Text 9. England under foreign kings

The Danes returned again and again to attack England. The English people had to pay tribute. But the Danes wanted to rule over the country and after many battles took the crown from the English. They held it for twenty-four years. Three Danish kings, one after another, ruled over England. One of these kings – Canu­te¹ was at the same time king of England, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The rule of Danish kings over England came to an end so­on after Canute’s death in 1035.

Now the Normans began to attack the coasts of England from Normandy (France). In 1066 the Normans won the victory and Willi­am, Duke of Normandy, was crowned king of England and called Wil­liam the Conqueror².

The invaders burnt houses and killed people. The land was taken from the English and given to the Normans. The invaders spoke French, and it was the language of the upper classes and the government. English was the language of the lower classes.

Notes:

1. Canute – Канут (английский король);

2. William the Conqueror – Уильям Завоеватель – английский король c 1066г.

Answer the following questions:

1. Who returned to England to take the crown?

2. For how many years did the Danes hold the crown?

3. When did the rule of Danish kings over England come to an end?

4. Who won the victory in 1066: the Normans or the English?

5. How was William, Duke of Normandy, called?

6. How did the invaders behave? What did they do?

7. What was the language of the upper classes? And of the lower
classes?

Text 10. THE GREAT CHARTER (1215)