Verilie the queene hath ever shown herself forward and most willing that her faithfull subjects should be readie and skilfull in war as in peace.  Thus in the fourteenth yeare of her reign, by order of her council, the citizens of London, assembling in their several halles, the masters chose out the most likelie and active persons of their companies to be pikemen and shot.  To these were appointed diverse valiant captaines, who to train them up in warlike feats, mustered them thrice everie weeke, sometimes in the artillerie yard, teaching the gunners to handle their pieces, sometimes at the Miles end, and in saint George’s field, teaching them to skirmish.

In the arts of peace likewise, she is greatlie pleased with them who are good craftsmen, and shews them favour.  In government we have peace and securitie, and do not greatlie fear those who may stir up wicked rebellion within our land, or may come against us from beyond the sea.

In brief, they of Norwich did say well, when the queene’s majestie came thither, and in a pageant in her honour, one spake these words: 

    “Dost them not see the joie of all this flocke? 
      Vouchsafe to view their passing gladsome cheere,
    Be still (good queene) their refuge and their rocke,
      As they are thine to serve in love and feare;
    So fraud, nor force, nor forreine foe may stand
      Against the strength of thy most puissant hand.”

* * * * *

EDWARD A. FREEMAN

The Norman Conquest of England

Edward Augustus Freeman was born at Harborne, Staffordshire, England, Aug. 2, 1823.  His precocity as a child was remarkable; at seven he read English and Roman history, and at eleven he had acquired a knowledge of Greek and Latin, and had taught himself the rudiments of Hebrew.  An increase in fortune in 1848 enabled him to settle down and devote himself to historical research, and from that time until his death on March 17, 1892, his life was one spell of literary strenuousness.  His first published work, other than a share in two volumes of verse, was “A History of Architecture,” which appeared in 1849.  Freeman’s reputation as historian rests principally on his monumental “History of the Norman Conquest.”  It was published in fifteen volumes between 1867 and 1876, and, in common with all his works, is distinguished by critical ability, exhaustiveness of research, and an extraordinary degree of insight.  His historical scenes are remarkably clear and vivid, as though, according to one critic “he had actually lived in the times.”

Preliminary Events

The Norman Conquest is important, not as the beginning of English history, but as its chief turning point.  Its whole importance is that which belongs to a turning point.  This conquest is an event which stands by itself in the history of Europe.  It took place at a transitional period in the world’s development.  A kingdom which had hitherto been only Teutonic, was brought within the sphere of the laws, manners, and speech of the Romance nations.