Charles Dickens

Name: A Child's History of England — Chapter 8
Author: Charles Dickens

A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (1900)

Summary

“A Child's History of England — Chapter 8”, published in 1900, is a work by Charles Dickens. It explores elements such as Normans, English and nobles.

Quotes from A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (Charles Dickens)

Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (1900)

“ But, even with his own Normans, he had a restless life. They were always hungering and thirsting for the riches of the English; and the more he gave, the more they wanted. His priests were as greedy as his soldiers. We know of only one Norman who plainly told his master, the King, that he had come with him to England to do his duty as a faithful servant, and that property taken by force from other men had no charms for him. His name was Guilbert. We should not forget his name, for it is good to remember and to honor honest men. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (1900)

“ He then surrounded himself with Norman lords enriched by the property of English nobles; had a great survey made of all the land in England, which was entered as the property of its new owners, on a roll called Doomsday Book; obliged the people to put out their fires and candles at a certain hour every night, on the ringing of a bell which was called the Curfew; introduced the Norman dresses and manners; made the Normans masters everywhere, and the English, servants; turned out the English bishops, and put Normans in their places, and showed himself to be the Conqueror indeed. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (1900)

“ When the morning dawned, the English, who had assembled in great strength, forced the gates, rushed into the town, and slew the Normans every one. The English afterwards besought the Danes to come and help them. The Danes came, with two hundred and forty ships. The outlawed nobles joined them; they captured York, and drove the Normans out of that city. Then, William bribed the Danes to go away; and took such vengeance on the English, that all the former fire and sword, smoke and ashes, death and ruin, were nothing compared with it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (1900)

“ ENGLAND UNDER WILLIAM THE FIRST, THE NORMAN CONQUEROR.
Upon the ground where the brave Harold fell, William the Norman afterwards founded an abbey, which, under the name of Battle Abbey, was a rich and splendid place through many a troubled year, though now it is a gray ruin overgrown with ivy. But the first work he had to do, was to conquer the English thoroughly; and that, as you know by this time, was hard work for any man. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (1900)

“ Numbers of the English nobles had been killed in the last disastrous battle. Their estates, and the estates of all the nobles who had fought against him there, King William seized upon and gave to his own Norman knights and nobles. Many great English families of the present time acquired their English lands in this way, and are very proud of it.
But what is got by force must be maintained by force. These nobles were obliged to build castles all over England, to defend their new property; and, do what he would, the King could neither soothe nor quell the nation as he wished. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (1900)

“ It was a September morning, and the sun was rising, when the King was awakened from slumber by the sound of a church bell. "What bell is that?" he faintly asked. They told him it was the bell of the chapel of Saint Mary "I commend my soul," said he, "to Mary!" and died. Think of his name, The Conqueror, and then consider how he lay in death! The moment he was dead, his physicians, priests, and nobles, not knowing what contest for the throne might now take place, or what might happen in it, hastened away, each man for himself and his own property ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (1900)

“ The King refusing to grant it Robert became jealous and discontented and happening one day, while in this temper, to be ridiculed by his brothers, who threw water on him from a balcony as he was walking before the door, he drew his sword, rushed upstairs, and was only prevented by the King himself from putting them to death. ”

Charles Dickens

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Quotes from A Child's History of England — Chapter 8 (Charles Dickens)

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