Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - English Tales Read as Bedtime Stories

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Starting point is 00:00:46 please go to sleepcove.com slash support. That's sleepcove.com slash support. If you can't support the show right now, please subscribe with a bell to get alerts on all new free content thank you have you ever gazed in wonder at the great pyramid have you marvelled at the golden face of Tudankhamun

Starting point is 00:01:16 or admired the delicate features of Queen Nefertiti if you have you'll probably like the History of Egypt podcast every week we explore tales of this ancient culture The history of Egypt is available wherever you get your podcasting fix. Come, let me introduce you to the world of ancient Egypt. This week is St George's Day. In St George is the patron saint of many countries and regions, and his day is celebrated across the world.

Starting point is 00:01:59 And he's also the patron saint of my home country, England. So this week I went to my private members library and took out a 120-year-old book of British Tales So you might hear me turn the pages as I read these stories out to you You can see the book on my social media channels and I'll leave the link in the description So let's begin.

Starting point is 00:02:40 The story of Richard Lionheart. This story is about the same Richard I, of whom you read in history. But it is really a story, not an account of things that actually happened to him. You see English people liked him so much that after he was dead, they were not content merely to remember the deeds he had actually done, but made up many new ones, which they told in their songs and stories, and this is about some of them. Soon after young King Richard first came to the throne,

Starting point is 00:03:26 he wanted to find out who were the bravest knights in his dominions. so he prepared three disguises for himself in which he might appear as a knight adventurer and summoned all his followers to a great tournament on the day appointed when all was ready and everyone awaited only the king a strange knight dressed in black riding a black horse

Starting point is 00:03:59 and wearing on his helmet a raven with a bell hung around its neck, galloped into the lists, and shouted his challenge. No one was anxious to take it up, for the stranger's spear was 14 feet long and 21 inches round, and they feared what might be the strength of him who wielded it. At 11th a knight rode forth to meet him And was instantly unhorsed Another followed and was killed by the violence of the onset A third barely escaped with his life

Starting point is 00:04:41 No other ventured forward And the knight of the raven After waiting a while Set spurs to his horse Plunged into the forest and disappeared After a short time, another knight rode out of the forest on a bay horse. He wore a suit of red armour, and on his helmet's crest was a red hound. This knight, or the red dog, rode into the mists of the throng,

Starting point is 00:05:17 and handing his spear to his squire, took his mace, and riding up to Sir Thomas de Milton, the most renowned knight in England, struck him with a mighty blow. Sir Thomas, however, was not at all dismayed at this sudden onset, and merely suggested that his adversary should go and amuse himself elsewhere. The stranger's reply was a second and still more violent below, which nearly crushed his helmet, whereupon Sir Thomas turned upon him, and thrust with such vigour that the knight of the red dog lost his stirrups, and recovering them with difficulty,

Starting point is 00:06:10 rode into the forest. Presently another knight rode forth, wearing white armour with a dove for his crest and riding a snow-white horse. Finding no man disposed to take up his challenge, he rode round the ring till he caught sight of Sir Falk Dolly, a very worthy antagonist, and at once aimed him a furious blow. Sir Fulke received it quite calmly, with only a warning not to repeat the offence. But when a second fell, he struck the knight of the dove with such strength

Starting point is 00:06:58 that the latter lost both stirrup and saddle, and was carried away, almost senseless to the palace. When the tournament was over, the king summoned Sir Fulke and Sir Thomas and asked who had quitted himself, best of all the combatants. Both agreed that the honours of the day

Starting point is 00:07:23 belonged to the unknown knights in the black, red and white armour, though each complained of the unsuspected attack and hasty retreat of their mysterious adversaries. Then Richard gave a great laugh and told them

Starting point is 00:07:42 that he himself had been each of the knights in turn, and that he had acted as he did to try the courage of these two in order that if they stood the test they might be as companions in a pilgrimage he proposed to undertake to the Holy Land. He then proposed that they should disguise themselves as pilgrims, and having taken the oath of secrecy, and of loyalty to one another, they set out together for Palestine. Having accomplished their pilgrimage successfully, they set their faces towards their native land and passed their way through Germany, where they met with an unfortunate adventure.

Starting point is 00:08:37 They had been for many hours without food when they came to an inn, the keeper of which was too busy to attend to them. He bade the mentor, however, and having killed a good fat goose, told them to cook it for themselves. Wishing nothing better, the supposed pilgrims set to work with joy. King Richard blew up the fire,

Starting point is 00:09:07 Sir Thomas set the goose on the spit, Sir Fulke fetched, in fresh wood. The goose was done to return, and they were just about to enjoy it, when a minstrelmaid entered, and said, gentlemen, will ye have any minstrelsy? Hungry and tired, they made her go away, and when she begged for food, they would not hear. So the girl turned at the door, saying, ye and kind men one day you remember that you gave the minstrel neither food nor drink

Starting point is 00:09:47 and with a very threatening look she departed we were not very happy at these words for they saw by her look and speech that she was English and they feared to be recognised in this hostile land What they dreaded soon came to pass. The minstrel had gone at once to the king of the country and had betrayed the real rank of the pilgrims, and the king, in wrath, that they should have entered the domains without leave, and he thought, with treasonable intent,

Starting point is 00:10:28 threw them into a deep dungeon. Now this king had a son named Ardor, who was very proud of his strength, when this young man heard that the famous king of England was in prison, he ordered him to be brought forth, and he asked him if he would stand a buffet from his hand on condition that he was allowed to return it. Richard promptly agreed, and weak from hunger as he was, reeled under the prince's blow. But he was so ashamed of his weakness, that he quickly recovered

Starting point is 00:11:07 and pointing out the fact that he had no food for two days asked leave to put off the return below till the next day Arda consented and sent him a plentiful meal next day they met again but the young princess

Starting point is 00:11:26 endurance was not equal to his courage for Richard's blow killed him on the spot when the king his father heard this he was beside himself with anger and grief and desired above all things to put Richard to death but his counsellors reminded him that it was against the law of Europe to kill a king except in a fair fight and there seemed to no way out of the matter

Starting point is 00:11:52 at a love one of them suggested that a very large and ferocious lion belonging to the royal menagerie should be kept some days without food and then let loose in the royal prisoner's cell. This arrangement would satisfy the king's desire for revenge while shielding him from responsibility for the crime.

Starting point is 00:12:19 Now the Princess Marjorie, daughter of the king, heard this plan and moved with pity for the unfortunate Englishman. She visited him in the prison and warned him of what was to happen. Richard took the matter very calmly, however, and only asked her to provide him with forty handkerchiefs of white silk. These he bound round his arms to protect them from the beast claws, and calmly awaited the arrival of the lion. It was brought in by two keepers, and being loosed at once made a dash for its prey, but Richard gave it a sound blow on the chest

Starting point is 00:13:05 that had nearly fell to the ground. Nashing its tale, with fury, the king gave a terrific roar and sprang upon him. Then the king seized him by his open jaws and like some son of old tore him asunder so that he fell dead to the ground. When the king of that land was told this,

Starting point is 00:13:29 he was filled with astonishment and said, this fellow was the heart of a lion in place of that of a man and from that time Richard was surnamed a lionheart it was not long before the king glad to be rid of such a terrible prisoner accepted a large ransom and sent him back to England the story of Alfred the king and Cuthbert the saint This legend or story tells us how once upon a time King Alfred was driven from his throne by the Danes

Starting point is 00:14:15 and was obliged to hide himself for three years in the island of Glastonbury. It so happened that on a certain day all the men who were with him had gone out to fish, leaving only Alfred his wife and one servant in the house. Presently, there came slowly up to the door, an old pilgrim or traveller who begged for food. The king therefore asked his servant, what food have we in the house? His servant was sad. for food in those days was very scarce and hard to come by, and answered, My lord, we have but one loaf of bread and a little wine.

Starting point is 00:15:19 Then said the king, Give half the loaf and half the wine to this poor pilgrim. So this was done, and the pilgrim, after giving much thanks to the king. went on his way. When, however, the servant returned to the larder, he was much surprised, for he found the loaf and the wine whole, as if they had not been touched.

Starting point is 00:15:53 Then he reminded the king that there was no boat or bridge by which the pilgrim could have reached the island, and they both wandered greatly. In the evening their men had gone fishing and returned with joy

Starting point is 00:16:14 saying, We have caught more fish today than in all the three years we have lived upon this island. Then there was a feast with great rejoicing and all were merry. That night

Starting point is 00:16:32 when the king lay upon his bed thinking of what had come to pass that day, he saw suddenly a great light shine in the room, an old man with black hair clothed in the garment of a priest and carrying in his hand a book of the gospels. Who art thou? asked the king, and he answered, Alfred my son rejoice,

Starting point is 00:17:06 I am he to whom thou didst give me little store of food this day, and I am called Cuthbert, the soldier of Christ. Be thou strong and of joyful heart, for I will be thy shield and thy friend, and I will watch over thee. Now will I tell thee that thou must do, Rise up early in the morning, and blow thine horn thrice, that thine enemies may hear and be affrighted. And by the ninth hour, thou shalt have by thee an army of five hundred men ready for battle.

Starting point is 00:17:58 Be thou, therefore, glad of heart, for God has given thine enemies into thine land. and none of them shall be able to overcome thee. So in the morning the king uprose with a glad heart and sailed across to the mainland where he blew his horn three times. Then there gathered together five hundred of the bravest and best of his friends and he told them of what St. Cufford.

Starting point is 00:18:36 but had foretoiled. So they went forth to battle and put their enemies to flight and overcame them. And King Alfred became the ruler of a great part of the land of Britain, and he ruled wisely over good and evil men. The story of Alfred and Guthrum. This is a story of the troubled days. when the Danish army was in England and no one could stand against it.

Starting point is 00:19:19 But Alfred the king went on fighting for his people in Wessex even when there seemed no hope of victory and sometimes he was successful as you shall see. Soon after Alfred had become king

Starting point is 00:19:39 the Danish army stole secretly in midwinter. How about the season of 12th night into Essex and settled down there, driving many of the people over the sea? Many others they caused to become their servants. And Alfred, with a little troop, escaped with difficulty, to the woods and the hiding places of the moors. About Easter tide, King Alfred, with his little troop, made a fortress on the island of Atholny, and from this place he fought against the army in that part of Somerset, in which his fortress lay.

Starting point is 00:20:34 and when he was able he rode forth to a place called Egg Bright Stone and many men from Somerset and Wiltshire and Hampshire and their land on the other side of the sea joined him there with great rejoicing and he went forth one night from the camp to Ethan Doon and there attacked the whole of the Danish army and put them to fight. After that, he rode after them to their fortress and sat before it 14 nights.

Starting point is 00:21:21 Then they gave up hostages to him and took many oaths of obedience and promised also that their king should receive baptism. This they brought about. For three weeks later, Guthram their king came to him with 30 of the worthiest men in the army, at Allah near Atholny, and King Alfred received them, and he had them baptized at Wedmore. They stayed twelve knights with the king, and he gave Guthram and his companion gifts.

Starting point is 00:22:03 the voyage of Oteer. This story was told by King Alfred, who relates what he heard from the lips of Oterer, a whale fisher whom he had sent to explore the unknown lands of the north, which he called Scandinavia. Oterre told his Lord King Alfred that he dwelt in a place far the north than any northman had ever lived by the shore of the western sea. It was nothing but desert land in that part of the world, except where a few Finns, who hunted in winter and fished in summer, had their hats.

Starting point is 00:23:02 He had sailed along the coast of this wasteland, farther north than any one. whale fisher had ever done, and he had sailed inland up a great river, but not for a great distance, for the fear of an friendly inhabitants. He visited this wild northland for the sake of hunting the warress, or horse whale, as he called it, which has very long time. teeth, some of which he brought home and showed the king. The skin of the orus was used for ship ropes, and in size it was said to be much smaller than the whale. In that land, a man was said to be rich if he owned many reindeer. At the time that Othier sought out the king, he was the owner of 600 tame deer, with six decoy deer,

Starting point is 00:24:22 who were very precious since they were used to catch their companions in the wild, and bring them in to be tamed. He told the king that he was one of the richest men in the land, for he owned more than 20 oxen and 20 sheep and 20 pigs and if he wanted to plough he ploughed with horses many in taxes were paid in that to land by means of deer skins birds feathers warous bones ship ropes made of warrens skin and seals

Starting point is 00:25:03 every man paid taxes according to his rank. The highest of the land had to pay his attacks 15 skins of Martins 5 of reindeer 1 bearskin 10 measures of feathers

Starting point is 00:25:22 A cloak of bearskin Or otterskin And two ship ropes He said also that the land of the Northman Was very long and narrow The only part on, which a man could plough or feed, His cattle lay along the coastline, And even that was very rocky in places.

Starting point is 00:25:49 Wild moorlands lay to the east, Facing the cultivated land and these parts dwelt fins, Who were forever ravaging the fields, Which the Northmen had tilled, so that there was constant warfare between the two races. The story of Coon Wolf and Coon Heard This story is found in the oldest history book ever written in English.

Starting point is 00:26:26 It tells how a king of Wessex met his death at the hands of his enemy. A certain man named Coon Wessex. wolf had made himself king of Wessex by driving the wicked ruler Sigbright into the woods. There Sigbright was slain by a shepherd who bore a grudge against him, and after he was dead, his brother Coonhead determined to rule in his stead. He waited a while and presently discovered that King Coon Wolf, taking only a few soldiers with him, had gone to visit a lady who lived in the little town of Merton. So Coon Heard rode off to his place with all his retainers and surrounded the house in which the king was sitting.

Starting point is 00:27:31 When Coon Wolf saw what they were about, he rushed to the door and fought against them nobody, and struck the prince down and sorely wounded him. But Prince Coonherd's followers flung themselves upon the king and overcame and slew him. When the lady saw what was happening outside, she began to cry aloud. And the soldiers of the king, hearing her cries, came running up to see what was the matter. When Prince Goon-Hard saw the soldiers, he offered them money and their lives if they would join his side, but they would not hear of it, and fought against him till all they slain save one, and he was sorely wounded. In the morning, King Coonwulf's men, whom he had left behind heard of what was done and how the king was slain, when they rode fast to that place,

Starting point is 00:28:47 and found that the prince had seized the town and not the gates. Scarcely had they began to out the town when Coon heard came to them, promising to give them much money and land if they would own him as their king. He reminded them that many of their kingsfolk were on his side and bade them make up their minds to join him also. But they answered, Dear are our kingsfolk to us, but another of them is dear, as our lord the king, and we will never follow his murderer.

Starting point is 00:29:32 And they implored their kingsfolk to come out of the city and to leave the prince. But they would not, saying that they were bound to coon herd as much as their kingsmen were bound to the king, and they would not heed their words. and the king's men threw themselves upon the gates so that they broke them down and entered and they fought against Coonherd and his followers and slew them or save one who managed to escape with his life

Starting point is 00:30:10 although he was very severely wounded and in this way did the king's men keep their faith and avenge the death and they buried Prince Coonhead at Axminster, but King Coon Wolf in the Royal City of Winchester.

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - English Tales Read as Bedtime Stories

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