Part I

.

England before the Norman Conquest.

THE CHIEF EARLDOMS.

On his ascension to the throne of England Canute divided the country into four Governments, viz.:--

WESSEX, EAST ANGLIA, MERCIA and NORTHUMBRIA.

He took charge of Wessex himself, and three Danes were placed as Earls over the others.

THE GREAT SAXON EARLS.

He afterwards appointed Englishmen to the government of these Earldoms:--

_Leofric_ becoming _Earl of Mercia_, _Godwin_, _Earl of Wessex_, and _Siward_, _Earl of Northumberland_.

In each lesson the historical narrative is followed by notes describing fully the correlated work to be done in connection with the story.

[Illustration: ENGLAND AT THE CONQUEST (1066)

showing the Earldoms]

(_Reduced specimen pages._)

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