which ended in the monks and retainers of Archl ishop Richard falling upon Roger, in the presence of the whole assembly, and throwing him upon the ground; they then trampled on him, and he was with difficulty rescued from their hands alive.

7. Archbishop Richard, by the payment of a large sum of money to the legate, prevented any notice being taken of this enormity. We may relate another anecdote of this period, which history has preserved.

8. As King Henry was one day riding along, he was met by the monks of St. Swithan, who threw themselves prostrate upon the earth before him, complaining, with many tears and much doleful lamentation, that the Bishop of Winchester, who was their abbot, had cut off three dishes from their tables.

9. " How many has he left you?" said the king. "Ten only," replied the disconsolate monks. "I myself," exclaimed the king, never have more than three; and I enjoin your bishop to reduce you to the same number."

66

CHAPTER XLIX.

Earl Strongbow goes over to Ireland to assist Dermot Macmorrogh.The English conquer Ireland.

1. In the early part of this volume, we have glanced at the state

of the pope 3 resentment? 3, 4. What of his tomb? 5, 6. What story is related of his successor? 3, 9. Relate the story of the inonks of St. Swithan.

90

THE ENGLISH CONQUER IRELAND.—1171.

of Ireland previous to the invasion of Britain by the Romans. Its history for several centuries is involved in much obscurity, and though we know that many interesting events took place, they are not of a nature to require further notice here.

2. In the fifth century, the history of Ireland becomes more defined. About the year 450, St. Patrick, who was probably a native of France, was carried thither, he being then in his youth. He was made a slave, and occupied for several years in the care of sheep. He at length escaped, and having qualified himself by study, and received an education at Rome, as a bishop, he returned to Ireland and devoted himself with great success to the conversion of the people to Christianity. They had hitherto professed the religion of the Druids, but in the space of a few years the priests and princes yielded, throughout nearly the whole island, to the doctrines of the gospel as taught by St. Patrick.

3. From that time Ireland was a place of refuge for learned men of all countries; and religion and science flourished till the eighth century, when the island was overrun by the Danes, who destroyed nearly all the churches and monasteries. After the Danes were expelled, the Irish, having no Alfred to govern them, sank back into a state of barbarism, though they still maintained their independence of foreign dominion.

4. At the time of which we are now speaking, Ireland was divided into five separate kingdoms. In 1171, Dermot Macmorrogh, one of the five kings, being driven from Leinster, went over to England to implore the assistance of Henry, who gave him some money from the royal treasury, and permitted him to enlist in his cause any of the English whom he could prevail upon to join him.

5. Accordingly the Earl of Pembroke, surnamed Strongbow, and a few other noblemen, returned with Dermot to Ireland, and with their assistance soon recovered his kingdom. Elated with his success, Dermot now thought it would be a good thing to possess himself of the other four kingdoms.

6. But Strongbow did not dare to engage in a plan for the conquest of the whole island without first asking Henry's consent. The king's answer was for some time delayed. In the mean time the earl collected in England an army of twelve hundred men; but just as he was setting out for Ireland, he received Henry's positive commands not to proceed.

7. Disregarding these orders, he set sail. At Waterford he was joined by Dermot, and there married his daughter Eva, and then proceeded to the conquest of the kingdom of Meath, which was easily effected. The year following, Dermot died, and Earl Strongbow, in right of his wife, succeeded to his possessions, and thus became king of a great part of Ireland.

8. Henry had been greatly displeased at the earl's disobedience; nor was he appeased till Strongbow went over to England, and

XLIX.-1. What of Ireland in early times? 2. What of St. Patrick? 3. What of Ireland after the conversion of the people to Christianity? 4. How was it divided? What happened in 1171? 5. Who went over to assist Dermot? What did Dermot wish to

REBELLION OF HENRY'S SONS.-1173–1175.

91

resigned to him all these great acquisitions, a part of which, however, Henry allowed him to retain.

9. To divert the attention of the people from the murder of Becket, Henry determined to go over to Ireland to take possession of the territory already subdued, and to complete the conquest of the island. Accordingly, in 1172, he passed over the channel, accompanied by a fleet of four hundred vessels. The several princes, overawed by such a powerful force, submitted at once, and this important conquest was made without bloodshed.

CHAPTER L.

Encouraged by their Mother, the Sons of Henry rebel.

1. IN the year 1173, Henry appeared to have arrived at the utmost height of glory and ambition. He was sovereign of England, Ireland, and of a third part of France. All his dominions were in a state of tranquillity. But his future life was to be embittered, and his government to be disturbed, from a quarter which he might naturally have expected to have been a source of happiness, and to have afforded support.

2. Queen Eleanor, whom he had married for her rich dowry, not only gave him much vexation by her own conduct, but she encouraged her children to behave undutifully to their father. It was no uncommon thing, in those days, for a king to cause his son to be crowned during his own lifetime, in order to secure to him the succession.

3. In pursuance of this policy, Henry, eldest son of the present king, had been crowned when he was fifteen years old. It is said, that at this ceremony, the king, in order to give greater dignity to it, officiated as one of the retinue; and observed to his son that never was king more royally served.

4. "It is nothing extraordinary," said young Henry to one of his courtiers, "if the son of a count should serve the son of a king." Thi: saying, which passed at the time as an innocent pleasantry, was afterwards remembered as a sign of that aspiring temper of which he soon gave proof.

5. At the instigation of his father-in-law, the King of France, he demanded immediate possession of the crown of England, or else of the Duchy of Normandy. Before his father's refusal to comply with his unreasonable demand, he entered into a conspiracy with the kings of France and Scotland, and other persons who were jealous of Henry's power, to dethrone him.

6. The prince, with his brothers, Richard and Geoffrey, whom he had persuaded to join him, fled to the court of France; and even

do?

6. What did Earl Strongbow do? 7. Whom did Strongbow marry? What did he get in right of his wife? 8. How did he appease Henry? 9. What did Henry do? L.-1. What of Henry's condition in 1173? 2. What of his queen? How did Henry attempt to make sure the succession of his son? 3. 4. What occurred at the ceremony of coronation? 5. What demand did the prince make? 6. What was the consequence

92

REBELLIONS OF HENRY'S SONS.-1175.

Queen Eleanor, in the disguise of a man, tried to escape thither also She was, however, discovered, and brought back to Henry, who shut her up in strict confinement. The rebellion now broke out in open war. The King of France and the Earl of Flanders attacked Normandy, while William, King of Scotland, marched into England, and was joined by all the discontented barons.

7. Never did Henry act with more wisdom and vigor. The united efforts of so many enemies were unable to do him serious injury; and in the year 1175, all their schemes were frustrated by the capture of William, who was surprised and taken without the walls of Alnwick Castle, which he occupied.

8. This place was assailed by about four hundred knights, and William, without waiting for his army to support him, made a gallant attempt with only seventy of his knights to repel the enemy. "Now let us see who are the best knights!" cried he, and spurred forward against his opponents; but his horse was killed at the first onset, and he was taken prisoner. His numerous troops, on hearing of the disaster, fled with the greatest precipitation.

CHAPTER LI.

Singular Penance of Henry II.-Fresh Rebellions of his Sons.-Death of Henry II.-The Reason of his being called "Curt Mantle."

1. THE great mass of the people considered the troubles which

cf the king's refusal? By whom was Henry attacked? 7. What of his conduct? 8 What happened to William, King of Scotland?

SINGULAR PENANCE OF HENRY II.-1175-1178.

93

befell Henry, as a proof of the indignation of Heaven for the impious murder of Becket. The king, well knowing the effects of superstition on the minds of men, submitted to a most singular and humiliating penance.

2. Returning from Normandy, which he had been putting in a state of defence, he proceeded at once to Canterbury. When he came within sight of the church he dismounted and walked bare foot to Becket's tomb, prostrated himself before it and remained there fasting all one day and night.

3. He then assembled the monks, and putting a whip into the hands of each, presented his bare shoulders to receive as many lashes as they might think proper to inflict upon his royal back. Next day the priest pronounced his pardon, or absolution, as it is called, and the king went to London, where he soon heard the joyful news of the capture of William.

4. This had been made on the very day that he had received his absolution, and was regarded by the people as a proof that St. Thomas à Becket was satisfied with the atonement. Henry was in bed when the news was brought to him, but he at once arose and called his attendants, that he might tell them the happy tidings.

5. The King of France was now glad to make peace, and thus everything turned out prosperously for England. Henry's generosity to his defeated enemies was much to be admired. He gave liberty without ransom to a large number of noblemen who were made prisoners; and he gave the King of Scotland his liberty on condition that he and his successors should do homage to the kings of England for their crown.

6. He pardoned his sons on account of their youth; but Prince Henry continued to give his father a great deal of vexation, and at length again openly rebelled. He was actually leading an army against him, when the tumult of his mind threw him into a fever.

7. Finding himself to be dying, he sent a repentant message to his father, entreating forgiveness, and beseeching that he would come and see him. The king, thinking his illness to be pretended, refused to visit him, but sent him his ring as a token of pardon, which the prince received with thankfulness.

8. A little before his death he desired to be laid on a heap of ashes, with a halter about his neck, to testify his deep humiliation and contrition. This was done, and in this state he expired. Henry's grief, when he heard that his son was dead, was very great indeed, and he bitterly reproached himself for having refused to go to him. As Prince Henry left no children, Richaru became the heir to the throne. He was also of a turbulent temper, and had behaved very ill to his father.

9. In 1188 the melancholy news reached Europe that the Saracens had taken Jerusalem. All the warriors of this quarter were at once animated with the desire of driving the Infidels from the Holy City.

LI.-1, 2, 3. Relate the particulars of King Henry's penance. 4. To what did the people attribute his victory over William? Why? 5. What was the consequence of the capture of William? How did Henry treat his late enemies? 6. What more is said