AGAINST David’s Wessex dragon, Thurstan, Archbishop of York, brought a waggon bearing the standards of three saints beloved in Yorkshire, showing that even Normans could feel local identity and pride: the Apostle Peter, patron of York; John, the eighth-century bishop of Beverley; and Wilfred, the bishop of Ripon who so invigorated English Christianity in the 660s.* A rousing speech to well-armed Norman knights and sturdy Yorkshire bowmen met with a chorus of ‘Amen!’.
Meanwhile, Robert de Brus was urging David to retreat, and reducing him to tears by the tale of his warriors’ barbarity.* But at daybreak on August 22nd, 1138, the ungovernable Scots threw themselves at the English on Cowton Moor near Northallerton with shuddering cries; by ten the Scots, routed, were scattering in every direction. David took refuge in Carlisle.
Nonetheless, Stephen badly needed his support. At Durham in 1139, he gave David wide lands in Northumberland and Cumbria, which David’s grandson Malcolm IV returned after Henry II, Matilda’s boy, inherited the English crown in 1154.
Charlotte Yonge states that the banner of St Cuthbert was there too, but modern historians do not agree, saying it is first mentioned at the battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346. Geoffrey Rufus, Bishop of Durham, was not involved in the dispute, and indeed appears to have sat on the fence throughout the Anarchy.
Not Robert the Bruce (1274-1329), King of Scots, and 7th Lord of Annandale, but his forefather Robert de Brus (?1070-1142), 1st Lord of Annandale. Robert resigned his command in protest.
Précis
The Normans secured the loyalty of the people of Yorkshire against David’s Wessex Dragon by flying the banners of local saints (hence the engagement is called the Battle of the Standard). Their united army routed the undisciplined Scottish invaders, though King Stephen nonetheless thought it prudent to give David control over much of northern England. (55 / 60 words)
The Normans secured the loyalty of the people of Yorkshire against David’s Wessex Dragon by flying the banners of local saints (hence the engagement is called the Battle of the Standard). Their united army routed the undisciplined Scottish invaders, though King Stephen nonetheless thought it prudent to give David control over much of northern England.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, despite, if, must, not, ought, whereas, whether.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Boy. Duke. Throw.
2 Arm. Herd. Well.
3 Century. Need. Route.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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