Part 32

Even before the invasions began, missionaries went among the German tribes on the frontiers to preach the religion of Christ. Many of the Germans had accepted the new religion either before or soon after entering Roman territory. Clovis, king of the Franks, was influenced by his Christian wife to accept the new religion. His army followed, and was baptized with its leader.

[Sidenote: =England becomes Christian=]

Missionaries under Augustine were sent from Rome to England. Through their earnest preaching and noble living the king of Kent and his followers accepted the new religion. A church was built at Canterbury. Others carried on the work until all England had accepted Christianity. Other missionaries went to the northern Germans, and many of these people became Christians.

These early missionaries were mostly monks. Their homes (monasteries) were like small settlements among the people. They not only preached the new religion, but showed people better ways of farming and living. In their schools, they taught people to read and write.

CHARLES THE GREAT, RULER OF THE FRANKS

=297. Charlemagne.= While the Germans were still moving into the Roman Empire the Franks had set up a government under Clovis. They had become Christians and lived on friendly terms with the church. They grew strong and settled down to a more orderly and quiet way of living. Their first great king, Charles Martel, the Hammer, checked the invasion of the Mohammedans at Tours (732), and again Europe and Christianity were saved. But the greatest of all the leaders of the Franks was Charlemagne, the grandson of Charles Martel, for he was not only a great conqueror but a wise and able ruler.

Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was by far the most famous man of his time. He seemed to be a happy fusion of Germanic strength and Roman learning. He was tall and strong, with large, bright eyes, fair hair, and a face round and laughing. He exercised much, riding, hunting, and swimming. He liked the Frankish costume: "... next to his skin a linen shirt and linen breeches, and above these a tunic fringed with silk; while hose fastened by bands covered his lower limbs, and shoes his feet, and he shielded his shoulders and chest in winter by a close-fitting coat of otter or marten skin. Over all he cast a blue coat: always too he had a sword girt about him."

[Sidenote: =Character of Charles=]

[Sidenote: =The School of the Palace=]

Charles ate and drank with care, never taking too much of either food or drink. During his meals his attendants entertained him with reading and music. He liked the stories and deeds of the olden time and the books of Augustine. He was a good speaker, easily understood. He loved learning, but had little education himself. He had the famous School of the Palace in his own home to educate his own children and those of the nobles. Wise teachers like Peter of Pisa, and Alcuin of England were brought to his court. He helped the priests in their study and in building schools. Charles loved the church and gave much to aid its educational and religious work. He really brought learning to the people.

[Sidenote: =Charlemagne's wars=]

Charles the Great was for three years ruler with his father (768-771), then sole ruler until 814. His kingdom was surrounded on all sides by fierce enemies. Most of his long rule was taken up in fighting the wild Germans to the north and east, the Arabs in Spain, or the Lombards and others to protect the church in Italy. He was a great warrior. Before his death he had brought most of western Europe under his rule.

[Sidenote: =Crowned Emperor of Rome=]

=298. The Crowning of Charlemagne.= So successful was he that it seemed the Roman Empire was again to live in the memories of men. God was surely with him. How simple it then seemed to bestow the symbol of divine blessing upon Charles! On Christmas day, 800, Charles was in Rome. And on that sacred day of the Christians he entered the great church and knelt in prayer before the altar. In that solemn moment the pope, as the messenger on earth of God, quietly stepped to where Charles was kneeling. Lifting the crown which he held in his hands, he placed it upon the head of the king of the Franks and proclaimed him Emperor of Rome (800). What glorious memories it must have brought to the thousands gathered there! In their joy they cried out: "Long life and victory to the mighty Charles, the great and pacific emperor of the Romans, crowned of God!"

[Sidenote: =How he governed=]

=299. The Ruler Charlemagne.= Charles was a great ruler as well as soldier. He divided his territory into districts over each of which a count ruled. An army officer cared for all military matters. At certain times inspectors passed over the several districts. These three officers reported directly to Charles and were checks on the conduct of each other.

[Sidenote: =His just laws=]

Some of the orders which he sent to his officers show how great and just a ruler he was. He orders that "all shall live entirely in accordance with God's precept, justly and under a just rule, and each one shall be admonished to live in harmony with his fellows." Let no one "do injury to the churches of God, or to the poor, or the widows, or the wards, or any Christian." He then lays down the rules of living for the clergy, nuns, bishops, and other church officers, that their lives may be holy and their influence good.

He wanted to see justice done all over his kingdom--to the poor as well as to the rich. Wonderful stories, some true, have been woven about the name of the great emperor.

[Sidenote: =Why his empire fell=]

He built up a great empire, but it was too great to live long. There were too many races with different ways of living, and the provinces were too far apart. When the strength and wisdom of his hand and head passed away in death, the great empire began to crumble and fall apart.

SUGGESTIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE PUPILS

=The Leading Facts.= _1._ Julius Caesar takes the popular side. _2._ Governor of Gaul. _3._ Conquest of Gaul and the Germans. _4._ Caesar invades Britain. _5._ Crosses the Rubicon and becomes ruler of the Roman Empire. _6._ Why he was assassinated. _7._ What Rome gave to the world. _8._ Rome famous for its wonderful buildings and roads. _9._ Her great literature. _10._ How Rome prepared the way for Christianity. _11._ Coming of the Huns and Teutons marks the downfall of Rome. _12._ The removal of the Roman emperor and Odoacer made king. _13._ Anglo-Saxons in Britain. _14._ Rome takes Christianity to the Germans. _15._ Charles the Great. _16._ The Palace School. _17._ The crowning of Charlemagne.

=Study Questions.= _1._ Who was Julius Caesar? _2._ What did he do to make people remember him? _3._ Why did good men join in murdering him? _4._ Name the different things given to the world by Rome? _5._ Explain how Rome helped Christianity. _6._ Who were the Huns and the Teutons? _7._ Tell about the following in Charlemagne's career: (1) The battle of Tours; (2) How Charlemagne looked and dressed; (3) His Palace School; (4) How he ruled the Franks; (5) How he was crowned; (6) Why his empire crumbled at his death.

=Suggested Readings.= Tappan, _The Story of the Roman People_, 123-237; Harding, _The City of the Seven Hills_, 184-211; Yonge, _Young Folks' History of Rome_, 229; Clarke, _The Story of Caesar_; Guerber, _The Story of the Romans_.

THE COMING OF THE NORTHMEN

[Sidenote: =The vessels of the Northmen=]

=300. The Vikings or Sea-Rovers.= The Northmen lived in the lands of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. They lived on the inlets of the ocean, or viks, and were called "vikings." Their boats were long, and each one had a high prow with the head of a dragon or other fierce-looking animal upon it. They drove their vessels by sail or oar. Often there were as many as fifty rowers in a boat, their bright shields hanging over the sides. When the sun shone on them they looked like great moving lights. The Northmen were great sea-rovers and pirates.

[Sidenote: =Movements of the Northmen=]

In the eighth and ninth centuries these Northmen or Norsemen began moving out in great bands. Some overran the northern part of France and settled on the river Seine. They were called "Normans," and this region is now Normandy. Others sailed to the west and founded Iceland and Greenland. And their "sagas" or records tell us that Leif Ericson and his men even sailed as far as the coast of North America, although the settlements they made then did not prove to be lasting.

[Sidenote: =The conquest of England=]

The Northmen, called Danes by the English, had made many attacks on the coasts of England. Now they came in armies to take the land for homes. As they were heathen they took the riches from the churches and slew the priests. They captured place after place, driving the English before them, until the greater part of England fell into their hands. Young Alfred, king of Wessex, finally forced them to stop. While he drove them back some distance, he could not make them leave England.

ALFRED THE GREAT

[Sidenote: =Childhood of Alfred=]

=301. Alfred the Boy.= Alfred was born in 849. His mother was a good woman who gave much time and care to her children. Alfred learned early to read and to love books. A story is told of how Alfred won a beautiful book as a prize from his mother for learning to read it sooner than the other children. He spent much time in learning about wise men, in order to become wise himself.

[Sidenote: =Alfred fights the Danes=]

As he grew older he found other serious work to do. He aided his brother Ethelred, king of Wessex, to give battle to the Danes, who were moving south. In one battle Alfred led the English "with the rush of a wild boar," and defeated the Danes. Later the Danes drove them back and killed the English king. Alfred now became king of Wessex (871).

[Sidenote: =The story of the cakes=]

=302. Alfred as King.= Soon after Alfred became king his army was beaten and his men fled. With a little band of followers he hid in the marshes and there built a fort on an island. A story is told of how he was lost while wandering alone, and asked for shelter at the hut of a herdsman. The good wife told him to watch some cakes on the fire while she was busy. Alfred was bending his bow and arrows, and forgetting the cakes, let them burn. When she came back and saw the burnt cakes the good wife scolded the king.

"Can't you mind the cakes, man? And don't you see them burn? I'm bound you'll eat them fast enough, As soon as 'tis the turn."

Of course she did not know he was the king or she would not have scolded him.

[Sidenote: =Makes a treaty with the Danes=]

The next spring Alfred raised a large army, drove the Danes back, and forced them to make peace. By this treaty, and another later one, the Danes were given that part of England north and west of the river Thames. Alfred and his people ruled over the country south of them. The land of the Danes was called "Danelagh." They soon settled down to till the soil. Years later they became Christians and intermarried with the English.

To protect England from other sea-rovers, Alfred now built many ships, and thus became the father of the English navy. The army was also made larger. Later, Vikings again reached the shores of England, but Alfred's navy beat them off. Peaceful times now gave Alfred a chance to help his people in other ways.

=303. What Alfred Did for England.= It is difficult to know what the law is if it is not written, and injustice is often done to the people. Alfred now began the work of collecting and changing the laws of England. It is interesting to know what he thought of his work, as shown in his writing: "I, Alfred, gathered these laws together, and commanded many of them to be written which our forefathers held, those which seemed to me good. And many of those which seemed to me not good, I rejected, and in other wise commanded them to be held. For I durst not venture to set down in writing much of my own, for it was unknown to me what if it would please those who should come after us."

[Sidenote: =Advances learning=]

In those far-away days learning and schools were found in monasteries and in the churches. When the Danes came they destroyed most of these buildings. The people, therefore, were growing up in ignorance. Alfred felt then, as we feel now, that the people should be educated. So he invited wise men from other countries to come to England to teach his people. He built many churches and monasteries, and set up schools where the people might go to learn. But there must be books for them to read.

The learning of that day was mostly in Latin. Besides the priests and monks very few could read that language. "I wondered extremely," said Alfred, "that the good and wise men who were formerly all over England, and had perfectly learned all the books, did not wish to translate them into their own tongue."

[Sidenote: =Translates Latin books into English=]

He now began earnestly the work of making English books for his people. He translated a book containing a history of the world, and an account of two voyages to the north seas. He then put into English the famous book _Bede's History of England_. A book on religion by Pope Gregory the Great, and another of wise sayings, were soon after translated into English. In this way Alfred helped his people to learn to read, and to read good books. The English people have saved these works that their children for many generations to come might learn good things from them. Now, however, they must be translated into the English of our day before most of us can read them, for our language has changed greatly since Alfred's time.

Alfred also helped his people to learn new trades, and to do their work better in those trades they already knew. He had skilled workers from other countries come to England to help his people.

[Sidenote: =King Alfred's purpose=]

Alfred was a true and good man. He loved his home and his people. He said: "To sum up all, 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."

[Sidenote: =His time well-ordered=]

The daily life of the king was orderly. The twenty-four hours were divided into three parts; eight hours were given to the business of the people (governing), eight hours to study and prayer, and eight hours to exercise and rest. "As he had no clock, he measured out his time by burning candles, each of which lasted for four hours. In order that the candles might burn evenly and mark the time properly, he enclosed them in lanterns of thin horn" which he had invented.

[Sidenote: =Alfred the Great=]

Good King Alfred died in 901. A thousand years later the English raised a statue to him at Winchester. Because of his many good works he is called "Alfred the Great." He is one of the noblest men in all history.

THE NORMAN CONQUEST

=304. England Conquered Many Times.= England had been conquered by the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Danes. Now she was conquered for the last time. The people who defeated her were the Normans of France. We have seen them come into France when the Normans scattered from their native lands in the north of Europe.

After Alfred died several kings ruled in England. When Harold was chosen king, the Duke of Normandy claimed the throne of England. He made this claim on the ground that the former English king had promised it to him. The Duke of Normandy has always been called William the Conqueror. He was a stern man who knew how to rule and fight. To establish his claim to the English throne he gathered together an army, crossed the Channel, and landed at Senlac, near Hastings.

=305. The Battle of Hastings (1066).= Harold had gathered his soldiers to resist the Normans. They fought bravely, as any good soldiers do when defending their native land. "All day long they stood stubbornly together on a hilltop and beat back every attack with their swords and axes." When Harold was wounded, his men still fought on. William of Normandy now thought of a trick. He ordered his soldiers to pretend to be beaten and to retreat. This they did. The English soldiers now rushed forward to follow on their heels and cut down as many as they could. What was their dismay to see the Normans turning around and cutting down the English! When night came the English army was no more.

[Sidenote: =Character of the Normans=]

England had staked all and had lost. Most of the country gave up. William was crowned king. He divided the land among his nobles, and England, which was democratic under the Anglo-Saxon became aristocratic under the rule of William. The Normans built the huge castles and cathedrals that dot the face of England. From their castles they lorded it over the Anglo-Saxon. But slowly this condition changed. After many years Normans and Anglo-Saxons commenced to grow friendly and their sons and daughters began to marry one another. The fusion of these two classes made the English people a more hardy and daring race than before.

[Sidenote: =How the Anglo-Saxons conquered the Normans=]

The local institutions which had grown up under the Anglo-Saxons now began to appear again. And in time the Normans may be said to have been conquered by the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxon way of doing things belonged to the shire, the county, and the township. The people were called together in the different districts and practiced self-government.

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE GREAT CHARTER

[Sidenote: =Lawlessness of the nobles=]

=306. Henry II a Great Ruler.= Nearly a hundred years had gone by since William the Conqueror ruled England. There was great confusion in England. The Norman nobles were doing about as they pleased. They rode forth from their castles with their little armies and attacked each other, or attacked the citizens of a town, sometimes murdering them.

Then Henry II, the grandson of William the Conqueror, came to the throne. He was like his ancestor in many ways. He could brook no opposition. He was short and powerfully built. "He had red hair, a bull neck, and bow legs." He was careless about his dress, but was a hard worker. He saw that England needed order first. He therefore first of all compelled the nobles to behave by destroying some of their castles and driving the soldiers, which they had hired, back to France.

[Sidenote: =Trial by jury=]

He changed the way of finding out whether or not a man was guilty. Instead of employing the "ordeal by fire," by water, or by battle, he sent judges around to different places. These judges called together sixteen good men who told them about those who they thought had broken the law. These men made up the Grand Jury.

Twelve other men were selected to examine into all the facts of a given case before the man was condemned or set free. This way of "trying men by jury" was a great improvement over the old way. In these ways Henry II brought the evildoers in England, whether high or low, to obey the law or be severely punished. England was now once more an orderly country.

[Sidenote: =John a worthless king=]

=307. King John and the Pope.= The son of Henry II, John, was about the worst king that England ever had. John was bad; he would not keep a promise, was a great liar, was cruel, was cowardly, was a traitor and a tyrant.

[Sidenote: =All the churches closed=]

Ever since the days of William the Conqueror the kings of England had been the dukes of Normandy. In a war with the French king, John lost all of Normandy. The Pope named as Archbishop of Canterbury a man whom John opposed. The Pope and John quarreled. "The Pope closed every church in England. No bells rang to call the people to prayer or to service on the Sabbath. No priest could preach. The dead could not be buried; the living might not marry. Every church stood silent and grass grew about the doors."

The Pope called on the king of France to take John's place, for in the eyes of the Pope John was no longer king of England. John turned about and begged for the Pope's mercy. He promised to submit to his will and to pay him a large amount of money each year.

[Sidenote: =The barons revolt=]

=308. John Compelled to Grant Magna Charta.= John was so cruel to his own people that the barons rose in revolt. Their forefathers had been free, and "why not we?" they asked. John only "laughed in his sleeve." But the barons meant business. They met in a meadow, called Runnymede, and summoned the king to face them. He came.

[Sidenote: =The meeting at Runnymede=]

It was a great scene. There stood the barons with their soldiers not far away. Their faces showed their anger and their decision to have their rights. The head of every house had his great banner which he had carried to victory on many a field of battle. But worse than all, there John saw the very Archbishop of Canterbury whom he had refused to permit to enter England. John was furious, but he could not help himself, for he heard the clanking of cold steel all around him.

[Sidenote: =What the Great Charter meant=]

The barons told him plainly that he must give all England a pledge to do right according to England's law. They told him that this promise must be signed by his own hand and on the signed paper he must place the royal seal. This great paper is called the Great Charter--"Magna Charta" (1215). Englishmen love it and have often shed their blood in defense of it.

[Sidenote: =The Petition of Right=]

For more than four hundred years this charter was the foundation of the rights of Englishmen. But they found in the charter only the old laws which had come down from good Edward the Confessor (1042-1066). In 1628 another English king, Charles I, was compelled by Parliament to sign another charter, called the "Petition of Right." In this new pledge to the English people they found nothing very new but mostly the old laws or principles contained in Magna Charta.

[Sidenote: =The Bill of Rights=]

When James II was driven from the throne by the English people they drew another charter, which King William signed (1689). This was called the "Bill of Rights." In this there were not many new things, but it contained mostly the principles of Magna Charta and the Petition of Right. Besides, this last charter contained several rules which made Parliament superior to the king.

When the American people after their Revolution came to make a Constitution, they put in it many principles found in the English Bill of Rights. We ought to admire and love our Constitution because it contains ideas that have been tried out for more than ten centuries.

SUGGESTIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE PUPIL

=The Leading Facts.= _1._ England almost ruined by the Danes. _2._ Alfred's youth. _3._ Alfred as king. _4._ What he did for his people. _5._ The Norman conquest. _6._ Battle of Hastings. _7._ Norman nobles built castles and brought confusion to England after William's time. _8._ The Normans and Anglo-Saxons mix. _9._ Henry II a great king. _10._ Nobles forced to behave. _11._ Established the Grand Jury and the jury to try cases. _12._ King John lost Normandy and quarreled with the Pope. _13._ John submits to the Pope. _14._ Barons at Runnymede force John to sign Magna Charta. _15._ The Petition of Right, the Bill of Rights, and the American Constitution.