Days of Adventure

There is a companion book to Days of Glory by the same author which I have just bought called Days of Adventure. The first third is very similar to the Glory volume with biographical material and is ringing some sort of bell for me in my memory. There are also two further volumes which I am finding hard to trace.

Battle of Hastings 1066 (21)

1. What happened at the Battle of Hastings?

At the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, King Harold II of England was defeated by the invading Norman forces of William the Conqueror. By the end of the bloody, all-day battle,

Harold was dead and his forces were destroyed.

2. Saxon and Norman soldiers

3. Why did William give some of his friends land in England?

After he became king, William claimed that all the land in England now belonged to him. He retained about a fifth of this land for his own use. Another 25% went to the Church. The rest were given to 170 tenants-in-chief (or barons). This was because they had helped him defeat Harold at Hastings.

Quiz - Who is who?

Who were these people (taken from chapter or picture frame headings)

1. A humble Christian
2. The working man's friend
3. A brave Scotsman
4. Honest Abe
5. A blind road-maker
6. A great American
7. A sailor at court
8. Our first poet
9. A great traveller
10. A great quaker lady 

(Answers:6GeorgeWashington7SirWalterRaleigh8Caedmon9MarcoPolo10ElizabethFry

1StAidan2LordShaftesbury3WilliamWallace4AbrahamLincoln5JohnMetcalfe)

George Washington 1732-1799 (37)

 

1. Why did the Americans fight the British?

The American Revolution came about chiefly because colonialists in America were opposed to Britain's attempts to impose greater control over them and make them repay the crown for its defence of them during the French and Indian War of 1754–63. They fekt they were denied self-government and could not make their own laws. Meanwhile, they had to pay taxes to the king. They felt that they were paying taxes to a government where they had no representation.

2. Who is sometimes called "The father of the United States"?

There are other contenders (eg James Madison, John Locke, even Christopher Columbus) but Washington is the one most often known as the father of the nation. He was the general of the American army during the War of Independence and the first president of the United States.

3. Where is Washington today?

This is the name if the capital and of the state in the far north west of the country. There is also a Lake Washington and a Moount Washington. Some 29 states have a city called Washington. The original Washington is in Tyne and Wear, UK

Raleigh as a Boy by Millais 1870 (32)

This well known painting very much drawss on the atmosphere found in Days of Glory

Robert Bruce 1274-1329 (29)

 

1. How could a spider help Robert Bruce?

When Robert Bruce saw a spider struggle to form a web and succeeding after many failures he saw himself reflected in the spider's struggle. It gave him the inspiration he needed to fight the English again despite the overwhelming odds.

2.  What happened at Bannockburn?

Robert Bruce was victorious against the King of England in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

3. Draw a picture of Bruce and the spider

Magna Carta 1215 (25)

1. Why did people not like King John?

The evidence suggests that John was an unpleasant character and a bad politician. He kept taxes high and seized lands where he could,

2. What was the Magna Carta?

Magna Carta or the great charter was an agreement between King John and his barons. It was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law. It sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power and placed limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself.

Aidan of Lindisfarne c 590-651 (16)

1. Why did Aidan think the other monk had failed?

Aidan thought that Corman had been too harsh with people when he sought to reach the Northumbrians. He suggested a more gentle approach might be better.

2. Tell the story of St Aidan and the king's horse.

Aidan preached widely throughout Northumbria and would normally travel on foot. One day King Oswin presented Aidan with the gift of a fine horse beautifully kitted out. No sooner had Aidan left the King’s palace then he came across a poor man asking for help. Without hesitation Aidan gave the poor man the new horse and went on his way. King Oswin was rather distressed when he heard. Bede records that when the king asked about what Aidan had done and suggested a esser animal woould have done for the beggar Aidan would have none of it. The king agreed not to refer to the matter again. This happened in 651 near the end of Aidan's life.

3. Where is Lindisfarne?

Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the coast of Northumbria.