Historical Tales Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Historical Tales novel. A total of 410 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Historic Tales.Vol. 1.by Charles Morris.PREFACE.It has become a commonplace remark that
Historic Tales.Vol. 1.by Charles Morris.PREFACE.It has become a commonplace remark that fact is often stranger than fiction. It may be said, as a variant of this, that history is often more romantic than romance. The pages of the record of man's doin
- 301 Reaching a settlement at a distance from the stream, he hired a guide to lead him to Hankerson's Ferry, on the Big Black River, promising him fifty dollars if he would take him there without following any road.They proceeded till near the ferry, when Fon
- 302 That the story of panic here told is not too much colored by the writer's sympathy for his cause, may be seen by the following extract from Lossing's "Civil War in America," a work whose sympathies are distinctly on the other side. After saying that J
- 303 "If our hosses would only stand fire we'd be all right.""They won't stand, eh?""Not for shucks. I say, captain, I'd think it a favor if you and your men would put your saddles on our hosses, and give our lads a little idea of a cavalry drill. They
- 304 Whether or not they had a country, these soldiers did not know. Home to many, when they reached it, was graves and ashes. At any rate, there must be, somewhere on earth, a better place than a muddy, smoky camp in a piece of scrubby pines; better company t
- 305 Historical Tales.The Romance of Reality.Volume III.by Charles Morris.THE ISLES OF BEAUTY BEYOND THE SEAS.The 12th of October, 1492, ranks very high among the important dates in the history of the world. For on that day men from Europe, then the centre of
- 306 "At the distance of six suns [six days' journey] from here," said the cacique, "lies another ocean as great as the one before you. Near its sh.o.r.es is the kingdom I spoke of. But it is very powerful, and if you wish to attack it you will need far mo
- 307 The two armies soon met and victory rested on the banner of the young prince, the forces of Maxtla being badly beaten. No longer a hunted fugitive, but at the head of a victorious army, he marched in triumph to the capital which he had left with a price o
- 308 But this stout leader was not the man to give way to despair. There was nothing to do but to cut their way through this vast array or perish in the attempt. To retreat would have been to invite sure destruction.Fortunately, they had rested for two nights
- 309 A court was held, with Pizarro and his fellow-captain Almagro as the judges, an attorney-general being appointed for the crown and counsel for the prisoner. The crimes charged against the Inca were chiefly of a kind with which the Spaniards had nothing to
- 310 The bold monk had now much trouble in getting his frightened followers to go on with him, but by means of abundant presents he induced two of the chiefs to proceed. He was determined to gain at least a sight of the land of wonders, and with the chiefs and
- 311 The situation was a painful one. Husband and wife, as Hurtado and Miranda were, they continued lovers as well, and it was not easy to repress the feelings that moved them. Prudence bade them avoid any show of love, and they resolved to obey its dictates;
- 312 With the boat came off an Indian chief, glad to see any white men who hated the Spaniards as deeply as he did himself. He was well received and served to the best the s.h.i.+p could afford. Then he said to his entertainer in Spanish, a language he spoke f
- 313 [Ill.u.s.tration: A TROPICAL BUNGALOW AND PALMS.]A TROPICAL BUNGALOW AND PALMS.Raleigh, while holding the Spaniard as a captive on his flag-s.h.i.+p, treated him with every courtesy, and had him to eat at his own table. Here Berreo, who did not suspect th
- 314 But the freebooters had lost heavily, and Panama, a city defended by walls and forts, remained to be taken. Morgan knew that success depended on taking instant advantage of the panic of the enemy, and he advanced without delay against the town. It was str
- 315 Ambuscades were also laid for them. On the eighth day of their march they fell into one of these at Tusignala, where three hundred Spaniards lay concealed on the ground and fired into their ranks. Though these were dispersed by a fierce charge, they follo
- 316 As for the natives themselves, what few privileges they had retained were taken from them, their meetings and festivals were forbidden, and for any one to a.s.sume the name of Inca was declared criminal. These severe measures were thought sufficient to in
- 317 As is usual in such cases, there were abundant applications among the negroes for official positions, and Toussaint was sorely put to it to dispose of these ignorant aspirers after high places without giving offence. He seems, however, to have been well v
- 318 It must be said further that the English auxiliaries aided greatly in the results of these battles, their conduct giving Bolivar such gratification that he made them all members of the Order of the Liberator.It is not our purpose to tell the whole story o
- 319 This anecdote will serve to show, better than pages of description, the kind of man that Paez was. When the act became known to the llaneros they proclaimed Paez their general, and were ready to follow him to the death.These cowboys of the Orinoco, if we
- 320 While the Spanish colonies of South America were battling for their liberties, the great Portuguese colony of Brazil was going through a very different experience. Bolivar and his compatriots were seeking to drive Spain out of America. On the contrary, we
- 321 In the same year the dictator made a new move in the game of politics. He called into being a kind of national a.s.sembly, professed to submit to its authority, and ratified a declaration of independence. Just why this was done is not very clear. Certain
- 322 "Your Excellency, the man for whom you have offered the largest reward, dead or alive, stands before you.""Ha! you are "Captain Marti."The governor started in surprise, and laid his hand hastily on a pistol that lay before him. Bu
- 323 THE SECOND CONQUEST OF THE CAPITAL OF MEXICO.The ancient city of Mexico, the capital of the Aztecs and their Spanish successors, has been the scene of two great military events, its siege and capture by Cortez the conqueror in 1521, and its capture by the
- 324 In fact, he was barely at home before he was hatching new schemes and devising fresh exploits. To check a new expedition which he was organizing in New Orleans, the authorities of that city had him arrested and put under bonds to keep the peace. Soon afte
- 325 He did not make his way inland with safety. Spanish cavalry were patrolling the coast to prevent landings, and Maceo and his comrades had a brisk fight with a party of these soon after landing, he getting away with a bullet-hole through his hat. For ten d
- 326 They are now prisoners of war and are being well cared for, and will be treated with every consideration." Cervera kept his word, though the captives found themselves in different hands later, when they were turned over to General Linares, commander
- 327 Historical Tales.Vol. 4.by Charles Morris._HOW ENGLAND BECAME CHRISTIAN._ One day, in the far-off sixth century, a youthful deacon of the Roman Church walked into the slave-market of Rome, situated at one extremity of the ancient Forum. Gregory, his name;
- 328 Only when within the shelter of his works was Guthrum able to make head against his victorious foe. The camp seemed too strong to be taken by a.s.sault, nor did Alfred care to immolate his men while a safer and surer expedient remained. He had made himsel
- 329 But pa.s.sion was burning in his heart, the double pa.s.sion of love and revenge. A day or two of this play of kingly clemency pa.s.sed, then Athelwold and his guests went to hunt in the neighboring forest, and in the heat of the chase Edgar gained the op
- 330 "The Normans have come!" was his cry. "They have landed at Pevensey Bay.They are out already, harrying the land. Smoke and fire are the beacons of their march."That feast came to a sudden end. Soon Harold and his men were in full march
- 331 Among those who had early sworn fealty to him, after the defeat of Harold at Hastings, were Edwin and Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumberland. They were confirmed in the possession of their estates and dignities, and remained faithful to William du
- 332 The shades of night were fast gathering when a poor charcoal-burner, pa.s.sing with his cart through the forest, came upon a dead body stretched bleeding upon the gra.s.s. An arrow had pierced its breast.Lifting it into his cart, wrapped in old linen, he
- 333 "Gone! gone!" they cried. "Not one of all on board, except we three, has risen above the water.""Woe! woe, to me!" moaned Fitzstephen. He ceased swimming, turned to them a face ghastly with horror, and then sank beneath the w
- 334 Thus ended the second act in this drama of conquest and re-conquest.Maud, deprived of her brother, was helpless. She exchanged him for King Stephen, and the war broke out afresh. Stephen laid siege to Oxford, and pressed it so closely that once more Maud
- 335 Fortunately for Richard, the perfidious emperor allowed the secret of his design to get adrift; one of the hostages left in his hands heard of it and found means to warn the king. Richard, at this tidings, stayed not for storm, but at once took pa.s.sage
- 336 "And a l.u.s.ty yeoman he," said the knight. "Men say much good of him. I thought to dine to-day at Blythe or Dankaster, but if jolly Robin wants me I am his man. It matters little, save that I have no heart to do justice to any man's
- 337 The story wanders on, through pages of verse like the above, but we may fitly end it with a page of prose. The old singers are somewhat prolix; it behooves us to be brief.A twelvemonth pa.s.sed. The day fixed by the knight to repay his friend of the merry
- 338 However this be, it is certain that Wallace was taken and delivered to his great enemy, and no less certain that he was treated with barbarous harshness. He was placed on trial at Westminster Hall, on the charge of being a traitor to the English crown, an
- 339 After them came the Scotch, cutting, slas.h.i.+ng, killing, paving the earth with English slain. King Edward put spurs to his horse and fled in all haste from the fatal field. A gallant knight, Sir Giles de Argentine, who had won glory in Palestine, kept
- 340 It was a sad procession that made its way to the gate of the town. Sir John led the way, the devoted six followed, while the remainder of the towns-people made their progress woful with tears and cries of grief.Months of suffering had not caused them deep
- 341 "Nor here," answered the prince, cheerfully. "I and all my people are of the same intent,--and G.o.d help the right!"[Ill.u.s.tration: CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME POITIERS.]The cardinal turned and rode away, sore-hearted with pity. As he went
- 342 Within an hour the people of the town were in arms. As the story spread through the country, the people elsewhere rose and put themselves under the leaders.h.i.+p of Wat Tyler. In Ess.e.x was another party in arms, under a priest called Jack Straw. Canter
- 343 "That cannot be," they said: "the sons of King Edward were murdered by their uncle in the Tower.""People think so, I admit," said the young stranger. "My brother _was_ murdered there, foully killed in that dark prison. B
- 344 While England had been thus busy in preparing for the pageant, France had been no less active. Arde, a town near the English pale, had been selected as the dwelling-place of Francis and his train. As for the splendor of adornment of those who followed him
- 345 After this we had a second meeting at Brigg's house in Fleet Street, and then a third at Mr. Baynton's; at both of which we had the like conference and resolution as before."Neither of them would think of marrying without "his Majesty&
- 346 "Who can they be?" queried Sir Lewis Lewknor, one of the n.o.blemen.His companion, who was no less a personage than Sir Henry Mainwaring, lieutenant of Dover Castle, looked questioningly after the fugitives."They are well mounted and have t
- 347 The people were now permitted to applaud to their hearts' desire, as no further pretence of a secret existed. Glad acclamations attended the progress of the royal cortege. The people shouted with joy, and all, high and low, sang a song composed for t
- 348 "It is. I saw them.""I don't believe you, sirrah," said Morrice, severely. "You have been frightened by a shadow. Come, show me the place. Don't make yourself a laughing-stock for your fellows."The sentinel turned a
- 349 Lambert and his men marched in and took possession of the fortress. The garrison was marshalled before him, and a strict search made among them for the six men, whom he fully expected to find. They were not there.The castle was closely searched. They coul
- 350 "Give me your hand," he said, returning. "There's no danger of drowning in this water."Leading his guide, he soon stood on the safe side of that river the pa.s.sage of which had given him so many anxious minutes.Towards morning th
- 351 Hyde.Charles himself tells an interesting story of one of his adventures while at Trent House. He, with some companions, had ridden to a place called Burport, where they were to wait for Lord Wilmot, who had gone to Lyme, four miles farther, to look after
- 352 "Think well," answered Harrison; "it is a dangerous work."[Ill.u.s.tration: OLIVER CROMWELL.]The man of fate subsided into silence again. A quarter of an hour more pa.s.sed. Then the question was put "that this bill do now pa.s.s.
- 353 A few minutes of exciting suspense followed, then the great barricade was struck, strained to its utmost, and, with a rending sound, gave way.So great was the shock that the Mountjoy rebounded and stuck in the mud.A yell of triumph came from the Irish who
- 354 "What boat is that? Whom have you on board?""A lady; on her way to Skye," answered the boatman."Up helm, and lay yourself alongside of us. We must see who you are."The fishermen obeyed. They had reason to know that, just then
- 355 On September 29 the fugitive prince landed near Morlaix, in Brittany, having been absent from France about fourteen months, five of which had been months of the most perilous and precarious series of escapes and adventures ever recorded of a princely fugi
- 356 Fifteen minutes elapsed before Captain Hardy returned. On doing so, he warmly grasped Nelson's hand, and in tones of joy congratulated him on the victory which he had come to announce."How many of the enemy are taken, I cannot say," he rema
- 357 Fortunately, there were more living than Dr. Brydon was aware of. Akbar Khan had offered to save the ladies and children if the married and wounded officers were delivered into his hands. This was done. General Elphinstone was among the prisoners, and die
- 358 THE END.……
- 359 Historical Tales.Vol 5.by Charles Morris.HERMANN, THE HERO OF GERMANY.In the days of Augustus, the emperor of Rome in its golden age of prosperity, an earnest effort was made to subdue and civilize barbarian Germany. Drusus, the step-son of the emperor, l
- 360 In his first campaign in Saxony, Charlemagne marched victoriously as far as the Weser, where he destroyed the celebrated Irminsul, a famous object of Saxon devotion, perhaps an image of a G.o.d, perhaps a statue of Hermann that had become invested with di
- 361 The siege of Paris ended in the usual manner of the Norseman invasions of France,--that of ransom. Charles marched to its relief with a strong army, but, instead of venturing to meet his foes in battle, he bought them off as so often before, paying them a
- 362 Two years afterwards Otho, infected by that desire to conquer Italy which for centuries afterwards troubled the dreams of German emperors, and brought them no end of trouble, crossed the Alps and descended upon the Italian plains, from which he was never
- 363 In this year, 1080, a battle took place in which Rudolf was mortally wounded, and the party opposed to Henry left without a leader, though the war continued. And now Henry, seeing that he could trust his cause in Germany to the hands of his lieutenants, d
- 364 Reaching the castle hall, the casks were placed on the floor before Adalbert and his chief followers, Tycho begging him to accept them as a present in return for his former kindness. As to receive something for nothing was Adalbert's usual mode of li
- 365 It was in 1220 that Frederick returned from Germany to Italy, leaving his northern kingdom in the hands of the Archbishop of Cologne, as regent. At Rome he received the imperial crown from the hands of the pope, and, his first wife dying, married Yolinda
- 366 Then, throwing his glove to the ground, he charged him who should raise it to bear it to Peter, King of Aragon, to whom, as his nearest relative, he bequeathed all his claims. The glove was raised by Henry, Truchsess von Waldberg, who found in it the seal
- 367 This advice seemed so judicious to Werner that he sought his friend Walter Furst, and arranged with him and Arnold that they should meet and consider what steps to take, their place of meeting being at Rutli, a small meadow in a lonely situation, closed i
- 368 Outside of Germany the fury of the pestilence was still worse; from east to west, from north to south, Europe was desolated. The mortality in Asia was fearful. In China there are said to have been thirteen million victims to the scourge; in the rest of As
- 369 This action of the daring churchman threw the emperor into such a paroxysm of rage that the archbishop, knowing well the man he had to deal with, took to flight, saving his neck at the expense of his dignity. The furious Wenceslas, finding that the chief
- 370 The duke even took the occasion to give the honor of knighthood to several young warriors.The day was a hot and close one, the season being that of harvest, and the sun pouring down its unclouded and burning rays upon the combatants.This sultriness was a
- 371 "Fear internal more than external foes. It is easier for a few, when united, to conquer, than for many, when disunited. Snares are laid for you; you will be entrapped, but it will not be my fault."Despite his harangue, however, peace was conclud
- 372 This purpose did not differ in character from others for which indulgences had previously been granted, and there is nothing to show that any disregard of the requisite conditions was authorized by the pope; but there is reason to believe that some of the
- 373 Solyman, indignant and alarmed, tried the effect of promises, bribes, and threats. Jurissitz and his garrison should be enriched if they yielded; they should die under torture if they persisted. These efforts proved as useless as cannon-b.a.l.l.s. The ind
- 374 At length the end came. Some of the despairing citizens betrayed the town by night to the enemy. On the night of June 25, 1535, two of them opened the gates to the bishop's army, and a sanguinary scene ensued.The betrayed citizens defended themselves
- 375 _THE END OF TWO GREAT SOLDIERS._ Two armies faced each other in central Bavaria, two armies on which the fate of Germany depended, those of Gustavus Adolphus, the right hand of Protestantism, and of Wallenstein, the hope of Catholic imperialism.Gustavus w
- 376 Once more the Grand Turk was afoot. Straight on Vienna he had marched, with an army of more than two hundred thousand men. At length he had reached the goal for which he had so often aimed, the Austrian capital, while all western Europe was threatened by
- 377 For these dignities he made the poor b.u.t.t suffer. On one occasion the kingly joker had a brace of bear cubs laid in Gundling's bed, and the drunken historian tossed in between them, with little heed of the danger to which he exposed the poor victi
- 378 This done, Frederick was released from prison, but was kept under surveillance at Custrin till February, 1732, when he was permitted to return to Berlin. He had been there before on the occasion of his sister's marriage, in November, 1731, the poor g
- 379 There was a marked difference between the make-up of the two armies, which greatly reduced their numerical odds. Frederick's army was composed of thoroughly disciplined and trained soldiers, every man of whom knew his place and his duty, and could be
- 380 Lefebvre, the leader of the invaders, was a rough and brutal soldier, who encouraged his men to commit every outrage upon the mountaineers.For some two or three months the conflict went on, with varying fortunes, depending upon the conditions of the war b
- 381 And now the empire of Germany was restored, after having ceased to exist for sixty-five years. The remarkable success of William of Prussia gave rise to a wide-spread feeling in the German states that he should a.s.sume the imperial crown, and the old emp
- 382 Historical Tales.Vol. 6.by Charles Morris.THE HUNS AT ORLEANS.On the edge of a grand plain, almost in the centre of France, rises a rich and beautiful city, time-honored and famous, for it stood there before France had begun and while Rome still spread it
- 383 What is now France was at that time divided into three kingdoms, Austrasia, Neustria, and Burgundy, King Chilperic reigning over Austrasia; King Sigebert over Neustria. But the power behind the throne lay in the wives of these kings, with whom alone we ha
- 384 "Then Roland takes his horn once more; His blast is feebler than before, But still it reaches the emperor; He hears it, and he halts to shout, 'Let clarions, one and all, ring out!'Then sixty thousand clarions ring, And rocks and dales set
- 385 At once, as if this were a signal for the breaking of the constrained silence, a mighty shout rose from the whole vast a.s.sembly. Again and again it was repeated, and then broke out the solemn chant of the litany, sung by hundreds of voices, while Charle
- 386 Corbogha received this challenge as an amusing jest, saying that the chiefs must be in a desperate state to send him such a proposition. "Go, and tell these fools," he said, "that all whom I shall find in full possession of all the powers o
- 387 De Marle was not quite ready to undertake this task. He consulted his people, who declared that it would be folly for their small force to seek to defend such a city against the king. He thereupon induced the burghers to meet him in a field, about a mile
- 388 This was not pleasing to Edward III. of England. Don Pedro the Cruel, a king equally despised and detested, had been driven from Castile by the French allies of his brother Henry. Edward III. determined to replace him on the throne, and with this intent s
- 389 "Does he mean to make game of me, that he offers such a sum?" asked the prince. "I would gladly free him for the quarter."Then, turning again to Bertrand, who stood with impa.s.sive countenance, he said,-- "Bertrand, neither can y
- 390 "Gentle dauphin" (she did not think it right to call him king until he had been crowned), "my name is Joan the maid; the King of Heaven sendeth you word by me that you shall be anointed and crowned in the city of Rheims, and shall be lieute
- 391 "Lord Talbot, this is not what you expected this morning," said the Duke d'Alencon."It is the fortune of war," answered Talbot, coolly.Joan returned to the king and demanded that they should march instantly for Rheims. He hesitated still. His counsel
- 392 We next hear of Jacques de Lelaing in 1449. In that year the herald Charolais made his advent at the Scottish court, bearing a challenge from the Burgundian knight to the whole clan of the Douglases. James Douglas accepted the challenge, and Sir Jacques a
- 393 As for the arch-deceiver to whom all this was due, he completed his work of baseness by loading the duke with praises, his tone and manner so courteous and amiable that Charles lost the last shreds of his recent anger."Brother," said the king the next d
- 394 At the loud summons of the archers the lady tremblingly opened the door, and was surprised and relieved when she saw that it was a wounded knight who craved admittance. Sadly hurt as Bayard was, his instinct of kindness remained active. He bade the archer
- 395 "Jesus, my G.o.d," he cried, "I am dead!"He took his sword by the handle, kissed its cross-hilt as an act of devotion, and repeated the _Miserere_,--"Have pity on me, O G.o.d, according to Thy great mercy!"In a moment more he grew deathly pale and g
- 396 "Then, if you will not do this, permit me and your brother to retire to some other part of the kingdom."This threat to leave him alone to grapple with the difficulties that surrounded him frightened the feeble king. He rose hastily from his seat."By G.
- 397 Within the town he was received with loud cheers, and the population seemed enthusiastic in his favor. But the shrewd soldier had no idea of shutting himself up in a walled town, to be besieged there by Mayenne.So, after carefully inspecting its fortifica
- 398 _THE MURDER OF A KING._ History is full of stories of presentiments, of "visions of sudden death," made notable by their realization, of strange disasters predicted in advance. Doubtless there have been very many presentiments that failed to come true,
- 399 "I am," said the king, proudly, "and I will make it felt, too."The royal prisoner was stirring uneasily in the bonds which hard necessity had cast round his will. It was against Cardinal Richelieu that his testy remark was made, yet in the very speaki
- 400 Paul de Gondi, afterwards known as Cardinal de Retz, then coadjutor of the Archbishop of Paris, and the leading spirit with the populace, hurried to the palace, accompanied by Marshal de la Meilleraie."The city is in a frightful state," they told the qu