PRE FA E C . m e ac Th e English History, in Rhy e has met with so gr at c e t an ce s of p , among teachers and student history, that the author u is enco raged to continue the proposed series, and to pub f t o lish, rom time time, metrical summaries, which are designed a n d to convey, in concise terms, easily memorized verse, a clear of f and continuous outline the history o the particular country, u n der consideration . Th e genealogy contained in the book of English History has been especially commended . That of the French is still ‘ - of more elaborate, and the important inter marriages the of sovereigns, and their children , have made it easy to introduce much related information which is n ot found in other text of a books, but which throws a great deal light upon historic l s o f e events, and which impart a new interest to the reading larg and general histories. MARY R USSEL L G A RDNE R. M H I ST O R Y O F F R A N C E I N R H Y E . ANCI ENT G A UL A N D THE R OMAN PE RI OD. fift - five a In y , ere Christ was born , went C esar to enthrall J uliu s Ga ga], ( 55 B C) The rude and warlike Celtic clans that peopled ancient Gaul . W T e u t o r ic f hen Rome declined , tribes air Gallia overran , Impetuous Frank and Visigoth and fierce Burgundian . “ Th e S o f At i a . courge God , wil d Attila, amid the tumult came t l his his At approach , the heavens grew dark earth trembled at name . Th e s Romans joined the native , to repel the fiery Hun, - foe f fift . And, at Chalons, repulsed the , our hundred y one THE MEROVI N G I AN LI NE (4 8 1 T S f hen Clovis , alian Frankish chie , attaining princely power, ’ ' Invoked Clotilda s God t o aid in battle s trying hour. t He won the day baptized at Rheims, he marched throughou the land, And crushed the misbelieving Goth beneath his iron hand . f e n From Rhine to Rhone, rom Pyr nees to stormy orthern main, f n Th e . sturdy Frank , be ore his death , acquired secure domai f e His our unworthy sons succeed , and , in their turn , give plac - f To other weak do nothings o the Merovingian race . THE CARLOVI NG I AN L I N E ( 7 5 2 of A Mayor the Palace climbs to undisputed sway, Pep in. ’ h And phantom kings to Pepin s nod a ready omage pay. ’ son S o er t h r ew C a M His , intrepid Charles Martel , the aracens , h s . ar t eL ’ - fi eld - On Tours historic battle , seven hundred thirty two. T son of f t f hen Pepin, Charles, presumed rom gra e ul Pope to claim, T of hat, with the rank sovereign , he too should have the name . fif - hilder ic t . Weak C was set aside, seven hundred y two Th e Carlovingian line began to great distinction grew, ’ — m l n e . In Pepin s son , wise Charlemagne, seven hundred sixty eight, aggegigf Wh o rose to be, through constant war, a mighty potentate T ’ And, in the year eight hundred , at Pope Leo hird s behest, “ This soldier-statesman was proclaimed the Emperor of the West. Ba ttle of t h e His heir, weak Louis Debonnaire, divides the vast domain ? ’ Br ‘ for h fiffi Among his sons, who fight mig t, on Fontenoy s red plain . The T of s o Tr ea ty of reaty Verdun as igned to L uis, Germany V n or figggf Lothaire, the Emper , received Lorraine and Italy, our While Charles had Francia , in which modern France we see. Th e f plundering Danes and Normans soon in ested all the land . of One Rollo , noted leader a predatory band, S From Charles the imple had a grant, on which he settled down , of And Neustria, or Normandy, became high renown . W f ith Louis Fi th , the Carlovingians end their base career , h - With Hug Capet, nine eighty seven , Capetians first appear . THE CAPETI AN L IN E (9 8 7 to The saintly Robert wore the crown , and Henry First, his son; of r While, in the time Philip First, the Normans B itain won. ’ I Tis of S in the reign Louis ixth , the Communes first are seen . s S ’ Proud Eleanor leave Louis eventh, to shine as England s queen . Th e S , for f a econd Philip who controlled more than orty ye rs, T . In hird Crusade, with Lion Heart, a gallant knight appears To ft crush the lords, upli the throne, the cunning monarch aimed fiefs r e He measured swords with England, and its choicest Claimed . At Bouvines , glorious victory came the Albigenses slain , ’ f T o f In air oulouse no more was heard the troubad ur s re rain . S L f —f K t few t . ing Louis Eigh h a years ruled ouis , orty our, An d S , in the eventh and Eighth Crusades , the sacred emblem wore . T T Ph ili I I I . o . France, with wealthy Philip hird, rich provinces accrue p - ( 1270 8 5 . h i i i - t wo Si i i s . c l an Vespers mark t me, twelve hundred e ghty T - f r f Ph i i I V ill thirteen ou teen , Philip Fourth , the cold and cra ty, reigned , l p . ( - 128 5 1314. f . And with Pope Boni ace, the Eighth , a bitter fight maintained f n He curbed the strong and ree commu es, and heavy taxes laid - Th e first States General was called the law supreme was made. e At Courtrai, Flemings plied their stav s on knightly mail and crest : fl T By plunder, torture and the ames, the emplars were sup pressed . o n f s And when the starry crozier was Clement Fi th be towed, ’ Th e e . Popes began , at Avignon, their s venty years abode T f With Louis enth and Philip Fi th and Charles the Fourth , $ The F air, h f “ a etian T e o . sons Philip, end the kings who name C p bear THE VALOI S BR ANCH ( 1 32 8 ’ Period of the H u ndred Years War ( 1 32 8 T of - heir cousin, Philip Valois, in thirteen twenty eight, w T r e Disputes with grasping Ed ard hi d the sover ign estate . Th e e a English win at Cr cy, then besiege and t ke Calais, of of s. While knights France to bowmen yield , on field Poitier In nominal captivity, King John in England dies son — far - s His assumes the diadem , sighted Charle the Wise. ’ G u esclin s f for f Du bold ree l ances , fierce and eager the ray, Bear down rebellious vassals sweep the English foe away. Ch ar e s VI S i l . In thirteen eighty, Charles the ixth beg ns a troubled reign ( 1380 Burgundians strive with Armagnacs, while he becomes insane. ’ f O er the kingdom , thus distracted , Henry Fi th his flag uprears, f . And as Regent, a ter Agincourt, the vanquished country steers ’ At Charles s death . the double crown King Henry is to wear - f S . Both die, in ourteen twenty two young Henry ixth is heir ' Th e Belov d Dauphin , Charles the Well , to God appeals his cause f “ M f o of . In his behal , the aid Arc the sword justice draws ar s VI I Ch l e . Invested Orleans was saved, and Charles , at Rheims, was crowned ( 1422 ’ f n But a dungeon and a martyr s death his brave deliverer ou d . “ Th e U S f niversal pider, alse and cruel Louis Eleventh , fa S . Untimely hurried to the grave his ther, Charles the eventh ’ H e aimed at autocratic sway old feudal rights o er t h r ew Bu t f . France extended her rontiers, and strong and wealthy grew ’ o f When Charles Burgundy s career at Nancy darkly closed, o f ' The uni on his heiress with the Dauphin was proposed . ’ T h was f m houg the Duchy trans erred to France, to Maxi ilian s hands Th e of choice Mary gave in trust the priceless Netherlands . ' f e h t - ~ Ch ar le s VI I I . Ungainly Charles the Eighth succeeds , in ourteen g y three ( 148 3 t h f S of Wi pious Anne, his wi e, secures the tate Brittany . f , fa By martial eats in Italy he seeks a deathless m e, - con u r And Florence , Rome and Naples bow to his all q e in g name 9 But S n European tates combi e, to check his daring schemes ; i I n disa oin ( m e n t f m . pp and de eat, d ssolve his brilliant drea s THE VAL OIS- ORLEANS BRANC H ( 1 4 9 8 f n - T f In ourteen hundred ni ety eight, wise Louis wel th crowned f f The people in this able prince a friend and ather ound. f f o f Be ore him , too, air Italy the land promise rose, f And on Milan and Naples he would ain his rule impose.