BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN.

35

8. "See," said King Edward to one of his nobles, "they are asking for mercy." "Yes," was the reply, "but they are asking it of God, and not of Those men will win the battle or die on the

us.

9. The English archers commenced the fight by discharging showers of arrows, but Bruce sent his cavalry amongst them, and as the poor archers had no other weapons than their bows and arrows they could not defend themselves in a hand-to-hand fight, and hundreds of them were slain.

10. Then the English cavalry advanced, but the pits that had been dug caused the horses to stumble,

and the troops were thrown into disorder. While they were struggling to free themselves they fell an easy prey to the watchful Scots.

11. The English hardly knew whether to fight or to run, when suddenly a large body of men appeared on a hill behind the Scottish army. They were the useless servants whom Bruce had sent there out of the way.

12. The English thought that another army had come to help the enemy. They turned and fled from the field as quickly as they could, and the Scots gained a complete victory.

Cav'al-ry, soldiers on horseback. | Fell an easy prey, were easily Con-tin'u-ed, carried on.

killed.
Glit'ter-ing, sparkling.

Brush'wood, bushes.

When Edward the First died there was war between England and Scotland. The war was continued by his son Edward the Second. A great battle was fought at Bannockburn, near Stirling. Robert Bruce, the Scottish king and leader, was a good soldier, but Edward was not. Bruce dug pits in front of his army, and placed sharp stakes in them. When the English horse soldiers went to attack the Scots they fell into the pits and were easily killed. The English mistook the useless servants (whom Bruce had sent out of the way) for another army, and fled from the field. The Scots gained a complete victory.

XIV.-A PRINCE'S MOTTO: "I SERVE."

1. Edward the Third tried to conquer France, and a famous battle was fought at Cressy. One division of the English army was commanded by the Prince of Wales, who was also called the Black Prince, from the colour of his armour.

2. When the French reached the battle-field their

A PRINCE'S MOTTO: "I SERVE."

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archers were ordered to begin the fight. With a great leap and cry they advanced. The English stood quite still. Then there followed other leaps and cries, but the English neither moved nor took any notice.

3. When the archers saw that shouting would not make the English run as they had hoped, they began to use their bows. Then the English drew their bows also. Their arrows flew so thickly that it seemed like a storm of snow, and the enemy's archers were soon obliged to flee:

4. During the battle, as that part of the army commanded by the Black Prince was in some danger of being beaten, one of the nobles with the prince sent to ask for help from the king (who was watching the battle from a windmill).

5. "Is my son killed, or wounded, or thrown from his horse?" asked the king. No, sire," was the reply, "but he is hard pressed by the French."

6. "Then," returned the king, "say to them that sent you that they are to allow my son this day to win his spurs, and are not to ask me for aid while he is alive." This message made the English fight still more bravely, and in the end they gained a great victory.

7. Amongst those slain on the side of the French was the blind King of Bohemia. Wishing to set a good example, he asked two gentlemen to lead him where he could strike one blow at the English. Fastening the bridles of the three horses together they rode into the thick of the fight, and were all killed.

Edward the Third tried to conquer France, and a great battle was fought at Cressy. The Prince of Wales commanded a part of the English army. The king watched the battle from a windmill. Some of the nobles sent to Henry to ask for more help for the prince. The king refused, and said they were not to ask for more aid while his son was alive, and that they were to let the prince win his spurs. In the end the English gained a great victory. On the field the Prince of Wales found the crest and motto of the King of Bohemia, who was slain. The crest had three ostrich feathers and the motto was, "I serve." The prince took them for his own, and his successors have worn them ever since.

WAT TYLER.

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XV.-WAT TYLER.

1. In the reign of Richard the Second the peasants became very discontented with their condition, and disliked paying the heavy taxes required by the king. They thought, therefore, that they would try to change some of the old laws and customs.

2. Their chief leader was a Kentish man, known as Wat Tyler. He belonged to Dartford, and was a tiler by trade. The manner in which one of the tax-gatherers behaved to Wat Tyler's daughter so enraged the father that he killed him on the spot. Thousands of men gathered round Tyler and marched to London. There they did a great deal of damage.

3. They set fire to a number of houses and public buildings, and put to death the great men who, they thought, had advised the king to make the people pay such heavy taxes.

4. The next day, as the king was riding through Smithfield, he met Wat Tyler and his followers. As soon as Wat caught sight of the royal party he said to his men, "There is the king! Stay you here while I go and speak to him.”

5. Wat Tyler was mounted, and putting spurs to his horse, he rode boldly forward. He went close up to the king and said, " King, do you see all those men there?" 'Of course I do," replied Richard, "why do you ask such a question?" "Because," answered Wat, "they have all promised to do as I tell them."