BRITAIN IN THE MIDDLE AGES A HISTORY FOR BEGINNERS CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS C. F. CLAY, Manager LONDON: FETTER LANE, E. C. 4 NEW YORK: G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS BOMBAY } CALCUTTA } MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD. MADRAS } TORONTO: J. M. DENT AND SONS, LTD. TOKYO: MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KAISHA All Rights Reserved [Illustration: THE ARMING OF A KNIGHT] BRITAIN IN THE MIDDLE AGES A HISTORY FOR BEGINNERS BY FLORENCE L. BOWMAN, M.Ed. FINAL HONOUR SCHOOL OF MODERN HISTORY, OXFORD LECTURER IN EDUCATION, HOMERTON COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGE AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS 1920 _First Edition_ 1919 _Second Edition_ 1920 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