Reigned 11891199.

Son of Henry II.; succeeded his father in 1189 as King Richard I. Of the ten years of his reign, six months only were spent in England; his life was pa.s.sed in the crusades in the Holy Land, when after taking Acre he attacked Jerusalem, but without success. On his return through Germany, after being shipwrecked, he was imprisoned by the emperor, and was not released until he had paid a heavy ransom. Shortly after his return he was besieging a castle in France, when he was shot by an arrow.

STEPHEN CARDINAL LANGTON.

Born 1151-Died 1228.-John.

Stephen Langton, English Chancellor of the University of Paris, was made Archbishop of Canterbury, but, owing to the king's opposition, did not enter into possession till 1213, when John was obliged to give way.

Langton formed a solemn league with the English barons against the king's tyranny; and the Great Charter of English liberty which they drew up was signed by John at Runnymead, near Windsor, in 1215. In the Great Charter the first idea of the House of Lords is drawn out.

ROGER BACON.

Born 1214.-Died 1294.

A Franciscan monk, born at Ilchester, in Somersetshire. A natural philosopher and man of science. He is acknowledged to have introduced the study of chemistry into England, and was the first to combine the ingredients of gunpowder, though he did not foresee to what the discovery would lead.

SIMON DE MONTFORT,

Died 1265.-Henry III.

Earl of Leicester, headed a rebellion against King Henry III., whom he defeated and took prisoner, with his son, Prince Edward, in a battle at Lewes. During the king's imprisonment he called together a Parliament, the first to which the boroughs sent members. Prince Edward soon after this escaped, and collecting an army, attacked Montfort near Evesham, who, although he was an experienced general, was utterly defeated, and he and one of his sons were killed and almost torn to pieces.

LLEWELLYN,

Died 1282.-Henry III.-Edward I.

The last king of Wales, who refusing to do homage to King Edward I., was attacked by him, and taken prisoner to London. He was released on paying a heavy tribute and giving up the whole of Wales, excepting the island of Angelsea; resisting the heavy yoke put upon him, he was surprised and slain a few years afterwards, in 1282.

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE.

Born 1276.-Died 1305.-Henry III.-Edward I.

A brave Scottish warrior who resisted the English under Edward I. He gained a great victory over the English near Stirling, and for several years kept the English at bay. He was, however, at length defeated, betrayed and sent to London, and beheaded in 1305.

EDWARD I.

Reigned 12721307.

Son of Henry III. Married (1) Eleanor of Castile and (2) Margaret of France. Annexed Wales to England. Began the conquest of Scotland, and removed the block of marble on which the Scottish kings were crowned, from Scone (now in Westminster Abbey). The n.o.bles, a.s.serting the privileges of the Great Charter, began to a.s.semble and act in this reign as the first House of Lords; and by creating "Barons by writ" Edward broke in upon the monopolies of the n.o.bles, and laid the foundations of the House of Commons.

ROBERT BRUCE,

Born 1274.-Died 1320.-Edward I.-Edward II.

Who had been educated in King Edward I.'s household, succeeded Wallace as leader of the Scots against Edward I. Having slain his rival claimant the Red Comyn in the Grey Friars Church at Dumfries, Bruce borrowed robes, chain, and gold rim from some saint's image, and had himself crowned King of Scotland at Scone. After the most romantic escapes and adventures, and retaking all the castles Edward I. had gained, except Stirling, Bruce defeated Edward II. at the great battle of Bannockburn, not far from Stirling, and freed Scotland from the English yoke.

ROGER MORTIMER,

Born 1287.-Died 1330.-Edward I.-Edward II.-Edward III.

Earl of March. The wicked queen of Edward II. (Isabella) having joined with Mortimer, Earl of March, in the murder of her husband at Berkeley Castle, they governed England as they pleased. Mortimer set up a new order of Knights of the Round Table, in imitation of King Arthur. Edward III., still only a boy, surprised the guilty queen's favourite in Nottingham Castle, and after a trial by his peers, Mortimer was hanged at Tyburn, 1330.

EDWARD III.

Reigned 13271377.

Son of Edward II. First claimed the crown of France. Won the battles of Cressy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), and took Calais. Great part of France made over to the (Black) Prince of Wales. First Speaker of House of Commons (1376), and great development of the Commons' privileges. Edward III. reigned half a century, and was one of the wisest, ablest, and most useful of the English kings.

QUEEN PHILIPPA.