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LITTLE ARTHUR’S
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
LITTLE ARTHUR’S
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
_In Preparation._
LITTLE ARTHUR’S HISTORY OF ROME.
LITTLE ARTHUR’S HISTORY OF FRANCE.
[Illustration: The Tower of London.]
LITTLE ARTHUR’S
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
BY LADY CALLCOTT.
[Illustration: Decoration]
_NEW EDITION._
WITH THIRTY-SIX ILLUSTRATIONS
NEW YORK:
THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO.,
NO. 13 ASTOR PLACE.
_Copyright_,
THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO.
1884.
TO MOTHERS.
Though I have not the happiness to be a mother, my love of children
has led me to think a good deal about them, their amusements, and
their lessons.
This little HISTORY was written for a real little ARTHUR, and I
have endeavoured to _write_ it nearly as I would _tell_ it to an
intelligent child. I well remember what I wanted to be told myself,
in addition to what I found in my lesson-book, when I was first
allowed to read the History of England, and I hope I have answered
most of the questions I recollect to have wished to ask.
I may have failed in satisfying the almost boundless inquiries of
intelligent children; and I could wish that the mother or governess,
who may put this little book into the hands of her pupils, would read
each chapter herself before she gives it to a child, that she may be
ready with answers to such questions as the chapter may suggest.
Perhaps I have not made my small volume amusing enough to answer
the purpose of those who wish children to learn everything in play.
I do not know that I could have done so, if I wished it: there are
some things to be learned from the History of England, that are of
some import to the future life of a child, and are no play: things,
independent of the change of kings, or the fighting of battles, or
even of the pathetic tales in which every true history is rich.
These things I have tried to teach in a way to engage the attention,
and to fix them in the memory, till advancing age, and the reading of
history in detail, shall call them into use.
Next to the study of the Sacred Scriptures, I have always held the
history of our own country to be important in education, particularly
in that of boys.
To teach the love of our country is almost a religious duty. In
the Scriptures how often is it referred to! How many beautiful
passages in the Psalms encourage it! “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget her cunning.” But above all other tender
expressions is that of the blessed Jesus, addressed to Jerusalem
and its inhabitants: “How often would I have gathered thy children
together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye
would not!”
Let no one fear that to cultivate patriotism is to make men illiberal
in feeling towards mankind in general. Is any man the worse citizen
for being a good son, or brother, or father, or husband?
I am indeed persuaded that the well-grounded love of our own country
is the best security for that enlightened philanthropy which is aimed
at as the perfection of moral education.
This is the feeling that has guided me in writing “LITTLE ARTHUR’S
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.” If it should happily lay the foundation for
patriotism in one single Englishman, my wishes will be answered, my
best hopes fulfilled.
M. C.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
The ancient Britons: their houses—clothes—and
food Page 1
CHAPTER II.
Religion of the ancient Britons—the
Druids—the misletoe—the
Druids’ songs 3
CHAPTER III.
How the Romans came and conquered
the Britons, and made
them work 5
CHAPTER IV.
How the Romans taught the Britons
many things, and how some
of them became Christians 8
CHAPTER V.
How the Romans made a market in
London, and used money, and
built a wall; and how they improved
Bath, and many other
towns 10
CHAPTER VI.
How the Romans left Britain; and
how the Angles and Saxons came
and conquered the country, and
behaved cruelly to the people 12
CHAPTER VII.
How there were seven chief kingdoms
in England; how Augustine
and his friends came from Rome
and made the people Christians;
and how some of the young men
went to Rome to be taught 15
CHAPTER VIII.
How the Angles and Saxons loved
freedom, but made laws to punish
those who did wrong 21
CHAPTER IX.
How Egbert became the first king
over all England; how the Danes
did great mischief to the people;
how Alfred, after much trouble,
drove them away; and how he
built ships and did many other
good things 23
CHAPTER X.
King Edward—King Athelstane;
how he beat the Danes in battle,
and took some prisoners; how he
invited his prisoners to supper,
and afterwards let them go free 31
CHAPTER XI.
How King Edmund was killed by a
robber; how Bishop Dunstan ill-used
King Edwy; how Archbishop
Odo murdered the Queen;
what Dunstan did to please the
people; how King Edgar caused
the wolves to be destroyed; and
how his son, King Edward, was
murdered by Queen Elfrida 34
CHAPTER XII.
Why King Ethelred was called the
Unready; how the Danes drove
away the English princes, and
made Canute king; how Canute
rebuked his courtiers, and improved
the people; and how the
Danes and Saxons made slaves of
their prisoners and of the poor 38
CHAPTER XIII.
How King Edward the Confessor
suffered his courtiers to rule him
and the kingdom, and promised
that the Duke of Normandy
should be king; how some of his
wise men made a book of laws;
how Harold, the son of Earl Godwin,
was made king; how he was
killed in the battle of Hastings,
and the Duke of Normandy became
king 42
CHAPTER XIV.
WILLIAM I.—1066 to 1087.
How William the First made cruel
and oppressive laws; how he took
the land from the English, and
gave it to the Norman barons;
and how he caused Domesday
Book to be written 48
CHAPTER XV.
WILLIAM II.—1087 to 1100.
How William the Second and Robert
of Normandy besieged their
brother Henry in his castle; how
William was killed in the New
Forest; and how London Bridge
and Westminster Hall were built
in his reign 51
CHAPTER XVI.
HENRY I.—1100 to 1135.
How Henry the First married the
English Princess Maude; how his
son William was drowned; and
how he desired that his daughter
Maude should be queen after his
own death 54
CHAPTER XVII.
STEPHEN.—1135 to 1154.
How Stephen was made king; and
of the civil wars in his reign 56
CHAPTER XVIII.
HENRY II.—1154 to 1189.
How Henry the Second did many
good things for England; how
the gentry went hawking; how
Strongbow conquered a great
part of Ireland; and how the
kings of Scotland became under-kings
to the kings of England 58
CHAPTER XIX.
How the Popes wanted to be masters
in England; how that led to
the murder of Becket; how Queen
Eleanor made her sons rebel
against their father; why Henry
the Second was called Plantagenet 63
CHAPTER XX.
RICHARD I.—1189 to 1199.
How Richard the first went to fight
in foreign countries, and the evil
things that happened in his absence;
how the Jews were ill-treated;
how King Richard was
taken prisoner; how he was discovered
and set at liberty; and
how he was killed in battle 67
CHAPTER XXI.
JOHN.—1199 to 1216.
Why King John was called Lackland;
how he killed his nephew
Arthur; and how the barons rebelled
against him, and made him
sign the Great Charter 73
CHAPTER XXII.
HENRY III.—1216 to 1272.
Why taxes are paid; how Henry
the Third robbed the people;
how Simon de Montfort fought
against King Henry, and made
him agree not to tax the people
without the consent of the Parliament 78
CHAPTER XXIII.
EDWARD I.—1272 to 1307.
How Edward the First learnt many
good things abroad, and did many
more to make the people happy;
how he caused the burgesses to
come to parliament; how he made
good laws; why he was called
Longshanks 81
CHAPTER XXIV.
EDWARD I.—_continued._
How King Edward went to war
with the Welsh; how Prince Llewellyn
and his brother David
were put to death for defending
their country; how he made war
upon Scotland, and put Sir William
Wallace to death; and how
ambition was the cause of his
cruelty 84
CHAPTER XXV.
EDWARD II.—1307 to 1327.
Why Edward the Second was called
Prince of Wales; how his idleness
and evil companions caused
a civil war; how he was beaten
by Robert Bruce at Bannockburn;
how the Queen fought
against the King and took him
prisoner; and how her favourite
Mortimer, had King Edward
murdered 89
CHAPTER XXVI.
EDWARD III.—1327 to 1377.
How Queen Isabella was put in
prison, and her favourite hanged;
how Queen Philippa did much
good for the people; and how
Edward the Third went to war
to conquer France 92
CHAPTER XXVII.
EDWARD III.—_continued._
How the English gained a sea-fight;
how King Edward and his son,
the Black Prince, won the battle
of Crecy; how Calais was taken,
and how Queen Philippa saved
the lives of six of the citizens;
how the Black Prince won the
battle of Poitiers, and took the
King of France prisoner, and
brought him to London 95
CHAPTER XXVIII.
RICHARD II.—1377 to 1399.
How Richard the Second sent men
round the country to gather the
taxes; how Wat Tyler killed one
of them, and collected an army;
how he met the King in Smithfield,
and was killed by the
Mayor; how King Richard behaved
cruelly to his uncles; how
he was forced to give up the
crown to his cousin Henry of
Hereford, and died at Pomfret 101
CHAPTER XXIX.
HENRY IV.—1399 to 1413.
How Henry the Fourth had a dispute
with Earl Percy and his son
Hotspur about their Scotch prisoners;
how the Percys went to
war with the King, and were
joined by Owen Glendower; how
Hotspur was killed in the battle
of Shrewsbury; why some men
are made nobles, and how they
are useful to their country; how
King Henry punished people on
account of their religion 108
CHAPTER XXX.
HENRY V.—1413 to 1422.
How Henry the Fifth was very gay
and thoughtless when he was
Prince of Wales, but became a
great and wise king; how he
went to war with France, and
gained the battle of Agincourt;
and how the people lamented at
his death 112
CHAPTER XXXI.
HENRY VI.—1422 to 1461.
How Henry the Sixth became king
while he was an infant; how the
Duke of Bedford governed in
France; how Joan of Arc persuaded
the Dauphin and the
French soldiers to take courage;
how they nearly drove the English
out of France; how Joan
was taken prisoner, and put to
death 116
CHAPTER XXXII.
HENRY VI.—_continued._
How Queen Margaret and Cardinal
Beaufort are said to have caused
Duke Humphrey to be murdered;
how the wars of the White and
the Red Roses were brought
about; how Edward of York
was chosen king by the Londoners 119
CHAPTER XXXIII.
EDWARD IV. OF YORK.
1461 to 1483.
How the Yorkists beat Queen Margaret
at Hexham; how the Queen
and Prince escaped to Flanders;
why the Earl of Warwick was
called the King-maker; how
Prince Edward was murdered
by King Edward’s brothers; how
King Henry and the Duke of
Clarence were put to death 122
CHAPTER XXXIV.
EDWARD V.
Only ten weeks of 1483.
How Richard Duke of Gloucester
was guardian to the young King
Edward the Fifth; how he put
Lord Hastings to death, and made
himself King; and how the little
King Edward and his brother
were murdered in the Tower 127
CHAPTER XXXV.
RICHARD III.—1483 to 1485.
How Richard the Third tried to
make the people his friends; how
the Duke of Buckingham rebelled
and was put to death; how Richard
was killed at Bosworth, fighting
against the Earl of Richmond,
who was made King 130
CHAPTER XXXVI.
HENRY VII.—1485 to 1509.
How Henry the Seventh united the
Parties of the White and the Red
Roses; how Lambert Simnel, and
afterwards Perkin Warbeck, rebelled
against him, but were subdued;
how the people began to
improve themselves in learning;
how America was discovered;
how King Henry did many useful
things, but was not beloved
by the people 133
CHAPTER XXXVII.
HENRY VIII.—1509 to 1547.
How Henry the Eighth made war
upon Scotland and France, and
gained the battle of Flodden and
the battle of the Spurs; how he
met the King of France in the
Field of the Cloth of Gold; how
Cardinal Wolsey fell into disgrace
and died 138
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
HENRY VIII.—_continued._
How King Henry married six
times; and how he got rid of his
wives when he was tired of
them 142
CHAPTER XXXIX.
HENRY VIII.—_continued._
How the Pope and the friars imposed
upon the people; how disputes
arose in England about religion;
how King Henry seized
the convents and turned out the
monks and nuns; how he called
himself Supreme Head of the
Church, and put many people to
death who did not agree with
him in all things 147
CHAPTER XL.
How Sir Thomas More studied law
and became an orator; the wise
and good men who visited him;
how he was for some time in the
King’s favor, but was afterwards
imprisoned and put to death, because
he would not do everything
the King wished 153
CHAPTER XLI.
EDWARD VI.—1547 to 1553.
How Edward the Sixth was taught
to be a Protestant; how the Protector
Somerset went to war in
Scotland; how he caused his
brother to be beheaded, and was
afterwards beheaded himself;
how the Duke of Northumberland
persuaded the King to leave
the kingdom to Lady Jane Grey, 157
CHAPTER XLII.
THE STORY OF LADY JANE GREY.
How Lady Jane Grey was called
Queen for ten days, and was
afterwards imprisoned; how she
was fond of learning; how she
was persuaded to become Queen
against her will; and how she
and her husband were put to
death by Queen Mary 163
CHAPTER XLIII.
MARY.—1553 to 1558.
How Sir Thomas Wyat rebelled
against Queen Mary, but was
overcome, and he and many others
were put to death; how she offended
the people by marrying
the King or Spain; and how a
great many people were burnt for
being Protestants 167
CHAPTER XLIV.
ELIZABETH.—1558 to 1603.
How Queen Elizabeth allowed the
people to be Protestants; how
they learned many useful things
from foreigners who had been
persecuted in their own country;
how Mary Queen of Scots was
driven from her kingdom, and
was imprisoned, and at last beheaded,
by Elizabeth 171
CHAPTER XLV.
ELIZABETH.—_continued._
How Queen Elizabeth refused to
marry; how the ships and the
sailors were improved in her
reign; how some great admirals
made many voyages and discoveries;
how the King of Spain
sent a great fleet and army to
conquer England, but could not
succeed; and how the English did
much harm to Spain 177
CHAPTER XLVI.
ELIZABETH.—_continued._
How Ireland was in an evil condition
from the conquest; how Elizabeth
tried to improve it by sending
it wise governors; how the
Earl of Desmond’s and the Earl
of Tyrone’s rebellions were subdued;
how the Earl of Essex behaved
ill, and was put to death;
and how Sir Philip Sidney was
killed in battle 185
CHAPTER XLVII.
JAMES I.—1603 to 1625.
How the King of Scotland became
King of England also; how he
and the Queen behaved very unwisely;
how he ill-treated the
Papists and the Puritans; how
the Papists intended to destroy
the King and the Parliament, but
were prevented; how Prince
Charles and the Duke of Buckingham
visited France and Spain;
how King James did many foolish
things, and left his subjects
discontented 189
CHAPTER XLVIII.
CHARLES I.—1625 to 1649.
How Charles the First was governed
by ill advisers; how he
made the people pay taxes without
the consent of Parliament;
how the Earl of Strafford behaved
very cruelly, and was
beheaded; and how the King’s
evil government caused a Civil
War 196
CHAPTER XLIX.
CHARLES I.—_continued._
How, after many battles had been
fought, King Charles went to
Scotland; how the Scots sold him
to the English Parliament; how
the army got the King into their
power, and appointed judges to
try him, who condemned him to
death; how, after a sad parting
from two of his children, he was
beheaded 202
CHAPTER L.
THE COMMONWEALTH.
1649 to 1660.
How the Scotch chose Prince
Charles to be their King; how
Oliver Cromwell quieted Ireland;
how the Scotch put the Marquis
of Montrose to death; how Prince
Charles’s army was beaten by
Cromwell at Worcester; how the
Prince escaped to France after
many dangers; how the English
went to war with the Dutch, and
beat them; how Cromwell turned
out the Parliament, and was made
Protector: and how be governed
wisely till his death 208
CHAPTER LI.
CHARLES II.—1660 to 1685.
How Richard Cromwell was Protector
for a short time; how the
people chose to have a king again;
how General Monk brought home
Charles the Second; how there
was again a war with the Dutch;
how the great Plague was stopped
by the great Fire; how the King
chose evil counsellors; how the
Scotch and Irish were treated
with great cruelty; how the King
caused Lord Russell and many
more to be put to death 214
CHAPTER LII.
JAMES II.—1685 to 1688.
How the Duke of Monmouth rebelled
against James the Second,
and was beheaded; how Colonel
Kirke and Judge Jeffries committed
great cruelties; how the
people wished to get rid of James
on account of his tyranny; how
the Prince of Orange came over
to England, and was made King;
and how James escaped to
France 223
CHAPTER LIII.
WILLIAM III.—MARY II.
1688 to 1702.
How there were troubles in Scotland
and in Ireland; how William
the Third won the battle of the
Boyne; how he fought against
the French, till they were glad
to make peace; how Queen Mary
was regretted at her death; how
the East India Company was
established; and how King William
did many good things for
England 226
CHAPTER LIV.
QUEEN ANNE.—1702 to 1714.
How Princess Anne became Queen
because she was a Protestant;
how the union of Scotland with
England was brought about; how
the Duke of Marlborough gained
the battle of Blenheim; how
Admiral Rooke took Gibraltar;
how the Queen was governed by
her ladies 232
CHAPTER LV.
GEORGE I.—1714 to 1727.
How the Elector of Hanover became
George the First of England;
how the Pretender tried
to make himself King, but was
defeated; how Lady Nithisdale
saved her husband’s life;
and how the Spaniards were
beaten at sea 237
CHAPTER LVI.
GEORGE II.—1727 to 1760.
How George the Second went to
war with Spain, and with the
French and Bavarians; how the
French were beaten by Lord
Clive in India, and by General
Wolfe in America; how the
young Pretender landed in Scotland,
and proclaimed his father
King; how he was beaten, and
after many dangers escaped to
Italy 240
CHAPTER LVII.
GEORGE III.—1760 to 1820.
How George the Third, after making
a general peace, went to war
with the Americans; how General
Washington beat the English
armies, and procured peace;
why the King went to war with
France; how Napoleon Buonaparte
conquered many countries;
how our admirals and generals
won many battles; and how there
were many useful things found out
in George the Third’s reign, 246
CHAPTER LVIII.
GEORGE IV.—1820 to 1830.
How it was this King ruled the
kingdom before his father died;
how some bad men planned to
kill the King’s ministers; how
the Princess Charlotte died; how
the Turkish fleet was destroyed
at Navarino; how the Roman
Catholics were admitted into Parliament;
and what useful things
were done in this reign, 252
CHAPTER LIX.
WILLIAM IV.—1830 to 1837.
How the Reform Bill was passed;
how slavery in our colonies was
abolished; how there were revolutions
in France and Belgium;
how the cholera broke out; how
railways were established; and
how the Houses of Parliament
were burned down 255
CHAPTER LX.
QUEEN VICTORIA.—1837.
How Hanover was separated from
England; how the Queen married
her cousin, Prince Albert; how a
fresh revolution broke out in
Paris, and how Louis Philippe
escaped to England; how the
Chartists held meetings; how we
went to war with Russia; how
the Sepoys mutinied in India;
how the young men in Great Britain
became volunteers; how
Parliament was reformed the
second time, and means taken to
educate the people; how there
were a great many discoveries
and improvements made 259
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
TOWER OF LONDON _Frontispiece._
GREGORY AND ANGLES Page 17
KING ETHELBERT DECLARES HIMSELF A CHRISTIAN 19
ALFRED LEARNING TO READ 25
ALFRED IN NEATHERD’S COTTAGE 27
KING ALFRED BUILDING HIS NAVY 30
KING EDWARD STABBED BY ORDER OF ELFRIDA 37
WILLIAM RALLIES THE NORMANS AT HASTINGS 46
BATTLE OF HASTINGS 47
DERMOT, KING OF LEINSTER, DOING HOMAGE TO
HENRY II. 61
KING RICHARD I. MADE PRISONER BY THE DUKE OF
AUSTRIA 71
PRINCE ARTHUR AND HUBERT 74
KING JOHN GRANTING MAGNA CHARTA 77
DEATH OF LLEWELLYN, LAST OF THE WELSH PRINCES 86
EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE WAITING ON JOHN, KING
OF FRANCE 100
DEATH OF WAT TYLER 103
HENRY OF HEREFORD CLAIMING THE CROWN OF ENGLAND 106
ESCAPE OF QUEEN MARGARET 123
DEATH OF THE LITTLE PRINCES IN THE TOWER 129
MARRIAGE OF HENRY VII. AND ELIZABETH OF YORK 134
HENRY VIII. EMBARKING FOR FRANCE 140
WOLSEY ENTERING LEICESTER ABBEY 143
THE PROTECTOR SOMERSET ACCUSING HIS BROTHER
BEFORE KING EDWARD VI. 160
LADY JANE GREY REFUSING THE CROWN 165
THE SPANISH ARMADA 182
QUEEN ELIZABETH REVIEWING HER ARMY AT TILBURY 183
KING JAMES I. WITH STEENIE AND BABY CHARLES 193
STRAFFORD GOING TO EXECUTION 200
PARTING OF KING CHARLES AND HIS CHILDREN 206
KING CHARLES I. ON THE SCAFFOLD 207
CROMWELL TURNS OUT THE PARLIAMENT 213
KING CHARLES II. ENTERS LONDON AT HIS RESTORATION 217
MARLBOROUGH AT BLENHEIM 235
THE PRETENDER AT HOLYROOD HOUSE 244
FARMHOUSE OF HOUGOUMONT ON THE FIELD OF
WATERLOO 250
THE MARRIAGE OF QUEEN VICTORIA 261
LITTLE ARTHUR’S
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
[Illustration: Decoration]
CHAPTER I.
The ancient Britons: their houses—clothes—and food.
You know, my dear little Arthur, that the country you live in is
called ENGLAND. It is joined to another country called SCOTLAND, and
the two together are called GREAT BRITAIN.
Now, a very long time ago, Britain was so full of trees, that there
was very little room for houses, and still less for corn-fields, and
there were no gardens.
The houses were made of wicker-work; that is, of sticks put together
like baskets, and plastered over with mud, to keep out the wind and
rain; and the people, who were called Britons, used to build a good
many together, and make a fence round them, to keep the bears, and
the wolves, and the foxes, which lived in their woods, from coming in
the night to steal their sheep, or perhaps to kill their children,
while they were asleep.
These fences were made of great piles of wood and trunks of trees,
laid one upon another till they were as high as a wall; for at that
time the Britons did not know how to build walls of stone or bricks
with mortar.
Several houses, with a fence round them, made a town; and the Britons
had their towns either in the middle of the woods, where they could
hardly be found out, or else on the tops of high hills, from which
they could see everything and everybody that was coming near them.
I do not think the insides of their houses could have been very
comfortable. They had possibly wooden stools to sit on, and wooden
benches for bedsteads, and their beds were made of skins of wild
beasts, spread over dry grass and leaves. In some places they used
the pretty heath that grows upon the commons for beds, and, in
others, nothing but dry leaves spread upon the ground. They had great
wooden bowls to hold their meat, and wooden cups to drink out of; and
in some parts of the country they had coarse earthern, earthen bowls
and pitchers, some of which you may now see in museums.
They had very few tools to make the things they wanted; and yet, by
taking great pains, they made them very neatly. Their boats were very
curious; they were nicely made, of basket-work covered over with
leather; they were called coracles.
You may think that, as the Britons had such poor houses and beds,
they were not much better off for clothes.
In the winter they used to wrap themselves up in the skins of the
beasts they could shoot with their bows and arrows. In the summer
they were naked, and instead of clothes they put paint upon their
bodies. They were very fond of a fine blue color, made out of a
plant, called Woad, which they found in their woods. They squeezed
out the juice of the Woad, and then stained themselves all over with
it, so that in summer they looked as if they were dressed in tight
blue clothes.
They were as ill off for eating as for clothes. Only a few of the
very richest Britons could get bread; the rest of the people ate
acorns and berries, which they found in the woods, instead of bread.
They had beef, mutton, and deer, and hares, and wild birds. They
drank milk, and knew how to make cheese; but most of them were forced
to spend a good deal of time in hunting for wild animals in the
woods, and often went without their dinners when they could not get
near enough to a beast or bird to shoot it with their arrows.
In time, however, the Britons in the south learned how to grow corn,
to work in metal, and other useful things. They traded with the
nearest part of Europe, which is now called France, but was then
named Gaul. They were very brave in war, and fought from chariots,
with blades like scythes sticking out to cut down their enemies.
[Illustration: Decoration]