administer justice. This at that time was a most necessary protection against the tyranny of the barons, who often took the administration of the laws into their own hands. It was during this reign that the distinction between Saxons and Normans began to wear away, and that they learned to consider themselves as one people.

Learning advanced considerably in England during the reign of Henry II. His grandfather, Henry the First, was a great encourager of learning; and in the reigns of Stephen and Henry II. there were many learned men, both poets and historians, to whom we are much indebted for the knowledge of the events of their times, and of the times before them. Of these the most eminent are, William of Malmsbury, Henry of Huntingdon, and Giraldus Cambrensis; the last of whom wrote an account of a journey through Wales, and also a description of Ireland, with the history of the conquest of that island. All the writers of this time were monks and priests. Few of the laity could write; it was remarkable if they could read.

The invention of paper, the art of making which was discovered in the 12th century, was of infinite advantage to the progress of learning. Books could now be multiplied at less expense, and a library was become essential in every monastery. Every monastery had also a room called the writing room, where the younger monks were employed in transcribing books: for printing was yet unknown.

About the time of Henry II. many Jews came over and settled in England: but they were treated with great indignity, and to distinguish them from Christians, were obliged to wear a square yellow cap.

Family surnames were unknown before the Conquest and appear to have been then introduced from the cir cumstance of many of the Normans who came over to England being called by the names of the places they came from in Normandy. Their children, willing to

What existing institution may be traced to the wisdom of Henry II. What was the state of learning in England in the reign of Henry Il? What invention facilitated learning?

When were the Jews first settled in England?

When did surnames first become common in England?

preserve the remembrance of their Norman origin, also called themselves by the same names.

The present noble families of Seymour (anciently St. Maur,) and Sackville, and many others, derive their names in this manner from places in Normandy. It was soon found that family names were not only honorable, but also convenient. Family names have now become universal; but they were once only assumed by distinguished families; and it was a long time before thay were adopted by the lower orders of people.

It was related in the preceding chapter that Ireland was conquered by the Earl of Pembroke, and that little was known previously by the English concerning Ireland. This much, however, is generally admitted, that in the fifth century, St. Patrick, who was a native of Cornwall, or as some say of Wales, was carried by pirates to Ireland, and that he converted the inhabitants, who till then professed the religion of the Druids, to Christianity. From that time Ireland was a place of refuge for learned men of all countries; and religion and science flourished there till the eight century, when the country was overrun by the Danes, who destroyed most of the churches and monasteries.

When the Danes were expelled, the Irish not having an Alfred to govern them, sank into great barbarism, and it was not till many years after earl Strongbow's time that they assimilated themselves in any degree to the manners and habits of other civilized nations.

Have surnames become general?

What Irish tradition is generally believed?
Why is it presumed that the Irish degenerated?

Richard, surnamed Cœur de Lion, from his undaunted courage, had received from nature a very generous disposition. His faults were those of a lofty spirit, and were, perhaps, too suitable to the unruly temper of the time he lived in, to be then considered reprehensible or dangerous For his father's death he felt extreme sorrow; and on seeing his dead body, expressed an agony of remose for his own undutiful conduct towards him.

One of the first acts of Richard's reign, was to release his mother from her long confinement. He bestowed many kind but ill-judged gifts on his brother John, which, instead of inspiring him with any affectionate feeling, only put it the more in his power to show his ingratitude. Richard soon turned his whole mind to the crusade. He sold the royal castles and demesnes, in order to raise money, and had recourse to many unjust and unworthy methods of extorting it from his subjects. He also, for the sum of ten thousand marks, absolved the king of Scotland from his oath of doing homage to the kings of England.

At length the armament was ready; and A. D. 1190. Richard, accompanied by a number of the

What sort of man was Richard Coeur de Lion?

What were the first acts of Richard's reign?

When did Richard go to Palestine, and with whom did he go?

English barons, all as eager in the cause as himself, arrived at Messina on the 14th of September, 1180. Here he was joined by Philip, king of France; and the season being too far advanced for them to proceed immediately to Palestine, it was agreed that they should pass the winter in Sicily. There could not be a greater difference of character than that which existed between these two kings.— Richard, though proud and domineering, was brave and generous. Philip was equally proud, but was sly and deceitful.

It will not appear surprising that two such opposite cha racters should quarrel before their six months' residence in Sicily was over; and it must be acknowledged that the first aggression came from Richard. He had long been contracted to Adelais, sister of the French king; but Henry, his father, had repented of the engagement, and would not permit it to be fulfilled while he lived: and now Richard, having become enamored of Berengaria, daughter of the king of Navarre, broke off his engagement to Adelais. A. D. 1191. King Richard prevailed with his mother, queen Eleanor, to bring the princess Berengaria to Messina. They arrived the day before he was obliged to sail; but, it being Lent, the marriage, according to a regulation in the Roman Catholic Church, could not then take place. Eleanor returned to England, and the princess, accompanied by the queen of Sicily, Richard's sister, embarked for the Holy Land. During the voyage the ship the two princesses were in was in great danger from a violent storm; and the king of Cyprus refusing to admit the ship into his harbors, Richard laid siege to that island, and in a short time obtained entire possession of it. Here he and Berengaria were married; and after leaving a governor in the island he sailed for Acre, where the king of France, who had some time before left Sicily in great displeasure with Richard, was already arrived.

Acre was a town on the coast of Palestine, in possession of the Saracens, and had been besieged for the last two years by an army of Christians collected from all

What cause of offence was given by Richard to Philip of France ? Where, and to whom was Richard I. married?

Where was Acre, and when did that town surrender to Richard?

parts of Europe. The Christians were now in their turn surrounded and besieged by a large army of infidels, under the famous Saladin. The arrival of Richard, whose valor was well known, revived the courage of the Christians; and the town, being attacked night and day, was obliged to surrender on the 12th of July.

Soon after the capture of Acre, the king of France returned home, pretending that the climate disagreed with him; but in reality because he was jealous of Richard, and had not forgot his quarrel with him at Messina. Before he went he solemnly engaged not to make any attempt on the territories of Richard, though at this very time he entertained the full intention of attacking them as soon as he got back. He also gave secret orders to the duke of Burgundy, the commander of the troops he left behind, to omit no opportunity of thwarting and mortifying the English king.

In the meantime, Richard, unsuspicious of these designs, thought only of his open and declared enemies. He displayed extraordinary bravery and skill; and in a battle near Joppa, which lasted from morning till night, gained a great victory over Saladin. The victorious Christians then entered Joppa, or rather the ruins, which were all that was left of the town, which had been wholly dismantled by the Turks.

Richard's intention was immediately to have pursued Saladin, who had re-assembled his scattered forces at Ascalon; and had he done so, his success would in all probability have been complete: but the duke of Burgundy, agreeably to the instructions he had received, insisted on staying to rebuild the walls of Joppa. Richard was unwillingly obliged to submit, and a delay of seven weeks was caused by that useless work.

When they at last set forth again, the rains and natural impediments, to which were added those that the duke of Burgundy still threw in the way, prevented their getting to Jerusalem till the end of the year 1191: and, when at last they had arrived in sight of it, the French troops, and some

Did Philip of France act with generosity towards Richard?
What victory over Saladin was achieved by Richard?

Who retarded Richard's designs in Palestine ?

What compelled Richard to retire from Jerusalem?