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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
- 1 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
- 2 These two, one "being olde," says the record, "the other encombred with a yong childe, we took. The olde wretch, whom divers of our Saylors supposed to be eyther the Divell, or a witch, had her buskins plucked off, to see if she were cloven
- 3 Soon they emerged into a partial clearing, which had been made by the axes of the Iroquois in preparing their breastwork of defence. Champlain gazed upon the scene before him with wondering eyes. In front was a circular barricade, composed of trunks of tr
- 4 "I saw great guns down there," he said."What? guns?" was the general cry."Yes, great guns, as from some s.h.i.+p.""Guns!" The despondency of the crew at once changed to ardent enthusiasm. Had they at length hit upon
- 5 Fifty-nine signatures had been affixed to the death-warrant of this royal criminal. A number of the signers afterwards paid the penalty of that day's work on the scaffold. We are concerned here only with two of them, Generals Whalley and Goffe, who,
- 6 Tradition--for it must be acknowledged that this story is traditional, though probably true in its main elements--tells us that this daring individual was Captain Joseph Wadsworth, a bold and energetic militia-leader who was yet to play another prominent
- 7 THE PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS.On the 31st day of October, in the year 1753, a young man, whose name was as yet unknown outside the colony of Virginia, though it was destined to attain world-wide fame, set out from Williamsburg, in that colony, on a momento
- 8 Hope returned to their hearts. The cold of the night had done one service, it had frozen the water between the island and the eastern bank of the stream. The ice bore their weight. They crossed in safety, and the same day reached a trading-post, recently
- 9 Onward through the thicket came the unsuspecting provincials. They had advanced a mile, and were on the point of emerging from the dense growth into the more open forest, when yells broke from the bushes on both sides of their path, and a shower of bullet
- 10 She had not gone a step beyond the shelter of the fort before the Indians perceived her. Yet the suddenness of her appearance seemed to paralyze them. They stood and watched her movements, as she walked swiftly but steadily over the s.p.a.ce leading to he
- 11 No sooner had the Indians discovered the fact of his flight than an intense commotion reigned among them, and a large number of their swiftest runners and best hunters were put upon his trail.By this time, however, he had gained a considerable start, and
- 12 Percy, who was in Gage's confidence, hastened to the head-quarters of the commanding general and informed him of what he had overheard. Gage, startled to learn that his guarded secret was already town's talk, at once set guards on all the avenue
- 13 It was a day mighty in history, the birthday of the American Revolution; the opening event in the history of the United States of America, which has since grown to so enormous stature, and is perhaps destined to become the greatest nation upon the face of
- 14 It was seen as quickly by the sentinels on the "Eagle," who fired at the strange aquatic monster with such good aim that Abijah popped under the water as hastily as he had emerged from it. On board the "Eagle" confusion evidently preva
- 15 Historical Tales.The Romance of Reality.Volume VII.by Charles Morris.THE GOOD KING WAMBA.Long had the Goths been lords of Spain. Chief after chief had they chosen, king after king had they served; and, though it was young in time, Gothic Spain was growing
- 16 As it proved, Al-Walid, the Commander of the Faithful, knew something of the truth. Far distant as Damascus was from Toledo, a report of Tarik's exploits had reached his august ears, and Musa received orders to replace him in his command, since it wo
- 17 A noise at the door disturbed him, and in a moment a throng burst into the building. At their head was Habib, his trusted friend, who rushed upon him and struck him with a dagger. The emir was unhurt, and sought to escape, but the others were quickly upon
- 18 By a strange chance the treaty of surrender of the land of Tadmir still exists. It is drawn up in Latin and in Arabic, and is of much interest as showing the mode in which such things were managed at that remote date. It stipulates that war shall not be w
- 19 BERNARDO DEL CARPIO.Spain, like France, had its hero of legend. The great French hero was Roland, whose mighty deeds in the pa.s.s of Roncesvalles have been widely commemorated in song and story. In Spanish legend the gallant opponent of the champion of F
- 20 Thus the champion went forth as a knight-errant, with few followers, but a great name. Tears came into his eyes as he looked back upon his home, its doors open, its hall deserted, no hawks upon the perches, no horses in the stalls. "My enemies have d
- 21 Without dwelling on the events of the march, we may hasten forward to the 12th of July, when the host of Alfonso reached the vicinity of the Moorish army, and the Navas de Tolosa, the destined field of battle, lay near at hand. The word _navas_ means &quo
- 22 KING ABUL Ha.s.sAN AND THE ALCAIDE OF GIBRALTAR.Muley Abul Ha.s.san, the warlike king of Granada, weary of having his lands raided and his towns taken, resolved to repay the Christians in kind. The Duke of Medina Sidonia had driven him from captured Alham
- 23 Boabdil was the weaker in men. Fearing defeat in consequence, he sent a messenger to Don Fadrique de Toledo, the Christian commander on the border, asking for a.s.sistance. Don Fadrique had been instructed by Ferdinand to give what aid he could to the you
- 24 Terror filled the Christian ranks; a shout of triumph rose from those of the Moors. But suddenly Tarfe was seen to loosen his grasp and roll over in the dust. Garcila.s.so had shortened his sword and, as Tarfe raised his arm, had struck him to the heart.T
- 25 "Yes; and anybody can become a discoverer when once he has been shown the way," retorted Columbus. "It is easy to follow in a known track."By this time all Europe had heard of the brilliant discovery of the Genoese mariner, and everywh
- 26 Leaving the defeated army to take care of itself, Henry devoted himself to the siege of the castle, within whose poorly fortified walls lay the prize for which he fought. Escape was impossible, and the small supply of provisions would soon be exhausted. D
- 27 Such were the most brilliant exploits of the man who well earned the proud t.i.tle of the Great Captain. He was as generous in victory as vigorous in battle, and as courteous and genial with all he met as if he had been a courtier instead of a soldier. In
- 28 In vain Navarro sought to check his brutal troops; they were beyond control; the butchery never ceased until, gorged with the food and wine found in the houses, the worn-out soldiers flung themselves down in the streets and squares to sleep. Four thousand
- 29 He went on, indeed, eating and drinking as he would; and his disease went on growing and deepening, until at length the shadow of death lay heavy on the man whose religion did not include temperance in its precepts. During 1558 he grew steadily weaker, an
- 30 The news of the arrest of Don Carlos made a great sensation in Spain. The wildest rumors were set afloat. Some said that he had tried to kill his father, others that he was plotting rebellion. Many laid all the blame on the king. "Others, more pruden
- 31 Philip was confirmed in his purpose by the approbation of the Pope.Elizabeth of England was the greatest enemy of the Catholic faith. She had abolished it throughout her dominions and executed as a traitor the Catholic Queen Mary of Scotland. For nearly t
- 32 Fortunately, in view of the intense impolicy and deep intolerance indicated in the act, its evil effects reacted upon its advocates. To the Moriscos the suffering was personal; to Spain it was national. As France half-ruined herself by expelling the Hugue
- 33 The great booty gained by this raid caused numerous pirate captains to enlist under Morgan's flag, and other towns were taken, in which similar orgies of cruelty and debauchery followed. But the impunity of the buccaneers was nearing its end. Their a
- 34 This period the favor of the Pope reduced to one year, and his chief enemy, the regent of France, soon after dying, he was permitted to leave the monastery and pa.s.s the remainder of his life free from persecution.His career was a singular one, consideri
- 35 A sharp altercation followed, in which the other ministers took part, and the meeting broke up in disorder, nothing being done. On retiring, the irate counsellors, full of agitation, dropped words which were caught up by the public and aroused a commotion
- 36 THE HERO OF THE CARLISTS.Spain for years past has had its double king,-a king in possession and a king in exile, a holder of the throne and an aspirant to the throne. For the greater part of a century one has rarely heard of Spain without hearing of the C
- 37 The Spanish s.h.i.+ps were in a hopeless state. Shortly after eleven the Americans returned and ranged up again before the s.h.i.+ps of Spain, nearly all of which were in flames. For an hour and a quarter longer the blazing s.h.i.+ps were pounded with sho
- 38 Historic Tales.Vol. 8.by Charles Morris.THE ANCIENT SCYTHIANS.Far over the eastern half of Europe extends a vast and mighty plain, spreading thousands of miles to the north and south, to the east and west, in the north a land of forests, in the south and
- 39 This message had its effect. The chief men of the country were now sent as amba.s.sadors. They entered Kief over the grave of their murdered countrymen without knowing where they trod, and came to the palace expecting to be hospitably entertained.Olga had
- 40 For this purpose there was selected a young Varangian who, with his father, had adopted the Christian faith. The father refused to give up his son, and the enraged people, who looked on the refusal as an insult to their prince and their G.o.ds, broke into
- 41 The first of these was prepared about 1018 by Yaroslaf, for Novgorod alone, but in time became the law of all the land. This early code of Russian law is a remarkable one, and goes farther than history at large in teaching us the degree of civilization of
- 42 The battle began. On the serried Russian ranks the Tartars poured in that impetuous a.s.sault which had so often carried their hosts to victory. The Russians defended themselves with fiery valor, a.s.sault after a.s.sault was repulsed, and so fiercely was
- 43 Pskov, another of the Russian republics, had been already subdued. In 1479, Viatka, a colony of Novgorod, was reduced to like slavery. The end had come. Republicanism in Russia was extinguished, and gradually the republican population was removed to the s
- 44 The shrieks of the nurse quickly drew others to the spot, and in a moment there was a terrible uproar, for the dying boy was no less a person than Dmitri, son of Ivan the Terrible, brother of Feodor, the reigning czar, and heir to the crown of Russia. The
- 45 Clemency like this was praiseworthy, but it proved fatal. Like Caesar before him, Dmitri was over-clement and over-confident, and with the same result. Yet his answer to those who urged him to punish the conspirator was a n.o.ble one, and his trustfulness
- 46 Driving the Poles before him, Pojarski entered Moscow, and in October, 1612, became master of the Kremlin. The impostors all disappeared; Marina and her three-year-old son Ivan were captured, the child to be hanged and she to end her eventful life in pris
- 47 "Yes. If you had sails for it, you would find that it would not only go with the wind, but against the wind.""Against the wind! Is that possible? How can it be possible?"With his usual impatience, the boy wanted to try it at once. But
- 48 Two days after the funeral of the czar Theodore the insurrection began, the Strelitz marching in an armed body to the Kremlin, where they accused nine of their colonels of defrauding them of their pay. The frightened ministers hastened to dismiss these of
- 49 For Peter to shave was easy, as he had little beard and a very thin moustache. But by the old-fas.h.i.+oned Russian of his day the beard was cherished as the Turk now cherishes his hirsute symbol of dignity or the Chinaman his long-drawn-out queue. Shortl
- 50 To add a commercial quarter to the new city, Peter chose the island of Vasily Ostrof,--the Finnish "Island of Buffaloes,"--where a town was laid out in the Dutch fas.h.i.+on, with ca.n.a.ls for streets. This island is still the business centre o
- 51 For two years Catharine and Mentchikof, whose life had begun in the hovel, and who were now virtually together on the throne, were the unquestioned autocrats of Russia. Catharine had no genius for government, and left the control of affairs to her ministe
- 52 No one could tell him. She had simply gone,--where and why he was soon to learn. As he waited and fumed, a peasant approached and handed him a letter, which proved to be from Bressau, his former French valet. It contained the astounding information that t
- 53 Yet he contrived to gather about him an army of several thousand men, and obtained a considerable number of cannon, with which he soon afterwards laid siege to the city of Orenburg. Both Yaitsk and Orenburg defied his efforts, but he had greater success i
- 54 To return to the Kalmuck flight. Two thousand miles still remained to be traversed before the borders of China would be reached. All that took place in the dreary interval is too much to tell. It must suffice to say that the Bashkirs pursued them through
- 55 On the following day the city capitulated, and on the 6th the Russian victors marched into its streets. It was, as Kosciusko had said, "the end of Poland." The troops were disarmed, the officers were seized as prisoners, and the feeble king was
- 56 This day of disaster was the climax of the frightful retreat. But as the army pressed onward the temperature again fell, until it reached twenty-seven degrees below zero, and the old story of "frozen to death"was resumed. Napoleon, fearing to be
- 57 The first battle in which Schamyl engaged was behind the walls of his native village. Himri, well situated as it was, was hurled into ruin by the artillery of the foe, and among its prostrate defenders lay Schamyl, with two b.a.l.l.s through his body. He
- 58 Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred."Forward, the Light Brigade!Charge for the guns!" he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred."Forward, the Light Brigade!"W
- 59 This was the celebrated position of Buyak-Tchek-medje, a defensive line twenty-five miles from Constantinople and of remarkable military strength. The peninsula between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmora is at this point only twenty miles wide, and twel
- 60 Meanwhile Russia was making its way towards the Caspian and Aral seas.In 1835 a fort was built on the eastern sh.o.r.e of the Caspian and several armed steamers were placed on its waters. Four years later war broke out with Khiva, and the khan was forced
- 61 Many of the exiles escape,--some from the districts where they live free, with privilege of getting a living in any manner available, others from the prisons or mines. The mere feat of running away is in many cases not difficult, but to get out of the cou
- 62 Never in the history of naval warfare had so frightful a cannonade been seen. Its effect on the opposing fleets was very different. For months Togo had kept his gunners in training and their sh.e.l.l-fire was accurate and deadly, hundreds of their project
- 63 Historical Tales.Vol. 9.by Charles Morris.HOW KING ROLF WON HIS BRIDE.At one time very many centuries ago, we cannot say just when, for this was in the days of the early legends, there reigned over Upsala in Sweden a king named Erik. He had no son and onl
- 64 "Do you ask me to believe that the daughter of these great people was named Kraka and brought up in a peasant's hut?"The queen now told him that her real name was Aslog and related all the events of her early life. And as a sign that she sp
- 65 To go back to Harold, the builder of the kingdom of Norway, we shall only say in conclusion that he built his rule on sure foundations and kept a court of high splendor, and died without a rebel in his realm in 933, seventy-three years after he succeeded
- 66 The remainder of the story of Egil's career is largely that of a viking, that is, a piratical rover, bent on spoil and plunder and the harrying of sea-coast lands. With Thorolf he took to the sea and cruised about in quest of wealth and glory, finall
- 67 The sea-rovers did not confine their voyages to settled lands. Bold ocean wanderers, fearless of man on sh.o.r.e and tempest on the waves, they visited all the islands of the north and dared the perils of the unknown sea. They rounded the North Cape and m
- 68 In those days it was easy to have men believe tales like that, but, witchcraft or not, the blood still ran and the king grew weaker. As night came death seemed at hand and one of his friends offered to take his body to England, after his death, that he mi
- 69 But Haakon fell into ways of vice as he grew older, and at length he did a deed that led him to a shameful death. He had his men bring by force to his palace the wife of a rich peasant, and sent them for another, who was famed for her beauty. Orm, her hus
- 70 In the chronicles of the time we are told much of the doings of the doughty Olaf, who won fame as the chieftain of a viking fleet, which in 994 made many descents upon the English coast. In the end he landed in Southampton and fixed his winter quarters th
- 71 An arrow sped and hit Einer's bow in the middle, breaking it in twain."What is broke?" asked Olaf, hearing the sound."Norway broke then from your hands, my king," said Einer."Not so bad as that; take my bow and try what it is
- 72 "Enough cows to cover the sh.o.r.es of the headland when they went to the water to drink.""So; one wants land and the other cattle; and what do you want, Harold?""Men," said the boy."How many?""Enough to eat up
- 73 England did not fall lightly into Canute's hands; he had to win it by force of arms. Encouraged by the death of Sweyn and the youth of Canute, the English recalled Ethelred and for a time the Danes lost the kingdom which their king Sweyn had won. Can
- 74 Every one would say that a compact of this kind could not work well. A gentle, kindly, generous-hearted man like King Magnus was ill matched with a haughty, wealth-loving, tyrannical man like Harold. No doubt many bitter words pa.s.sed between them, and t
- 75 In Sweden, across the border, dwelt Earl Birger, who had married a sister of King Sigurd Mouth. To him Sverre went, told who he was, and begged for aid. The earl looked on him as an imposter and would have nothing to do with him. Then he sought Folkvid th
- 76 In doing this the plotters were like some politicians of the present day, who lay plans without consulting the people. They did not know how strong the sentiment was in favor of the old royal line. One of the old Birchlegs, on hearing of this compact, was
- 77 The Christians of that age were quite as superst.i.tious, for they declared that when the image was being carried out of the temple gates, a horrible monster, spitting fire and brimstone, burst from the roof and leaped with howls of wrath into the sea bel
- 78 Then there was brus.h.i.+ng and furbis.h.i.+ng on all sides; ancestral swords, which had long hung rusting on the walls, were taken down and sharpened anew; helmets and cuira.s.ses were burnished until they shone like silver or gold; tight-closed purses w
- 79 The regent having consented, the daring fellow put on his armor and had his horse led through the gate. Leaping on it he rode out, and when he had pa.s.sed the moat, turned back to his friends who lined the wall."Strive to live happily," he said
- 80 On entering the Skares the people attacked him with stones and other missiles, but he and his men protected themselves behind the planks.Seeing this, fire-rafts were sent off from the sh.o.r.e against the s.h.i.+ps, and despite all that could be done to k
- 81 This reign was not a long one. Christian, who had imprisoned the archbishop because he opposed the heavy taxation of the peasants, now sought his aid again and sent him with an army to Sweden. As a result Charles found himself once more shut up in Stockho
- 82 The name of Ditmarshers was given to the inhabitants of a broad, marshy region adjoining the district of Holstein on the Baltic sh.o.r.es of Germany. They were not pure Germans, however, but descendants of the ancient Frisian tribes who had long occupied
- 83 Bishop Vincent next fell beneath the encrimsoned sword, and after him the senators, seven in number, and thirteen n.o.bles and knights of the senate.These were followed by the three burgomasters of Stockholm and thirteen members of the town council, with
- 84 It was late in November when Gustavus reached Dalarna. He was now completely disguised, having exchanged his ordinary dress for that of a peasant, cutting his hair round, wearing the round hat and short baize jacket of the countrymen, and carrying an axe
- 85 will serve as a fitting t.i.tle to an impressive tale.So sudden and successful was the rebellion of the Swedes under Gustavus Vasa, that in the summer of the year after the ma.s.sacre in the Great Square of Stockholm the Danes held only that city and a fe
- 86 The leader in this movement was one Ture Jonsson, a h.o.a.ry old conspirator of great influence in West Gothland, where he and his ancestors had long been judges and where he was looked upon by the people as their lord and chief. By a decision of the cour
- 87 Missed the next morning, his trail through the gra.s.s was easily followed and he was found and carried back to prison. Soon after the prisoners were taken to Stockholm, where Mans Bryntesson and Nils Winge were beheaded and their bodies exposed on the wh
- 88 The time at length came--this was after the period of his foreign wars and his insanity--that he asked permission of the legislative body to marry whom he pleased, at home or abroad. After this was given he privately married Karin, and subsequently determ
- 89 So far the movement of Charles had been brilliantly successful, but his position was very dangerous. Enemies were advancing on him from various sides, a Polish army having invaded Pomerania, an Austrian army having advanced into Prussia, while the elector
- 90 Giving his weary men scarcely any time for rest, Charles advanced against the Russians with the impetuosity which had so far marked his career. A general warned him that the danger was very great."What!" he replied. "Do you not think that w
- 91 The act was no more warrantable than were the viking descents upon England centuries before. The latter were the acts of barbarian freebooters, and England, in an age of boasted civilization, put herself in the same position. The Danes were nearly crushed
- 92 For the thirteen years following all remained at rest. But in that year King Frederick VII. of Denmark died and immediately the eldest son of the Duke of Augustenburg, who claimed the duchies, hastened into them and proclaimed himself as ruler, under the
- 93 Historic Tales.vol 10.by Charles Morris.HOW TROY WAS TAKEN.The far-famed Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, was the most beautiful woman in the world. And from her beauty and faithlessness came the most celebrated of ancient wars, with death and disa
- 94 This victory gained, the task of Theseus was easy. The thread led back to the entrance. By aid of this clue the door of escape was quickly gained. Waiting until night, the hostages left the dreaded Labyrinth under cover of the darkness. Ariadne was in wai
- 95 Plutarch, who tells so many charming stories about the ancient Greeks and Romans, gives us the following account. According to him the brother of Lycurgus was king of Sparta. When he died Lycurgus was offered the throne, but he declined the honor and made
- 96 We have told how Sparta came to have an aristocratic government, under the laws of Lycurgus. We have now to tell how Athens came to have a democratic government, under the laws of Solon. These formed the types of government for later Greece, some of whose
- 97 "I fancy, O king," answered the Greek, "that nothing would please you better than to catch these islanders here on horseback. But do you not think that they would like nothing better than to catch you at sea on s.h.i.+pboard? Would they not
- 98 However this be, the feast went on to its end, and was followed by a contest between the suitors in music and oratory, with all the people to decide. As the drinking which followed went on, Hippoclides, who had surpa.s.sed all the others as yet, shouted t
- 99 This was not done without deep grief to Polycrates. He valued the ring more highly than ever, now that it lay on the bottom of the sea, irretrievably lost to him, as he thought; and he grieved for days thereafter, feeling that he had endured a real misfor
- 100 _DARIUS AND THE SCYTHIANS._ The conquest of Asia Minor by Cyrus and his Persian army was the first step towards that invasion of Greece by the Persians which proved such a vital element in the history of the h.e.l.lenic people. The next step was taken in