ;
General Wolfe .
Picture of a Battle that was Rouse in the

same Year that Wolfe took Quebec .

Lord Neison y : 5 : : 3 : :
The Battle of Tesla : ; , i i . Lurner
The Vietory :
The Duke of Woumeton :
An English Soldier who F ie in Spain
x Puffing Billy’. : :
General Gordon
Queen Victoria at her evession

PAGE
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sealitel:
. 175
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. 187
SIMPLE STORIES

FROM

HNGLISH HISTORY



1. THE CELTS

Lone, long ago the people who lived in this
land were the Celts. They came from the far
east, and moving to the west, they came at
length to the great sea that stopped them from
going any farther. Some of them came to dwell
in the land in which we now live.

They could not read or write, and so they
could not leave behind theni books to tell us
about them. But at the time in which they
lived, there were men who lived in other lands,
who could both read and write, and these have
~ left writings that tell us much about the Celts.

From these writings we learn, that the Celts
were tall, strong men, with bright blue eyes, and
long fair hair that hung down their backs.

We know, too, how they talked with each
other, for there are men still living, who speak
10 SIMPLE STORIES

in the same way. For what we now call Welsh,
is the same as that spoken by the Celts so long
ago.

The Celts who came to live in this land were
called Britons, a word that means ‘clothed.’
For the Britons had found out how to make very
many things, and among others, how to spin and
weave woollen cloth.

They had both gold and silver, and out of
them they made many pretty things to wear.

They had also learned the use of copper, lead,
and tin. Their tools, their swords, and their
spears were made of bronze, which is made by
mixing tin and copper. We also use bronze
nowadays, for our pennies are made of it.

The Celts had herds of cattle and pigs. They
were very fond of horses and dogs, which they
kept for hunting. They also made boats for
fishing in the rivers and lakes, but the Celts
were never very fond of sailing on the water.

Write out and Learn

. Two thousand years ago the Celts lived in the land.

I. aley were tall, strong men, with bright blue eyes and long fair
air.

. They spoke Welsh much as it is spoken nowadays in Wales.

. The Celts were also called Britons, a word that meant ‘clothed.’

. They had cattle and pigs, and used gold, silver, and bronze. _

oe oo RO

2. AGIL THE HUNTER

There are many stories told of what took
place in far-off times. One of the best of these
tales is about Agil the hunter and his little son.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 11











































































































































































































































































































































































































































‘DON’T BE AFRAID, FATHER,’ SAID THE BOY, ‘1 WILL
STAND QUITE STILL’
12 SIMPLE STORIES

Agil had done something to make the king
very angry. Soon afterwards some of the king’s
men caught him and his little son and took them
to the king. The king was a very cruel man,
and he said: ‘I have it in my mind to slay you,
but I should like to see if you can shoot with the
bow as well as folks say. So I will give you a
chance to save your life.’

Then he had the boy placed a little way off,
and put an apple upon his head. ‘Now,’ said he
to Agil, ‘you must shoot at that apple. If you
miss the mark you shall die. But if you hit the
apple, you and your son shall be set free.’

What a cruel thing to tell a father to do!
But Agil was a brave man, and felt sure that he
could hit the apple. He took up his bow, and
then chose two smooth, straight arrows. One he
put in his belt, and the other he fitted to the
string.

‘Don’t be afraid, father,’ said the boy, ‘I will
stand quite still.’

Then Agil shot, and the arrow went so true,
that it cut the apple in two, and the pieces fell
to the ground.

‘You have saved your son’s life and your
own too,’ said the king. ‘ But tell me, why did
you put that arrow into your belt ?’

‘ Because,’ said Agil, ‘if I had missed the
apple and hit my son, J should have shot with
that arrow at you. And I should not have
missed.’
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 13

This made the king very angry, but he kept
his word and let Agil and his son go free.

(Adapted from York Powell's ‘ Old Stories from English History.’)

8. THE BRITONS

We have seen that ‘ Britons’ is only another
name for the Celts, and it. is by this name that
we must now think of them.

At the time of which we are speaking, that
is, about two thousand years ago, our country
did not look just as it does now.

There were no big towns, for the Britons
lived in small huts. These huts were not built
very close together, but there were wide spaces
between them. They were made of thin branches
of trees woven closely together, and the roofs
were made of straw or of ferns.

Nearly all the land was covered with woods,
but the Britons cut down some of the trees, and
made clearings where they could grow their
crops. Their pigs roamed about in the woods,
and fed on acorns and the roots of plants, while
the cattle and horses grazed in the open spaces.

The people were split up into tribes, and each
tribe had a chief who was over all. The tribes
very often fought each other, and each tribe had
a strong place, where the women, children, and
cattle could be put, so as to be safe in time of
war.

Such a strong place was called a ‘dun,’ and
was often upon the top of a hill. Round the
14 SIMPLE STORIES

dun a high mound of earth was raised, and into
the mound strong wooden stakes were firmly
driven.

Outside the mound big trees were placed, so
as to make it a very hard task for a foe to get
into the dun.

The Britons were very fond of fighting, and
_they stained their faces with a blue dye to





EARLY BRITISH POTTERY

make themselves look very fierce. They fought
with swords, knives, and axes. When the fight
began, all the men made as much noise as they
could, hoping thereby to frighten their foes.

For hundreds of years the Britons lived in
the land, but in all that time they did not learn
very much. At last some men came from over
the sea to fight the Britons. In our next lesson
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 15

we shall see who these men were and whence

they came
Write out and Learn

. The Britons lived in small huts made of branches of trees.

They were split up into many tribes. Each tribe was ruled
over by its own chief.

. A strong place upon a hill top was called a ‘ dun.’

. Here the women and children were safe in time of war.

. The Britons were very fierce, and when they went to war they

dyed their faces a blue colour.

be

oR co

4. WHO THE ROMANS WERE

Though the Britons knew so little, you must
not think that all the men who lived at that
time were like them. In other lands, there were
men who had found out very many things, and
of these men the best known were the Romans.

Far away to the south, there stood in those
days, as there does now, a fine city called Rome.
This was the chief town in the land where the
Romans lived.

The Romans were very strong men and also
very clever. They knew how to build fine
houses, and bridges, and towns. Some of their
buildings stand even to this day.

They could read and write, and their learned
men wrote many books, some of which are read
in some of our schools. It is from the writings
of a great Roman that we learn nearly all. we
know about the Britons.

You must know that above all things the
Romans were great fighting men. Not only did
they fight the men of other lands near to them,

i ee oe ee ee ee) ee

siren
16 SIMPLE STORIES

but they sent their armies to fight people who
lived far away.

At length one of their armies reached the
sea-shore of a country from which could be seen,
over the sea, the cliffs
of the land in which we
live.

The Roman at the
head of this army was a
great man named Julius
Cesar. He had fought
for many years, against
many tribes, and ‘had
-nearly always won his
fights. So he made up
his.mind that he would
cross the sea to fight
the Britons.

|) The Romans had
ag fine ships which they

Pama aan: had built, and in these

Ceesar and his men set

sail. We will leave his fights with the Britons to

the next lesson, but it was he who wrote a book,

from which we learn nearly all we know about
our country in those far-off times.
Write out and Learn

1. The Romans came from a land far away in the south. Their
chief town was Rome.

2. They were very clever and strong men. They could write books.
They were great fighters. ‘ :

3. A great Roman named Julius Cesar made up his mind to
come and fight the Britons. ;

4. So he came with an army, sailing in many ships.


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 17

5. THE ROMANS LAND IN BRITAIN

The Britons saw the Roman ships sailing
towards their shores, and so they got ready to
fight. They sent men running as fast as they
could to bring all the fighting men they could
find to come and help them.

When the ships came near to the land, the
Romans saw large numbers of fierce-looking
men, with swords, and spears, and war-chariots,
running along the cliffs, and all ready for the
fight.

So the Romans sailed along, till they came
to a place where the shore was low, and then
they ran their ships ashore. For these ships
were small, and could be run aground without
hurting them.

And now the fight began. The Britons
loved fighting, and had made up their minds,
that the Romans should not take their country
away from them.

Rushing into the sea, they threw their darts
at the Romans, who had to jump from their
ships, and wade to land through the shallow
water. For some time, it looked as if the
Britons would beat the Romans back. But
at last the Romans drove the Britons to the
cliffs, and in time all were landed. The ships
were then drawn up on the beach.

Though for the time the Britons had to fall
back, they did not lose heart, but were ready

B
18

SIMPLE STORIES

85

OEE

=

Le ie

OI



THE LANDING OF THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN -
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 19

to fight every step of the way, if the Romans
tried to march into their land. The Romans
saw that they would have a very hard task to
take the country. So, after stopping a very
short time, they sailed back to the land from
which they came.

The next year they came again, but after
much fighting they left the country, and it was
a long time before any other Romans came over
to fight the Britons.

Write out and Learn

1. The Britons saw the Roman ships coming, so they made ready
to fight them.

2. They were armed with swords and spears, and had war-chariots
drawn by small horses.

8. The Romans ran their ships ashore, and the Britons rushed
into the sea to stop them.

4, At last the Romans were all landed. But they did not stay long.

6. WHAT THE ROMANS DID IN BRITAIN

Nearly a hundred years went by, and then
the Romans came again to fight the Britons.

The Britons fought bravely, but it was all of
no use, and after a time they had to give in to
the Romans. For about four hundred years the
Romans were masters of the country. During
that time they taught the Britons very much that
helped to make their lives happier and better.

They cut down many of the trees, and made
open places, where crops were grown. Instead
of poor huts, such as the Britons had lived in,
good stone and brick houses were built.

B22
‘

20 SIMPLE STORIES

Instead of the ‘dun’ with its mound of earth
and. rows of stakes, strong towns sprang up with
high and thick walls all round them. that was built by the Romans may be seen still
standing around a large part of the town of
Chester.

Good roads were made, so that men could



ci

PART OF THE ROMAN WALL AT LEICESTOR

pass easily from one part of the land to another.
Even bridges were built across the rivers.

Before the Romans came the Britons were
often fighting each other, but now the land was
at peace, and men had time to learn how to till
the ground, to vead and write, and to do many
other things that made them wiser and better.

And best of all, good men came from Rome
to teach the Britons about God. For before
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 21

this the Britons knew nothing about God, and
did many cruel and wicked deeds, because they
did not know any better. So in time. churches
were built, and the Britons learned how to live
better and nobler lives.

But a bad time was in store for them, for
at last the Romans went away to fight their
foes in their own land, and the Britons were left
to take care of themselves.

Write out and Learn

1. The Romans came again, and stayed for four hundred years.
2. They taught the Britons many things. They built houses of
brick and stone.
3. They also built towns with walls all round them. They made
good roads and built bridges.
4. They kept peace in the country for all that Nora time, and the
Britons learned about God.
. But at last the Romans left the country and qwent home to
fight their foes in their own land.

Or

7. THE SAXONS

At first the Britons were very glad that the
Romans were gone, for they en now co as
they liked. But they soon found out that it
would have been better for them if the Romans.
had stayed.

Far away in the north, in the land we now
call Scotland, there were fierce tribes of men,
whom the Romans had never been able to
master. To keep them back, strong walls had
been built right across the country, and many
soldiers were always kept upon the walls.

Now that the Roman soldiers were gone,
22 SIMPLE STORIES

these wild tribes came in swarms, to rob and kill
the Britons of the south. The Romans had
never taught the Britons how to fight, and so
they were not able to beat back their foes.

They were in sad trouble, and sent again and
again to the Romans, to beg them to come over
and help them. But it was all of no use, for
the Romans had so many foes near their own
homes, that they could not spare any men to go
to Britain.

The Romans, for a long time before they left
the country, had kept ships always sailing up and
down the coast, to drive back some sea-robbers
who were called Saxons.

When the Britons found that the Romans

could not spare any men, they asked some of |
these Saxons to come and help them. The ©
Saxons were glad of the chance, and in a very —

short time draws the fierce men from the north |

back to their own homes.
But when the Saxons saw whata good country

this was, they made up their minds to stay here. |
So they sent for their friends, who came in |

swarms, sailing over the sea in their ships called

keels, and bringing their wives and children and |

cattle with them.

The coming of all these people made the |

poor Britons worse off than ever.

Write out and Learn

1. -At first the Britons were glad that the Romans were gone.
2. But wild tribes from the north began to come south to rob,
burn, and kill.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 28

3. So the Britons sent to ask the Romans to come back to help
them. :

4, But the Romans could not come back, and the Britons asked
some sea-robbers called Saxons to help them.

5. The Saxons soon drove the wild tribes back, but seeing how
good a land this was, they made up their. minds to try to
take it from the Britons.

8. THE ENGLISH

Now a cruel time began. For two hundred
years the Saxons fought the Britons, or the
Welsh, as they were now called. Bit by bit, the
Welsh were driven further and further to the
west. They fought bravely, but they had not
been trained to fight as the Saxons had been.

Many of their brave men had gone away to
fight in the Roman armies. Worst of all, they
could not agree among themselves, and they
were beaten many times only because they would
not help each other.

It was asad time. The Welsh were driven
from their homes. ‘heir towns and houses were
burned down. Their cattle and gold and silver
were taken from them. Their churches were
burned, and many thousands of men, women,
and children were killed by their cruel foes.

Now and then they won a fight, and now and
then a hero rose up among them. A hero, you
know, is a man. who is willing to do all he can
for others, even to giving up his own life. One
hero that we read of was King Arthur. It is
said that he won twelve great fights against the
Saxons, but at last he also was killed.
24 SIMPLE STORIES

And so in the course of time the Welsh were
either killed, or driven away to the west, into
the land we now call Wales. Nearly all the
best parts of the country, the middle, the east,
and the south, were taken. The many tribes
who had come over became one people, and were
called English ; and their land came to be called
England.

But the English had never learned about
God, and so this land was once more in the hands
of men, who cared little for what was good.

Write out and Learn

1. For two hundred years fighting went on. And at the end of that
time all the country but Wales was in the hands of the Saxons
or English, as they were now called.

2. Hence this land came to be called England, or the land of the
English.

8. But the English did not know about God, and so the land was once
more in the hands of men who cared little for what was good.

9. ENGLISH SLAVE CHILDREN IN ROME

We know many things about the Enelish,
because in their time there were men in Eng-
land who were able to write books.

We learn that they were tall, stout men, and
very strong. ‘Their heads were round, and were
covered with thick light brown hair, which they
wore long. Their eyes were grey or brown, and
most of them had rosy cheeks. Their faces were
pleasmg to look upon, and though they were
very fierce and cruel to their foes, or to strangers,
they were kind to their wives and children.

Still they were brave men, and were never -


















GREGORY AND THE ENGLISH SLAVES IN ROME.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 25
afraid of hard work. Perhaps the best thing we
know about them is, that they spoke the truth.

For a long time after they came to live in
England, they knew nothing about God. They
fea many gods, some of whom they loved and
others they feared. But after a time, some good
and holy men came from far away in the south,
from the city of Rome, to teach them about the
true God.

In those days, rich men had slaves in their
houses and on their farms. These slaves were
bought and sold just as if they were cattle.

In most towns there was a slave market.
One day a good priest named Gregory was walk-
ing through the slave market in Rome. There
he saw for sale some pretty English boys. He
was struck with their white skins, and blue eyes,
and fair hair.

On asking about them, he was told that they
came from England. ‘Their faces are like those
of angels,’ he said. He thought it was a pity
that such folks as the English should know
‘nothing of God.

So he tried to get leave to go to teach them
and preach the Gospel to them. But the Roman
people loved him so well, that they would not
let him go. -Still Gregory did not forget the
faces of the little slave boys. And years after,
when he became a great man, he sent some good
men to teach the English about God and how to
lead better lives.
26 SIMPLE STORIES

It took a long time to make the English give
up their old gods; but at last most of them came
to trust in the true God, and once more churches
were built all over the land.

Write out and Learn

. The English were tall, strong men. They were fierce and cruel |
to strangers, but kind to their friends. I
. They were brave men who always spoke the truth.
. Some English children were taken to be sold as slaves in the
market in Rome.
- Here they were seen by a good man named Gregory, who liked |
their pretty faces. iiok ; |
- When he found out where they came from, he wanted to go |
to England to teach the people about God. |
6. He could not go himself, so he sent good men in his place. [|
And in time the English gave up their old gods, and churches [|
were once more built in the land. L

tod ww bo H

Or

10. BEDE

Many good men came to teach the English,
and some of them, whom we speak of as monks,
gave up their lives to the work. These good
men lived in houses by themselves. They spent
their time in writing or copying books, or in
hard work in their fields, or in teaching the |
people, or in praying. at

They lived hard lives, but they did not mind |
so long as they could do good. They took care
of the poor, the sick, and the helpless. They
taught reading and writing, and in time some of
the English began to write books.

Perhaps the best known of all the monks was
Bede. He was a very good man, who spent his
life in doing good to others.


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY

‘YHS, 1T 18 BNDED, BEDE SAID

27




28 SIMPLE STORIES

He worked very hard, so that he might leave
books, which might be useful to those that came
after him. He lived at Jarrow, and there may
still be seen part of the old church in which he
used to preach and pray, and also an old chair
that is said to have been his.

The last work he did was to turn part of the
Bible into English. The day before he died he
was doing this. He had a little boy sitting near
him to write down the verses as fast as he
turned them into English.

Now and again, as the boy wrote, Bede would
say: ‘Get on as quickly as you can, for I do not
know how soon I may be gone.’

The next day, as the church bell was ringing
in the evening, the little boy said to him: ‘ Dear
master, still there is one verse to be written.’

‘Then write quickly,’ said Bede; and told
him the words to put down.

‘Now it is ended,’ said the boy, as he laid
down his pen.

‘Yes, it is ended,’ Bede said. ‘And now lift
my head and hold me up, so that IT may turn my
eyes to the church, where I have been used: to
pray.’

And as the boy lifted him up he drew his last
breath, and died with a prayer on his lips.

Write out and Learn

1. Bede was a good monk who lived at Jarrow.

2. He taught the people to live good lives, and took care of the
sick and poor.

3. The last work he did was to turn part of the Bible into English,
so that men might be able to read it.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 29

11. ALFRED AND HIS MOTHER

he English who came over the sea in their
ships and took the land, were not all of the same
tribe. There were men of many tribes, and for
a time each had its own chief or king.

But there was always one chief, who had
more power than the others. In time the tribes
learned that it was best for them to be under one
ruler. And so England came to have kings over
it. "There were many English kings, of whom
the gréatdst nd best was King Alfr ed.

When he wag quite a little boy, he was so
bright antl. goal hat everyone was fond of him.
He was alwaysNtrying to learn something new.
He liked to follow the men into the fields, and
see them at their work. And he was fond of
hearing the harper play and sing his strange old
songs.

One day, his mother was showing him and
his brothers a very pretty book. In those days
books were all written by hand. The men who
wrote them loved their books, and made them
look as pretty as they could, by painting the first
letter of each page in gay colours.

Seeing how pleased the boys were, their
mother said: ‘I will give this pretty book to the

‘one who can first learn by heart the songs that
are in it.’

‘Will you really ?’ said Alfred. ‘Yes, that I
will,’ said his mother.


30 SIMPLE STORIES

' So Alfred took the book, and ran off with it to
a kind old priest who could read it. The priest
read the songs over and over to him, and so he
soon learned every one of them. Thus Alfred
won his first book, and, as you may think, he
was very proud of it.
Alfred’s father was a wise king, who knew
that the only way to be truly great was to have
learning. So he sent Alfred all the way to
Rome to be taught. It was a very long way for
such a small boy to go, for Alfred was then only
- about five years old.
There he learned many things, that helped
him, when it became his turn e
better and wiser than those who “had been kings

before him.
Write out and Learn

1. Alfred was the greatest and best of the Saxon kings. He ruled
over the land about a thousand years ago.

2. When quite a boy his father sent him to Rome. There he
learned many things that helped him to rule his people wisel y.

12. ENGLAND IN THE OLDEN TIME (1)

Life in England a thousand years ago was not
like what it is now. King Alfred was born, and
spent his early days in a house no larger than a
farmhouse in our days. From old books we can
tell what the house was like.

There was a large yard, shut in by a high

fence, with very strong doors. Inside the yard -

stood a sroup of buildings. One of them was

the -church, a small building very much like a

e king, to be


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY a1





































‘THUS ALFRED WON HIS FIRST BOOK’
82 SIMPLE STORIES

barn. People could tell that it was a church, by
~ the steeple with its cross on the top of it.

Near by was the hall, and it was in this that
the king and his family lived. Deer’s horns
were nailed to the door, and the wooden walls
inside were hung all round with spears, and
swords, and bows.

The windows were very narrow, for glass was
not much used in those days. In the middle of
the floor was a big fire of logs, une smoke from
which rose up to the roof.

There were no lamps, and the room was
lighted by torches, that were stuck into places
on the walls.

If we could have peeped into the hall at
noon, we should have seen that dinner was just
being served. A long table ran down the middle
of the room. At the upper end, which was
raised a little, sat the king and his family. THis
friends sat on each side of the long table.

The meat was handed round on sharp bits of
wood called spits. Each man cut off as much as
he wanted with his knife, that always hung at
his belt. Drink, such as wine and beer, was
served in cups that were mostly made of horns.

The king wore a long silk gown, that was
covered with figures of birds and beasts. The
gentle-folk wore gay clothes made of fine cloth.

After dinner the table was cleared, and the -
broken bread and meat were given to the
beggars, who were waiting in the eres yard.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 33

Then the harper was told to play and to sing
of the brave deeds of the heroes, who lived long,
long ago.

Write out and Learn

1. In Alfred’s time kings lived in houses no bigger than farm-
houses are now.

2. There was a large yard with a fence round it. Inside were the
church, the hall, and other buildings.

- Houses had no glass windows and there were no lamps.

. The king and his friends all dined together in the large hall.

. Drink such as beer and wine was passed round in horn cups.
Meat was passed round on spits and each man cut off as
much as he wanted.

OUR GO

18. ENGLAND IN THE OLDEN TIME (2)

Men had to work hard in the olden time, just
as they have to do now.

In the spring the farmers got out their
ploughs, which were drawn by oxen, and broke
up the ground. They sowed barley and oats
chiefly, for many plants that we grow were not
known to them at all. In summer they cut
their hay, and the men who lived near the sea
went out fishing. In autumn they reaped their
crops, and stored them up in their barns for food
in the winter. They drove their pigs into the
woods to feed on the acorns and beech nuts.

Their cattle and sheep always needed to be
looked after. And in the winter, both men and
dogs were ever on the watch, to drive away the
wolves, which at that time came out of the
woods to try to steal the sheep.

In those days there were no shops, where

c
B4 SIMPLE STORIES

men could go and buy what they wanted. So
every family had to make all the things that
were needed for use in the house and for wear.

The women and girls were always busy, after
the work of the house was done, in weaving
cloth, of which clothes were made.

Meat was salted and put into tubs for the
winter. Beer was brewed and put into big
casks. Great stacks of firewood were heaped up
ready for the cold weather. Milk and barley
bread were the chief food. Fresh beef and
mutton were eaten in the summer, and salted
meat in the winter.

In the winter months hunting was carried
on, and beasts and birds were killed for food.

So we see that, in the olden time, most of the
people had to work hard, and live quietly, just
as men do now.

Write out and Learn

1. In the spring the farmers sowed their crops of oats and barley.

2. In the summer they cut their hay and went fishing.

3. In the autumn they reaped their erops, and drove their pigs
into the woods to feed on acorns.

4. In the winter they tended their sheep and cattle, and made
all kinds of things for use and wear. They also hunted
beasts and birds.

5 So we see that in the olden time men had to work hard just as
they do now.

14. CHILDREN IN THE OLDEN TIME

We do not know very much about what
children did in the olden times, for the old books
do not say very much about them.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 35

In those days there were some people who
were free, and others who were slaves. Children
of free people were dressed like their mothers
and fathers. Their hair was nicely combed and
braided, and left to grow all its length. The
children of slaves had en hair cut short.

They wore strings of glass beads round their
necks. The little girls played with dolls made of
wood and rag, and no doubt they washed them
and dressed ‘them, just as little girls do now.
When they grew older, they were taught how to
sew, and spin, and cook.

The boys played at football and marbles.
They helped to feed the beasts, and when they
grew older they learned how to fish and hunt.
They dared not go far into the woods for fear of
the wolves.

But their time was not all spent in play.
They had to learn lessons too. The master held
the book in his hand, and he read the lesson over
and over again to the children, until they knew
it by heart.

We have some of the old books that they
learned from. Tere are some of the things they
had to learn :—

“What is snow ?’

‘ Dried water.’

‘I know a thing that flies. It has an iron,
beak ; its tail is of feathers, and it carries death
with it. What is it?’

‘ An arrow.’








36 SIMPLE STORIES

‘What do you get to eat?’

‘Meat and herbs, and fish, and butter, and
cheese, and. beans.’

‘And what to drink ?’



OLD ENGLISH MAP OF THE WORLD

Here is a map of the world taken from one
of these old books. You will see that it is not
much like the map of the world that we have

now. (Adapted from York Powell's ‘ Old Stories from English History.’)

Write out and Learn

1. Childven of free people were dressed like their fathers and mothers,
and wore their hair long.

2. Children of slaves wore their hair short.

8. When young they played as children do now. As they grew.
older they were taught to sew, to spin, and to cook.

4, They also had lessons to learn. The teacher held the book,
and the children had to learn by heart all he told them.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 37

15. THE DANES

We have read that after the Romans went
away, the Saxons came and took the land from
the Britons.

In the Saxon times, other fierce robbers came
in their ships from over the sea to rob and kill.
These men were called Danes. They were great





A DANISH SHIP OF WAR

sailors, and came from a land that was not so
good to live in as England was. So they used to
come in their ships, and after landing they would
kill the people, and rob their houses, and burn
the churches.

For a long time the Saxons did their best to
drive them away. But in the times when Alfred
was king, so many of them came, that* even
H
i







38 SIMPLE STORIES

Alfred had for a time to run away and_ hide.
However, he beat them at last in a great fight,
and made peace with them.

The Danes had good ships. From this pic-

ture of one you will see that it was long and

narrow. It had only one mast and a great
square sail, that was made of strips of red, and
white, and green cloth, which was very bright
and gay, when the sun shone upon it.

All round the sides of the ship were placed
the shields of the men, who sat behind them,
rowing with the long oars.

The Danes were good sailors and brave
fighters, and though they were often very cruel,
still they were brave men. They would die
rather than give in. :

But they had never heen taught that it is
wrong to fight except in a good cause. They
did not know that it is a noble thing to help the
weak against the strong. Though they often did
evil deeds, they were true to their friends, and
did their duty as far as they knew it,

Write out and Learn

1. The Danes came to try to take the land away from the English.
2. They were good sailors and came from over the sea.
. When Alfred was king so many Danes came that he had to
go into hiding.
4, era he beat them in a great fight and made peace with
hem.
5. The Danes had good ships that were painted very gaily.

6. They were cruel men, but they did their duty as far as they
knew it. :










- DANES ROBBING A

MONASTERY

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40 SIMPLE STORIES

16. ALFRED THE GOOD

" Alfred is often called ‘the great ;’ but per-
haps it would be better to call him ‘the good.’

For he spent his life in teaching his people, and. -

in helping them to live better lives.

He was wise enough to see, how learning
and the love of good books can make men better.
And so he sent to other lands for good men to
come and teach his people. He set up schools,
and sometimes went and taught the children
himself.

The fame of all this spr ead abroad, and wise |
and learned men came to England, for they
heard that Alfred was sure to “be glad to see
them. He was so kind to them, that many
stayed with him to help him in his good work.

He also wrote books. And he turned other
books into English, so that his people might be
able to read them.

Alfred also built churches, and houses in
which he put good men and women, so that they.
might work, and read, and pray in peace.

After he had beaten the Danes in a great
fight, he set to work to build a fleet of ships.
These ships were always sailing along the coasts,
so as to be ready to meet the Danish ships and
drive them away.

It would take a long time to tell of all the
good that Alfred did. cm one of his books he
says, ‘As long as I have lived, I have striven to


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 41

live worthily,’ and the best men can do no more
than that.

He died after ruling for thirty years, and for
a long time he was spoken of as ‘ Alfred the
Truth-teller,’ and ‘Alfred the Darling of his
people.” And though it is a thousand years
since he lived, we still love him, as a king who
did nobly, and always loved that which was
good.

Write out and Learn

1. Alfred was King of England about a thousand years ago.

2. He was a wise and good man. He spent his time in ruling
and teaching his people. :

3. He set up schools and built churches. He wrote some books
and turned others into English, so that his people might
read them.

4, He built many ships to. beat back the Danes. After he died
he was spoken of as ‘ Alfred the Truth-teller.

17. KING CANUTE

After Alfred’s death, the Danes. came again,
and tried to take part of the land for themselves.
Fighting went on for about a hundred years, and
at last a Dane was chosen to be King of all
England.

This was Canute, one of the wisest of our
kings. He said he would always do his best to
take care of his people, and try to make them
happy. He kept his word, and so all men
learned to trust him and to love him.

He built many churches, most ‘of which were
built of stone. Up to this time churches had
been built of wood.
42 SIMPLE STORIES

He also loved singing, and at times he made
verses for his men‘to sing.

There was a great church and a home where
good monks lived in the town of Ely. At that
time the town stood on an island, and one day, as
Canute and his queen were being rowed in their
boat, they heard the monks singing.

They could not make out the words that were
being sung, though they could hear the sweet
sounds. And so the king made this verse for his
men to sing :—

The Ely monks sang merrily

As King Canute was rowing by;

Row, men, to the land more near,

That we the good monks’ song may hear.

Canute was very good to the monks of Ely,
and gave fine gifts to their church, where he
often went to hear them sing.

We have had handed down to us, in old
books, some good stories of Canute, and two of
these we will next read about.

Write out and Learn

1. Canute the Dane became King of England about a hundred
years after the death of ‘ Alfred the Good.’

2. He was a very good king.

8. He built many churches and ruled his people justly.

4. He loved singing, and sometimes made verses for his men to
sing.

18.. CANUTE AND BODGE
One morning in the winter, Canute wanted

to go from the place where he was staying to the
island of Ely.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 48

In those days, most of that part of the
country was under water, and was called the
Fens. Small islands were dotted about here and
there. In summer, men went from place to
place in boats. In winter, they could cross on
che ace.

It had been very cold for some time, and so
the water was frozen all over. The ice was too
thick for a boat to be forced through it, but
Canute and his men thought it was too thin to
bear the weight of a horse and sledge.

So they did not know what to do. The king
wanted to go very badly, but he knew that he
and his friends might be drowned if the ice broke
under him.

Now there was quite a crowd of people look-
ing on, and among them was a poor man who
was called Bodge. This name had been given to
him because he was so very big and stout.

Seeing that the king was afraid that the ice
was too thin, Bodge stood forth and said: ‘ Sir,
may I lead the way? Iam so heavy, that if the
ice will bear me, it will bear any weight.’

This was very brave of him, and all the
people said: ‘ Well done, Bodge.’

The king was much pleased, and _ said :
‘Thank you, my brave fellow. I shall be very
glad for you to run in front and find a safe
track.’

So off they went, the brave Bodge running
in front with a stout pole in his hand. Bodge —




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SHINOLS BIdWIS














































































FROM ENGLISH .HISTORY 45

knew the best way across the ice, and so they
soon reached Ely in safety.

Then the king called Bodge to him, ‘and
when he knew that Bodge was a slave, he at
once set him free, and gave him some land for
his own. (Adapted from York Powell’s ‘ Old Stories from English History’)

Write out and Learn

iL. This is a story about Canute.

2, He wanted to cross the ice with his horses and sledge, but

was not sure that the ice was strong enough to bear them.

3. A brave man named Bodge said he would run in front.

4, He was so big and heavy that if the ice would bear him it
would bear any weight.

5. So he went in front, and the king crossed safely. Canute was
so pleased that he made Bodge a free man.

19. CANUTE TEACHES HIS FRIENDS A
LESSON



Canute was a wise and good man. Though
he was such a great king, he was not proud.

When he was away in Rome, he wrote a long
letter to his people. In the letter he said that
he had made up his mind to try to rule them
better than before. We can see by this letter,
how Canute wished to serve God in all things,
and how much he'wished his people to be good.

Now Canute bad some men about him, who
tried to win his favour by praising him.

He was too wise to believe all the fine things
they said about him, and one day he made up
his mind to teach them a lesson. - They were all
down by the sea-shore, and some of them began










46 SIMPLE STORIES

to say how wise Canute was, and that he was the |
greatest king that had ever lived.

‘Bring my chair,’ said he, ‘and place it close |
to the water’s edge, where the tide will soon |
begin to flow.’

Seating himself in his chair, he raised his
hand in command and shouted: ‘Sea, come no |
further. Thou art under my rule as much as
the land. I forbid thee to flow over my land or
to wet my feet.’

But the sea crept nearer and nearer. Soon
the little waves beat around his chair and wetted |
his feet and clothes.

Then, turning to his men, he said: ‘See how
weak is the power of an earthly king. God
alone has power over all, and can make the tide
to ebb and flow. He only is worthy of the name
of King.

‘Honour then God and serve Him, for Him
do all things obey.’

It is said that from that day Canute never
wore his crown. He hung it up in a church, so |
that all men might see how little he thought of |
earthly power.





Write out and Learn

. Though he was a great king, Canute was not proud.

. Some of his friends tried to win his favour by praising him.

. So he had his chair set by the sea-shore. Then he stood up
and told the waves to come no further. :

. When the water began to flow round his chair he pointed out
the weakness of the power of an earthly king. ‘God alone
is worthy to be called.a King,’ he said.

oo be

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FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 47

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48 SIMPLE STORIES

20. THE LAST SAXON KING

For nearly two hundred years after the death
of the great King Alfred, Saxon kings ruled in
England. But in that time there were also three
Danish kings.

The last Saxon king but one was a very good
man, named Edward. He spent most of his time
in reading and praying.

He built many churches and was very good
to the poor. But he had one very bad fault.
He liked the men who lived in a land not far
from England, better than he liked his own
people. These men were the Normans, and they
were ruled over by a brave man named William,
who was cousin to the English king. |

It was said that Edward had told William
that he should be King of England. And when
at last Edward lay dying, his friends came to
him, and begged that he would say who should
be king after him. :

Lifting his head he said: ‘I should like my
cousin William to be king, and I think some of
you have bound yourselves to him.’ |

But his friends said: ‘Sir, if we have any
king but Harold, we shall have no peace.’

‘Then choose whom you will,’ said the dying
man.

He died soon afterwards, and was buried in a
fine church, where his tomb stands to this day. _


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 49

And so Harold, the last of the Saxon kings,
came to rule over England.

William the Norman thought he had a better
right to be king than Harold. But Harold was
chosen king by the people, and thus he was the
only man who had any real right.

Harold was a strong and brave man, and was
loved by his people. But he did not rule over
them long, for William the Norman made up his
mind that he would turn Harold off the throne,
and be king in his place.

Write out and Learn

1. For nearly two hundred years after the death of Alfred the
Good there were Saxon kings in England. But in that time
there were also three Danish kings.

2. Edward was the last but one of the Saxon kings.

3. He wanted William the Norman to be king after him.

4. But the people chose Harold, and he was the last of the Saxon

kings.

Harold was strong and brave, and was loved by his people.

But William the Norman was angry, and said he would turn
Harold off the throne.

on

21. WILLIAM THE NORMAN SAILS TO
ENGLAND

William the Norman lived in a land just over
the sea to the south of England.

It is said that when he was born, an old
nurse laid him down upon a bed of straw. The
baby put out his little hand, and when his nurse
came to pick him up, she saw that each hand
was full of straw.

‘You will be a great lord some day,’ said she,

D








50 SIMPLE STORIES

‘and win lands and riches, since you begin to
take hold of things so early.’

When he grew up to be a man, he ruled his
people firmly and wisely. Men dared not do
wrong for fear William should hear of it.

When he heard that the people of England
had made Harold king, he was very angry. He
called his great men about him, and told them
how he ought to have been made king. Then
he said that he had made up his mind to go and
fight Harold.

He asked them if they would go with him to
help him. At first they did not want to go, but
after a time William talked them all over. He
told his friends that, if they would help him to
take England, he would give them fine lands and
houses and: slaves.

Then they began to get ready, and men were
soon busy in every town making swords and
spears. Large stores of food were got ready,
and ships were built in every port.

At last they set sail. There was quite a
large army, and as ships in those days were ver Vv
small, it took many hundreds of them to carry
the army across.

William had a fine new ship, that was a gift
to him from his wife. The sails were red and
white, and at the top of the mast was a big
lamp to show the way to the other ships .
night.

And so the Normans came over to England,
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 51

They landed on the south coast, and then waited

for Harold and his men to come and fight them.

Write out and Learn

1. William the Norman lived in a land that lies over the sea to
the south of England.

2. When he heard that Harold was made king he was very angry,
and said he would go over and fight him.

3. His men said they would go with him. So they set sail in
many ships.

4. They landed on the south coast, and waited for Harold and his
men to come and fight them.

22. THE FIGHT AT SENLAC

The English took up their post upon the top
and side of a hill. They dug a ditch in front of
them, and inside the ditch they put up a fence
of strong stakes.

The English fought on foot, and each man
was armed with a sword and a big axe, that was
held by both hands.

Harold planted his great flag on the top of
the hill, and there he stood with his best friends
about him, ready for the fight. He told his men
to stand firmly close to each other. ‘ For,’ said
he, ‘if we break our line, the Normans will beat

us: but if we stand steady, we must win the

3

day.

The Normans fought on horseback, and ~

many of them could shoot with the bow.
The fight began in the morning, and lasted.
for many hours without either side getting the

better of the other.

Da












52 SIMPLE STORIES

Once a cry was raised that William was slain.
But, jumping up, he shouted to his men: ‘I am
here, safe and sound, and: mean to win the day.’

As long as the English kept close to each
other at the top of the hill the Normans could
not beat them. But in the afternoon some of
the English forgot the king’s order, and rushed
down the hill after some Normans who were
running away. Thus the English line was
broken. ;

Then William told his archers to shoot their
arrows high into the air, so that they might fall
upon the heads of the English. As the sun was
setting an arrow struck Harold in the eye. At
the same time the Normans made a fierce charge
upon the Saxons, and Harold and two of his
brothers were slain, and his flag was beaten to
the ground.

And so ended the great fight at Senlac, and
so died the last of the Saxon kings.

At night, by the light of the bonfires, good
men and women went over the battle-field, tend-
ing those who were hurt, and burying the dead.

Write out and Learn

. The English were posted on a hill, Here Harold planted his flag.

. The English fought on foot. Most of the Normans were on
horseback.

. The English were beaten, and Harold was killed.

. This great fight is called the ‘ Battle of Hastings’ (1066).

. William the Norman became king.

. In time all the land came into the hands of the Normans

Doe

> or OD


THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS

NS FIGHTING AT

AND SAXO

NS

NORMA
54 SIMPLE STORIES

23. ENGLAND IN SAXON TIMES

For about five hundred years the English
had lived in the land, and for more than two
hundred years their own kings had ruled over
them. During this long time the English had
learned very many things that helped to make
them wiser and better.

After William the Norman had beaten the
English, he wanted to find out all about the land
he had taken.

So he had a big book made, in which was put
down all that could be learned about the country.
This book was called the Domesday Book. In
it were set down the names of the towns, and
the people who lived in them; the size and
shape of the farm lands; what was grown upon
them; and the number of sheep, cattle, and
pigs. e

From it we learn, that the greater part of the
land was still covered with woods. But many
clearings had been made, in which corn and
other crops were grown.

Towns had sprung up in many places, and
London had become the chief sea-port. There
were more people living in the south and east,
than in the other parts of the country. Large
flocks of sheep were fed on the downs just as
they are to this day.

Churches were built in the towns and villages,.
and men learned to know the true God.
‘FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 55

The English had many ships, and traded with
people who lived over the sea. They sent away
slaves and wool, which they sold for such things
as wine, silk, and glass, or for gold and silver.

A large part “of these times was filled up
with cruel wars. But there were always the
wise and good monks who were ever teaching
the people how to do what was right. And
there were always the hard-working farmers who
raised crops, and kept cattle and sheep.

During the Saxon times the English, instead
of being split up into many tribes, each with its
own chief, grew up to be one nation, ruled over
by its king.

Write out and Learn

1, The English lived in the land for about six hundred years before
William the Norman became king.

2. We learn much about England in those days from the
‘Domesday Book. This was made by William, the Norman.

8. Much of the land was still forest. Towns had sprung up in
many places. London had become the chief sea-port.

4. The English had learned to trade, and sent their ships to other
lands.

5. They had learned about God, and had become one nation,
ruled over by their own king.

94. WILLIAM THE NORMAN

William was made King of England on
Christmas Day, in the year 1066. He wished to
please the English, and said that he would rule
over them as well as any king had done before
him.

Then he went to his home fora time. But
he soon had to come back again. For the Eng-
56 SIMPLE STORIES

lish began to think that they had given in too
easily, and so they tried to get their lands back
from the Normans.

For five long years William had no rest.
First the people in the West rose against him.
When he was away fighting them, the men of
the North rose up, and killed many of his
friends.

At last William became very angry, and did
many cruel things. In the North, he drove all
the poor people out of their homes, and burnt
their houses, and laid all the land waste.

Then for a time there was peace in the land.
The king kept up the good old English laws, and
wicked men dared not do wrong, because they
feared the king.

But there was not much peace for William.
Robert, the eldest of his sons, was both lazy and
careless. He wanted his father to give him a
large part of his lands to rule over. ‘ No,’ said
William, ‘it is not my way to take off my
clothes before I go to bed.’

Then the wicked young man made war upon
his father. Having hurt his father im battle he
was very sorry, and begged for pardon. At first
the king was very angry, but at last he forgave
his son, and so peace was made.

When William lay upon his deathbed, he
sent for his three sons, and told them the story
of his life.

He said: ‘When I think of my sins, I am.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 57

sore afraid. I have been a man of war from my
youth up. I won a crown by force of arms, not
by right.

‘But I have tried to rule rightly over the
land which I won by wrong.

‘And now, I pray you, my sons, follow me
so far as I have done rightly, but shun the faults
imto which I have fallen.’

Then he blessed his three sons. He gave
orders for some of his money to be given to the
poor, and the rest to the Church. And soon
after he died.

Write out and Learn

1. William was made King of England on Christmas Day, 1066.

2. The English soon rose against the Normans, and it took five
more years before the land was at peace.

8. William kept up the good old English laws, and ruled justly.

4. When he died he left money to be given to the poor and
money also to the Church.

95. THE RED KING

After William the Norman was dead, his son
William ruled in his stead. This son is often
called the ‘Red King.” He began his reign
well, and did what his father had told him. He
was very brave and proud. Once, when he was
about to set sail, the master of the ship said the
sea was too rough, and that they might all be
drowned.

‘Set sail!’ said the Red King; ‘I never
heard of a king being drowned.’

His father had been very fond of hunting

"Fie Neem

a

x=

me geag ee

ee








58 SIMPLE STORIES

the deer, and had made many great Deer Parks.
To make one of them, he had driven hundreds of
poor people out of their homes, and turned all
their lands into a big hunting ground. This was
called the New Forest. It has been kept as a-
forest unto this day, and still has the same name.

It was said, that William the Norman loved
the deer better than he loved his people. And
he had no mercy on men who killed the deer.

One day, the Red King started with some
friends to hunt the deer in the New Forest. As_
he was mounting his horse, a man came up and
gave him six fine new arrows.

The king was very pleased, and, picking out
two of them, he handed them to a friend, at the
same time saying: ‘ Here, Walter, take these
two arrows; [I know you will make the best use
of them.’

Then they rode off in search of the deer.
Soon a fine stag came rushing past them. The
king shot with his bow but missed him.

So he shouted to his friend: ‘Shoot! Walter !
Shoot! You will not miss him.’

Walter shot with all his might, but the arrow
glanced off a tree and struck the king, who fell —
dead from his horse. Seeing that the king was
dead, Walter turned and fled.

At sunset some poor men came by, and find-
ing the dead king they put him into a cart, and
took him away to a great church at Winchester,
where he was buried. :
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 59



THE RED KING SHOT BY AN ARROW
60 SIMPLE STORIES

Thus we see, that the Red King was killed
in the same forest that his father had driven so
many poor people away from.

Write out and Learn

. The Red King was very brave and proud. He was very fond
of hunting in the New Forest, which his father William the
Norman had made.

. In order to make this forest, many poor people had been driven
from their homes.

. One day, when hunting in the New Forest, the Red King was
shot by an arrow, and there died.

4, Some poor men coming by, saw the dead body of the king.

They put it into a cart and took it to Winchester, and in the

great church there the Red King was buried.

me

bo

qo

26. THE WHITE SHIP

The next king was Henry the Scholar. |
Once, as he was about to set sail from France to |

England, a man came to him and said :

‘Sir, my father served your father all his life
upon the sea. I have here a fine vessel called
the White Ship; I pray you come on board, and
let me carry you to England.’ :

‘I am sorry, friend,’ said the king, ‘that I
cannot sail with the son of the man who served
my father. But my son and his friends shall go
with you.’

So the young prince set sail in the White |

Ship. It was a fine night, and the prince and
his friends sat wp on the deck, and talked, and

laughed, and sang. He was so pleased with the |
ship, that he did a very foolish thing. He gave |
the sailors a great deal of wine to drink, and this |

made them unfit to take care of the ship. .


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 61





‘sO MANY LEAPED INTO THE BOAT THAT IT SANK’
62 SIMPLE STORIES a Al

All at once the ship struck on a rock and
began to sink.

The captain got out a boat, and the prince
and a few of his friends stepped into it. ‘ Push
off,’ said the captain, ‘and row to the land. It
is not far, and the sea is smooth. The rest of us
must die.’

But as they rowed away, the prince heard
the voice of his sister calling for help.

‘Row back,’ he eried, ‘row back. I cannot
beax to leave her.’

They rowed back, and as the prince held out
his arms for his sister, so many leaped into the
boat that it sank, and all were drowned.

Of all the people in the ship only one man |
was saved, and he was a poor butcher, who kept
himself afloat in his big sheep-skin coat until he
was picked up.

For a time no one dared to tell the king. But
at last the king’s friends sent a little Enid: who,
with tears in his eyes, told him that the White
Ship was lost. It is said that, when he heard
the sad news, the king fell to the ground like a
dead man, and was never seen to smile again.



Write out and Learn

. Henry ‘the Scholar’ was the next king.
Once, when he was about to sail back to England, a man |
begged that he would go with him in the White Ship.
. The king could not go himself, so he said that his son should
sail in it.
. But the ‘W. hite Ship’ struck on a rock, and the prince was |

j

Bm oo POR

drowned.
. It is said that the king neyer smiled again,

on


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 63

27. THE ENGLISH UNDER THE NORMANS

When the Normans took the country, evil
times fell upon the poor English. Though most
_ of the kings tried to see that the English were





































































































































j
1
i



























































KEEP OF ROCHESTER CASTLE

well treated, they were not always strong enough
to make their great nobles do that which was
right and just.

The lands, and houses, and cattle of many of
64 SIMPLE STORIES

the rich English were taken away from them,
and given to the men who had helped William
the Norman in his great fight with Harold. The
poor people were made to work hard for their
Norman masters, and were little better than
slaves.

There were not nearly so many people in the
land as there are now. London has three times
as many as there then were in all England.

The Normans were fond of living in big
castles, which they built in all parts of the
country. The ruins of some of them may be
seen to this day, and so we are able to see the
kind of houses in which the rich Normans lived.

They also built many grand churches. The
picture on the next page shows us what one of
them was like.

Most of the houses, even in the towns, were
still built of wood, and were covered with thatch.

The Normans brought many new ways into
the country. They were very fond of: gay clothes,
and also of good cooking. The English soon’
learnt to do as the Normans did, but they never
gave up their own. speech, and in time the Nor-
mans also learnt to speak English.

Write out and Learn

1. Much of the land, and houses, and cattle of the English was
taken by the Normans.

2. The poor English people were made to work hard for their
Norman masters.

3. The Normans built many strong castles, and also some fine
churches, some of which stand to this day.

4, In time the Normans learned to speak English.
65

FROM ENGLISH HISTORY



































































rapier













































Tt Pert tr

| |



























PART OF DURHAM CATHEDRAL, BUILT IN NORMAN TIMES
36 SIMPLE STORIES

28. RICHARD LION-HEART

This was a very brave king, and so men.
called him the ‘ Lion-Heart.’

He was very fond of music and singing. But
he was not a good king, for he w ont away for
many years to fight i in other lands.

While he was away, bad men were cruel to
the poor, and did many wicked things, because
there was no strong king to keep them in order.

Richard was very brave, no doubt, and many
tales are told of the great deeds he did, when
fighting in the Holy Land.

On his way home he fell into the hands of a
man who hated him, and shut him up in a strong
‘castle.

For a time no one in England knew where
Richard was. An old story tells us how one of
his friends, a man who had many a time sung
and played to the king, started off to find him.
He went from castle to castle, and stood below
the walls, and sang some songs which he knew
that Richard loved.

One day as he sang, he heard a voice that
came from gome room high up in the castle,
singing the same song, ont ne knew that the
singer must be his king.

When it became known where Richard was,
a large sum of money was paid to set him free.

Even when he came back to England, he did
not rule as justly as he ought.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY . 67

He built a strong castle in France which he
called the ‘Saucy Castle.’ But he did not live
long after it was done.



RICHARD LION-HEARY

When fighting outside the walls of a castle
that he was trying to take, he was struck by an
arrow and soon lay dying. The man who fired
68 SIMPLE STORIES

the shot was brought before him. ‘What have
I done to thee,’ asked Richard, ‘that thou
shouldest slay me ?’

‘Thou hast slain my father and two of my
brothers with thy own hand,’ said the man.

On hearing this, and seeing how brave he
was, Richard forgave him, and “hs that he was
to go free. But fe friends kept the man till the
king was dead, and then put him to death.

Write out and Learn

1. Richard Lion-Heart was a very brave man, but was not a very
good king.

2. He spent some of his time fighting in the Holy Land. On
his way home he was taken and shut up in a strong castle.

3. A large sum of money had) to be paid to set him free,

4. When he lay dying he was noble enough to forgive the man
who shot the arrow that killed him.

29. KING JOHN AND ARTHUR (

John was not a good king. He was so cruel
to his people, and ruled so unjustly, that they
were very unhappy, and rose up against him.

They soon had a large army, and John found
that, if he wished to be king any longer, he must
be willing to rule better than he had done before.

So he said he would do-as they wished, and
that he would be just to all men. All the good
things he told his men he would do, were written
down on a paper, that was called the ‘ Great
Charter.’

_ And ever since that day, England has ‘been a
better land for men to live in “than ever it was
before. .


RICHARD PARDONS THE ARCHER WHO SHOT HIM.
FROM HNGLISH HISTORY 69

But the worst of all John’s wicked deeds was
his treatment of his brother’s son Arthur.

He shut him up in a prison in France, far
away from his home. Poor Arthur was very sad
and lonely at first, but he soon made friends with
aman named Hubert, who was put in charge of
him.

One day Arthur saw that Hubert had a very
sad face. ‘What is the matter, Hubert?’ he
said. ‘ Why do you look so grave ?

‘It is only I that should be sad. If I were
out of prison and kept sheep, I should be merry
as the day is long.

‘Are you sick, Hubert? You look so pale
to-day. I wish you were a little sick, that I
might sit all night and watch with you.

‘Tam sure I love you more than you do me.’

But Hubert only shook his head, and did not
speak. or in his hand he held a letter from
King John, telling him to put out both poor
Arthur’s eyes.

Hubert had not the heart to tell the boy
what a cruel thing he had to do. So he gave
the letter to Arthur for him to read.

As be read it his face grew pale, and big
tears rolled down his cheeks.

‘What, Hubert!’ Must you with hot irons
burn out both my eyes P’

‘My boy, I must, or the king will take my
lite?

‘Oh, Hubert, have you the heart to do such
70 SIMPLE STORIES

a cruel deed ? Have I not always loved you as
a son P

‘When you have been sick, have I not
nursed you? And will you put out my eyes,
that never did, nor ever shall, so much as frown
upon you ?’

And Hubert’s heart grew soft within him, as
he heard the ery of the boy he loved so well.
He felt that he could not do such a cruel deed,
and so for the time Arthur’s life was safe.

But John was afraid that his men would
turn him off the throne and make little Arthur
king in his stead.

So he kept Arthur in prison, and soon after
it was said that he was dead. How he died no
one knows, but there is no doubt that John was
the cause of his death.

After this, people hated John more than ever.
They rose up against him, and made him do what
they wished. He lost much of his land, and
when he died all his people were glad that such
a bad king no longer ruled over them.

Write out and Learn

1. John was a bad king, and did many evil deeds. His people
rose against him, and made him sign a paper saying he would
rule them better. This paper is called the Great Charter (1215).

2. He shut Arthur up in a strong castle. He was afraid his

people might make Arthur king.

. At last poor Arthur was killed, and his wicked uncle was the

cause of his death.

4. When King John died his people were glad.

oo
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 71

30. A GREAT. KING |.

Edward the First was one of our greatest
kings. He was a strong and wise man, who
made all men obey the laws. He made many
wise laws, and in his days, men were able to do
their work and live in peace.

In an earlier lesson, we read that when the
English came and took this land for themselves,
the Welsh were driven into Wales.

There they had lived since that time. They
had their own kings, and never had an English
king to rule over them. The Welsh were brave
men. They were very fond of poetry and
singing, and played on the harp with great
skill.

King Edward made up his mind, that he
would rule over the Welsh. So he went to war
with them, and in the end the Welsh king was
killed. Then his people gave in. And since
that time Wales has been ruled by the King of
England.

In order to please the Welsh, the king said
that his eldest son should be Prince of Wales.
And ever since that time, the eldest son of the
king has been called by that name.

Not only did Edward beat the Welsh, but he
also tried to make the Scotch king and people
take him for their over-lord—that is, their
master.

At first Edward got his own way, but the
72 SIMPLE STORIES

Scotch king ‘soon grew tired of having him as
lord, and rose up against him.

For a time, Edward was able to make nearly
all the country give in to him, and he put the
Scotch king in prison.

But as soon as he left to go to England, other
brave men took up the fight, and Edward had to
begin his work all over again. The bravest of
these men were Wallace and Bruce. And it was
when Edward was an old man, and was on his
way to fight Bruce, that he was taken ill and
died.

' Edward was a good man, and a wise and
hard-working king. It was said of him, that he
was always truthful and ‘ kept faith.’

Write out and Learn

1. Edward the First was a great and wise king. He made many
good laws,

2. He made the Welsh take him for their king, and his son was
the first Prince of Wales.

3. He tried to make the Scotch take him for their king. He spent
much of his time in fighting the Scotch, who were led by
Wallace and Bruce.

4. But the Scotch won in the end.

5. It was said of him that he was always truthful and ‘kept
faith.’

81. THE BLACK PRINCE AT CRECY

Edward the Third ruled over England for
fifty years. He was very fond of fighting, and
made up his mind to try to be king of France, as
well as of England.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY

So he set sail with
a big army and soon
reached France. His
men were very brave,
and were ready to go
anywhere their king
might lead them.

The French came to
meet him with a larger
army, hoping to beat
the English, and send
them back to their own
country again. At last
the two armies met,
and a great fight took
place. This was the
battle of Creey.

Most of the English
had been taught how
to shoot with bows and
arrows. 'Their bows were
very strong, and their
arrows were very sharp.
And the English were
such strong men, that
they could shoot their
arrows a very long way.

They shot them so
thick and fast, that the
French could not stand
against them.

oe

ae

Hi

ea



EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE, FROM
HIS TOMB AT CANTERBURY:
SHOWING THE KIND OF ARMOUR
WORN IN THOSE DAYS.
TE a A ae

74. | SIMPLE STORIES

Now the king had with him his eldest son,
who was-then quite a boy. At one time during
the fight, the Prince was hard pressed by the
French, and some of his friends were afraid that
he might be killed. :

So they sent to the king for help. The king
asked: ‘Is my son dead, or hurt, or felled to the
ground P’

~ ©No, Sir, but he is hard pressed.’

‘Then,’ said the king, ‘ go back to those who
sent you, and tell them to send no more for help,
as long as my son is alive. I wish the glory of
winning the fight to be his.’

So they kept on with the fight, until many of
the French were killed and the rest ran away.

When the fight was over the king came
down to the field of battle and said to his son :

‘Sweet son, God grant that you may go on
as you have this day begun; and you will be
worthy to be a king.’

But the prince bowed and gave all the glory
to his father. And this was the first great fight
won by the Black Prince, as he came to be
called.

Write out and Learn

J, Edward the Third ruled over England for fifty years.

2, He tried to make the French take him for their king. So he
went to France with his army.

8. The English won a great fight at Crecy. This was the first battle
won by his son the Black Prince, as he came to be called.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 75

32. A GOOD QUEEN AND THE MEN OF
CALAIS

After the great fight at Crecy, the English
made up their minds to take the town of Calais,
so that they might always have a safe place in
France for their ships.

They made a strong camp all round the town,
so that no one could go either in or out.

The French, who were inside the town, were
very brave men. They said they would rather
die for want of food, than give up their town.

The English would not let any food go in,
and in time the people were starving. But still
they held out. Many months passed like this,
and King Edward was very angry. He sent to
say that he knew they must give in, for want of
food.

‘ But,’ he said, ‘if six of the chicf men of the
town will come to me with chains round their
necks, and the keys of the town in their hands,
then I will forgive all the rest.’

The people were very sad when they heard
this. At last a brave man rose up and said: ‘ It
would be a great pity to let so many people die
for lack of food. I have such faith in God’s
soodness to me, that I am willing to give up my
life to save my friends.’

Then five others said they would go with
him. And so these six brave men were brought
before the king.
76 SIMPLE STORIES

They fell upon their knees, and begged him
to have pity upon them. But he only looked
angrily at them, and ordered that their heads
should be cut off.

Now the queen, who had crossed over to
France to see the king, was so sorry for the poor
men, that she fell upon her knees, and with
tears in her eyes, she said :

‘Ah, gentle Sir, since I have crossed the sea,
I have not asked you one favour. Now I most
humbly beg, for the sake of the love you have
for me, that you will spare the lives of these
poor men.’

The king looked at her for some time without
speaking. Then he said: ‘Dear lady, you have
asked in such a way that I cannot say nay.
Take the men and do as you will with them.’

Then everyone was glad. And the good
queen took them, and having ted them, sent
them back happy to their homes.

Write out and Learn

1. Bee the great fight at Crecy, Edward tried to take the town of

alais.

2. He would not let any food be taken into the town, and so in time
the people were starving.

3. At last he said he would forgive the rest if six of the chief men
would come: to him with the keys of the town in their hands
and chains round their necks.

4.. Six brive men said they would go, so that the rest might be
saved.

. The king was very angry, and gave orders that their heads

should be cut off. But his good queen begged for their lives,
and so they were set free.

oN






EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE WAITING ON KING JOHN OF FRANCE
AFTER THE BATTLE OF POICTIERS.


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 77

33. THE BLACK PRINCE AND THE FRENCH
KING.

The Black Prince spent nearly all his life in
fighting in France.

He was a noble prince, and it seems a pity
that his life should have been spent in this way.
But those were cruel times, and the most a good
man could do was to do his duty as far as he
knew it.

Though the Black Prince did many cruel
deeds, he also did many kind ones.

In one great battle that he won against the
French, he was able to take the King of France.
Some men would have been harsh and unkind to
the French king. But the Black Prince knew
that it was far nobler to treat him well, now that
he had him in his camp. i

So he served him at table with his own
hands, and when he came back to London, he
made the king ride side by side with him
through the streets.

In this way he taught all men the lesson
that it is noble to be kind to fallen foes.

The French king showed that he could act as
nobly as the Black Prince. He was sent back to
France to try to raise a large sum of money to
pay the Black Prince to set him free.

And when he found that he could not get the
money, he kept his word, and came back again
- to London, where he spent the rest of his life.
78 SIMPLE STORIES

The Black Prince never became king of
England, for he died a year before his father.
But we are proud of him, for he was a brave
man, who tried to do his duty.

Write out and Learn

. The Black Prince spent nearly all his life in fighting the French.
. After one great battle that the Black Prince won, the King of
France gave himself up to him.
. The Black Prince was kind to his fallen foe, and waited upon
him with his own hands.
He never became King of England, as he died the year before
his father.

oo woe

a

84. WAT TILER

The long wars with Fiance had made food
very dear in England. Poor people were often.
very hungry, ind they began to think that the
king and the rich men did not treat them fairly,
and did not care what became of them.

At last, large numbers of the people made up
their minds that they would go to the king, and
tell him of their troubles. So they marched. to
London under a leader whose name was Watt
Tiler, ud

The king was quite a boy. His name was
Richard, oak he was a son of the Black Prince.

He was sorry for the poor people; and so,
with some of his friends about him, he rode
forth to meet Wat Tiler and his men. He was
u brave young king to be willing to go to meet
such a nimber of angry men.

Seeing the king coming, Wat Tiler rode up































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































at

SHOOT YOUR KIN

WILL YOU

AT IS THIS, MY MEN?

‘WH
80 SIMPLE STORIES

to him, and begged him to be just to the poor,
and to let all men be free to kill wild beasts and
game in the woods.

As they talked, one of the king’s friends
became angry, and, drawing his sword, he struck
Wat Tiler to the ground.

When the men saw their leader fall they
shouted: ‘Let us stand by each other. We will
die with our leader. Shoot! lads, shoot !’

In another moment a dreadful fight would
have begun, but the young king rode to them as
quickly as he could, and called out: ‘ What is
this, my men? Will you shoot your king? I
will be your leader, and will give you what you
ask for!’

Seeing the boldness of the king, they turned
and went with him out of the city. ‘This was
the end of the rising. Most of the men went
back to their homes, but many were taken by
the king’s friends and killed.

For the king could not do for them as he said
he would. And so for the time the poor people
were no better off than they were before.

Write out and Learn

1. The next king was Richard, son of the Black Prince. He was
quite a boy when he became king.

2. These were bad times for poor people, and many of them went
to London to ask help of the king.

3. Their leader was Wat Tiler. Ono of the king’s friends killed
Wat Tiler, and the king rode up to the angry men and
euaueed ‘I will be your leader, and will give you what you
ask for.’

4. So the men went home again. But the king did not help them.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY esi

35. KING HENRY THE FIFTH IN FRANCE

| And now we come to another king, who
| wanted to be king of France, as well as king of
| England. This was King’ Henry the Fifth. He
was wild and thoughtless when he was young,
| but as soon as he became king, he showed him-
self to be just towards all men.

| He was slow to promise, but he always kept
| his word.

He was tall and strong, and: so oft of foot
that he is said to have once run a hare down in
} a park. _

He sailed to France with a fleet of ships, that
| carried a big army of men. They soon landed,
and as they marched across. the country, they
came to a place where the French army was
drawn. up ready tevineet them.

| Many of Henry’s men had been killed, and
| many had died of sickness. So there were not
| many left to fight the French. But though they
saw such ab: large army in front of nen, none
wished to turn back.

The next day was Sunday, and, after prayers,
the English were drawn up in a field of fresh-cut
corn face to face with the Frencli host.

‘What time is it now ?’ the king asked.

‘The bells are ringing for church,’ someone
told him.

‘Now is good time,’ said he. ‘Our friends at
F




82 SIMPLE STORIES

home are praying for us, so let us be of good
cheer.’
Then the fight began. The king fought with
his own hands like one of his men.
After a time the French gave way. Many



HENRY THE FIFTH



thousands of them were killed, and great treasure
fell into the hands of the English.
You may think how glad the people of
England were when they heard of the great fight
at Agincourt.
Though Henry won a large part of France,
he did not. live long to enjoy it.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY — 83

Write out ‘and Learn

i. Henry the Fifth tried to make the French take him for their
king, just as Edward the Third had done.

2.. He was a very strong man. He was slow to promise, but he
always kept his word. ;

3. He sailed to France with an army of men. He won a great
fight over the French, who then said that Henry should be
king when their king was dead.

4, Having won a large part of France, he died soon after.

36. JOAN DARC

For some years after Henry’s death the
English leaders were able to beat the French.
But at last the French began to be able to beat
the English, and this is how it came about.

The English had for a long time been try-
ing to take a town that had high walls all
round it.

The people inside the town were starving, and
made up their minds that, if help did not come
very soon, they would have to give in and open
the gates to the English.

There was at that time a young girl named
Joan Dare living in a small village in France.
She was about seventeen years old, and spent her
time in minding her father’s cattle and in sewing
and spinning. ;

She was very good and kind, and had often
felt her heart full of pity for the poor soldiers,
who came home hurt from the wars.

She was also very sorry for the young king
of France, who was bravely fighting against the
‘English,

F2
84 SIMPLE STORIES

She thought so much about these things,
that at last she fancied she could see bright
angels, who bade her go and try to save her
country.

So she went to the French king and told him
all about it. He thought so much of what she
said that he let her go to try to put hope into the
hearts of his men.

Mounted upon a white horse, she led the
soldiers against the English. ull of new hope
and spirit, the French fought so well, that
they were able to force their way into the
town.

And so the English gave up trying to take
the town and marched away.

Though she was only a poor girl, Joan Darc
had done for the French what neither the king
nor his nobles had been able to do.

She had filled the minds of the soldiers with
hope. From this time they fought as if they
thought they should win, and after a time they
drove the English from all parts of the country
except one small town.

But before this took place Joan Dare was
dead.

After the first fight she wished to go home
again. She thought her work was done. But
the king begged her to stay longer. So she kept
with the army and led the men, who would follow
her anywhere.

But at last she was taken by some Frenchmen
p
iY
NK AWA ou =

AN \



JOAN DARG STRUCK BY AN ARROW

AUOLSTH HSTIONG WoW

98
86 SIMPLE STORIES

who were not friendly with their king, and given
up to the English.

The English were very angry with her. They
were very cruel in those days, and they now did
a very cruel thing. They thought that Joan
Dare was a witch, and so they made up their
minds to burn her alive.

As the flames leapt about her she cried out:
‘God sent me to help my countrymen. Iam no
witch, and great evil shall fall upon you for the
cruel deed you are doing this day.’

«As she said this great fear fell upon all who
stood near.

‘We are undone,’ they said, ‘ for this woman.
whom we have put to death was a saint indeed.’

But Joan’s work was done. She had given
her life to save her country. And so we love and
honour her name, and are sad at the thought
that they were Englishmen who put her to such
cruel death.

e

Write out and Learn

. Joan Dare was a poor girl. She was very sorry to see the
English winning so many fights against the French.
At last she made up her mind to go and help the French soldiers.
. Mounted on a white horse, she led them against the English,
and they soon began to win. ‘They took back nearly all that
the English had won.
But Joan Dare fell into the hands of the English. They thought
she was a witch, and burned her to death.

be

t

SD

G

te

387. THE FIRST ENGLISH PRINTER
~ Instead of talking about wars and cruel deeds we
will now read about one of the greatestarts of peace.
Up to about four hundred year's ago, all books


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY _ 87

were written by hand. Most were written by
the monks, who loved to make their books look
as nice as they cou

But there were very few books in those days,
and only very rich men could afford to have them.

At last a clever man found out how to print
books from wooden letters, that he could move
about as he wished. In this way, after putting
letters together to form words, he was able to
print the same book many times.

So, instead of there being only one copy of a
new book, many copies could be made.

The first English printer was a man named
Caxton, who set up a printing-press in London.
The fame of his work soon spread about, and
the king and his nobles went to see Caxton at
his work.

He printed many books after this. TTe was a
good and kindly man, and was always grateful to
God for let ting him be the first to ati books in
this country. It was not till books were printed,
that poor people learned how to read and write.

There is now more printing done in London
in one day, than there was all over the world in
a year in Caxton’s time.

Caxton’s is a name that we must love and
honour, for reading good books is one of the best
things in life.

Write out and Learn

1. Up to about four hundred years ago all books in England were
written by hand.
88 SIMPLE STORIES

2. Then a good and clever man named Caxton set up a printing-
press in London.

8. Before that time only the rich could learn to read and have
books. Since then books have become cheaper and cheaper.
Now both rich and poor can learn'to read and write.

38. THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER

The Tower of London still stands as it has
done for many hundreds of years.

Many sad scenes and evil deeds have taken
place within its walls, but perhaps the worst deed
of all was the murder of the two young princes,
Edward and Richard.

They were but boys, who loved each other,
and were good and kind to all about them.

But they had a very wicked uncle, who had
been made king of England, though the eldest of
the two boys should have been king. , So he put
the two boys into the Tower of London, and there
he kept them fast for a time. of

At length he made up his mind that they
should be killed. So in the dead of night he sent
two wicked men to the Tower.

They found the two princes sleeping soundly
in their bed, and they killed the poor boys where
they lay.

Their bodies were buried in a secret place in
the Tower, and it was long before the exact spot
became known. When men heard what had
been done, they were very angry. Many of
them rose up against the wicked king.














































































































a ny ia e !

Naa j
in

THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER
Le EE Se a,

—

90 SIMPLE STORIES

They got an army together, and at last they
won a great fight, in which the wicked king was
killed.

This took place not very long after the death
of the poor little princes.

If ever you go to see the Tower of London,
you will think of the sad fate of the two princes,















































































































THE TOWER OF LONDON

and be glad that we live in times when such
deeds are not done.

Write out and Learn

i. Richard the Third was a wicked king. There were two young
peingss named Edward and Richard who had a better right to
e king.
. So he put the two poor boys into the Tower of London.
. And one night he sent wicked men to kill them.
. This made the people very angry. They rose up against the
king, 4nd he was killed in a battle.

Ror bp
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 91

39. COLUMBUS FINDS A NEW WORLD

Four hundred years ago, men who lived in
Europe did not know that there was another
continent far away across the western seas.

They had heard of India, and they had seen
in shops some of the lovely things that were
made there. A few men had set out, mostly
on foot, to the far Hast, and had brought back
strange stories of the people who lived there.
Fine silks and lovely shawls, and many pretty
things, had been brought to Europe, and wonder-
ful tales were told of the gold and silver and
precious stones that were seen by travellers.

But it was a long and toilsome way to go, and
for many years men had wanted to find a shorter
and easier road to these wonderfw lands.

In those days, men knew very little about
the sea. They sailed in the waters that washed
their coasts, but were afraid to go far from land.
Their ships were small, and they had no good
maps and charts as sailors have now. It was
thought that the nearest way to India would be
found by sailing away to the West.

At length a brave sailor named Columbus
became sure in his own mind that he could
find the way. So he went to see the King of
Spain, and told him what he thought he could
do. ae

The king was so pleased with Columbus that
92 SIMPLE STORIES

he gave him some ships. And what small ships
they were! The largest was no bigger than the
small craft that sail only from port to port around
our coasts. Other brave men said they would
go with him, and after spending some time in
gotting the ships ready, Columbus and his men
set sail.

Their friends were very sad at seeing them
start, for very few thought that they would ever
come back again.

The weather was fine and the wind was fair,
and for some days the ships sailed gaily away to
the west. At length they left the last land
behind, and the hearts of some of the men began
to fail them. Rough sailors might have been
seen on their knees, with the tears running down
their cheeks.

But Columbus cheered them by telling
them of the wonderful lands which they were
going to find. He told them of the gold and
silver and precious stones that were to be had,
and so with better spirits they kept on their
way.

As day after day passed without any sign of
land, the sailors began to think they had lost
their way in the boundless sea, and that they
would never find the land they had set out to
seek. In spite of all their grumblings, Colum-
bus kept on his way. And at last, just as he
had begun to think of giving up the search, land
was seen not very far away.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 93

Now all was joy on board the ships. The
anchors were dropped. Columbus put on his
gayest clothes and was rowed ashore.

On landing, he and his men fell on their
knees and thanked God for having brought them
safely so far across the seas.

At first the men who lived there were very
much afraid. They had never seen either white
men or ships before. They thought the latter
must be big birds that had come down from the
clouds.

Columbus gave them some pretty things as
gifts, and when they found that no harm was
meant to them, they got over their fears and
became very friendly.

After spending a few days in this island, for
so it proved to be, Columbus set sail in search of
other lands. There was no grumbling now on
the part of the sailors. They were happy in the
thought that they had found the land they came
to seek, and that they might soon return to their
homes in Spain.

But it was not India that they hadfound. It
was part of a New World, and it was not till
some years after that it was found what a strange
error they had fallen into.

After staying for a few months, Columbus
set sail for home. He wanted to tell the King
of Spain of the new lands he had found. He
took with him some of the natives, as well as
pretty birds and fine fruits, and many other
94 SIMPLE STORIES

things. But, above all, he thought most of the
gold and silver that he brought back with him.

After meeting with many storms, he at
length reached Spain, where he had long been
given up for lost. Great was the joy on his
~return. The church bells were rung, guns were
fired, and the people rushed to the Hen oear to
see the ships come sailing in. The king was so
pleased, that he gave rich gifts to Columbus and
his men.

The news of finding new lands in the West
soon spread all through Europe. Many other
ships started out, and in a few years a large part
of the land ‘which we now call South America
was taken for the King of Spain.

Write out and Learn

1. About four hundred years ago Columbus set sail from Spain to
try to find a new way to India.

2. He did not find India, but he found the New World that we now
call America,

8. He took these new lands for the King of Spain, who in time
became master of nearly all South America,

40. SIR THOMAS MORE

It is by reading about the lives of good men
that we learn how to be good.

One of the best and noblest men that ever
lived was Sir Thomas More. He lived at a time
when great changes were taking place in Eng- ~
land. Henry the Kighth was king in those days.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 95







































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































KING HENRY THE BIGHTH
96 SIMPLE STORIES

He was a man who always tried to make those
about him do what he wished.

It did not matter to him whether what he
wanted seemed right or wrong to his friends.
All who served him had to obey him or lose
their places, or even their lives.

When Sir Thomas More was a boy, he was so
bright and eager to learn, that his father asked a
great man to take the boy into his household, so
that he might be taught there. He was so
merry and so clever, as well as so good, that the
great man became very fond of him, and sent
him to Oxford to study.

Here he spent all his time at his books. He
made many friends, and all who knew him came
to love him. For though he was always ready
for sport and fun, he was good and true, and
gentle and kind to others. He made many
friends at Oxford, and among them were two of
the most learned men of the day.

After a time he came to live in London, and
there he studied very hard, so that he might be a
lawyer. At that time he lived a very hard life,
sleeping on the boards instead of in a bed, and
having a log of wood under his head in the place
of a pillow. In this way he hoped to please and
serve God.

After a time he married a gentle young girl,
and it was his delight to teach her to love books
and music. .

They had four children, and then, to More’s
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 97

great grief, his wife died. He loved his children
~ very dearly, and took care to have them well
taught. He also joined them in their sports,
and often took a very learned friend to see the
children’s tame rabbits, and to watch the tricks
of a pet monkey.

After a time the king found out now good
and clever More was, ancl so he made him one of
the chief men in the land. He used to visit
More at his home, and would walk with him in
the garden and lean upon his shoulder. Then he
would ask More to teach him how best to rule
his people.

But all this did not make More proud. He
showed that above all things he wished to do
what was right, and that he feared no man, not
even the king.

For about two years things went well and
More pleased the king. He had to spend most,
of his time at the king’s court, but he would
have been much happier with his children in his
own home. His children wrote him many
letters; and one of his daughters, Meg, used to
write him such clever letters in Latin that More
would show them with much pride to some of
his learned friends.

But a quarrel] arose with the king, and More
had to give up his high post. He was now no
longer a rich man, and so, calling his servants
about him, he told them that he should not be
able to keep them. They with tears in their

: G
98 SIMPLE STORIES

eyes begged him to let them stay, even though ©
he might not be able to pay them wages. But
More would not have this, and found them other
places.

He was very glad to be at home again, and
to be able to spend his time in quiet among the
books he loved. The king did not leave him
long in peace, for he had made up his mind that
More should do what he wished, and so he sent -
for him.

When More heard that the king wanted to
see him he looked sad for a time. If he did
what the king wanted him to do, he knew that
he would once more be a great man. If he did
not, he knew that he would be cast into prison
and most likely lose his life.

But he thought it was a wrong thing that
the king wished him to agree to. As he was
rowed in his boat to go and. see the king, he all
at once lifted up his head and said to his son-in-
law, ‘I thank our Lord, my son, the field is won.’
He could look happy now, for he had made up
his mind to face death rather than do what he
thought was wrong.

So More was thrown into prison and the king
said he must lose his life. His daughter Meg
came to see him there. She fell upon his neck
and kissed him, but her heart was so sad that she
could say nothing but, ‘Oh, my father! oh, my.
father ! ’ |

Even then More was calm and cheerful, and


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 99

did his best to cheer her. He gave her his
blessing and said, ‘Do not grieve, for if I suffer









SIR THOMAS MORE

death it will be only by God’s will.’ Then she
tore herself away, but having gone a few steps
she came back, and again kissed him, weeping

a2
100 SIMPLE STORIES

all the time. Even the rough guards who stood
near were moved to tears.

At last the day came for him to die, but the
thought of death did not make him sad. As he
laid his head upon the block he moved his beard
to one side saying, ‘This has done no wrong, why
should it suffer P’ And so one of the best and
most learned of men died for the sake of what
he thought was right, and all good men grieved
that he was gone.

Write out and Learn

1. Sir Thomas More lived in the reign of King Henry the-Highth.
He was a good man and a great scholar.

2. The king gave him a very high post, and he became one of the
chief men in the land.

. But after a time he would not do something that the king wished
him to do. The king was very angry, and tried to make him
do it. :

4. But Sir Thomas More felt that the king wanted him to do what

he thought was wrong, and so he held out against the king.

5. He was cast into prison, and at last the king had him killed.

All good men in England and in other countries were very
sorry to hear of his death.

co

41. LADY JANE GREY

Between three and four hundred years ago,
men in England began to think more of learning
than they had ever done before. Clever men
had found out the art of. printing, and so books
became cheaper. Girls were taught as well as
boys, and some women became good scholars.

Before this time girls were hardly ever made
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 101

to study, but were only taught how to do work
in the house.

One of the best, as well as one of the most
learned, women of the time was Lady Jane Grey.
Parents were very harsh to their children in
those days, but luckily she had a kind and good
teacher, who tells a great deal about her in a
famous book which he wrote.

The King of England was a boy named
Hidward. Te was very weak, and died quite
young. Before his death his friends made him
say that his cousin Lady Jane Grey should be
queen. after him.

She did not wish to be queen, for she would
much rather have lived a quiet life among her
books. But her friends told her that it was for
the good of her country that she should be
queen. It seemed to her to be her duty to
agree, so she let them make her queen when
Edward. died.

She was queen for only a few days, for most
of the people wanted Edward’s sister Mary to be
queen. So poor Lady Jane was turned off the
throne, and shut up in the Tower of London.

As she sat lonely in her cell she could hear
the bells pealing and the people shouting for
Queen Mary. Poor girl! she had not much
longer to live, for the queen made up her mind
that both Lady Jane and her husband should
die. The day before her death she wrote upon
the inside of her Bible a few kind words to her
102 SIMPLE STORIES

sister. She also sent a beautiful letter to her
father. .

When they led her out to her death she read
the Fifty-first Psalm. Then she forgave the
man who was to do the cruel deed. Tying her
scarf around her eyes, she laid her head upon the
block saying, ‘ Lord, into Thy hands I commend
my spirit.’ And so died one of the most learned,
as well as one of the best, women of her time.
She deserves the pity of us all, for she died for
the faults of others, and not for her own.

Write out and Learn

i, Lady Jane Grey was one of the best and also one of the most
learned women of her time.

2. Her friends tried to make her queen when King Edward the
Sixth died. But most of the people wanted the Princess Mary
tobe queen. |

8. So Mary became queen and Lady Jane Grey and her friends were

put into the Tower of London.

- But Mary was a cruel woman, and so she had Lady Jane Grey

put to death. It was a pity that a girl so young and so good
should have died for the faults of others.

i

42. DRAKE’S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD

In the days of Good Queen Bess, there were
many bold sailors who spent most of their lives
in sailing away into unknown seas in search of
new lands. One of the bravest was Sir Francis
Drake. He first went to sea when he was quite
a boy, and by the time that he was thirty years
of age he had fought many a hard fight with the
Spaniards.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 103

In those days the Spaniards were hated by
Englishmen because they were so cruel to any of
our sailors that might be taken by them. And
so Englishmen thought it no wrong to take
Spanish ships whenever they could.





THE ‘GREAT HARRY’; BUILT FOR KING HENRY THE EIGHTH

The Spaniards had taken for themselves the
greater part of South America, and every year
they sent home ships laden with gold and silver
and precious stones.

English sailors did not like to see all this
a

104 | SIMPLE: STORIES

wealth going to the King of Spain. They
wanted some of it for their queen. So many
brave men fitted out ships to go and rob the
Spaniards.

The queen also helped her sailors by giving
them ships. She helped Drake to fit out “thr ee
ships, of which the largest was called the Golden
Hind.

Drake and his friends sailed gaily away to
the west. He was a good captain and knew how
to make his men fear and obey him. He had a
band of musie on board. He and his friends
were dressed in rich clothes, and gay flags floated
from the ships’ masts. ee

After a time he reached the shores of South
America. But the Spaniards had heard that he
was coming and were ready for him. For above
all men they feared and hated Drake. So they
shut the gates of their towns and forts, and
called all iter men together so as to drive the
English away.

“When: Drake found that he could do but
little against them with his three small ships, he
made up his mind to sail tound the south of
South America.

No English sailor had dared to try this
voyage before. After many days of battling
with fierce storms Drake sailed into the broad
Pacific, having by this time only the oe
Hind left out of his three ships.

' He sailed along the coast till he came to a
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 105















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SIR FRANCIS DRAKE IN HIS FORTY-THIRD YEAR
106 SIMPLE STORIES

Spanish port. The Spaniards never dreamt of
seeing an English ship there, and before they
could make ready to fight, Drake and his men
had taken a great ship laden with gold and
silver and many precious things.

Then Drake sailed away to the north, and
at last he heard of a great treasure ship that
had just sailed. So he started off after it as
fast as he could go. He said he would give a
rich present to the man who should first see the
Spanish ship. This promise made the sailors
keep a sharp look-out both by day and night,
and after ten days the treasure ship was seen
right ahead.

Then all was joy on board the Golden Hind.
The big guns were loaded with powder and shot,
and every man sharpened his sword and got
ready for the coming fight.

The Spanish ent thought the Golden
Hind was a friend. Heid not expect to sec
an English ship in those seas, so he waited
for her to come up. But he soon found out
his mistake, as, with a loyd Hurrah! from
every throat, the Golden wid was sailed along-
side.

‘Give up your ship, you Spanish curs! ’
shouted Drake. And then his big guns were
fired. In a few minutes the mast of the
Spanish ship was shot overboard, and her captain
lay wounded upon the deck.

Then the English sailors leaped on. board, and
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 107

hauled down the Spanish flag, and so the great
treasure ship was taken, Drake took all the





QUEEN ELIZABETH

gold and silver as well as many other rich things
out of her.
108 SIMPLE STORIES

By this time the Golden Hind had as much
as she could carry, and Drake made up_his
mind to sail for home. a

But he could not go home by the way he had
come, for there were too many Spanish ships on
the look-out for him. So after making his ship
ready for the long voyage that lay before her, he
sailed away again to the west.

Once the ship struck upon a rock, and all on
board gave themselves up for lost. But hapnily
the wind changed, and blew her off again, &~ so
they sailed on their way.

Three years had gone by since the Golden
Hind had left Plymouth, and everyone thought
that Drake and his brave men were lost.

But one day a weather-worn ship was seen
coming up the harbour with flags flying and
guns firing. The people rushed to the shore
when they heard that Drake had come baek ;
and when he and his friends landed, crowds
moved side by side with them along the strects.
Over and over again they had to tell the wonder-
ful tale of their long voyage, and how they took
the treasure ship.

Much of the gold and silver was sent in
wagons by road to London. Then Drake sailed
his ship round to the Thames, and went to
tell the queen of all that he had done. ‘The
queen was so proud of the brave deeds of her
bold sailors that she gave a great. feast on board
the Golden Hind, and made Drake a lenvehiiee a
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 109.

And so Drake was the first English sailor
to sail round the world.
Write out and Learn

1. Sir Francis Drake was a bold sailor who lived in the days of
Queen Elizabeth. He made many voyages to fight the Spaniards
and to find out new lands.

2. In one voyage he sailed away to rob the Spaniards in South
America. He went round the southern part of the continent,
and so reached the broad Pacific.

3. He took a great Spanish treasure ship, and at last, laden with
treasure, he sailed for home.

4. He could not return by the way he came, because many Spanish
ships were lying in wait for him.

5. " he sailed away still to the west, and at last reached England.

e was thus the first Englishman who sailed round the world,

43, SIR PHILIP SIDNEY

There were many brave and good men who
served Queen Elizabeth. But the man who
showed best of all by his life what a good man
should be was Sir Philip Sidney.

He was so kind and good that he was loved
by all who knew him. Not only was he a brave
soldier, but he also wrote good books that are
full of -wise and beautiful thoughts... He was
a man who loved the truth, and sometimes he
made the queen angry by speaking his mind
to her freely and without fear.

All through her reign the queen’s chief
enemy was the King of Spain. War broke out
at last, and an English army went over to Hol-
land to help the Dutch to fight the Spaniards.

There was a town called Zutphen that the
English wanted to take. They placed their
110 SIMPLE STORIES

army all round it, so that no food could be taken
into it. The people were soon starving, and the
Spaniards tried to send men with food into the
town. ‘This led to a fight outside the walls. .

It was a foggy morning, and the English
soldiers could see only a few yards in front of
them. Sidney, with two hundred horsemen,
rode up close to the walls, and when the fog
cleared the enemy began to fire their guns at
his little army. Sidney now saw quite close to
him a large body of Spaniards. But though he
had so few men with him, he shouted, ‘ Charge,
my men, for God and good Queen Bess ! ’

He drove the enemy back, but at last he
was badly wounded, and his horse took fright
and dashed away. Though weak and faint with
loss of blood, Sidney kept his seat. His horse
was soon caught, and Sidney was laid on the
ground.

A bottle of water was handed to him, for
he was parched with thirst. As he was about to
raise the drink to his lips a wounded soldier was
carried by. At the sight of the water-bottle
the poor fellow cried, ‘Water! Water! I am
dying of thirst! ’

Seeing the look of longing in his face,
Sidney held out the bottle to him, saying,
‘Drink, my poor fellow, thy need is greater than
mine.’ Even at such a moment his first thought -
was for others.

As his wound was being dressed his friends
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 111

stood by with tears in their eyes, and praised
him for the courage he had shown.

For a few days he seemed to be getting
better. Then he grew worse, and soon knew
that he was dying. Still his courage never
failed him. He spoke cheerfully to his brother,
who stood weeping by his side. ‘Love my
memory,’ he said to him, ‘and cherish my
friends.’ ;

With these words he closed his eyes, and
soon after he ceased to breathe. And so at the
age of thirty-one there passed away one of the
best and noblest men of his or any other time.

Write out and Learn

1. Sir Philip Sidney was good and kind, and was loved by all who
knew him. He wrote good books that were full of beautiful
thoughts.

. He was one of a number of brave men who served Queen
Elizabeth, whose chief enemy was the Kine of Spain.

3. When war broke out between England and Spain, Sir Philip

Sidney went to fight for his queen.

4. But he was badly wounded near the town of Zutphen, and soon

after he died.

bo

44. THE ARMADA

The defeat of the great Armada, that was
sent by the King of Spain to take England for
him, is one of the most famous deeds in our his-
tory. But why should he want to take England
at allP Well, there were many causes that
made him hate the English.

For a long time Englishmen and Spaniards
112 SIMPLE STORIES

had been fighting upon the seas. Spain at that
time was richer and more powerful than she is
now. Her soldiers and sailors had taken nearly
the whole of South America, and ships laden
with gold and silver were sent home every year.

Our brave sailors did not like to see all this

vealth going to Spain. You have read how Sir
Teds Deke took the great treasure ship. He
was only one of many who set sail to fight the
Spaniards.

Philip, for that was the name of the King of
Spain, was very angry about it, and wrote to
Elizabeth, Queen of England, begging her to
stop her sailors from robbing and "pete his
ships. Now Elizabeth was very fond of money,
and was glad to see her brave sailors come home
with the wealth which they had taken from the
Spaniards.

At last Philip made up his mind that he
would punish Queen Bess and her people. THe
thought he would turn her off her throne and be
King of England himself. So he began to make
ready. Big ships were built in all the ports of
Spain, and in time a great army and navy were
nearly ready to sail to England.

But just as they were es iout to start, Drake,
with a fleet of ships, sailed to Spain. He went
boldly into a port where many ships were lying,
and in a few hours had burned them all. Then
he sailed away again. ‘I have singed the King
of Spain’s beard,’ said he.
















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































‘oH! NO,’ SAID DRAKE, ‘THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME TO FINISH OUR GAME AND BEAT THE SPANIARDS TOO’

(By permission, from the original line engraving published by Arthur Lucas, London)

AYOLSIN HSTIDNG Wows

6IT
114 SIMPLE STORIES

This bold deed put a new spirit into men’s
hearts, and Englishmen began to get ships ready
too. :

Queen Bess was a brave woman, and she had
many bold sailors about her. Some of them had
fought in many a fight with the Spaniards, and
knew what to expect if Philip should ever be
King of England.

Ships were built in many of our seaports,
and at length Howard and Drake and other bold
sailors had a fleet ready at Plymouth. Huge
bonfires, ready to be lighted the moment the
Spanish ships were in sight, were ready on the
hill tops. And so Englishmen waited for the
coming of the great Armada, about which they
had heard so much.

At last one day a fishing boat came sailing
into Plymouth, with the news that the great
Armada was in sight.

When the news came, Drake and his friends
were playing a game of bowls. Someone said
‘We had better stop at once and go on board our
ships.’ ‘Oh! no,’ said Drake, ‘there is. plenty
of time to finish our game and beat the Spaniards
too.” &

At once the beacon fires were lighted, and
soon the news that the Spaniards were coming
spread all over England. Men put on their
armour, and with sword in hand came as fast as
they could to the meeting places. Everyone was
eager to fight for his home.




THE SPANISH ARMADA.





FIGHT BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND SPANISH FLEETS OFF THE ISLE OF WIGHT,
JULY 25, 1588

KUMOLSIH HSTIONG WOU

SIT
116 SIMPLE STORIES

The English ships were led by those who
were good sailors as well as brave men. Our
captains did not want to risk being beaten.
They knew that the Spanish ships were bigger
than theirs, and held many more men. So they
waited till the Armada had passed, and then
they followed close behind.

Howard and Drake knew that their men
were better sailors, that their guns would carry
further, and that their ships could sail faster
and better than the Spanish vessels. So their
plan was for the English ships to keep close
behind, and to fire their big shots into the
Spanish ships, keeping at a safe distance them-
selves.

In this way the two fleets sailed up the
Channel, and on the way several big Spanish
ships were burnt or taken as prizes into English
ports. At length the Armada came to a stop
near the coast of France. The Spaniards had a
large army ready to be taken on board the ships
and landed in England.

To prevent this, the English saw that some-
thing must be done at once. So they made up
their minds to try to burn the Spanish ships as
they lay at anchor. They got ready some fire-
ships which they filled with all kinds of things
that would burn readily. Then, after setting
them on fire, some bold sailors jumped into their
boats and towed the ships so that they might
drift among the Spanish fleet.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 117





WRECK OF ONE OF THE SHIPS OF THE ARMADA
118 SIMPLE STORIES

When the Spaniards saw these blazing fire-
ships coming down upon them they were in great
alarm, and hoisting their sails they tried to get
out of danger as quickly as they could. As they
sailed away, the English fleet followed them,
and a fierce battle was begun which lasted for
many hours.

When the Spaniards had got over their fright
and tried to return, they found that the English
fleet stopped their way. Many of their ships
had been burnt and many men killed. Besides,
the wind was against them. So they made up
their minds to give up all thought of landing in
England and to return home by sailing round
Great Britain.

But now great storms arose. Many of the
ships were wrecked on the coasts of Scotland
and Iveland, and at last, of the one hundred and
thirty ships of the proud Armada, only fifty crept
slowly back to Spain.

When Philip heard the news, he said: ‘I
sent my ships to fight against men, not against
the winds and storms.’

Write out and Learn

1. The King of Spain sent a great fleet of ships, called the Armada,
to try to take England and turn Queen Elizabeth off the
throne. .

2. So Howard and Drake and other brave sailors gota fleet ready to
fight the Spaniards. But their ships were smaller, and they
had not so many as there were in the Armada.

3. News of the coming of the Spaniards soon spread all over Eng- ©
land, and men put on their armour and marched to fight for
their homes.

4, But the Spaniards were not able toland. Their ships were beaten
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 119

in a great fight. Many were sunk or taken, and the rest tried
to get back to Spain.

5. They could not return by the way they had come without more
fighting, so they sailed away to get back by going round the -
North of Scotland... Many were wrecked, and only a few ships
got home to tell the sad tale.

45. THE FIGHT OF THE REVENGE

A few years after the great Armada had been
beaten back, there came news to England that a
fleet of treasure ships was on its way home to
Spain. Soa number of brave English sailors set
off with a small fleet to see whether they could ©
take them.

But the King of Spain heard that they had
gone, and sent out a great fleet to guard his
treasure. The Spanish fleet soon ¢ame up with
the English, and they, seeing that the Spanish
fleet was so much bigger than theirs, set sail for
England.

Now there was one captain, named Sir
Richard Grenville, who would not run away
from the Spaniards. ‘ No,’ he said, ‘it matters
not to me how many there are. ‘I have never
yet run away from the Spaniards. I shall not
do so now.’

He had but one ship, the Revenge, with which
to fight the whole Spanish fleet of fifty-three ships.
In a very short time the Spanish ships closed in
all round him. And now a fearful fight began.
From three o’clock in the afternoon until the
next morning, the Spaniards tried over and over
120 SIMPLE STORIES
again to take the Revenge. But they were
driven back every time:

Sir Richard was badly wounded, but he still
cried: ‘Fight on, my men! Fight on!’

At last all the powder was used up, and most
of his men were dead or wounded. His ship was
awreck. Her masts had been shot overboard, and
her sides were full of holes. Then Sir Richard
made up his mind that he would rather sink his
ship, than let it be taken by the Spaniards.

On. hearing this, one of the sailors rowed off
to a Spanish ship and told the captain. He sent
a message to say that if the English sailors would
give up the ship they should be sent. safely to
England. It was useless to try to keep up the
fight any longer, so some of the sailors went off
to the Spanish ships.

Then Sir Richard, fainting from loss of blood,
was taken off the sinking ship. He lay dying
for a few days, and during that time the
Spaniards were very kind to him. They were
forced to admire so brave a foe. He was cheer-
ful and brave to the last, and just before he died
he said: ‘Here die I, Richard Grenville, with a
joyful and a quiet mind, for that I ended my life
as a good soldier ought to do who has fought for
his country and his Queen.’

Thus this brave soldier and this good man
died. And as long as there is an English navy,
the story of Sir Richard’s fight in the Revenge
will be told as one of its bravest deeds.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 121

Write out and Learn

1. Sir Richard Grenvilie was a brave sailor. Once a small fleet of
English ships was met by a large fleet of Spanish.

2. The English did not think they were strong enough to fight, so

they sailed away. But Sir Richard Grenville would not fly.

3. So in his little ship, the Revenge, he waited to fight the whole

Spanish fleet.

4, All night long he kept them at bay. But at last, when his ship
was nearly sinking, and most of his men were killed, and he
was badly wounded, the Spanish took his ship.

. If the other English captains had been as brave, they might have
stopped and beaten the Spaniards.

Or

46. ENGLAND IN TUDOR TIMES (1)

Dogs and Hunting.—-In those days there was
much more land that was not tilled than there is
now, and there were more wild beasts and birds
in the woods and on the moors. Since that time
much of the land where they lived and bred has
been ploughed up to make room for crops, and
so there are but few wild creatures now.

There was plenty of hunting, and England
was famous for its dogs. There were big watch-
dogs or mastiffs, so strong and fierce, that they
could run and pull down a deer, or even a bull.
Then there were numbers of terriers, that were:
used for driving foxes or badgers out of their
holes in the ground.

There were also small dogs that were used
for very curious work. They were put into a
wheel, which they kept turning round and round,
in much the same way as tame squirrels are
made to do. The wheel was fastened to a spit
122 SIMPLE STORIES

on which joints of meat were placed before the
fire. And these little dogs turned the meat
_ round and round to the fire. They had long
bodies and very short legs, and their tails were
cut quite short. In a large kitchen there
would be three or four such dogs, each of which
learned to know when its turn had come and
‘stepped into the wheel.

Hewking.—Besides hunting large animals,
such as the deer, by the help of hounds, many
kinds of birds were hunted by hawks.

Hawks in a wild state live by killing and eat-
ing other birds. So men tamed hawks, and_
trained them to kill birds for them. This sport
was called ‘hawking.’ The hawks were caught
and tamed when quite young, and were taken
great care of.

The hawk would perch upon her master’s
wrist as he rode out into the fields. She had a
little silver bell tied to one of her feet, so that
she might be known as a trained hawk. She also
wore a pretty little hood over her head and eyes.

When the dogs had started a bird from the
ground the hood was slipped off, so that the
hawk might see the bird which she had to kill.
Then she was thrown up into the air. Rising
higher and higher, she would soon be above her
prey. With a swift flight she would swoop
down upon it, striking the poor bird with her
strong beak and sharp claws. As it fell dying
to the ground, the hunter would ride up and
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 123



A FALCON WITH HOOD, ETC., READY FOR A FLIGHT
124 ‘SIMPLE STORIES

seize it, and the hawk would return to her perch
upon her master’s wrist.
Write out and Learn

1. The Tudors were a family of English kings and queens. They
ruled over England from 1485 to 1603, that is, for more than a
hundred years.

2. The two most famous were Henry the Eighth and Queen Elizabeth.

8. There were many changes in England in“their time, but the
greatest changes were in matters of religion. It was in those
days that the Reformation took place.

47. ENGLAND IN TUDOR TIMES (2)

In those days the towns were small, and there
were only about a sixth the number of people in
England that there are now. Most of the people
lived by farming, and only a small part by
making things to sell.

The English were fond of trading with other
lands, and such trade had to be done in ships.
Hence there were many men always busy at
building ships, for which much timber was
wanted, for men had not learned how to build
ships of iron or steel.

There were great forests of oak trees, and
many men were kept at work cutting them
down. Wood was used also for fuel, for it was
only in such places as Newcastle that fires were
made of coal. The English iron was as good
then as it is now, and the best was made in the
South of England, where there was plenty of
wood.

England was also famous for growing the
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 125

best wool in the world, and other countries were
always glad to get English wool, Many clever









WILLIAM SHAKSPERE

workmen had come over and taught the English
how to make their wool into good cloth. So in
time English cloth became known all over Europe.
126 SIMPLE STORIES

In the days of Queen Elizabeth, farmers
began to be more careful and tidy about their
farms. It was about this time that the country
was split up into fields, with hedges planted
between them. Before this, hurdles were put
up around the crops of corn or hay, and taken
down again after the harvest was gathered.

Men also began to build fine houses, some of
which are still standing. In the picture is shown
one of the finest of them. Many schools were
built, for men had come to think much of learn-
ing and were eager to read books. There were
some great writers too in those days. Among
them was William Shakspere, who still holds his
place as the greatest of all English writers.

Hence we see that in the times of the Tudors,
England had in many ways become a better land
for people to live in than it had ever been before.

48. ENGLAND IN TUDOR TIMES (8)

The roads in those days were not at all like
what they are now. They were badly made, and
in winter were so deep in mud that wagons and |
carriages sank up to their axles in the mire. In
summer they were covered thickly with dust and
full of holes, so that only very strong wheels
could pass over them at all.

Sometimes a wagon stuck so deep in the mud
that it took a whole team of oxen to pull it out
again. So bad were the roads, that two or three














































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































WOLLATON HALL, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE; BUILT ABOUT 1580-1588

AUOLSIH HSITONA Wow

LEY
128 SIMPLE STORIES

miles an hour was thought to be a good pace.
Hence there was little trade from one part of the
country to another.

A. story is told of a good man, named George
Herbert, who wrote some poems that are read
even now.

He used to go twice a week to Salisbury to
sing at the great church there, for he was very

fond of music.





A COACH IN TUDOR TIMES

One day as he went along, he saw a poor man
bending down by the side of a half-starved pack-
horse that had fallen under the weight of a
heavy load. George Herbert saw that the horse
could not get up. So he pulled off his coat and
began to unload the horse.

Then he and the poor man got the horse on
its feet. They gave it water to drink, and after
resting it awhile put the pack on its back again.
When this was done, and the horse was ready to’
start, the man thanked George Herbert for his
kind help.


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 129

But he, taking out some money and giving it
to the man, said: ‘There, good man, get some-
thing to eat for thyself. And do not forget to
feed thy horse, for a good man is ever kind to his
beast.’

Then he put on his coat and started again for
Salisbury. When he got there his friends were
surprised to see him so hot and dusty. But he
told them that he had been helping a poor man
to pull his horse out of the mud.

One silly fellow said: ‘ You should not have
done that. It is much too dirty work for a
parson.’

‘No,’ said George Herbert, ‘a man cannot
soil his clothes in a better cause than in helping
another who is in trouble. Had I not helped
that poor man, I could never have passed the

place again with an casy mind.’
(Adapted from York Powell's ‘ Sketches from British History.)

Write out and Learn

1. Only a small part of the land was tilled, and there were more
wild beasts than there are now.

2, There was plenty of hunting, and England was famous for its
dogs. ;

3. eae were trained for hunting other birds and small animals,
and hawking was a common sport among the rich.

4. In Tudor times there were only about a sixth the number of
people in England that there are now. London and Bristol were
the two chief towns.

5. The chief work of the people was farming, building ships, and
making cloth from wool.

6. The roads were very bad, and goods were carried in heavy
wagons or on pack-horses. Many ships traded with other

lands.
130 SIMPLE STORIES

49. SIR WALTER RALEIGH

Of all the kings and queens who have ruled
over England, none have had so many brave men
about them as Queen Elizabeth.

Those were brave days in England. A new

world had been found a short time before, and
men’s minds were full of the wonderful tales
that were told of the wealth to be had in those
strange lands in the far west. They knew that
the Spaniards were winning new lands for their
king, and were sending home ships laden with
gold and silver.

Many bold sailors went sailing away to the
west to fight the Spaniards, and to win wealth
for iemeele es and their queen. Of all these
brave men, Sir Walter Raleigh alone seems to
have thought the New World 46 be a land where
Englishmen might g go to live, and raise crops that
would not grow in this country.

In those days England had no lands over
the sea. Nowadays she owns lands many, many
times larger than herself. And most of these
lands were found and taken for her by her brave
sailors and soldiers.

Su Walter Raleigh saw that if he could send
out men and women to live in North America,
they would in time be able to take all the countr Vv;
and grow such things as sugar, cotton, rice, and
tobacco.

So he sent out ship after ship, full of men and






















































































































































































2
4

I

T SON WALTER, AT TH

8)

D HIS ELD
AGE OF BIGHT

GH AN

EL

SIR WALTER RAL
182 SIMPLE STORIES

women, and he also went himself. But these
first settlers had a very hard time. Many of
them were killed by the Indians. Many died for
want of food, and it was not till after the death
of the queen that a real settlement was made.

When Raleigh was an old man, he made King
James the First very angry with him, and he
was shut up in the Tower of London, where he
was kept for a long time. At last the king let
him out to go in search of a gold mine that
Raleigh had heard of in South America.

‘But, said the king, ‘you must not fight
with the Spaniards, nor go to any of the lands
that belong to the King Br Spain.’ |

So Raleigh set all but he never found the
gold mine, sail tired and sad at heart he came
back to England.

Now the King of Spain hated Raleigh, as well
as all the brave English sailors who had so often
beaten his men. So he sent to say that Raleigh
had fought with and robbed his people, and
James, wishing to please the King of Spain, said
that Raleigh must die.

When Raleigh knelt down to lay his head on
the block, someone told him that he ought ,to
have laid his face towards the east.

‘ What does it matter,’ said he, ‘ how the head
hes, if the heart be right P?

Write out and Learn
1. Sir Walter Raleigh was one of the many brave men who served ~

Queen Elizabeth.
2. He made several voyages to the New World, and tried to get
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 183

English people to settle there. It is said that he was the first
to bring tobacco and potatoes into England.

3. When Raleigh was an old man he offended King James, who
shut him up in the Tower. Here he was kept for many years,
but at last he was set free to go to seek for a gold mine that
he had heard of in South America.

4. Failing in his search he came back to England, and was sent to
the Tower because the King of Spain said that Raleigh had
robbed and killed some of his people. Soon after this he was
put to death.

50. THE PILGRIM PATH ERS

For many years before the reign of King
James the First changes had been taking place
in religion.

Tn our days men are free to serve God in any
way they please. But in those days, it was
thought to be wrong to let people worship God
in any way which they might think best. The
king wanted to make all men go to the same kind
of Church, and to say just the same prayers.

Now there were some men and women who
wanted to worship God in a simpler way than
was done in the churches. As the law of the
land would not let them worship God in their
own way, they made up their minds to leave
their homes and go to a land where they would
be free to do as they pleased. They found it
very hard to get away, for when they were just
ready to start, some of them were taken and cast
into prison.

They tried again early in the next spring, and
this time the boats had already taken the men on
board the ships, when all at once a number of

esgic caer




134 SIMPLE STORIES

soldiers came riding up. But there were only
Weeping women and children left on shore. The
soldiers could not send them back to their homes,
for they had no homes to go to. So at last the
soldiers let them go, and they were rowed off to
the ships.

They sailed away and landed in Holland, and
here the Puritans, as they were called, soon found
‘work, for they were hard-
working and godly men.

But they had heard of
the new lands that had been
found far over the western
seas. ‘They thought that if
they could only go there,
they would have plenty of
land to till, and that they
might be able to live in
peace. So they made up
their minds to go, and in
the year 1620 all was ready
for the start. .

They had not enough
money to buy ships to take

A PURITAN them all. So the youngest

and strongest were picked

out to go first. What a sad parting that was!

All went to see the pilgrims sail away. They |

prayed and wept together, and so, with every

kind wish for their safety, they started on their
long journey.




FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 135

After a stormy voyage, lasting for sixty-three
days, the Mayflower reached the coast of North
America just as winter was coming on. There
were no kind faces to welcome them, but, pluck-
ing up spirit, they sailed along, and at last found
a place where they were able to land. Soon all
were busy putting up huts so that they might
have shelter during the cold weather.

The winter was very long and cold, and many
died of sickness. Those who were left were so
weak that they could hardly bury the dead.

But at length spring came. A warm wind
blew, the birds began to sing in the woods, and
with the fine weather the pilgrims grew stronger
and the sick got wellagain. For some time food
was very scarce. But they had brought seeds
with them, and by the end of the summer crops
were ripe.

Then other pilgrims came, but they had
brought no food with them, and so for a time
they were again nearly starved. Men became so
weak that they could hardly crawi about. But
in all their troubles they never lost their trust in
God.

At last things became better, for they had
a good harvest, and from that time they did not
suffer from want of food. The land was divided
up into plots, and all were busy and happy in
clearing the land, in planting crops, and building

houses. _
From the first they had done their best to

'
;


136 SIMPLE STORIES

become friends with the Indians. One day an
Indian chief walked into one of the English vil-
lages, and raising his hand he said: ‘ Welcome,
Englishmen,’

The pilgrims were very glad to see that he
was so friendly, and gave him presents.

From that time the Indians were friends: with
them, and came and sold them fish and furs and
skins. Some of the pilgrims went to visit the
homes vf their Indian friends, and so they learnt
, to know more of the country.

After a time many other bands of pilgrims
came over. Many of these were learned men,
and nearly all came because they wanted to live
in a land where they could be free to serve God
in their own way. In the course of many years
the English spread all over North America. And
the land that a few English pilgrims helped to
settle, now holds one of the greatest and mightiest
nations on the face of the earth.

Write out and Learn

1. Great changes had been taking place in matters of religion.
Many men wanted to have the right to serve God in any way
they pleased.

2. They wanted to have a simpler form of worship. These men
were the Puritans.

3. As the law would not give them the freedom they wished for,
some of them sailed away in a ship called the Mayflower, and
settled in North America (1620). These men are spoken of as
the ‘ Pilgrim Fathers,’
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 187

51. CHARLES THE FIRST

When Queen Bess died, James the First
became king of England. He was at the time
king of Scotland, and so it came about that the



KING CHARLES THE FIRST

same king ruled over both countries. For many
hundreds of years Scotland had had a king of its
own. ‘There were not nearly so many people in
138 SIMPLE STORIES

Scotland as in England. But though there were
so few of them, and though they were mostly
very poor, they were very proud and loved their
country and their king.

More than once an English king had led an

army into Scotland to try to take the country

for his own. But though there had been many
very cruel wars, the Scotch had always in the
end driven the English back. Thus the union of
the two countries, that fierce wars had failed to
bring about, was now brought to pass by the
king of Scotland becoming king of England too.
There is not very much to be said about King
James. He was neither very brave nor very
clever. But though he often made his people
angry with him, they let him rule over them
until his death, and then his son Charles became
ike
He was a very different man from his father.
He was brave and handsome, but he was very
proud, and thought that a king ought to be able
to do just as he pleased. It did not matter to
him whether what he did pleased the people.
He thought it was the duty of his people to agree
to anything the king said or did, and that it was
very wicked of them to oppose him in any way.
He did not understand that the English people
expected their kings to do what they wished.
Charles, as well as his father, was very fond

of having plenty of good things, and so he spent.

more money than he could afford. In time he














































































FIRST

HAPPY DAYS OF CHARLES THE
140 SIMPLE STORIES

became deeply in debt, and had to ask for more
money. At first the people gave him more, but
the more they gave him the more he asked for.
At length they grew tired of giving him so
much money. He had done many other things
that had made the people angry, and so they said
they would give him no more money, unless he
promised to rule them better than he had done.
This made Charles very angry. He said he
would do as he pleased, and that he would make
the people give him money. For many years
he ruled as he liked. But at last his people rose
up against him, and a long and cruel war began.
Write out and Learn

1. Charles the First was the second of the Stuart kings; the first
was King James, who was king of Scotland before he became
king of England.

2. Charles was very proud, and thought a king ought to be able to
do as he pleased.

3. He did many things that made his people angry. He wanted
more money than they were willing to give him. At last they
said they would give him no more unless he ruled them better.

4, After many quarrels it was seen that nothing but a war could
settle the dispute.

52. A PATRIOT

Before reading about the war, let us see how
the king treated some of the men who stood up
against him. It will help us to understand why
the people were so angry.

Hor a long time before Charles became king,
it had been settled that when a king wanted
money he must ask his people for it. Charles


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 41

tried to make his people pay money without first
asking them for it.

A brave man named Eliot stood up in the
House of Commons, and said that the English
people would never agree to this. So the king
sent his soldiers to seize Eliot and cast him into
the Tower. The people were proud of the stand
that Eliot had made against the king, and crowds
went to visit him there. When Eliot was brought
before the judges, he was told that he might be
set free if he would say that he had acted
wrongly, and if he would promise not to oppose
the king any more.

‘No,’ said the brave man; ‘I would rather
lie in prison till the flesh rots off my bones than
I would promise to do what I think is wrong.’

Charles had no merey, and so the brave man
had to leave his wife and children, who lived in
a happy home in Cornwall, and make up his
mind to be ready to die for the right. Time
went on, but he would not give way, and so
Charles hated him all the more.

One cold winter Eliot became very ill. His
room had no fire in it, and often he was not
allowed even a candle. He grew worse and
worse, and at length he wrote to Charles, begging
that he might be let out until he w as better: ‘I
will then oladly return to my prison,’ he said.

Charles was hard and cruel, and. took no
notice of the letter. But Eliot bore it all with
patience, and said no hard words against the
142 SIMPLE STORIES

king. At length he felt that he was dying. So
he sent for a painter, and told him to make a
picture of his thin sad face, so that in time to
come all men might see how he and others had
suffered in the cause of freedom.

After being in prison for three years, he died.
He was killed in the cause of freedom, and that
is why we love and honour his name. The king
treated many other men in much the same way
that he had served Eliot, until at length the
people could not bear it any longer.

Write out and Learn

1. A patriot is a man who is willing to lay down his life for the
good of his country.

. Such a man was Eliot, who stood up against King Charles in the
House of Commons.

. The king sent Eliot to the Tower, hoping by that means to make
the brave man give in.

- But Eliot would not do what he thought was wrong, though he
knew that he might be kept in the Tower for years, or even be
put to death.

. At last he died through cruel treatment, and his death was one
of the causes of the war.

eB oO bo

x

53. THE CIVIL WAR

Both sides now began to make ready for war.
Charles had still many friends in the country,
and they were mostly among the rich and the
noble. Though he was so cruel to those who
stood up against him, he was kind to his friends.
His happy days were over, and sad times now
fell upon him and his family.

A Civil War is, of all wars, the most cruel.


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 148

Men who had hitherto been friends were now to
be seen fighting against each other.

In some homes the father went to fight upon
one side and the son upon the other, while the
poor mother had to stay at home and pray that
neither might be hurt,
and that a time of peace
might return.

Charles had in his
army many gay and brave
young nobles, who were
ready and willing to fol-
low him anywhere. They
were the Cavaliers. :

The men upon the
other side were called
Roundheads, because they
wore their hair cropped
close to their heads.

For some time neither
side had much the better
of the war. Now a fight
was won by the king, and ‘A CAVALIBR
now by the Roundheads.

At length the Roundheads began to get the best
of it, and this was nearly all owing to aman named
Oliver Cromwell. :

He was a stern God-fearing man, who when
the war broke out was simply a plain farmer.
He saw that his side would not have much
chance of winning, unless he could get men to


144 SIMPLE STORIES

join his army who would fight because their
cause was just.

‘Our soldiers,’ he said, ‘are mostly worn-out
serving-men and such kind of fellows. But the
king’s men are sons of gentlemen.’

So he got together a number of men, who
fought because they felt it their duty to oppose

























































































































































































A SOLDIER ARMED WITH A PIKE A SOLDIER WITH MUSKET AND
(STUART TIMES) CRUTCH (STUART TIMES)

the king. These he drilled so well, that no
matter how hard the fight might be, Cromwell
knew that they would stand firm and never run
away. They were plain men, mostly small
farmers and their sons. They came to be called
Tronsides, because of their firmness.

‘Better have a plain captain in an old coat,’
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 145

he said, ‘that knows what he fights for, and
loves what he knows, than what you call a
gentleman, and is nothing else. JI honour a
gentleman that is so indeed.’

Cromwell and his Ironsides fought many
times against the king, and at length Charles
had to give up the war. He was taken prisoner,
and after many bitter quarrels it was at length
decided that he must die. It was felt that there
could be no peace in England so long as he was
alive. And so, for the sake of freedom, English.
people killed their king.

Write out and Learn

1. The Civil War began in the year 1642, The king’s men were
called Cavaliers. Men of the other side were called Roundheads,

2. For some time neither party had much the better of the war.
But at last Oliver Cromwell and his Ironsides won some great
fights and the king was taken prisoner.

3. After several attempts to make peace, it was felt that there could
be no peace in England as long as Charles was alive. And go
he was put to death.

54. THE ESCAPE OF PRINCE CHARLES

The king was dead, and Cromwell was now
the real ruler in England, but there were many
men who wished to see Charles’s son set upon
the throne. Many men who had fought against
Charles were shocked and grieved that he had
been killed. And this caused war to break out
again,

The Scots were the first to begin, and they
asked Prince Charles, the eldest son of the dead

K
146 SIMPLE STORIES

king, to come over and lead them. ‘After
raising a large army, they marched into England
with Prince Charles at their head, hoping to
reach London. But when they had got as far





















OLIVER CROMWELL

as Worcester, they were met by Cromwell and
his Ironsides.
Charles’s army was badly beaten. Many were
killed and many taken prisoners.


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 147

‘It is a crowning mercy,’ wrote Cromwell.
And he spoke truly, for never again had he to
fight upon English soil.

It is not known how Prince Charles got away
from the battle-field. A large sum of money
was offered to anyone who should take him and
give him up. But he had many friends who
were faithful and true, and whom no amount of
money would tempt to betray him.

It was very difficult for him to get out of
England. Cromvwell’s friends watched every
ship, and soldiers were sent out in bands all over
the country to try to catch him. He had many
wonderful escapes from being taken. Soon after
the fight he was passing through a wood, when
a man named Careless, who had been hiding in
a tree, came down to meet him.

‘The soldiers are sure to search the wood,’
said he. ‘You had better get up into this oak
tree, where I have been hiding. Its leaves are
so thick, that if you lie close no one will see
you.’

So they both climbed into the tree, and
though the soldiers passed so near that Charles
could hear all that they said, he was not seen.
When the soldiers had gone, Charles came
down and hid in a barn. He had had no food for
two days, and was very glad of a great pot of
butter-milk that was brought to him. Thus he
stole across the country, from house to house.
He cut his hair very short; he wore poor

K 2
148 SIMPLE STORIES

clothes, and often had to walk across rough
country in old shoes or even barefoot.

At last he came near to the coast where the
country was full of, soldiers, who were looking
for him. He now mounted a horse with a lady
behind him, as was the custom of farmers in
those days, when they rode to market. In this
way he safely passed to the house of another
friend. Here he lay hidden for several days, till
at last a ship carried him away to France. For
three months he had been trying to get away,
and numbers of his friends had risked their lives
to help him.

After this he waited for nine long years, and
then he came back as Charles the Second, to
reign in his father’s place.

.. Write out and Learn

1. Prince Charles was the son of Charles the First. Many men
were shocked and grieved that the king was killed, so they
tried to set Prince Charles upon his father’s throne, and
another war broke out.

9. Oliver Cromwell was now the leader of the English people. He
was a hard stern man and a good soldier.

3. Prince Charles landed in Scotland and marched with an army
into England. But ata great fight at Worcester his army was
put to flight. ;

4, After many wonderful escapes Prince Charles got away to
France. Here he stayed for nine years, and then in 1660 he
came back to reign as Charles the Second.

55. A HERO OF THE GREAT PLAGUE

In olden days men were not so careful to
have plenty of good pure water, nor to drain
their towns, as they are now. And so every now
E CHARLES

NC

ESCAPE OF PRI

































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































SAEs

THE ‘SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS a BUILT FOR THE ROYAL NAVY IN 1637
150 SIMPLE STORIES

and then a dreadful plague broke out, and
thousands of people died.

One of the worst was the Great Plague,
which broke out rather more than two hundred
years ago. It was worst in London. The streets
were narrow and dirty, and once the plague
began it spread from house to house. All who
could do so fled from the city. Every house,
where the plague was, had a red cross painted on
the door, and beneath it the words: ‘ Lord, have
mercy upon us.’

The plague spread to many other places, and
among them to a small village in Derbyshire.
It was a lonely spot, high up on the side of! a
hill, and other hills lay all around it.

The rector of the parish was quite a young.
man, with a wife and two young children.
When the plague broke out he wanted to send
them away. His wife begged him to go with
them, but he made up his mind that it was his
duty to stay and mind the sick and dying. So
his brave wife said she would stay with him, and
only the two children were sent.

In order that the plague should not spread
any further, he wrote letters asking that food
should be brought to certain places, and left
there for him and his people to fetch. And so
no one from outside came into the village.

Bravely he and his wife fought the plague.
They nursed the sick and dying: and read and
spoke to them words of love and comfort.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 151

Weeks passed, and at last only about one-fifth of
the people were left.

And now his brave wife fell sick. She grew
worse, and before long she said to her husband :
‘I am now only looking for the good hour to
come.’

Shortly afterwards she died, and her last
words were prayers for her husband and her two
pretty babes, whom she was leaving behind.

The rector now thought that he also would
die of the plague. There are two beautiful
letters that he wrote at this time. One was to
his children, to be kept and read to them when
they should be old enough to understand it.
But he lived through it all, and at last the
plague was stayed, and his children came back to
him again.

Though the plague was such a dreadful thing
it did good, for it taught men that, if they
wished for health, they must take care to keep
themselves clean as well as everything about

them.
Write out and Learn

1. In those days men were not as careful to keep their houses and

towns clean as they are now. :

2. And so every now and then some dreadful sickness would break
out. °

8. The worst was the Great Plague, that carried off many thousands
of the people of London and other places (1665).
152 SIMPLE STORIES

56. A YOUNG HERO

The northern part of Scotland is a land of
hills and mountains, and is called the Highlands.
About two hundred years ago the people who
lived there were. very wild and fierce. They
owned no ruler, but their chief, and for him
they were ready at any moment to fight and die.

When James the Second was driven off his
throne, there were many chiefs who still thought
he ought to be king. More than once they tried
to bring him or his son back to be king over
them. But the English soldiers always beat
them in the end, and many of the chiefs were
taken and thrown into prison, and some were put
to death.

At one time the soldiers were trying hard to
catch a chief named Ross of Pitealney. He had
to hide by day among the rocks and hills or in
the woods. But at night, when all was dark, he
would slip out and see his friends.

One night he had been sleeping at a farm-
house, and it was late in the morning before he
awoke. So the farmer told his son, a boy only
fifteen years of age, to take the chief to a hiding-
place in the woods, by a path that only he and
his son knew of. The boy was proud of the
errand, and took his chief safely to the hiding-
place. But as he was going back by another
path, he found himself all at once face to face
with some English soldiers.


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 158

‘Where have you been ?’ they said. ‘Have
you been with Pitcalney ?’ But he would not
speak a word. i

“Tell us where he is hiding. If you do not
tell us we will shoot you!’ Still the boy would
not speak. He would rather die than give up
his chief. Then they tied him to a tree, and
stepping back they raised ‘their guns as. if to
shoot him. ‘Tell us at once where your chief is
hidden, or we will shoot you!’ they said.

But they could not get a word out of him.
And seeing how brave he was, and that he would
rather die than tell, they at last let him go.

On reaching home he told his father all about
it. ‘How did you feel when the guns were
aimed at youP’ asked his father. ‘I did not
feel afraid,’ said the boy. ‘I shut my eyes,
feeling that when I opened them again it would
be in Heaven.’

And though we may not get the chance to
show such courage as this, still every boy and
girl can be brave in the troubles that meet them
na by an Write out and Learn

1. After the death of Charles the Second his brother James became
king. But he was a bad king, and after three years he was
turned off the throne and had to leave the country.

2, The Stuarts were not good kings, and the people had had enough
of them.

8. More than once, however, their friends rose up and tried to
bring them back. ‘heir best friends lived in the Highlands of
Scotland, where many of the chiefs were willing to risk their
lives to bring the Stuarts back again.

4, But they always failed, and many were caught by the English
soldiers and put to death.
154 SIMPLE STORIES

57. GENERAL WOLFE

_A large part of North America is called
Canada, and though it belongs to England, many
of the people who live there speak French. The
French were the first to find out this land, and
to sail up the mighty rivers and over the broad
lakes.

For many years they held it, until during
one of the great wars the English made up their
minds to take it from them. So they sent some
ships with an army under General Wolfe. He
was a brave man, and tried to serve God in every
way. He did not like fighting and thought that
all wars were cruel. But, being a polltor he
knew it was his duty to fight for his country,
and so, when fighting began, no one was braver
than he.

They sailed up a mighty river until they
came close to the town of Quebec. This was
built on the top of some high cliffs that rose
steeply from the river. Fora long time Wolfe
tried in many ways to take the town, but he
failed every time. Many of his men fell sick,
and he also was weak and ill.

At last he tried another plan. One night, »
when it. was very dark, he and his soldiers got
into their boats and rowed very quietly to. the |
foot of the cliffs. As they floated down the
stream Wolfe repeated some lines of a beautiful
poem that had only lately been written.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 155

‘Now, gentlemen,’ he said as he finished, ‘ I
would rather be the author of that poem than
take Quebec.’

They knew that French soldiers were on the
‘watch at the top of the cliffs. So they had to







GENERAL WOLFE

be very quiet. They landed in the darkness, and
the soldiers climbed up the cliffs. It was hard
work, for they had to carry their guns with them.
At last, by clinging to the rocks, and to bushes
and plants, they all safely reached the top.

In the morning, when the French awoke,
156 SIMPLE STORIES

they saw the English army drawn up and ready
for the coming fight.

The French were as brave as the English, so
they rushed out of the town and came on quickly
to drive the English back. But it was of no-
use, for in a very short time the English had
won the fight, and the French were running
back to the town as fast as their lees could carry
them.

But Wolfe lay on the ground badly wounded.
Just before his death he heard someone say:
‘They run, they run!’

He roused himself to ask: ‘Who run?’
And when he was told that it was the French
who were running away, he said: ‘God be
praised! T shall die in peace.’

Quebec was then taken, and soon after all
Canada fell into the hands of the English.

Write out and Learn

1. The French were the first to go to Canada and take it for their
king,

2. After a time the English tried to take it away from them.
General Wolfe was sent with a fleet and a small army, and after
several failures he at last took the town of Quebec (1759).

8. And soon after this all Canada fell into the hands of the English,
who have held it ever since.

58. GHORGE WASHINGTON

We have read about the Pilgrim Fathers, and
how they sailed away to America and founded a
colony there. In the course of time the colonists
grew rich and strong. Their land was ruled over
by the King of England.


FROM ENGLISH HISTORY

157





PICTURE OF A BATTLE THAT WAS FOUGHT IN THE SAME YEAR THAT WOLFE TOOK QUEBEC
158 SIMPLE STORIES

At last quarrels arose between them, and
King George the Third wanted to make them
pay him money that they thought they ought
not to pay. The king said they must pay him
so much money as a tax upon all the tea they
used. The colonists thought he had no right to
make them pay it. So they said that rather
than pay the tax they would do without tea.

Soon after this a ship laden with tea came
into the harbour of Boston. The people said:
‘The tea shall be sent back to the place from
which it came. We will pay no tax upon it.’

One man said: ‘The only way to get rid of
the tea is to throw it overboard.’ So a number of .
men dressed themselves like Indians, and rushing
on board the ship they threw the tea into the sea.

After this it was seen that, as neither side
would give in, nothing but a war could end the
quarrel. Then both sides got ready to fight. It
was a sad sight to see men of the same race
fighting against each other.

The colonists chose a brave and good man
named George Washington to be their leader.
He did not want to fight against the king, but
he loved freedom, and he thought that the king
was treating the colonists unjustly. So he was
willing to spend his money and his life in the
good cause.

The war lasted for about seven years. The
French helped the colonists, and in the end the
colonists won, and so they were free.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 159

Since that time they have had no king over
them, and they have become one of the greatest,
nations upon earth. Tor in the land that is now
called the United States, there are over sixty
millions of people, and the vast country that
was at one time the home of bands of roving
Indians is now peopled by English-speaking folks.

Write out and Learn

1. We have seen how men went from England and founded
Colonies in America.

2, Aftér a time the Colonists became rich and wanted to be free of
English rule. And so a war broke out between England and
the Colonies.

8. It lasted for several years. The Colonists were led by a brave
and good man, named George Washington.

4, And it was largely owing to the fact that they had such a good
leader that they won in the end. Liver since then they have
had no king to rule over them, and have managed their own
affairs.

59. JOHN HOWARD AND JOHN LAWRENCE

There have been many men who have spent
their money and their lives in doing good to
others. ;

John Howard was born in London, and when
his father died he became a rich man. So he
set sail in a ship to go to see other countries.

At that time England and France were at
war, and one morning a French man-of-war
seized the ship, and Howard and all on board
were taken away to France. Here they were
thrown into prison.


160 SIMPLE “STORIE

. ute Os hs
At that time the prisons were dirty and
. Tae
crowded, and prisoners were very=badly treated.

Hor forty hours Howard had not a drop of water.

given him to drink, and only a crust of bread to
eat. Hundreds died in the prisons of hunger
and sickness. Howard, being a rich man, was
soon set free, but his heart was so touched with
the misery of the poor prisoners, that: he spent

all the rest of his life in getting them better —

treated.
He went from place to place visiting the gaols.
Everywhere he told the sad story of the cruel

things he had seen, so that at last better gaols,

were built, and prisoners were better treated.
Howard even went as far as Russia, where very
few Englishmen went in those days. The Em-
press had heard of him and sent to say that she
wished to see him, but he said: ‘Tell her I left
my home to visit poor prisoners in their gaols, and
not princes in their palaces.’

At last he caught a fever from a child he was
trying to cure. As he lay dying, he said: ‘ Bury
-me here in Russia. I shall be as near Heaven
as if I were laid in an English grave.’

John Lawrence was a farmer. He was a fine
strong man, and was very fond of horses and
dogs.

There were two things that he had very
much at heart. He wanted to see men treat all
dumb animals with kindness, and he also wanted
to see all slaves set free. For in those days




= ' . FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 161

many men made it their business to go in ships
to Africa, where they caught black men and
took them to America, where they sold them for
slaves.

Lawrence did his best, both by writing and
speaking, to put a stop to this, but it was not till
many years after his death that the slaves were
freed. . .

He also tried to have a law made so that all
who. were cruel to animals might be punished.
Men only laughed at him at first, but he got his
way in time, and now animals are treated much
more kindly than they were before.

It is owing to the noble work of such men as
these, that people in England now lead better
lives than those did who lived here before them.

Write out and Learn

1. John Howard sp$nt all his time in trying to do good to others.
In his day the prisons and gaols were dreadful places.

2, Prisoners were badly fed, and the gaols were so filthy that
thousands died of sickness and disease.

3, After many years of hard work and long travel, John Howard
got men to build better gaols and to treat prisoners much

better.

4, John Lawrence spent his life in trying to have all dumb animals
treated with kindness. He also tried to have all slaves set
free.

60. LORD NELSON

There have always been brave sailors ready
to fight for England, and of these the greatest of
all was Lord Nelson. He was a weakly child,

os
162 SIMPLE STORIES
and was never very strong when he was grown
up. But even when quite young he showed that
he had a brave and fearless spirit.

Once he went out with another boy to look
for birds’ nests. Dinner-time came, but he did
not return, and his friends went to look for him.
They found him sitting alone by the side of a
brook that he could not cross. When he was
brought home, his grandmother said to him: ‘I
wonder, child, that hunger and fear did not
drive you home !’ ;

‘Fear! grandmamma,’ said the boy; ‘I
never saw fear. What is it ?’

He and his brother had to ride a long way
every day to school. One day in winter it was
snowing so hard, that after going part of the
way they came back and said that the snow was
too deep for them to go on.

‘If that be the case,’ said their father, ‘you
need not go. But I should like you to try once
more. If the snow is really too deep you may
come back; but remember, boys, I leave it to
your honour.’

The snow was very deep, and the older
brother wanted to go back. ‘No,’ said. our
young hero, ‘ we must go on. Kemember, it was
left to our honour.’

He was quite a boy when he was sent to sea,
and for many years he worked hard to learn
everything that might be of use to him.

‘When fifteen years of age, he joimed a ship
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 163

that was to sail away to the frozen seas of the
far north. ;

One night he and a friend left the ship, and
set off across the ice hoping to shoot a bear.



LORD NELSON

The bears that live on the ice are very large and
fierce, but this made Nelson want to kill one all
the more.

At last they saw a huge bear just in front of
them, and both fired at it. They only wounded

L 2
164 : SIMPLE STORIES

it, and as they had no more powder and shot, it
was very lucky for them that there was a big
crack in the ice between them and the bear.

But their shots had roused the sailors, who
now came running to help them. ‘The bear
was killed and all went back to the ship. The
captain was angry, and asked Nelson why he
had risked his life for the sake of killing a bear.
‘Sir,’ said he, ‘I wished to kill the bear that I
might carry the skin to my father.’

After being many years at sea, Nelson rose
from post to post until he became admiral, or
chief of all the English fleets. Though he had
been in many hard fights, and had lost an eye
and an arm, he was as ready as ever to fight for
his country.

At that time there was in France a great
soldier named Napoleon Buonaparte, who had
beaten every country in Europe except England.

In order to bring his men to England he
must have ships, and be able to beat back the
Hnglish fleet. ‘This Nelson said should never be
done while he was alive. ‘”

At last with a large fleet he sailed in ach
of the French. When he met them he was very
glad, for he knew that he should beat them.
He had not quite so many ships as the French,

but he did not mind that. He divided his ships .

into two long lines, and then told his captains to
sail straight at the French.
As they came near to the foe, Nelson sent up




































































































































































































































THE BATILE OF TRAFALGAR (Lurner)

Wow

ONY

AYOLSIAN HST

SOT
166. SIMPLE STORIES

a message to the top of his ship’s mast, so that
every man might read it. And this was the ~
message: ‘England expects every man to do his
duty !’ AM,

When the sailors saw the noble message, a
mighty shout went up, and every man made up
his mind that ‘he would do his duty. And now °
began the great battle of Trafalgar. The French
had never fought better, but it was of no use,
for ship after ship was taken.

While Nelson was standing upon the deck of
his ship, the /etory, he was struck down by a
shot and badly wounded. Feeling that death

4 was near, he called one
of his captains, Hardy,
to him and said: ‘Don’t
throw me_ overboard,
Hardy, when I am
gone, I should like to
be buried with my pa-
rents, unless the king
wills otherwise. Kiss me, Hardy.’

Hardy knelt down and kissed his cheek.
Then he said: ‘God bless you, Hardy! Thank
God, I have done my duty.’ And these were
the last words he said. .

_ By this time nearly all the French fleet was
taken or sunk. It was many years before the
French could build another fleet, and so Nelson
had saved his country from her enemies. When
news of his death and great victory reached —



THE ‘VICTORY’


THE DEATH OF NELSON.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 167

England, the whole nation was plunged into
grief, for Nelson was the darling of the people.
Write out and Learn

1. Lord Nelson was a great admiral over all the English fleets.
ae the long wars with the French he won many great
fights.

2. The most famous were the Battle of the Nile and the Battle of
Trafalgar.

3. Just before the last fight began he sent up to the top of his
ship’s mast this noble message: ‘England expects every man
to do his duty.’

4. And nobly they did it. For nearly all the French ships were

burnt, sunk, or taken.

- But Nelson was killed in the fight. The last words he said

were : ‘ Thank God, I have done my duty.’ This was in the year
1808.

on

61. THE IRON DUKE

What a strange name to be called by, some
of you may think. He was not made of iron,
but people called him so, because he was a great
captain and won many battles, and he was so
firm of mind that men-said he was as hard as
iron. So they called him the Iron Duke, or
more often they spoke of him as ‘the Duke,’
as if there were no other dukes. The reason
why men placed him in their thoughts so high
above all others, was that he saved England and
all the rest of Europe from being taken by the
French.

Tt is nearly a hundred years since the great
war, during which a large part of Europe was
turned into a vast battle-field.

In those days there lived’ a great French
soldier named Napoleon Buonaparte. He led
168 SIMPLE STORIES

large armies of such brave men that he was
able to do as he pleased in nearly every part
of Europe. He planned more than once to
bring an army over to England, and for many
years people used to go to bed at night feeling











THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON

that perhaps in the morning they might hear
that the French had come. For many years
after his death people would frighten naughty
children by telling them that old Boney would
come for them.

You have already been told how Nelson beat
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 169 |

the French on the sea, so that they could never
bring an army to England.

Among other countries that Boney took was
Spain. If you look at the map, you will see
that Spain joins France, and is crossed by many
high mountains. Boney led an army to Spain,
turned the king off the throne, and made his
own brother king instead.

The people of England thought it would be a
good thing to help the Spanish to drive the
French out again. So an army was sent under
the Duke of Wellington. He was nota duke
then, and it was only after winning many great
battles that the king gave him such a grand
title.

For many years the English fought the
French in Spain. Many times it seemed as if
they would have to give up the war and come.
back to England. But the Duke held on, and
at last, after winning many battles, he drove
the French out of the country and followed them
into France. vs

Soon after that took place a peace was made.
Boney was beaten on all sides, and was sent
away out of France. He did not stay away for
long. Those who had charge of him did not
look very sharp after him, so he escaped and
sailed back to France.

His old soldiers flocked around him, and he
was soon at the head of a large army. The other
countries at once began to get their armies to-
170 SIMPLE STORIES

gether, and it was agreed that the Iron Duke
should be the leader.

The Duke got his army together as quickly
as he could and sailed over to Belgium, where he
was sure the first fighting would take place.
He was right in this, for Boney marched as fast
as he could, hoping to take the city of Brussels
before the English could stop him. As he left
Paris he said: ‘I go to measure eeu against
Wellington.’

When he drew near to Brussels, he found a
Prussian as well as an English army right in the
road and blocking his way.. He drove, the
Prussian army away, and then made ready to
fight the English.

The Duke chose a good place for the fight,
and drew up his army upon the side of some
hills. He sent off a message to the Prussians,
who had heen driven back, asking them to come
to his help as quickly as they could.

It was a Sunday morning, the 18th of June,
in the year 1815, and just as the church bells in
England were calling people to prayer, that the |
French began the fight by firing their heavy
cannon. at, the English.

There never was a harder fight. The French
had more men than the English, and for hour
after hour Napoleon sent masses of men to try to
drive the English from the ground upon which
the Duke had planted them.

‘Stand firm, my lads,’ said the Duke; ‘ what
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 171

will they say of this in England?’ Thousands
were killed on both sides, but the English still
stood firm. It was the
first time Napoleon had
himself fought against
the Duke and his army.

Four o’clock came,
and still the English held
their ground. Then Na-
poleon gave orders to his
famous Old Guard to
charge. Up to that time
they had taken no share
in the fight. The Eng-
_lish were drawn up into
squares, with their big
guns in the middle.

On came the Old
Guard, the finest troops
in the world. They were
big, fierce-looking men
on fine horses. Over and
over again they dashed at
the English squares. But
it was all of nouse. They
could not break them.
As Napoleon watched the



Ses € . AN ENGLISH SOLDIER WHO
fight, he said: ‘I could Baan eee

never have believed that
the English had such fine troops.’
Just then the Prussians came up. They were
172 SIMPLE STORIES

fresh, and so, joining the English, they charged
down upon the French. Soon the French were
in full flight, with the Prussians in hot pursuit.
All night long the flight lasted, and by morning
the proud French army was broken up, never to
come together again. ;

By this victory the Iron Duke saved Europe
from another long and dreadful war. Napoleon
gave himself up to the English. But they could
not trust him again, so they sent him to a small
island, far away in the ocean, where he died a
few years afterwards. .

Write out and Learn

1. The Iron Duke was the name given to the Duke of Wellington,
who was a very great soldier, and won many battles against
the French.

2. In his days a great French soldier, named Napoleon, had won
battles in nearly every country in Europe. Wellington was
the only general who seemed able to beat the French.

8. The greatest fight of all, and the one that ended the war, was
the ‘Battle of Waterloo’ (1815), when Wellington beat. the
French so badly that they could not raise another army.
Napoleon soon after gave himself up to the English.

4. The Iron Duke lived for many years after this, and served his
country well.

62. THE STEPHENSONS

If we were asked what new thing had in
recent times done most towards making the lives
of the people of England better than they were
before, we should say that it was the making of
railways. :

Weare so used to them now, that it seems
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 173

hardly possible that, when the Queen began to
reign, railways were only just being built. Up
to that time, if a man “wanted to go from one
part of the country to another, he had to go
by coach. This was a slow as well as a very
dear way of moving about, and so very few
people moved far away from the places where
they were born. We can now travel in a few
hours to places that it formerly took a week to
reach.

The men who did most to make railways were
the Stephensons. About a hundred years ago,
there was a poor man of that name living in a
small village not far from Newcastle. His work
was to mind an engine that was used to haul
up coal from a coal-pit. He and his wife were
both honest and hard-working, but his wages
were very small, and as he had six children,
he often found it hard work to find food for
them.

He could not afford to send them to school.
They were sent to work very young, so that they
might be able to earn money to help to buy their
food.

The second son was George. He was a
bright little fellow, and as soon as he was big
enough he was sent every day with his father’s
dimmer As his father ate, he would sit and
watch the engine. In the winter he was glad to
get near it, so as to warm himself at the fire that
Kept the engine at work. The engine was a
174 SIMPLE STORIES

wonderful thing to him. He would sit for hours
watching it, and puzzling his little head in trying
to find out all about it.

When he was only eight years of age he was
sent to mind cows in the fields, and for this he
earned twopence a day. While doing this he
missed his daily visits to the beloved engine, and
to make up for it, he used to amuse himself by
trying to make models of the engine out of clay
and sticks.

When he grew older he went to work with
his father; and he was very proud of earning
sixpence a day. He was very happy to be help-
ing to mind an engine, and when he was eighteen.
years of age he had an engine put into his sole
charge. e

He loved his engine as if it had been his
child, and was never tired of cleaning and mend-
ing it when it was needed. Though he worked
twelve hours a day, he found time to go to a
night-school, where he learned to read and write
and do sums.

For some time coal had been pulled wp from -
the pits by engines which were always fixed in
one place to be worked. No one had yet found
out how to make engines that could move about
and drag heavy loads behind them.

George Stephenson thought long and often
about this, and made up his mind that he would
try to make an engine that should move along
rails. At this time his son Robert was going to
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 175

school, and at night father and son would go over
the day’s icone and Sy drawings and read
books together.

After trying and failing many times, he at
length made an engine that he thought would
do. This was known as ‘ Puffing Billy.’

His son was now helping him in his work.
It was at this time that men laughed at him for
saying he was sure that in time everyone would



“PUFFING BILLY’

travel by railroad, and that it would be cheaper
for a working man to travel by rail than to walk
on. foot.

A prize was offered for the best engine to run
upon a new railway that was being built between
Liverpool and Manchester. The Stephensons
made up their minds to win the prize, and built
an engine that was called the ‘ Rocket.’ |

A day was fixed for trying the engines, so as
176 : SIMPLE STORIES

to see which was the best. Crowds of people
came to see the sight. All the other engines
broke down, but the ‘ Rocket’ drew a coach full
of people at the rate of about thirty miles an
hour. This was thought to be very wonderful.
And after that, railroads were built all over Eng-
land, and in time spread to other countries all
over the world.

For many years both father and son led very
busy lives. They made many engines and built
many railroads. They became rich men, and
in his old age George Stephenson went. to live
in a fine house in the country. Here he was
very happy; and spent much of his time in look-
ing after his gardens and among his horses and
dogs.

But he never forgot the days when he was a
poor boy. He was always glad to see old friends,
no matter how poor or humble they might be.
It is to such men that we owe a great debt, for
they have had a large share in making our
country so good a land to live in as it is.

Write out and Learn

1. George and Robert Stephenson, father and son, did more than
any other men to have railways made all over England.

2. George Stephenson was the first man to build an engine that
would run on rails and draw a heavy load after it.

638. GRACE DARLING

We have read of brave soldiers and sailors
who did noble deeds. We have read of heroes

a
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 177

who stood up against kings, and gave up their
lives for what they thought was right. There
are also many heroes whose brave deeds are never
heard of. But there was a brave deed done by a
girl named Grace Darling that we all ought to
hear of and copy, should we ever have the chance.
She was the daughter of a man who was in
charge of a lighthouse, that had been built upon
some rocks near the north-east coast of England.
Early one morning she was awoke by hearing
screams as of people in great distress. Calling
her father, they hurried out and .saw a ship that
was wrecked upon one of the islands, and that
was fast breaking up. It was very stormy.
Heavy seas were dashing against the rocks, and
the wind was rising. For a moment the old man
hung back. He knew full well the danger of
trying to get to the wreck in his small boat.
‘Father,’ said Grace, ‘we must go. If you:
will not help me I must goalone. I cannot bear
to think that men may be drowning before our
eyes, and that we are not trying to save them.’
Seizing an oar she jumped into their boat.
The old man could not let her go alone, and so
they rowed off to the wreck. Tt. was a hard pull
for both, and as they got near the wreck they
saw nine persons clinging to it. But they could
not have held on much longer. ‘The sea was so
rough and beat them so badly, that two children
were killed by the waves as their mothers held

them tightly in their arms.
M
178 SIMPLE STORIES

With much danger to himself the old man
landed on the rock, and then brought the poor
people one by one to the boat. He and Grace
rowed them to the lighthouse, where she fed and
nursed them for three days until the sea went
down, and it was smooth enough to take them to
the shore.

Grace was not a strong girl, but her spirit
was brave, and she had a noble heart. She was
willmg to risk her own life so that she might
save the lives of others. She did not live many
years after her noble deed, but her name will
never be forgotten, because English people prize
noble deeds above all other things.

Write out and Learn

1. Grace Darling was a brave girl who lived with her father about
fifty years ago in a lighthouse upon some small rocky islands.

2. One morning a ship with many people on board was wrecked
on one of the rocks. And though the sea was very rough,
Grace Darling and her father launched their little boat and
rowed off to the wreck.

3. They knew they might be drowned, but they went nobly on and
saved every one.

4. It was a noble deed, and we honour her name and think of her
as 2 heroine.

64. THE ENGLISH IN INDIA (1)

Far away to the East there is a large country
called India. This is the land that Columbus
and other brave sailors tried to reach.

Soon after Columbus sailed to America, it was
found that ships could reach India by going
round the south of Africa. Ships were sent from
FROM. ENGLISH HISTORY 179

England and also from other countries, and they
_ brought back many costly things. Wonderful
tales were told of the people who lived there,
of their strange dark faces and gay clothes.

Trade soon sprang up, and Englishmen went
to live in India to trade with the people. At
first they were allowed to live only in a.very few
places on the coast, but in time they went further
into the country.

They bought land from the native princes
and built forts. Then they began to help the
princes in their wars against each other. These
princes repaid the Englishmen by giving them
power and large tracts of land in India. The
French also sent ships and men to trade there,
and to get as much land as they could.

For many years there was a struggle between
the English and the French as to who should
have most power in India. In the end the
English won, and the man who did most to
break the power of the French was Robert Clive.

He was sent to India when only a lad, because
his friends did not know what to do with him at
home. He would not stick to his books, and he
was always in mischief. Still he was very clever
and brave, and ready to face any danger, and
when trouble began with the French he joined
the army.

He showed such skill as a soldier, that he was
‘sent at the head of a small army to try to take
a town called Arcot. The weather was very bad,

M2
180 SIMPLE STORIES

but he pushed on, and soon took the town. He
was not left there in peace, for soon a large army |
came to drive him out.

Though the walls of the town were tumbling
down, and there was but little food, he and his
men fought so bravely that they held the town
for fifty days. At last nothing but a little rice
was left. Now the native soldiers who were
helping the English were brave men, and go
proud of being led by Clive that they came to
him and said:.‘ We can live with less food than
the English, so give the rice to them. We will
be content with the water in which it.is boiled.’

Soon after help came, and the French had to
tun away. Holding the town against such a
large army was a very daring deed, and the
natives began to think that, after all, the
English were stronger and braver than the
French. And so from that time more of them
came over to our side.

Write out and Learn

1. It is about three hundred years since Englishmen first began to
trade with the people of India.

2. At first they were allowed to live only in certain small places on
the coast. But in time they spread further and further over
the country.

3. They had many cruel wars with the natives as well as with the
pee who were also trying to get as much of India as they
could.

4. Among the many brave men who helped to drive the French
out of India, the one who did most was Robert Clive,
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 181

65. THE ENGLISH IN INDIA (2)

For a long time after the death of Clive the
English went on fighting m India, and at last
they took nearly all the country and ruled over
it. They had large armies in which the common
soldiers were natives, while the officers were
mostly English.

About forty years ago the native soldiers
began to think that they were badly treated by
the English. This feeling spread among them,
and at last they rose up against their officers.

A dreadful time then began, for the soldiers
were fierce and cruel, and there were but very
few officers to stand against them. And so for a
time these wicked men had things all their own
way. They killed men, women, and children, and
did so many cruel deeds that it makes us shudder
to read of them.

Wherever they could, the English officers
shut themselves, with their wives and children,
into some strong fort, and held out as long as
they could against the natives. :

At a town called Lucknow the English got
into a strong building called the Residency.
The weather was very hot and the building was
small, As many as eight or nine ladies and
about a dozen children were crowded into a
single room. ‘There was plenty of food in the
place, and these brave men made up their minds
182 SIMPLE STORIES

to die at their posts, rather than let their wives
and children be taken by the cruel soldiers.

They knew that help must come, and so for
ninety days they held out. Over and over again
large bodies of natives tried to take the town.
Shot and shell were fired into the building. But
though many of the brave English were killed or
wounded, the others still held out.

At last one evening they heard the sound of
guns that were being fired not far off, and not at
them. Soon they heard the sound of bagpipes
and the loud cheers of English soldiers as they
drove the natives away. In a few hours the
English had fought their way to the gates of the
Residency, which were thrown wide open to
receive them.

This was a moment that none who were there
could ever forget. Big rough soldiers might
have been seen to take up the little children in
their arms and kiss them, while the tears rolled
down their cheeks. They thanked God that they
had come in time to save the women and children
from their cruel foes.

It took many months of hard fighting before
the rising was put down. But since that time
India has been at peace. Now we rule with a
firm hand this vast country, that holds ten times
as many people as there are in England.

Write out and Learn
1. After many years the English came to rule over nearly the
whole of India. They even trained large armies of native
soldiers to fight for them.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 183

2. But at last many of these native soldiers rose up against their
English officers and killed all whom they could find. This is
called the Indian Mutiny. :

3. In some places, such as Lucknow, the English held out until
help came.

4, After many hard fights and many noble deeds, the English
soldiers put down the Mutiny, and since that time India has
been at peace.

66. GENERAL GORDON

We have read of more than one hero, and
it would take a very big book in which to write
an account of all the heroes of English history.

One of our greatest heroes was General
Gordon, who died only a few years ago. He was
a man who feared God and tried to do good to
all about him.

He. was a soldier, and when quite a young
man he was far away in China. There was a
dreadful war going on in that country, and
Gordon was asked to lead an army to try to stop
the war. After much hard fighting he put an
end to the war, and the emperor gave him the
right to wear a yellow jacket and a peacock’s
feather. This was a very high honour. The
emperor also wanted to give him a large sum of
money. ‘No,’ he said, ‘I shall leave China as
poor as I came into it. It is enough for me to
know that I have been the means of saving the
lives of thousands of poor people.’

Then he came back to England, where he
spent all his spare time and money in being good
184 SIMPLE STORIES

to poor boys whom he found homeless and
friendless in the streets. He lodged many of
them in his own house, where he taught those
who were well and strong and nursed those who
were sick.

But far away in the Soudan there was a
noble work for him to do. ‘There the people
were cruelly treated, and many sold as slaves.
Gordon was asked to go and rule over the
country. He knew better than those who sent
him what a hard task it would be. For the rich
men, who had treated the poor so badly, knew
that Gordon would put a stop to their evil deeds,
and this was what he did.

He ruled so well that when he left to come
back to England there was peace in the land,
and the poor kept their flocks and grew their
crops without fear.

But he had not been home ver y long when
things became as bad as ever in the concn
Wicked men, who hated Gordon because he
put down the cruel slave trade, raised an army
and robbed and ill-treated the poor. So Gordon
was asked to go again and try to make peace.
He started at once, and was soon back again
at his old work.

He found that times had changed for the
worse, and he was soon shut up in a town with
anarmy of wicked men outside trying to break
in to kill him.

English soldiers were sent all the way from
185

FROM ENGLISH HISTORY



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GENDRAL GORDON
‘186 SIMPLE STORIES

England to help him. They had to go thousands
of weary miles, and part of the way was across a
burning desert, but they went bravely on.

Tt was all in vain, for three days before they
reached the town, wicked men broke into it and
Gordon was killed. Thus this brave and good
man died for the sake of those whom he tried to
help. Every boy and girl should be proud that
Gordon was an Englishman, and should say to
themselves: ‘I also will be a hero as Gordon

was.’
Write out and Learn

1. General Gordon was a brave and good man. He spent his life in
trying to serve others.
When he was in China he put down a civil war that was raging,
and so saved many thousands of lives.
Later on he was sent to Egypt to try to restore order in a part
of that country, and to. put down the slave trade.
. His enemies raised an army and tried to take the town of
Khartoum, in which Gordon was.
5. Help was sent from England, but it arrived too late, and Gordon
was killed. He was a hero, and lost his life in trying to serve
others.

ES iors

67. A GOOD QUEEN

A good many years ago there lived in
England a lady and her little girl. The lady
was of noble birth. She was good and kind, and
loved her daughter very dearly. The little girl
was bright and clever, and fond of books. She
was taught many things, so that she might be
fitted to become the first lady in the land.

One morning very early, when she was about
eighteen years of age, there was heard a loud
187

FROM ENGLISH HISTORY







\

.

\ \

\





\
AW

QUEEN VICTORIA AT HER ACCESSION
188 SIMPLE STORIES

knocking at the door of her mother’s house. On
opening the door some friends came in and
said: ‘The King is dead! Long live the
Queen!’ It was quite true, for the girl was now
to be Queen of England.

When they told her the news she asked God
to help her to do her duty by her people. She
felt that she was not well fitted for such a proud
position, but she made up her mind that, as far
as it lay in her power, she would do her duty.
And nobly she has done so for more than fifty
years. She has had many children, and to them
she has been as good a mother as she has been a
good queen to her people.

England is a better country to live in for all
classes of people than it was when Queen.
Victoria began her reign.

Many wonderful things have been found out.
The country has been covered from end to end
with railways, so that things can be quickly and
cheaply moved from one part of the country to
another. By this means fruit and food of all
kinds ean be taken to the large towns, and men
who have things to sell can send their goods to
any place where there is a market for them.

Large steamships have been built, which
carry people and goods to all parts of the world.
They can travel so fast that a man can go all
round the world in about three months. Many
things that we cannot grow are brought from
lands far over the sea.
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 189

Clever men have made many wonderful
machines that are used for making many things
that we need for wear. Wool that grows upon
the backs of sheep on the other side of the world
is brought to England to be made into cloth.

By means of the telegraph we are able to
send a message in a few minutes to far-away
lands. Quick steamers carry letters for us at a
very cheap rate, and so we can make our
thoughts known to our friends, no matter how
far away they may live.

One of the greatest blessings of our good
queen’s reign is that bread has become cheap.
At one time, if the harvest was bad, bread
became so dear that poor people could not get
enough to eat. .

But some of our wise men thought that we
ought to be able to buy corn in any part of the
world where there might happen to be plenty.

So a law was made whereby corn might be
brought into the country free from all taxes, and
since that time bread has always been cheap.

During our good queen’s reign there has
been a great increase in the number of books.
Such clever machines have been made for print-
ing, that books are now cheap and within the
reach of all.

We have learned how to keep our houses and |
towns cleaner and healthier. By means of deep
drains all the dirty water and filth are washed
away. Plenty of pure water is brought in pipes
190 SIMPLE STORIES

to all large places, and so people are able to keep
their clothes and their houses clean.

Fifty years ago there were very few schools
and very few scholars. Now there are plenty of
good schools, and every child can learn those
things that will help to make its life good and
happy.

These are only a few of the good things that
have come to England while Victoria has been
queen. But they are enough to show us how
thankful we should be that we live in a land that
is ruled over by such a good queen. From her
good life we should all learn the lesson, that ‘it
is only noble to be good.’

The queen has always tried to do her duty.
We can all try to do that; and when we grow
older we must try to do good for our country, by
living good lives and by helping to make good
laws.

Write out and Learn

1. Queen Victoria began to reign in the year 1837. She is a noble
woman, who has tried to do her duty by her people.

. During her time England has become a better land for people |
to live in than it used to be.

. Trade has increased wonderfully. Railways have been built all
over the country. ‘

. Food has become cheaper, and working men are better off.

. Good schools have been built, and education is free. And in
DUE parless ways our land has become better than it was

efore.

oo bo

ou
FROM ENGLISH HISTORY 191

Dates to be Remembered

55 s.c. The Romans first land in Britain under Julius Cesar.
449-500 a.p. The coming of the English.
671 ap. King Alfred began to reign.
1066. The battle of Hastings.
1215. Granting of Magna Charta by King John.
1846. Battle of Crecy.
1415. Battle of Agincourt.
1485. Henry VII, the first Tudor king, began to reign.
1492, Columbus finds a New World.
1588. The Spanish Armada.
1620. The Pilgrim Fathers sailed to found a Colony in America.
1642-45. The great Civil War.
1660. Prince Charles came back to England, and became king as
Charles IT. :
1759. General Wolfe took Quebec.
1775-88. The North American Colonies fought against England and
became free.
1805. Lord Nelson won the battle of Trafalgar.
1815. The Duke of Wellington won the battle of Waterloo.
1887. Victoria became Queen of England.
1857. The Indian Mutiny.



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