Chapter I: Preface

Since, in the early stages of school work, it is more important to present, as vividly as possible, some of the fundamental historic ideas than to give any outline of events, it is hoped that this collection of stories, told from the chronicles, may provoke readers to discussion and further inquiry.

Questions have been included in the appendix, some suggesting handwork, both as a means of presentation in lessons and for illustrative purposes.

Considerable use has been made of literature as historic evidence. Stories like those of the Knights of the Round Table often leave us with a clearer impression of the spirit of the times than any historic record. Many books of the kind are now easily accessible and could be read side by side with the text. Collections of pictures, such as the Bayeux Tapestry, published by the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Foucquet's _Chroniques de France_, offer valuable opportunities for some research on the child's part.

F. L. BOWMAN.

HOMERTON COLLEGE
_December_, 1918

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. BEFORE THE COMING OF THE ROMANS 1

II. THE ROMANS 3

III. THE SAXONS 6

IV. THE SAXON VILLAGE 9

V. THE COMING OF CHRISTIANITY 15

VI. ALFRED AND THE DANES 20

VII. THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS 27

VIII. NORMAN KINGS 31

IX. NORMAN BARONS 34

X. NORMAN PRELATES 39

XI. NORMAN BUILDERS 44

XII. KNIGHTHOOD 47

XIII. THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE 52

XIV. THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND 57

XV. THE COMING OF THE FRIARS 61

XVI. THE THIRD CRUSADE 64

XVII. THE LOSS OF NORMANDY. THE SIGNING OF
THE GREAT CHARTER 69

XVIII. THE FIRST PARLIAMENT 71

XIX. THE CONQUEST OF WALES 74

XX. THE WAR WITH SCOTLAND 76

XXI. THE WAR WITH FRANCE 79

XXII. THE WAR WITH FRANCE (_continued_) 83

XXIII. THE BLACK DEATH AND THE PEASANTS' REVOLT 85

XXIV. THE WAR WITH FRANCE (_continued_) 89

XXV. NEW WORLDS 95

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY 100

BIBLIOGRAPHY 102

DATES 103

TIME CHART 104

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE ARMING OF A KNIGHT FRONTISPIECE

From John Duke of Bedford's _Book of Hours_ (15th century). In the British Museum

TO FACE PAGE

THE ABBEY OF CITEAUX 18

From Viollet-le-duc, D_ictionnaire raisonné de l'architecture française_

A SERVICE IN THE CHAPEL 19

From the _Miracles de Notre Dame_, collected by Miélot, Canon of S. Peter's at Lille, and finished on 10 April, 1456. In the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

By arrangement with MM. Catala Frères, Paris

HAROLD DEFEATS AND KILLS TOSTIG AND THE KING OF NORWAY AT STAMFORD BRIDGE 30

From the _Life of Edward the Confessor_ (about 1260). In the University Library, Cambridge

A BATTLE IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY 31

By Jean Foucquet, from the _Grandes chroniques de France_ (middle of the 15th century). In the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

By arrangement with MM. Catala Frères, Paris

ARCHITECT AND BUILDERS 44

From a Bible written at Lille, about 1270. In the library of Mr S. C. Cockerell

BUILDING A CHURCH IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY 44

By Jean Foucquet, from the _Grandes chroniques de France_ (middle of the 15th century). In the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

By arrangement with MM. Catala Frères, Paris

THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM 45

From the _Antiquités Judaïques_, by Jean Foucquet (middle of the 15th century)

By kind permission of MM. Plon-Nourrit et Cie, Paris

A SIEGE 46

From Viollet-le-duc, _Dictionnaire raisonné de l'architecture française_

GATEWAY AND DRAWBRIDGE 47

From Viollet-le-duc, _Dictionnaire raisonné de l'architecture française_

A COURT OF JUSTICE, 1458. DUKE OF ALENÇON CONDEMNED FOR TREASON BY CHARLES VII, KING OF FRANCE 72

By Jean Foucquet. From _Le Boccace de Munich_. In the Royal Library at Munich.

The King is seated on his throne, and below him the princes, and on his right the Chancellor of France with bands of gold on his shoulder. Sentence is being read by one of the officers of the law. On the King's left the lords of the Church are seated and below are the chief officers of the realm. Outside the barrier is the royal guard

THE PARLIAMENT OF EDWARD I 73

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are seated just below Alexander King of Scotland, and Llewelyn Prince of Wales. The two behind are supposed to be the Pope's ambassadors. There are 19 mitred Abbots, 8 Bishops and 20 Peers present. The Chancellor and Judges are seated on the woolsacks.

From Pinkerton, _Iconographia Scotica_. Probably drawn in the 16th century

PREPARING THE FEAST 88

From the _Luttrell Psalter_ (14th century). In the British Museum

THE FEAST 89

From the _Luttrell Psalter_ (14th century). In the British Museum

A CHRISTIAN OF CONSTANTINOPLE BORROWING MONEY FROM A JEW AND PLEDGING HIS CRUCIFIX 96

From the _Miracles de Notre Dame_, collected by Jean Miélot, and finished on 10 April, 1456. In the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

By arrangement with MM. Catala Frères, Paris

MIÉLOT IN HIS STUDY 97

From the _Miracles de Notre Dame_, collected by Jean Miélot, and finished on 10 April, 1456. In the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

By arrangement with MM. Catala Frères, Paris

A PRINTING PRESS 97

A mark of Josse Badius Ascensius. From _De Sacramentis_ of Thomas Waldensis, 1521. In the University Library, Cambridge

THE TWELVE MONTHS AT END

From _Les très riches heures de Jean de France, Duc le Berry_, chiefly the work of Pol de Limbourg, painted between 1412 and 1416 and now in the Musée Condé, Chantilly

By kind permission of MM. Plon-Nourrit et Cie, Paris