Edited by THE REV. M. CREIGHTON, M.A. With Maps and Plans. Das most important and the most difficult point in historical teaching is arawaken a real interest in the minds of beginners. For this purpose zase tandbooks are seldom useful. General sketches, however accurate ather auntimes of political or constitutional development, and however wal ampted to dispel false ideas, still do not make history a living thing the young. They are most valuable as maps on which to trace the route brand and show its direction, but they will seldom allure any one to mr a wak The object of this series of Historical Biographies is to try and select from English History a few men whose lives were lived in stirring times. The intention is to treat their lives and times in some little detail and to group round them the most distinctive features of the periods before and after those in which they lived. It is hoped that in this way interest may be awakened without any sacrifice of accuracy, and that personal sympathies may be kindled without forgetfulness of the principles involved. It may be added that around the lives of individuals it will be possible to bring together facts of social life in a clearer way, and to reproduce a more vivid picture of particular times than is possible in a historical handbook. By reading short biographies a few clear ideas may be formed in the pupil's mind, which may stimulate to further reading. A vivid impression of one period, however short, will carry the pupil onward and give more general histories an interest in their turn. Something, at least, will be gained if the pupil realises that men in past times lived and moved in the same sort of way as they do at present. "Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs, You would say it hath been all-in-all his study: The Gordian knot of it he will unloose, |