Then they would swiftly dart at their prey and bear it to the ground.


Kneeling at his feet, the messenger said:


Then he exclaimed:


I cannot believe it.


The infantry also were carefully drilled.


Our truce is ended.


His son Otto succeeded him.


They learned much about Britain; for trading vessels, even at that early day, crossed the Channel.


After the Roman legions had left Britain, the Jutes, led, it is said, by two great captains named Hengist and Horsa, landed upon the southeastern coast and made a settlement.


Aid came to them in a singular way.


He asked the dealer who they were.


Angles, was the answer.


Still, though both Angles and Saxons called themselves Christians, they were seldom at peace; and for more than two hundred years they frequently fought.


Soon after this a welcome message came to Egbert.


The mind of the people in Wessex had changed and they had elected him king.


Vol. 5


In the connection of the church and state, I have considered the former as subservient only, and relative, to the latter; a salutary maxim, if in fact, as well as in narrative, it had ever been held sacred.


But I have reviewed, with diligence and pleasure, the objects of ecclesiastical history, by which the decline and fall of the Roman empire were materially affected, the propagation of Christianity, the constitution of the Catholic church, the ruin of Paganism, and the sects that arose from the mysterious controversies concerning the Trinity and incarnation.


The first introduction of a symbolic worship was in the veneration of the cross, and of relics.


At first, the experiment was made with caution and scruple; and the venerable pictures were discreetly allowed to instruct the ignorant, to awaken the cold, and to gratify the prejudices of the heathen proselytes.


The most audacious pencil might tremble in the rash attempt of defining, by forms and colors, the infinite Spirit, the eternal Father, who pervades and sustains the universe.


One of the knights, a handsome young man, was touched by the cries.


After supper the knight shared his own bed with the leper.


If the knight had not done this, the leper would have been driven out of the town, with nothing to eat and no place in which to sleep.


At midnight, while the young man was fast asleep, the leper breathed upon his back.


This awakened the knight, who turned quickly in his bed and found that the leper was gone.


The knight called for a light and searched, but in vain.


With that the vision vanished.


The Saracens called him The Cid, or Lord.


Each was to choose a champion. The champions were to fight, and the king whose champion won was to have the city.


To this they gladly agreed.


Soon they reached the town of Alcocer, and after a siege captured it and lived in it.


Suddenly and swiftly they poured from the gate of Alcocer, and a terrible battle was fought.


He was determined to capture Toledo.


Food became very scarce in Valencia.


Wheat, barley and cheese were all so dear that none but the rich could buy them.


Then on the fifteenth of June, 1094, the governor went to the camp of the Cid and delivered to him the keys of the city.


They crossed from Africa to Spain and laid siege to Valencia.


In time the Cid's health began to fail.


The king awoke.


LIVED FROM 1428-1471


The earl of Warwick, known as the kingmaker, was the most famous man in England for many years after the death of Henry V. He lived in a great castle with two towers higher than most church spires. It is one of the handsomest dwellings in the world and is visited every year by thousands of people.


An armed troop was approaching.


The earl himself was behind them.


The gate was opened.


Passing through it and on to the castle, the earl and his company were soon within its strong stone walls.


The earl spoke the truth.


The earl of Warwick added: You are the rightful heir to the throne. The claim of Henry VI comes through Lancaster, the fourth son of Edward III--yours through Lionel, the second.


His claim comes through his father only--yours through both your father and mother.


It is a better claim and it is a double claim.


That is true, my cousin of Warwick, replied the duke of York, but we must not plunge England into war.


Let us first ask for reform.


The king paid no attention to it.


Then a war began.


It lasted for thirty years.


Those who fought on the king's side were called Lancastrians, because Henry's ancestor, John of Gaunt, was the duke of Lancaster.


The duke of York was killed, and the queen ordered some of her men to cut off his head, put upon it a paper crown in mockery, and fix it over one of the gates of the city of York.


But the people were still discontented.


She left London and the kingmaker entered the city in triumph.


A robber met them, but Margaret, with wonderful courage, said to him, I am your queen and this is your prince.


I entrust him to your care.


The man was pleased with the confidence that she showed.


III


But though Edward had fled, he was not discouraged.


But Richard was determined to make himself king.


So he put both the young princes in the Tower.


But he was mistaken.


One person did claim it.


Richard was a bad man, but he was brave, and he fought like a lion. However, it was all in vain.


Alfred was the son of Ethelwulf, king of the West Saxons.


When Alfred was a boy there were no printed books.


Moreover, the art of making paper had not yet been invented.


Oh, what a lovely book! exclaimed the boys.


Much to the surprise of his brothers, Alfred proved to be the best reader and his mother gave him the book.


It was a long and tiresome journey, made mostly on horseback.


Some great battles were fought, and Alfred's elder brother Ethelred, king of the West Saxons, was killed.


Thus Alfred became king.


They kept the people in constant alarm. Alfred therefore determined to meet the pirates on their own element, the sea.


Alfred himself was obliged to flee for his life.


Once, when very hungry, he went into the house of a cowherd and asked for something to eat.


III


At last, Guth'rum, the commander of the Danes, ordered the minstrel to be brought to his tent.


Alfred went.


Guthrum was taken prisoner and brought before Alfred.


All the servants stood in the courtyard and saw them mount their steeds, and here by chance came the third brother; for the squire had three sons, but nobody counted him with his brothers, for he was not so learned as they were, and he was generally called 'Blockhead-Hans.'


You are in your Sunday-best clothes!'


'We are going to Court, to woo the Princess!


'Hurrah!


I'll go to!' cried Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers laughed at him and rode off.


'Dear father!' cried Blockhead-Hans, 'I must have a horse too.


What a desire for marriage has seized me!


'Stop that nonsense!' said the old man.


'I will not give you a horse. YOU can't speak; YOU don't know how to choose your words.


Your brothers! Ah! they are very different lads!'


'Well,' said Blockhead-Hans, 'if I can't have a horse, I will take the goat which is mine; he can carry me!'


And he did so.


'Hullo!' bawled Blockhead-Hans, 'here I am!


Just look what I found on the road!'--and he showed them a dead crow which he had picked up.


'Blockhead!' said his brothers, 'what are you going to do with it?'


'With the crow?