RECAPITULATION. 45 RECAPITULATION. FROM THE COMING OF THE NORMANS TO THE WAR OF THE ROSES. Battle of Lewes (Henry III. taken prisoner), Wales conquered, Battle of Bannockburn (Scots defeated the English), Battle of Cressy (English defeated French), Wat Tyler, : The Maid of Orleans, War of the Roses began, Battle of Hexham, A.D. 1125. 1170. PERSONS MENTIONED. Sir Walter Tyrrel.-The gentleman who killed the Red King. Fitzstephen. The captain of The White Ship. Thomas à Becket.-Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of Henry II. He was murdered in the cathedral by four knights. Simon de Montfort.-A powerful nobleman in the reign of Henry III. He was killed in the battle of Evesham. Llewellyn.-The Prince of Wales who was defeated and executed by Edward I. Robert Bruce.-King of Scotland. He defeated the English under Edward II. at the battle of Bannockburn. The Black Prince.-The son of Edward III. The King of Bohemia.-A blind king slain at the battle of Cressy. His crest of three ostrich feathers was afterwards worn by the Prince of Wales. Wat Tyler. The leader of the discontented peasants in the reign of Richard II. Joan of Arc.-A French peasant girl. She was made a general in the French army, and fought against the English. PLACES AND COUNTRIES. Winchester.-A cathedral city in Hampshire. The burial-place of the Red King. Canterbury.-A cathedral city in Kent, where Thomas à Becket was murdered. Lewes. A town in Sussex. A battle was fought there between Henry III. and De Montfort. The king was defeated and taken prisoner. Evesham, in Worcestershire, where De Montfort was slain in battle. Carnarvon. --A town in South Wales, the birthplace of the first English Prince of Wales, who became Edward II. Bannockburn.-A stream in Scotland, near which King Robert Bruce defeated the English under Edward II. Stirling. A town in Scotland, near which the battle of Bannockburn was fought. Cressy.-A village in France, near which the French were defeated by the English in the time of Edward III. Orleans.-A town in France from which the English were driven by Joan of Arc. Rheims. The French city to which Joan of Arc took her king to be crowned. Hexham, in Northumberland, where one of the battles in the War of the Roses was fought. THE FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN ENGLAND. 47 XVIII. THE FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN ENGLAND. 1. In olden times books instead of being printed were written. It is only a little more than four hundred years since the art of printing was invented. 2. As writing is much slower work than printing, those old books cost a great deal of money. They were so valuable that very often a person who borrowed one was required to place something of equal worth in the hands of the owner, to be kept by him until such time as the book was safely returned. 3. The first English printer was a gentleman named Caxton. He was a London merchant. His business took him to the Continent; and it was while living there that he learned the art which made him so famous. 4. Just at that time the Germans had found out the way to make separate letters in metal, and to use them for printing. Caxton was so pleased with the invention that he made up his mind to become a printer. 5. When he had learned his new business he returned to his own country, and set up a printing press in London. The first book which he printed was "The Game of Chess." 6. King Edward the Fourth, in whose reign Caxton lived, encouraged him greatly. Many of the nobles, too, were very friendly, and bought his books. 7. When Caxton first opened his printing office the king and queen paid him a visit, that they might see how the new kind of work was done. 8. Caxton printed altogether about fifty books, and before his death he had the pleasure of seeing several other printing presses set up in London. The first English printer was a gentleman named Caxton. He learned the art of printing in Germany. The first book which he printed was "The Game of Chess." He lived in the reign of Edward the Fourth. The king encouraged Caxton, and so did many of the nobles. Before Caxton died several other printers began work in London. XIX. THE MURDER OF THE PRINCES. 1. When Edward the Fourth died he left behind him two little boys, the eldest of whom became king, and is known to us as Edward the Fifth. He was only twelve years old when he began to reign. 2. One of the king's uncles, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was a very bad man. Instead of being kind to the poor children, and trying to take the place of the father whom they had lost, he thought only of how he might get rid of them, and obtain the crown for himself. 3. Richard soon managed to get the young king and his brother into his power, and sent them to THE MURDER OF THE PRINCES. 49 live in the Tower of London. In those days the kings of England often used to live in the Tower, as well as keep their prisoners there. 4. By and bye Richard said that his nephew had no right to the crown, and although this was untrue, some of the people believed it, and asked Richard himself to be king. As this was just what he wanted, he agreed to be crowned, and is known in history as Richard the Third. 5. He soon began to be afraid, however, that the people would be tired of him, and wish to have their boy-king back again. He ordered the commander of the Tower, therefore, to put Edward and his brother to death. E. H. III. D |