King. But the waves came up as before; and he, turning to his courtiers, said that there was only One who could say to the ocean, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no further." Canute died in 1036, and left the crown to his third son, Hardicanute; but it was seized by another son, named Harold Harefoot.

19. Harold came to the throne in 1036, and reigned three years. He was called Harefoot for his great speed in running.

20. Hardicanute began his reign in 1039, and reigned two years. To be avenged on his late brother for seizing the crown, he had his body dug up, beheaded, and thrown into the Thames. He also caused all Worcestershire to be laid waste, because two of his officers, collecting Dane-geld, were killed at Worcester. This wicked King died from eating and drinking too much at a marriage feast. He was the last of the Danish Kings of England.

21. Edward the Confessor began to reign in 1041, and reigned twenty-five years. He was a Saxon, son of Ethelred, and was called Confessor for his piety. (A confessor is a Romish priest.) Edward had spent most of his life in Normandy, a part of France; so he brought many Norman laws into England, and showed so much favour to his Norman subjects, that his English nobles rebelled against him. The chief of these was Godwin, Earl of Kent, whose daughter Edward had married. Edward sent over to William, Duke of Normandy, for help. William accordingly came to England with a fleet; but Godwin had fled, and the rebellion ended. It is said that at this time Edward promised to leave William the English crown at his death. He died in 1066, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, which he had built.

22. Harold, son of Godwin Earl of Kent, was chosen King in 1066; but William of Normandy came over with a powerful army, and claimed the throne. The King of Norway invaded England at the same time, and took the city of York. Harold marched to the north and defeated him, and then turning south he hastened to meet William, who had landed on the coast of Sussex. The two armies met near Hastings, and a terrible battle was fought which lasted a whole day. Fearful was the slaughter, and thousands of brave men on both sides were slain. But in the evening, as Harold was again leading on his men to the charge, he was shot in the eye by an arrow, which pierced his brain. His two brothers fell slain by his side, and his army fled to the woods. Thus William gained the victory, and was called (264)

the Conqueror. He afterwards built an abbey on the spot, and called it Battle Abbey. This is now in ruins.

Thus ended the Saxon dominion in Britain, which had lasted six hundred years.

a. MEMORABLE DATES OF THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD.

GILDAS THE WISE-first British historian-a monk-native of Wales--died A.D. 570.

ALDHELM-the first Englishman who wrote Latin-died A.D. 709.

VENERABLE BEDE-wrote History and translated Scriptures into Saxon-died A.D. 735.

ASSER-a learned monk-King Alfred's tutor--wrote the Life of Alfred-died A.D. 909.

QUESTIONS ON THE SAXON PERIOD.

1. Give the first and last dates of the period. Who invaded Britain when the Romans were gone? Why could not the Britons drive away the Picts and Scots? Whose help did they seek? Whence came the Saxons? What sort of people were they? What had they often done before this?

2. Did the Saxons accept the invitation? What two Saxon chiefs came? When? Where did they land? What did they do? When they had driven away the Picts and Scots, what did they do? Whither did the Britons flee? What part of France is named after them? How long were the Saxons in getting fully established in Britain? How many States were then formed? What were these called? Give the date. Who soon after this preached the gospel in Britain? With what success? Name two churches that now stand on the site of pagan temples?

3. Did the seven Kings agree? What King at last proved most powerful? What was the consequence? In what year was Egbert crowned King of England?

4. How many years were there from Egbert to the Conquest? How many Kings? How many of these were Saxons? How many Danes ? Name the Kings of the ninth century. Name those of the tenth century. Those of the eleventh century. Which of them were Danes?

5. How long did Egbert reign? Who were the next four Kings? Whence came the Danes? What sort of people were they? What sort of attacks did they make upon England? How did they succeed in the reign of Egbert? What did they do in Ethelwolf's reign? Of what

island did they keep possession? What did they do in the reign of Ethel bort? What was the capital of England at that time? How did Ethelred oppose them? What became of him? Who succeeded him? In what year?

6. How old was Alfred when he came to the throne? How long did he reign? How was he engaged for the first eight years? What was he forced to do after this? Where was his retreat? Tell me about Alfred and the cakes? How did he discover the number of the Danish army and their plans? What did he then do? How did he behave to them when they were defeated?

7. What did Alfred now study to do? In what state were the people then? What did he do to improve them? Name six great improvements he made in the nation. Two inventions.

8. Where was Alfred born? Was he clever when a boy? What did he afterwards become? How were his days divided and occupied? Where did he die? When? Where was he buried?

9. Who succeeded Alfred? How long did he reign? Who succeeded? 10. When did Athelstan begin his reign? How long did he reign? What wise law did he make to extend commerce? Against whom did he fight a great battle? When? How many kings were slain?

11. Who next came to the throne? How long did he reign? What success had he against the Danes? What death did he die? Relate the circumstance.

12. Who succeeded? When? How long did he reign ?

13. Who next became King? How long did he reign? Whom did he offend? How? How did the clergy act? What caused his death?

14. Who succeeded? When? How long did he reign? What animals did he destroy? How? What is said of his power? What did he once do to show his power?

15. Who next came to the throne? How long did he reign? Who caused his death? Relate the circumstance. What was Elfrida's motive for this murder?

16. Who succeeded? When? How long did he reign? What was his character? Who ravaged the country? What did Ethelred do to get rid of them? How did he raise money? Did this satisfy them? What did Ethelred do then? In what year? Did this produce peace? Who invaded England? What was Ethelred forced to do at last? In what year was Sweyn crowned? What took place a few weeks afterwards? Who mounted the throne? Did Canute remain King? What cruel revenge did he take? Who now held the crown until his death?

17. Who succeeded? When? How long did he reign? What was he surnamed? Why? Who had now returned to England? What agreement was made? What took place soon afterwards?

18. When did Canute again obtain the crown? How long did he reign? How did he treat his subjects at first? Of what countries was he King? How did his courtiers treat him? How did he reprove them? Relate the anecdote. When did he die? To whom did he leave the crown? Who seized it?

19. How long did Harold Harefoot reign? Harefoot?

20. Who succeeded? take for Harold's seizing What caused his death?

Why was he called

How long did he reign? What revenge did he the crown? Tell me another revengeful act. What race of Kings ended with him?

21. Who succeeded? When? How long did he reign? Of what race was he? Whose son? Why called Confessor? Where had he spent most of his life? What caused the rebellion? Who headed it? Whom did Edward ask for help? Did William come? What is Edward said to have promised William? When did he die? Where was he buried?

22. Who succeeded? When? Who immediately invaded England? What did Harold do? Where had William landed? What terrible battle was fought? How long did it last? How did it end? What name did William gain by this battle? What did he build upon the spot? What race of Kings ended with Harold II. How long had the Saxons ruled Britain?

a. Name events for the following dates:-449, 582, 596, 787, 827, 1002, 1066.

1. William, after the Battle of Hastings, marched to London; and was crowned on Christmas-day, 1066. He promised to rule according to the Saxon laws, and was at first just and merciful; but his subjects gave him much trouble by forming plots against his life; and once, when he was in Normandy, they fixed on a day to destroy all the Normans in the country, as Ethelred did to destroy the Danes. But William soon returned; and, when he heard of it, began to act like a savage tyrant, carrying fire and sword through the country, and laying waste whole counties. Taking away the rich estates of the Saxons he gave them to his Norman followers, who promised in return to serve him in time of war. Thus began the Feudal System, or the custom of serving in war instead of paying rent.

2. Three chief acts of his reign were these:-The Domesday Book was written, the Curfew Bell ordered, and the New Forest laid out. The Domesday Book contained an account of every estate in England, with the name of its owner, and an account of all the rivers, forests, and lakes. The Curfew was a bell which he ordered to be rung in every parish at eight o'clock at night, for the people to put out their lights and fires. The New Forest was all the land in Hampshire between Winchester and the sea. Here he destroyed sixty villages, and drove out all the inhabitants, on purpose to make it a fit place for hunting wild beasts. He was very fond of hunting, and so jealous of the game, that he made a law that whoever should kill a deer, a wild