Stories from English History

ed years h

had come from across the sea to conquer the country and d

ting, and were never at peace. The country was divided into a number of little kingdoms, which were

. Not finding any one at hand to resist them, the Bernicians began to lay waste the country as they passed. All the men of that neighbourhood seemed to be absent th

the hillside. It was evening, and the smoke was rising tranquilly into the a

their best to defend themselves; but being unprepared and armed for the most part only with clubs and ploughshares, they were qui

ried off by the

the cottages, which their destroyers had set on fire a

d to be mostly old people, together with some tre

no good. What do we want with old folk?-But these,' he added, pointing to t

posting sentries to keep a look-out, the raiders sat down to feast upon some of the

to say there was something in the distan

t of our way homeward. Our big bonfire is bright

horses. Each prisoner was made to mount beside one of his captors,

d. Either they had not yet been missed, or else their rescuers

, only looked on helplessly as the troop swept by, and were unable to do anything. Once, seeing

ns, and the children were handed over to the families o

they met together in the evening, after the day's work was done, they would make plans for r

r to see their nat

o traded with the far-away countries of Gaul and I

the rosy faces and st

y can go on board. The Roman ladies like fine boys like these to wait upon them. It is waste t

the children; and then the boys had to follow their ne

in and seamen of the vessel. Presently the sails were unfurled, and the vessel left the shore, the men singing as they worked. No one paid any attention to

re about to become the means of bringing happiness and peace to their

long voyage, they were taken to

onfusion and fear as they looked

n; brought together from many parts of the world. People in strange bright dresses were always passing; some coming to buy slaves, some to meet their friends, a

m the rest. He wore a plain dark gown, with sandals on his feet. A long silvery beard flow

s loved by all the people of Rome

eople who were waiting to be sold. When he came to the English boys he p

he asked the trader who

gles,' repli

els,' said Gregory; 'for th

htfully, and asked the trader whet

t; 'the Angles are heathens, a

said the good monk. 'What is

place called Deira

ory seemed to find a meaning in all the nam

they shall be called to Christ's mercy.-And

eplied th

and he passed on his way with a silent vow that one day he would

h the captive children does not say what became of them after this. Surely they found good masters and happy homes; for it was th

undertake the long journey to the savage country of England and to teach the true religion to its inhabitants. But when the Roman people found that he was going to leave

nd dying as heathens. About four years after the meeting with the b

name of Augustine at their head, was chosen

hrough Italy and Switzerland, staying sometimes at the monasteries on their way. At last they were in Gaul, a

who were glad to meet the brave missionaries who had been sen

ct,' said a monk who had been listening very at

to look at

the daughter of our good King? Bertha is a Christian, and surely her husband wi

Ethelbert to prepare him for the coming of Augustine, and a few days

ssionaries had actually set foot

en her a little church of her own to do as she likes in; still, I'm not ver

hear what they had to say, provided that the meeting should take place out of do

, and the band of monks approached, bearing a silver c

m about the Christian religion, and invited him to

nge. I cannot leave all at once what I and my English folk have believed for so long. But let me th

wer. Bearing their silver cross in front o

O Lord,' they sang,

ang 'Alleluia' in the streets, whil

. So well did the good monks speak that after a little while the king consented to become a Christian, an

n; but he was a heathen. Among the people who accompanied the young queen to her northern home was her chaplain Paulinus, and

the words of his queen and of Paul

is wise men together, and

h black hair falling round his dark, eager face, spoke to

thoughtfully; and they as

le an old m

the hall when one is sitting at meat in the winter-tide. The warm fire is li

w is falling, and th

ne door and goes out by the other; and passes from winter to winter. For a moment she has rest; fo

moment

soon over, and she is out in the sto

a moment, what has gone before, and what will come a

d the grave-if they can tell us whence man comes and whither

them by this story that the new religion told them

riest of the heathen gods whom the

this hall has served the gods more faithfully th

g, the king rose up and said, 'Let us worshi

be the first to throw down the altar of t

se and weapons, and I will overthrow the temple of the false gods. Foll

priest rushed from the hall and

by a number of people who left their work or the cattle they were tend

k, afraid to enter, but the priest burst open the door wi

others remained outside, wondering what dr

at wooden figure of the god rising above it; a monstrous thing painted in gaudy colours, with

about to take some

the temple as the priest hurle

others remained huddled at th

hing ha

before, without a change in its face. No thunder came down from heaven

nd dragged it out of doors, while the people threw themselves upon the temple and pulled it to pieces. After that they tore up the hedge that surrounded the temple; and with the

t home, and were ba