religion. Food, drink, and lodging shall be given unto you, and none shall molest you." He gave them a house to dwell in at Canterbury, and thither did they march. As they entered the town, bearing crucifix and banner, they sang, "Turn, O Lord, Thine anger and Thy wrath from this city and from Thy holy house, for we have sinned. Halleluiah!" Before a year had gone by, ten thousand of the men of Kent, among them King Ethelbert himself, were converted. An old church in which the Britons had formerly worshipped was repaired. Where it stood stands now the chief church of England, Canterbury Cathedral. About twenty years after the coming of Augustine, Edwin became king of Northumbria. married the daughter of Ethelbert of Kent, and she took to her new home Paulinus, one of the companions of Augustine. He converted the king and many of the people. But Penda of Mercia, who was still a heathen, defeated and slew Edwin. Thus the spread of Christianity in Northumbria was staid for a while. He At this time Ireland was before all other countries both in religion and learning. Missionaries had gone thence to different parts of Europe, and from a 13 monastery which an Irishman named Columba had founded in 14 Iona, Aidan came to 15 Lindesfarn, where he too founded a monastery. When Oswald became king of Northumbria, he welcomed the help of Aidan and his monks, and Christianity again throve in the kingdom. But Oswald, like Edwin, was defeated and slain by Penda, and once more the new religion received a check. Thirteen years later, however, Penda himself was overthrown and killed by Oswy of Northumbria. After that, nothing happened to hinder the progress of Christianity, and little by little it spread till the whole land had received it. 5 10 1 Conversion, a turning from one belief to another. 2 arrive, to come to, to reach a place. 3 distress, misery, suffering. 4 consent, to agree. missionary, a person who is sent to convert people. 6 Ethelbert, or Æthelberht. 7 Franks, the people after whom France is named. 8 disembark, to land from a vessel. 9 arrival, coming. crucifix, a cross having on it the figure of Jesus. 11 interpreter, a person who, when people not knowing the same language wish to talk, turns what one says into a language understood by the other. 12 will, to wish, choose. 13 monastery, the house in which monks live. 14 Iona, a small island off the coast of Scotland, west of Mull. 15 Lindesfarn, now called "Holy Island," off the coast of Northumberland. FOR ever 1hallowed be 2 this morning fair, Blest be the unconscious shore on which ye tread, Of 4 martial banner, in procession bear,— 6 Sung for themselves and those whom they would free. BOOK II. C Of ignorance that ran so rough and high, 8 Wordsworth. 1 Hallowed, reckoned holy. 2 this morning, the morning on which Edwin received Augustine. 3 unconscious, not feeling. 4 martial, warlike. 5 precede, to go before. would, wished to. 7 tempestuous, stormy. divinity, godhead. 6 As soon as the English were firmly settled in Britain their kings began struggling among themselves, first one and then another trying to get the mastery over all the rest. How bitter was the strife you will have gathered from a former lesson : in twenty-two years three kings fell in battle. At one time Kent was the leading kingdom, at another Northumbria, and at another Mercia; but in the early part of the ninth century 1 Egbert, king of Wessex, forced all the other kings to own him as over-lord, and thenceforward Wessex remained the chief kingdom. 2 Gradually the different parts of the land became more closely united and ceased to be under kings. Then there was but one ruler for the whole country, and he was king, not of Wessex, but of England. One thing which helped to bring about this change was the coming of the Danes. They were probably only the Jutes called by another name. With the 6 people who then dwelt in Norway and Sweden they are spoken of as Northmen. The Northmen were nearly akin to the English, and spoke almost the same language. They used to go on plundering 5 raids much as the English had formerly done, and for several centuries Europe was greatly disturbed by them. They harassed Britain and Ireland, as well as Russia, Germany, Gaul, and other parts of the 7 Continent. At first they used to come, seize what booty they could, and then sail away again; afterwards they began to form settlements; and lastly, when they were united under kings, they attempted regular conquests. 8 The Northmen were big and strong, with fair skin, blue eyes, and light hair. Their dress consisted of a shirt, loose drawers, long stockings, high shoes, a coat fastened around the waist with a belt, and a cloak. Their weapons were swords, spears, and axes; each man bore a long shield covered with leather and having an iron rim and 10 boss; the chiefs had shirts of mail. Their ships were long, high at both ends, and low in the middle where the rowers sat. The 11 bow was shaped like the head and the 12 stern like the tail of some bird or animal, often of a dragon. The sails had bright stripes. The Northmen who chiefly troubled Britain were the Danes. It was in 787 that they first came, and from that time on for two hundred and fifty years their dreaded ships were ever and again seen lying off our shores or sailing up our rivers. In the latter part of Egbert's reign the Danes gave him little rest. One year they 13 ravaged Kent, the next they invaded Dorsetshire and defeated the king, and the next they joined with the Welsh of Cornwall. Egbert, however, overcame both in a great battle at Hengest's Down. This was in 836; in 837 he died, and his son 14 Ethelwulf 15 succeeded him. Ethelwulf's whole reign was one long struggle with the Danes. In 851 they took London; but he defeated them at Ockley in Surrey, and so won back the town. In 855 they wintered in the Isle of Sheppey; this was the first time they had made any stay in the country. When Ethelwulf died, his four sons continued the struggle. The Danes had now ceased to come merely on plundering raids; they conquered and settled in Northumbria and East Anglia. The year 871 was a year of fearful strife. Three great battles were fought in Berkshire in nine days; and during the twelve-month there were six other battles and countless 16 skirmishes. In the midst of the troubles 17 the king died, and his brother, Alfred the Great, reigned in his stead. 6 10 boss, 1 Egbert, or Ecgberht. 2 gradually, little by little. 3 unite, to make into one. 4 probably, very likely. 5 raid, expedition for plundering. harass, to vex, worry, trouble. 7 the Continent, Europe. 8 booty, plunder. 9 consisted, was made up of. knob. 11 bow, the front part of a ship. 12 stern, the hind part of a ship. ravage, to plunder, lay waste. 14 Ethelwulf, Ethelwulf. 15 succeed, to follow. 16 skirmish, a small fight. 17 the king, Ethelbert (Ethelberht), son of Ethelwulf. 13 |