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sequence? How many Scots were slain? What was this battle called? Why?

18. Who came to England soon afterwards? What was the state of the country for some time? Where was Stephen at last defeated? How was he treated?

19. Did Matilda long wear the crown? Why not? Where was she afterwards besieged? Did she escape? How?

20. Who continued her claim? What did he do? When? What agreement was made? When did Stephen die ?

21. How many castles were built in Stephen's reign? What accident occurred in London?

a. Give events for the following dates, viz.-1077, 1096, 1120, 1138, 1139, 1141, 1142.

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2. Henry II. was the son of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, and Matilda, daughter of Henry I. He was the most powerful King of his time-ruling not only England, but also the greater part of France. He also conquered Wales and Ireland.

3. His first care was to lessen the power of the Barons; and this he did by causing many of their castles to be destroyed. Then, wishing to rule the clergy, he took into his favour one Thomas à Becket, a man of low birth, gave him great wealth and power, and made him Archbishop of Canterbury. But Becket, when he had got this great power, did not do as Henry wished. He gave up his rich and costly manner of living, and all his long train of attendants, began to eat coarse food, wore sackcloth next his skin, keeping it on until it was full of dirt and vermin, and daily washed the feet of thirteen beggars. He then took the part of the clergy against Henry, and gave him so much trouble, that one day, when Henry was in France, and heard of Becket's determined opposition, he became very angry, and said, "Is there not one of my cowardly knights eating of my bread that will rid me of this turbulent priest?" Four of his knights, hearing what was said, and being very jealous of Becket's power, went away secretly, crossed over to England,

and proceeded to Canterbury to murder Becket. They found him in the cathedral, at the altar, where they fell upon him and dashed out his brains. When Henry heard of this horrid murder, he was not only very sorry, but also much afraid of the Pope's anger; so he had a splendid tomb built for Becket, and did penance by walking barefoot through the city, falling down before the tomb, and allowing himself to be scourged with knotted cords.

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4. The greatest event of Henry's reign was the conquest of Ireland. This country had in former times received the gospel, and had been more civilized and enlightened than England. had even been the chief seat of learning in Western Europe. But now it had become deeply sunk in ignorance and barbarity. It was at this time divided into six provinces, ruled by as many Kings. Two of the most powerful of these quarrelled, and one of them called to Henry for help. Henry sent some of his nobles with their knights to his assistance, and soon after went himself, and took possession of the island (1172). It has ever since belonged to England.

5. Henry had four sons, Henry, Geoffrey, Richard, and John, who were very rebellious, and caused their father much trouble in the latter part of his reign. They even persuaded the Kings of France and Scotland to help them; but Henry put to flight all his enemies. He died, however, of a broken heart, because his favourite son John was amongst the rebels.

a. In this reign London became the capital of England-Winchester, the old capital, having been laid in ruins during the civil wars in Stephen's reign. London Bridge rebuilt in stone. Glass began to be used for windows in private houses.

RICHARD I.-CŒUR DE LION, OR LION-HEARTED.

A.D. 1189 to A.D. 1199.-10 years.

6. Richard I. succeeded to the throne, his elder brothers having died before their father. He cared very little for the welfare of his subjects; and though King for ten years, he only spent six months in England.

7. Having a desire to go to the Crusades, he began his reign by raising all the money he could; and for this purpose he used very wrong means-selling the offices of State, and taking away by force much wealth from the Jews, who at that time were very rich. Many of these were basely murdered, and their

dwellings plundered and burned to the ground. At one time the very streets of London were slippery with their blood.

8. Richard was joined in the Crusades by the King of France. They raised an immense army, and at Acre, a town in Palestine, fought a great battle, in which 200,000 men were slain. After taking this strong city Richard marched to Jerusalem, but his army was not strong enough to take it; and all he obtained was permission for pilgrims to go to our Saviour's tomb in peace.

9. On his return he was shipwrecked on the north coast of the Mediterranean Sea; and, in the dress of a pilgrim, was making his way through Germany, when he was seized by the Duke of Austria, and sold for a great sum of money to the Emperor of Germany, who cast him into prison. It is said that

a French musician, who knew Richard, and was in search of him, happened to arrive at the walls of the very castle where he was confined, and beneath the grated window of his cell played upon his harp a tune which Richard had composed. Richard, hearing it, remembered the harper, and sang the same tune in reply. The harper immediately knew the voice of the King, and went and made known in England the place of his confinement. A great ransom was paid for Richard's freedom, and he returned home.

10. During his absence the country was in a shocking state. It was infested by bands of robbers, and no man's life or property was safe. The famous Robin Hood lived about this time. Shortly after Richard's return from the Holy Land he was besieging a castle in France, when he was shot by an archer from the walls. The wound mortified and caused his death.

JOHN-SANSTERRE, OR LACKLAND.

A.D. 1199 to A.D. 1216.-17 years.

11. John was the younger son of Henry II., and brother of the late King. He was not the rightful heir, as Geoffrey, his elder brother, had left a son named Arthur, now twelve years old. John's first care; therefore, was to get rid of Arthur; and having shut him up in the Castle of Rouen, he there murdered him, it is said, with his own hands. By this act he so enraged the King of France and other Princes, that they took away from him all his French provinces.

12. Soon after this John quarrelled with the Pope about the choice of an Archbishop of Canterbury. John set the Pope at defiance. The Pope in return caused all the churches in the land to be shut up for six years, and forbade any service to be read at burials. He then told the King of France to invade England, and take possession of the throne. This so alarmed. the cowardly John, that he submitted to the Pope, acknowledged him as his master, and even agreed to pay him rent for the

crown.

13. John, being now free from danger, began to use his subjects very cruelly-making the rich pay him very heavy fines, and giving the highest offices of State to his foreign favourites. By these acts he so roused the spirit of the Barons, that they drew up an agreement, in which they made the King promise never more to oppress the people, nor take away their rights, but to govern according to the law of the land. This was called Magna Charta, or the Great Charter. In order to compel John to sign it, they collected a large force and took possession of London. John at last consented; and in the year 1215, at Runnymeade, near Windsor, this Great Charter of liberty was signed. It is still carefully preserved in the British Museum.

14. When John had signed the deed, and the Barons were gone away, he raved like a madman, and as soon as possible raised an army of hired soldiers, and began to lay waste the country with fire and sword. The Barons, in their fear, sent to the King of France, asking him to come and take the crown. Louis was not slow to accept the offer, and landed with an army in Kent. John marched to meet him; but as he was crossing the Wash, the tide rose so fast that he and his army had scarcely time to escape from the waves; and in their hurry and fear the crown, jewels, and money were lost. This had such an effect on the King that it threw him into a fever. He was carried to Newark Castle, where he died, despised and hated by every one.

HENRY III.-WINCHESTER.

A.D. 1216 to A.D. 1272.-56 years.

15. Henry III., eldest son of John, was only nine years old when he came to the throne; and the Earl of Pembroke, a wise and prudent man, was made Protector.

16. The King of France, however, who had invaded the

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