THE ROMAN TIMES IN BRITISH HISTORY.
Read the text and answer the questions.
1. What people lived on the British Isles in the early days of history?
2. Who headed the Roman invaders?
3. How did the invaders protect themselves?
In the early days of history (50-450) England was known as Britain and the people who lived there were Britons. There were no big towns on the British Isles at that time. People lived in small villages along the rivers or near the sea. The Britons caught fish, grew wheat and had many pigs, cows and sheep in the meadows near the rivers and on the sides of the mountains. Later they learned to make things of wool and metal and sold them to the people who came across the sea.
The Romans with Julius Caesar at the head invaded the British Isles and forced the population to pay tribute
The Romans kept their armies in Britain. They built roads and had the country under control.
They protected themselves from the attacks of the Britons by the walls which they built across Britain.
You can see the Roman walls in Britain even now. Here is Hadrian`s Wall which was built by the emperor Hadrian in the year 122.
The Romans left the country only in the second half of the 5th century. The Roman armies were called back to Italy where they defended the country from barbaric peoples.
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Roman -римский; римлянин
British Isles - Британские острова
the Britons - бритты
Julius Caesar - Юлий Цезарь
Hadrian - Адриан
THE ENGLISH KINGDOMS.
Read the text and answer the questions:
1. Who attacked the coasts of Britain?
2. What kingdoms were formed on the British Isles?
3. What peoples formed the English nation? Where did they come from?
The Britons could not keep their land free for a long time. The Germanic tribes from Western Europe - the Angles, Saxons and Jutes - attacked the coasts of Britain and after long wars with the Britons settled on the British Isles. The Britons fought bravely against the enemies and defended their land. But the enemies were stronger. They took houses, fields and cattle from the Britons. The Angles got most of the land and became the strongest tribe. The Britons went to the mountains in the west of the Isles and settled there. This part of Britain is called Wales now. As time went on the two peoples - the Angles and the Saxons - grew into one and were called Anglo-Saxons. They called their speech English, and their country England - that is, the Land of the English.
The Anglo-Saxons formed many kingdoms - Kent, Essex, Wessex, which now are counties of Great Britain. These kingdoms were at war with one another. The stronger kings took the land from the smaller kingdoms.
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Europe - Европа
the Angles - англы
the Saxons - саксы
the Jutes - юты
KING ALFRED THE GREAT.
Read the text and answer the questions:
1. With what people were the English at war?
2. What did King Alfred do for the defence of the country?
3. What did King Alfred do for his people?
For two hundred years the English people were at war with Danes who came from Denmark and the Northmen who came from Scandinavia. King Alfred he was a boy of sixteen took part in the battles with the enemies. At twenty he became king of Wessex and began to prepare for the defence of the country. He built a fleet of ships and fortifications on the coasts. The small kingdoms were united to fight against the invaders. After the victory over the Danes, King Alfred did much for his people. He opened schools, asked scholars to translate into English the best works of world literature worked out the English code. The English people named him Alfred the Great.
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the Danes - датчане
Denmark - Дания
the Northmen - жители северной Европы; скандинавы
ENGLAND UNDER FOREIGH KINGS.
Read the text and answer the questions:
1. Who ruled over the country for twenty-four years?
2. Where did the Normans come from?
3. What was the Norman king called?
4. What did the Norman invaders do in England?
The Danes returned again and again to attack England. The English people had to pay tribute. But the Danes wanted to rule over the country and after many battles took the crown from the English. They held it for twenty-four years. Three Danish kings, one after the other, ruled over England. One of these kings - Canute was at the same time king of England, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The rule of Danish kings over England came to an end soon after Canute`s death in 1035.
Now the Normans began to attack the coasts of England from Normandy (France). In 1066 the Normans won the victory and William, Duke of Normandy, was crowned king of England and called William the Conqueror.
The invaders burnt houses and killed people. The land was taken from the English and given to the Normans. The invaders spoke French, and it was the language of the upper classes and the government. English was the language of the lower classes.
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the Normans - норманны
Canute- Канут
Norway - Норвегия
Sweden - Швеция
ROBIN HOOD.
Find and read the sentences where:
a) Robin Hood is described;
b) the Merry Men are described.
After Duke William conquered England he took away lands and houses, money and cattle from the Anglo-Saxons and gave them to the Normans. Many poor Anglo-Saxons became the serfs of the Normans. Two different peoples lived in England at that time: each spoke its own language, and each hated the other. This went on for a very long time.
Robin Hood was a legendary hero of those times. He was well known and loved by the poor people of England. He was tall, strong and handsome, and his songs were heard everywhere. He was brave too and there was no better archer in that part of the country. He was also kind and never hurt the week or the poor. One day the Normans came with many soldiers to Robin`s house. There was a terrible fight in which Robin`s father was killed. The Normans took everything from the house and burnt it down. Only Robin was saved, because he fought so bravely that no soldier could go near him, kill him or take him prisoner. But when Robin saw that his father was dead and that his house was burnt down he stopped fighting and ran away to the great forest of Sherwood. Many other Saxons, who were oppressed by the Normans, soon learned that Robin was in Sherwood Forest. A great number of poor men joined him. In a short time there were very many men in the forest who wanted to take revenge upon the oppressors. They made Robin Hood their leader. The poor people loved Robin and his men whom they called the Merry Men. Robin became known as Robin of Sherwood Forest or Robin Hood. We do not know how he got he name Hood. Some people say that he was called Hood because he and his men wore green hoods. He became known not only in England, but in many other countries as Robin Hood. And now we know him also as Robin Hood.
R O B I N H O O D.
Part II.
Find facts in the text to prove the following statements:
1. Robin Hood helped the oppressed people.
2. Robin Hood was a good archer.
Robin Hood and his men fought against monks and Norman barons who oppressed the people. Robin Hood took money from the oppressors and gave it to the poor people. The sheriffs tried to arrest him but could not do it. At last the sheriff of Northampton decided to organize a shooting contest where he could arrest Robin. He knew that Robin Hood could shoot very well. The prize was a golden arrow.
Robin Hood called his men and asked them whether they had to take part in the contest. They decided that he risk was great but they had to go.
The day of the contest was fine and clear. The town was decorated with flags and the field for the contest was full of people. The sheriff looked everywhere for Robin Hood and his men but did not see them. He knew that they were always dressed in green. The contest was won by a man dressed in red who came from a village with a company of young men. He received the Golden Arrow and left the town. Nobody thought that it was Robin Hood. When leaving the town Robin Hod shoot an arrow into the sheriff`s open window. There was a paper at the end of the arrow wit h the following words: " Robin Hood thanks the sheriff for the Golden Arrow.
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Northampton – г. Нортхэмптон
R O B I N H O O D.
Part III.
Read the text and answer the questions:
1. Why did the sheriff not catch Robin Hood?
2. Who did Robin Hood meet in the forest one day?
3. Where was the butcher going?
4. What did Robin Hood do?
5. Why did Robin Hood sell the meat so quickly?
6. Why did the butchers invite him to the town-hall?
7. Did they learn anything about Robin Hood?
8. Why did the sheriff go to the forest with Robin Hood?
9. How did Robin Hood take the money from the people who oppressed the poor?
The sheriff of Nottingham hated Robin Hood even more. He was happy when he could catch one of Robin`s men and put him into prison. But he could not catch Robin. Robin Hood went to Nottingham very often but he was always dressed in different clothes and the sheriff could not recognize him. So Robin was never caught. One day he was walking through the forest and met a butcher. This butcher was riding to the market at Nottingham. He was dressed in blue coat. On each side of his grey horse hung a basket full of meat. Robin came out from behind the trees and stopped him.
"What have you, my good friend?" he asked. "Meat," answered the man. "Fine meat for Nottingham Market. Do you want to buy some?"
"Yes, I do, " said Robin. "I`ll buy it all from you, and your horse, too. How much do you want? I want to be a butcher and go to Nottingham Market." So the butcher sold his horse and all his meat to Robin. Then Robin changed clothes with him. He put on the butcher`s blue clothes and the butcher went away in Robin`s green suit.
Robin Hood went to Nottingham Market and sold the meat very cheap. The butchers in Nottingham were very angry with Robin Hood for selling the meat so cheap. They wanted to know where he came from. They invited Robin to a dinner with the sheriff of Nottingham. On the way to the town-hall an old butcher began to ask Robin questions.
"Haven`t you ever been here before?" he asked.
"Haven`t I?" answered Robin,
"Haven`t I ever seen you before?"
"Haven`t you?"
"Are you new in the business? Well, I think so, " said the old butcher, getting very angry.
"Do you?" said Robin laughing.
Soon they came to the town-hall and the butchers learned nothing about Robin Hood. At dinner the sheriff heard about he new butcher who sold the meat so cheap. The sheriff wanted to buy cattle cheap too. So he asked Robin Hood if he had any cattle to sell. Robin offered the sheriff to see his cattle in the field the next morning.
That night the sheriff took out three hundred pounds of his gold and put it in three bags. In the morning the sheriff got on his horse, and with three hundred pounds in gold went with Robin Hood to see cattle. When the sheriff saw that they were on the road to Sherwood Forest he was frightened and wanted to go back to Nottingham. But Robin laughed only and they went on. When they came into the forest Robin saw about a hundred deer among the trees.
" Look there!" he cried. "How do you like my cattle?"
The sheriff was more frightened and wanted to go back, but Robin Hood invited him to dine with his Merry Men. That was just what Robin Hood always did. He gave those men, who took money from poor people, a very fine dinner, and then he made them pay very much money for it. The sheriff understood that he was in the hands of Robin Hood. After dinner Robin Hood asked the sheriff to pay for the dinner.
"I am a poor man, " said the sheriff, "I have no money."
"No money! What have you in your bags, then?" asked Robin.
"Only stones, nothing but stones, " answered the frightened sheriff.
Robin`s men opened the bags and put the three pounds of gold on the ground. " Sheriff, " said Robin, "I shall take all this money and give it to the poor. You have taken much more than that. " Then Robin told his men to bring the sheriff`s horse. The sheriff got on his horse, and Robin led him through the forest. Then he said god-bye to the sheriff and went away laughing. So the sheriff paid three hundred pounds in gold for a dinner with Robin Hood.
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Nottingham – г.Нотингем
Haven`t I? - Разве я не был?
Are you new in business? - Ты недавно занимаешься торговлей?
R O B I N H O O D.
Part IV.
When Robin Hood lived in father`s house, he often met a girl. Her name was Marian. She lived with her father not far from Robin`s house. They walked in the forest and sometimes went hunting together. They liked each other very much and one day Robin asked Marian to marry him. But just at that time the Normans came and killed Robin`s father, burnt down his house and took everything he had. Robin did not see Marian for a very long time. He wrote a letter, where he told her about this father and their home. "I shall always love you, " he wrote, "but the life in the forest is not for you, so I shall never see you again, good-bye!"
Marian was very sad when she read Robin`s letter. She cried all day long. At last she decided to go to Sherwood Forest and look for Robin.
It was a long way to Sherwood Forest and Marian was afraid to travel so far alone. She dressed herself like a knight and went off to look for Robin. One day Robin dressed himself as a Norman knight and went to Nottingham. On his way through the forest he met another knight. "What`s your name and where are you going?" They could not see each other`s faces because their heads and faces were covered by their vizors. Marian (for it was she) was afraid to answer. "Ah, " said Robin, "you don`t want to answer. Then fight. " Robin was taller and stronger than Marian, but fought bravely. Marian got wound in one arm, Robin got a wound in his cheek. Robin felt sorry for the young knight who was fighting so well. "Stop! Stop!" cried he. "You will be one of my men." robin forgot that he was dressed like a Norman knight and spoke in his language and in his voice. When Marian heard Robin`s voice she dropped her sword and took off the vizor. Her face was pale but she smiled
They were happy to see each other. Robin washed and bandaged Marian`s wound. She did the same for him. All the time they were talking and laughing. She told Robin how unhappy she was, and how she put on a knight`s clothes and came to look for him. "My dearest, " he said when he finished the story, "I do not know how I shall live in the forest when you go away." "But I shall not go away. I am going to stay with you, " she said.
"You must not. This life is not for you. "
"Oh, Robin, do not say that! The sun does not shine and the birds do not sing when I am not with you. Let me stay. " So Robin let her stay. They were married in the forest and the Merry Men made a good dinner and were happy to greet Robin`s wife.
Robin and Marian lived in Sherwood Forest for along time and were very happy.
FRANCIS DRAKE
Francis Drake, one of the 'most famous of English sailors and pirates, was born in Plymouth, a seaport and the largest town in the south of England.
The boy spent much of his time looking at the ships in Plymouth Harbour and talking to the seamen. His cousin, Captain Hawkins, told him long stories about his adventures at sea. At fifteen Francis was taken on a small ship and worked there for some years. The boy learned the duties of a sailor very soon and did his work so well that the master of the ship said the boy was born to be a great sailor. When Drake was twenty-five Captain Hawkins made him mate on his ship.
Drake's first sea-fight took place on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean where a small fleet of six English ships was attacked by Spanish men-of-war. Four of the English ships were burnt and only two — the one commanded by Hawkins and the other by Drake — came back to England.
Drake asked the king of Spain to pay him for his ships but was refused. Drake was very angry and promised he would take all he could from the king of Spain. And he did so. He crossed the Atlantic again with two small ships and took some Spanish ships loaded with gold and silver. Now Drake had money and could choose • his sailors. He took on his ships the bravest and most skilful sailors in the land. When he crossed the Atlantic again he burnt a Spanish town and took a number of Spanish ships.
At the head of a party of Englishmen and Indians, Drake marched across the Isthmus of Panama, which joins North and South America. The Indians told Drake that from the highest point of this land two great seas could be seen — the Atlantic, which he already crossed, and the Pacific, of which he only heard. When Drake saw the Pacific Ocean he knew that he must explore the unknown sea and sail an English ship in the waters where only the ships of Spain and Portugal were seen.
In November 1577 five ships with Francis Drake at the head sailed from Plymouth. Drake wanted to cross the Atlantic and pass through the Strait of Magellan. The voyage was dangerous. Magellan himself was killed on his way through the strait. Drake came to South America only in April and in August entered the strait. It was narrow and the wind was very strong. Every morning there was frost and snowfall. Strong storms fell suddenly on them and threw the ships to left and right. In September the brave explorers saw the Pacific Ocean. The ships sailed along the western coast of South America, but strong storms threw them south and Drake lost some of his ships.
At last they reached some islands and landed there. After Drake explored the land he told his sailors that they were on the southernmost point of land in the world, Cape Horn, the most southerly point of South America.
After a short rest the ship sailed north where Drake expected to find a strait between America and Asia. But to his surprise Drake came to the North American continent again. They found a harbour and spent some time there repairing the ship. When all was ready Drake left North America and wanted to cross the Pacific. After they visited the island of Java, in the south of Asia, Drake sailed across the Indian Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope, where he came in June 1580.
Drake did not stop on the South African coast, but sailed north and after visiting the Canary Islands, he made his way across.the Bay of Biscay and in September 1580 the sailors saw the great chalk cliffs of England. The voyage lasted nearly three years. Drake was the first Englishman who sailed round the world.
About five years after Drake had made his great voyage round the world, he again crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and attacked Spanish ships. From this voyage he brought home a large number of cannons and much wealth.
Soon the news came that the king of Spain was preparing a great fleet, the Spanish Armada, with which he wanted to invade England. In 1588 the Spanish Armada came up to the coast of England but the English sailors did not attack the enemy. They let the great Spanish ships pass Plymouth and go far into the English waters. The English ships were much smaller but well handled. Eight fire-ships with Francis Drake at the head went into the middle of the enemy fleet and attacked the Spanish ships.
One Spanish ship after another caught fire, Drake boarded and carried off twelve ships. This was a great victory of the English over the Spanish Armada. Of the one hundred and thirty-two Spanish ships only about fifty returned, and they were in bad condition.
About seven years after this great victory— in 1595 — Drake, at the head of a large fleet, sailed from Plymouth again to attack the Spaniards in America and the West Indies. The Atlantic was crossed in a month, but soon afterwards Drake fell ill. In January 1596 he died and was buried at sea.
Englishmen have set up a monument to Francis Drake in Plymouth.
Prove the following statements.
1. The passage through the Strait of Magellan was dangerous.
2. Drake stood on the southernmost point of land in the world.
3. Drake sailed round the world.
OLIVER CROMWELL
(After F. Harrison and M. Berg)
Part I
Read the text and answer the questions:
1. Where did Oliver get his education?
2. What kind of education did he get At Cambridge?
3. How old was Cromwell when he was elected to represent people in Parliament?
4. When did the king`s coronation take place?
5.Why did members of Parliament decide to build up an army?
6. Did Cromwell himself take part in organizing the army?
7. When was Oxford surrendered and the First Civil War over?
8. Was the king ready to work out a constitution?
9. Who helped the king in the Second Civil War?
10. Was the new Republic easily recognized by foreign countries?
Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon (Britain) on the 25th of April 1599 in the family of rich landowners.
His grandfather was sheriff and a representative in Parliament. His father Robert Cromwell had a small estate and represented Huntingdon in Parliament. Both his father and grandfather worked in the Court as well. Oliver got his education at a Grammar School.
When the boy was seventeen, he entered Cambridge. At Cambridge Oliver studied mathematics and learned to speak and write Latin. It was the language of diplomacy at that time and educated men had to use Latin both in writing and speech. He read much in Greek and Roman history. Oliver liked sports and played football very well. The young man got an education which preparedhim for all his public duties in lateryears.
At twenty Oliver was married; his wife was his devoted friend till he died. They worked on their farm and had eight children — four daughters and four sons. Oliver was a good father and directed the education of his children. Oliver Cromwell had a strong feeling of social justice and did much for the poor people of his native town. When he was twenty-eight the people of Huntingdon elected him to represent them in Parliament. The public life of Oliver Cromwell had now begun.
The king of England was Charles I, a young man, who wanted to rule over England without Parliament. He needed money for wars, but Parliament refused to give it. Charles I took money from people, arrested and sent to prison those who did not agree with him.
So the king was not popular with the people. In 1631 the king's coronation to be knighted l took place and many people were invited. Oliver Cromwell refused to go and paid a fine. Cromwell's activity in Parliament was mostly directed against the oppression of people. He sat on many committees and moved important bills.
In 1642 Charles I tried to arrest some members ofParliament but could not do it. Then he left Parliament and never came back as a king. Members of the Parliament decided to build up an army to fight against the king and gave their money to teach the soldiers. The Parliamentary army was soon formed and the Civil War between the king and Parliament began.
King Charles I had an army of 10,000 soldiers. At the head of the army were the officers who took part in the wars in Germany and Denmark. The army of the Parliament had 20,000 soldiers but very few officers. Oliver Cromwell helped to organize the army and taught soldiers to fight. He was a captain, then colonel, very soon a general of a corps of cavalry and at last leader of an army. He taught his officers tactics and discipline. In the battles he went everywhere and helped soldiers and officers.
Many thousands of soldiers were killed during the Civil War. In January 1644 a Scottish army of 20,000 men came to help Cromwell. In the battle near the town of York the Parliamentary army won the victory and the king's army was defeated. The strongholds in the north fell to Parliament one after another. In a few months the whole of the north of England was practically theirs. The battles now took place in the south and west. Castle after castle, town after town, regiment after regimentsurrendered. Oxford, the last stronghold of the king's army, with 3,000 men and 300 cannons, surrendered in June 1646, and in August, the First Civil War was over.
Cromwell tried to make terms with the king and work out.a constitution. But the king was just taking his time and preparing for a new civil war. When Cromwell learned about these preparations he spoke to Parliament and they decided to attack the throne and bring the king to trial for organizing a civil war in the country.
The Second Civil War began in April 1648 and lasted for a few months. At the beginning of the war many towns helped the king. The fleet revolted. The Parliament of Scotland sent 40,000 men to invade England. Cromwell headed the Parliamentary army and won the victory at Preston driving the invaders to their territory. His army followed the invaders to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Cromwell returned to London and was present in the Court of Justice where King Charles I was tried.
The Court of Justice decided that Charles Stuart was a traitor to his people and must die. In January 1649 Charles Stuart was beheaded. In this same month Parliamentary government came to power and proclaimed Commonwealth and equality of rights for all people. The new Republic was not easily recognized by foreign countries, its agents were insulted in Europe. Scotland and Ireland did not recognize the republic too. Cromwell prepared the army for the reconquest of Ireland. The English people did not want to fight against the Irish people and Cromwell promised to give a piece of land in Ireland to every English soldier.
OLIVER CROMWELL
(After F. Harrison and M. Berg)
Part II
In August 1649 an army of 9,000 men in 100 ships sailed to Ireland. The regiments landed in Dublin and marched north. The Irish army could not stand against the well-trained and well-armed armies of the Commonwealth. One fort after another surrendered and in two weeks Cromwell was master of the country north of Dublin. He took some regiments and marched south of Dublin. Thousands of Irishmen were killed, women and unarmed men among them. That was a great crime which still burns after more than three centuries in the history of England and of Ireland. Karl Marx said that the Commonwealth crushed itself against Ireland,
In three months many towns in the east and south of Ireland fell down. Waterford, the last stronghold of Ireland, was still defending the country. It was winter already. The weather was cold and many soldiers in Cromwell's army were ill. But he did not give his people a rest and prepared the army for the last storm. The town of Waterford was taken after a short battle.
Cromwell was nine months in Ireland and in that time took many strongholds and fought greater armies than the English army. Ireland was now invaded by England. Cromwell reorganized the government in Ireland and left English generals to keep the country under control. He went to London where the Parliament and the people met him and celebrated the victories of England.
When the celebrations were over Cromwell began the preparations for the war in Scotland. The Scottish generals did not expect Cromwell to begin war so soon after the battles in Ireland. The English army marched far into the country and came to Edinburgh. The battles were very severe.
Find answers to the questions
1. Oliver Cromwell's early years. Where was he born? Who were his father and grandfather? Where did he get his education? What did he study?
2. The beginning of Cromwell's public life,
When was he elected a member of Parliament? What did he do in Parliament?
3. The First Civil War. Who fought in the war? What did Cromwell do for the Parliamentary army? Who won in the war?
4. The Second Civil War.
Did the war last long? Who sent soldiers to invade England? How did the Parliamentary army fight against the invaders? What happened to King Charles I?
5. The English Commonwealth is proclaimed.