of Alfred's reign, it gives us most of the knowledge that we have, and it may be that the king himself wrote portions of it. No other European nation has so good a record of its early years, written in its own language.

66

Alfred died after a reign of nearly thirty years. The English people cherished his memory as "England's Darling, and we now call him Alfred the Great." He was a brave warrior, a wise lawmaker, a patient teacher, and a watchful guardian of his people. Above all, he was a true and pure man, loving his family and training his children with great care. The secret of his success is told in his own words:

"To sum up all," he said, "it has ever been my desire to live worthily while I was alive, and after my death to leave to those that should come after me my memory in good works."

What he

England.

Alfred's work was indeed good, for he saved England from being completely conquered by the Danes. Because he kept his courage at the trying time, his own kingdom was preserved, and the did for Danes were settled beyond the Thames, there to become almost Englishmen. Because he was wise and patient, he made his kingdom strong, so that his descendants were able, little by little, to regain all that the Danes had taken, and to become again, in later years, kings of all England.

TOPICS FOR THOUGHT AND SEARCH

1. What things helped to unite all England into a single kingdom? 2. Describe the life of the "Vikings," and tell the great things which they did.

3. Tell some of the stories about Alfred.

4. Find out what you can about the early history of London.

5. Write a brief account, in your own words, of Alfred's life and character.

VII

THE NORMANS CONQUER ENGLAND

POINTS TO BE NOTICED

When the Danes began again to come into England; how King Ethelred sought to get rid of them; how he angered the Danish King, Sweyn.

How Canute became King of England; what other kingdoms he ruled; how he treated England; when he was King.

When and how the Danes ceased to rule England; who then became King; his character; date of his death; whom the English then chose as King.

William of Normandy; his claim to the English throne; the aid which he received from the Church; what other attack on England aided his invasion.

Where and when the decisive battle was fought; how William overcame the English; how he became King.

The way in which the Norman Conquest was a turning point in English history.

THE descendants of Alfred, for three generations, were wise and strong men, and they succeeded in reuniting all England under one rule.

New

the Danes.

But, a short time thereafter, a reckless and foolish King ruled England, called Ethelred the "Rede-less," or "Despiser of Counsel." In his day new bands attacks of of Danes invaded the country, in great numbers, intending to conquer the kingdom. Yet the land was so divided, by the jealousies of the great men and the weakness of the King, that Ethelred did not fight them, but paid them money to go elsewhere.

(980)

This only stirred up the Danes to renewed attacks, and each time they came the King paid them a still larger sum of money, which he obtained by laying upon

the people a tax called "Danegeld." The Danegeld and the ravages of war together brought great poverty upon the land. The people became discontented, and the great men rebellious. Then King Ethelred did a foolish and wicked thing: he treacherously put to death, on a certain day, the Danes who were settled in England, for fear lest they might aid their invading brothers.

This deed caused Sweyn, King of Denmark, to swear a great oath that he would conquer the land and avenge his people. He came to England with a Ethelred great fleet and a

KING CANUTE

King

driven out.

strong army. After a long war, in which the English never fought unitedly under a capable leader, Ethelred fled to Normandy, and his subjects acknowledged Sweyn as King of England (1014).

One month later, Sweyn died, and the Danish army chose his son Canute to succeed him. Then the English restored their old ruler, Ethelred; but he soon died, and after a short war Canute (in 1016) was accepted as King by the whole land.

rules

At first Canute was very harsh, banishing or putting to death all the English leaders whom he feared. But when once he was firmly settled in power, he Canute ruled with justice and wisdom, treating the Dane Danes and English alike. He sent his army England back to Denmark, except a few thousand warriors called the "House-carls," whom he kept as a standing army. He placed Englishmen in the highest

(1016-1035).

places, both in the church and in the state. He restored the good laws of the English, and ruled as if he were himself an Englishman. And though he ruled over Denmark and Norway as well as over England, he usually made his home among his English subjects.

At one time Canute, like thousands of other Christians, went on a pilgrimage to Rome, to see the Pope and to worship in Saint Peter's church. While he was there he wrote to his subjects in England a friendly letter, in which he said:

"Be it known to all of you, that I have humbly vowed to Almighty God henceforth to rule

His letter

Rome.

home from the kingdoms and the peoples subject to me with justice and mercy, giving just judgments in all matters. I therefore command all sheriffs and magistrates, throughout my whole kingdom, that they use no unjust violence to any man, rich or poor, but that all, high and low, rich or poor, shall enjoy alike impartial CANUTE'S ENGLISH law."

QUEEN, EMMA

Canute was King of England for nearly twenty years (1016-1035), giving to the land peace and good government. After his death his two sons, one after the other, ruled in England, each dying a few years after becoming King. Then (1042) the English chose as King a prince from the old English line, son of Ethelred the Redeless.

the

This King was so religious that he gained the name Edward "the Confessor." He would have been a good monk, but he made a poor King. He had Weak rule lived most of his life in Normandy, and did of Edward not understand the English people. He loved Confessor. the Normans, who had improved rapidly since their Viking ancestors settled in France, and were now more cultured than the English. Edward clung to them and listened to their advice, and placed them in high positions in England. But the Normans looked down upon the English, and treated them badly and oppressed them. The English, in turn, were jealous and resentful, and conflicts arose.

At last, under the lead of their most powerful man, Earl Godwin, the English took up arms and forced the King to dismiss the Normans from their positions. From that time, Earl Godwin was the greatest man in the kingdom, and after his death his son, Harold, rose to equal power.

Harold

Edward the Confessor died after a reign of twentyfour years (1042-1066), and was buried in the great church of Westminster, which he had built. Before his death, it is said, he prophesied elected great trouble for England. He left no son to succeed him, and the Witan, or council of "wise men," chose Earl Harold, son of Godwin, to be King.

king (1066).

Then the trouble which Edward prophesied speedily came upon the land, for William, Duke of Normandy, claimed the crown, and made ready to enforce his claim by war.