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XXIV.-GUY FAWKES.

1. It would not be easy to find a boy or a girl who had never heard of the "Gunpowder Plot," although not many, perhaps, would know much about it.

2. While James the First was king, a few of the Roman Catholics thought they would try to change the government, and again set up their religion in England.

3. They thought that the best plan would be to blow up the House of Lords with gunpowder, when the king and the nobles were present at the opening of Parliament.

4. At first there were only six gentlemen in the plot, one of them being the noted Guy Fawkes. They hired a house standing next to the Parliament building, and worked hard for many weeks, trying to make a hole through the wall into the vaults under the House of Lords.

5. Before they had finished their task, they found that they could hire the vault, and of course did so at once.

6. Their next step was to place in it thirty-six barrels of gunpowder. That these might not be seen they were covered over with faggots.

7. When all was ready Guy Fawkes and his friends went into different parts of the country to induce others to join them. This led to the discovery of the plot.

8. One of the gentlemen whose help they sought sent a letter to a nobleman, warning him not to go to the opening of Parliament, which would take

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place in a day or two. The letter was shown to the king, and orders were given to search the vaults to see if anything dangerous was hidden there.

9. Parliament was to meet on the 5th of November, 1605. On the previous night Guy Fawkes went to the vault, ready to set light to the powder in the morning, when the king and the nobles would be in the house above.

10. In his left hand Fawkes held a lantern, and in his right a sword. As time went on he became weary, and sat down to rest. By and bye, while he was sitting quietly, with his head on his breast, as if going to sleep, the door was burst open, and he was seized by twelve soldiers.

11. He was taken before the king and questioned. He was then sent to the Tower, where he remained until he was executed. Many of the others who were in the plot were also death.

taken and punished with

Faggots, bundles of sticks for The House of Lords, one of the

fuel.

Fin'ish-ed, ended.

Houses of Parliament.
Vaults, cellars.

Pre'vi-ous, going before.

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While James the First was king, some of the Roman Catholics thought they would try to change the government, and set up their religion in England again. At first only Guy Fawkes and five others were in the plot. In the vault under the House of Lords they placed thirty-six barrels of gunpowder, with which they hoped to blow up the House and kill the king and the nobles. The plot was found out by means of a letter sent to a nobleman. Guy Fawkes was found in the vault. He and many of the others in the plot were executed.

XXV. THE PILGRIM FATHERS.

1. Many years ago the people of England were not allowed to worship God in the way which they thought best. Some of them, therefore, left the country and went to live in America.

2. The first who departed are known as "The Pilgrim Fathers." They were called Pilgrims because they were wanderers from one country to another, and Fathers because they were the founders of a new nation.

3. Their home in England was a little town in the county of Nottinghamshire, and they lived there when James the First was king.

4. Instead of going to the church, they met at the house of one of their number to sing and pray and listen to the preaching of their own minister. For doing this they were punished and treated so cruelly that they resolved to leave the country.

5. They took their goods and went on board a ship to go to Holland. Before they could sail they were attacked by soldiers and driven on shore. For some weeks they were kept in prison, but at last they were allowed to return to their homes.

6. Next year they tried again to leave the country, and were able to get across to Holland. They lived happily there for some years, and then they thought they would like to go to America. They were poor people and could only raise money enough for about a hundred to go in the first ship.

7. When they were ready to start they all knelt lown on the sea-shore, while the minister prayed

THE PILGRIM FATHERS.

63

to God to bless them and to grant them a safe voyage. Then they went on board, and set sail for their new home.

8. The ship in which they started was not a good one, and when they reached Plymouth they had to obtain another. This one was called The Mayflower. It was only a very small vessel and not suited for carrying so many persons such a long way.

9. They had a stormy passage, and were very glad when they came in sight of the New World. When they landed, they stepped ashore on a huge rock, which is still carefully preserved, and is called the Pilgrim's Rock.

10. They gave the name of New Plymouth to the town which they built, in memory of the kindness they had met with at Plymouth in England.

11. Next year they were joined by more of their friends, and although at first the Pilgrims suffered many hardships, and often had not enough to eat, yet, in course of time, they became very prosperous.

Holland, a country in Europe, on

the shore of the North Sea. Huge, very large.

Min'is-ter, a preacher.

The Pilgrim Fathers,

Plym'outh, a seaport on the south
coast of England.
Pros'per-ous, very well off.
Re-solv'ed, made up their minds.
A.D. 1620.

SUMMARY.

The Pilgrim Fathers were English people who left their country in the reign of James the First, because they were not allowed to worship God in the way they thought best. They went to Holland first, but after living there some years they sailed to America. They were called Pilgrims because they were wanderers from one country to another, and Fathers because they founded a new nation. They gave the name of New Plymouth to the town they built. At first they suffered many hardships, but in course of time they became very

prosperous.

XXVI.-A KING'S HEAD CUT OFF

1. Charles the First did so many unlawful things that at last war broke out between him and Parliament. The war lasted for more than six years, and ended in the total defeat of the king's party, while the king himself was taken prisoner.

2. The Parliament then ordered that the king should be tried for making war on the people. He was found guilty, and sentenced to death. Three days were allowed him to prepare for his end.

3. Charles wished very much to see his children once more before he died. He asked that they might be allowed to visit him, and his request was readily granted. There were only two of them in England-Prince Henry, who was about nine years old, and the Princess Elizabeth, who was nearly thirteen.

4. It must have been a very sad meeting, and no doubt the king spoke many loving words to the poor children, whom he would never see again in this world. He also took great pains to make his little son understand that the crown did not belong to him, but to his eldest brother.

5. "Mark, child, what I say," said the king, drawing the poor boy close to him. "They will cut off my head, and perhaps make thee a king; but thou must not be a king while thy brothers Charles and James are alive. They will cut off thy brothers' heads when they can catch them, and cut off thy head at last too, so do not be made a king by them."

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