IV. Answer the questions.

1. When were the poems about King Arthur written?

2. What is the title of Walt Disney's cartoon film about King Arthur?

3. Was Arthur's reign a time of peace in England?

4. How many knights did Arthur have at his court?

5. For what did Arthur choose the knights to his court?

6. How did Arthur's enemies defeat the king?

7. Why was Arthur taken to the magic island of Avalon?

8. Who destroyed Glastonbury Abbey? Why?

9. What is Cadbury famous for?

10. Did the archaeologists find anything of interest at Cadbury Hill?

V. Do you remember?

1. What was Merlin famous for?

2. What do you know about Joseph of Arimathea?

3. Why do many people visit Glastonbury?

4. Why is King Arthur's sword so famous?

5. What hill is called by old people "King Arthur's Palace"?

"My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean... "

My Bonnie lies over the ocean,

My Bonnie lies over the sea,

My Bonnie lies over the ocean,

Oh bring back my Bonnie to me.

Chorus: Bring back, bring back,

Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.

This song is very famous and is known all over the world. It reflects the sad story of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, and he was known as Bonnie Prince Charlie because he was young and handsome ("bonnie" means "good-look­ing"). His name is closely connected with the time of the Jacobite revolts when Scotland fought her last battle against the English. Jacobites were supporters of King James II of Scotland and England who wanted to preserve Scotland's independence (from the Latin "Jacobus" — James).

In 1707 a special treaty united England and Scotland, but many people who lived in I the Highlands (the Highlanders) and Western Isles were against it. They wanted to keep their way of life, their traditions, their clans which were big families ruled by powerful chiefs.

The clans had the tradition of wearing tartans or coloured checks of wool, and this tradition was practised up to 1745 when the English forbade it. Later the Scots won the right to wear tartans again, which is continued to this very day. At the beginning the tartan was worn as a single piece of cloth thrown over the shoulders. The kilt or woollen skirt made of tartan began to be worn by men only at the beginning of the 18th century. Today the kilt is worn both by civilians in Scotland, and by soldiers of the Scottish Highland Regiment. The traditional costume of a Highlander also includes a sporran which is a large leather or fur pouch (bag) worn in front of the kilt. Each clan had its own tartan. Tartans today are very popular.

You can see the full military costume of a Highlander soldier at a military parade called in Scottish as the tattoo, in Edinburgh every August and September during the International Musical Festival. The tattoo takes place near the castle on the Rock (or mountain) overlooking the city. Since the performance is held under floodlights in the evening it becomes a very exciting scene. The soldiers also blow the bagpipes which are traditional music instruments of the Scots. The name tattoo has an interesting origin. The soldiers were to return to their units each night by a be of the drum which sounded like "tat-too". The Scots did not want to give up these ancient traditions.

In 1688 James II, the last of the Stuart kings, was driven off the throne of England. He had many supporters. His son James Edward (called "The Old Pretender") tried to get back the throne in 1715, but failed. The most important attempt was made by James II's grandson, Charles Edward, known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie" to the Scots, or "the Young Pretender" to the English. This was in 1745. Charlie spent twenty years in Italy preparing to win back the throne and then he returned to Scotland. The Highlanders were very proud that he still spoke Gaelic, and wore the traditional tartan kilt. Charlie was a really romantic prince. He was only twenty-five when he landed in the Western lsles of Scotland, handsome, tall and brave and adventurous. England was at war with France at the time, and so the French helped him to get to Scotland on a French warship. Though the English guarded the coast Charlie managed to land in the Western Isles.

The news spread quickly throughout Scotland and Charlie moved from the island where he had landed with six followers to Glennfinnan. Today a monument in the form of a tower marks the spot. Quite soon many Highlanders came to his support. The king of England, George II, offered 30,000 pounds sterling to anyone who could capture Charles. Charles also published a notice offering the same sum of money to anyone who could capture the ruler of England.

With 2,500 men, Charles marched south taking the towns of Perth, Stirling. The Highlanders easily took the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, and for a few weeks Charles established his court at Holyrood Palace, the ancient home of the Scottish kings. There, on 17th September 1745, his father was proclaimed king of Scotland and England. Four days later the Scots defeated the English army at Prestopans. And then the invasion of England began. By 1st of November Charlie had led his men as far south as Derby in England.

There was panic in London and a ship stood ready to take George II to Germany. However, at this critical moment Charlie decided not to advance, but to return to Scotland, which was a big mistake. It is true that Charlie wanted to advance on London, but practically all his followers were against this decision. Not many Jacobite supporters joined his army in England. Three hundred men from Manchester was in fact all the support he got, and many of the followers who came first had gone back home. So Charlie and his Highlanders returned to Scotland on 21st December and defeated another English army at Falkirk in January 1746.

By April of that year, the commander of the English army, the Duke of Cumberland, had built up a large army of 9,000 men from England and Europe. On 16th April 1746 the English army met Charlie's force of 5,000 tired and hungry men in the wind and the rain at a place known as Culloden. There was a terrible and bloody battle.

The Highlanders fought fiercely against the well-trained and well-armed army of the English redcoats (called so because of the red uniform). After each wave of attack hundreds of brave Scots lay on the field killed by bullets or cannon fire. Having beaten off the attacks the English army started its advance. The clans were beaten back. Prince Charles saw that the battle was lost, and he rode away leaving behind 1,200 dead on the field. But the redcoats continued to hunt down those who had escaped from the battle, and they showed little mercy to those clansmen who were captured. Thus the battle at Culloden was a great tragedy for the Scots.

Prince Charlie had to hide from the English who were looking for him everywhere. Much money was offered to anyone who would capture the Prince dead or alive. But the proud Scots never betrayed the Prince, though they were very poor. His loyal friends hid him in the mountains for about five months. Finally a very noble lady, whose name was Flora Macdonald helped him make his final escape to France. Prince Charlie was dressed as her servant-girl, and taken in a boat to the Island of Skye in the north-west where a ship was waiting to take him to France. Flora was arrested and taken to the Tower of London, but later in 1747 she was pardoned and returned to Scotland.

Bonnie Prince Charlie dreamed all his life to return to Scotland, and some 20 years later he tried to win his cause but failed again. He died in old age all alone in Italy. But his romantic legend remains alive in Scotland to this very day. The Scots continue to sing many songs about those exciting times. If you visit Scotland you may see a whole exhibition about Prince Bonnie in Edinburgh: his portraits, letters, clothes that he wore, his sword, a piece of his hair. And at Culloden you can still see the little stones that mark the men of the clans who were killed on that tragic day: "Clan Mackintosh", "Clan Cameron". The bravest of the brave died for the freedom of their land!

After the revolt of 1745 the Highlanders were forbidden to carry weapons, to speak their native language, Gaelic, or even wear their tartan cloth. Much of their land was confiscated by the English government and sold. Many Scots were forced to leave their country and emigrate to America, Canada and other lands. Some even went as far as to Russia. But wherever they live they always remember their home country, and are proud of their clans, their tartans, their ballads and songs:

Bonnie Charlie's now awa

Safely o'er the friendly main

Many a heart will break in twa.

Should he ne'er come back again.

awa' = away

o'er = over, main = sea

twa = two

ne'er = never

Comprehension Check