Introduction
In 1157, Henry II of England opened a determined campaign to subdue Wales to the English crown. Resistance was strong: so much so that Wales was not finally subdued until 1282. According to Gerald de Barri (1146-1223), Bishop of St David’s, by 1163 Henry still felt sufficiently unsure of himself to ask one of his few Welsh allies what he thought of England’s chances.
WHEN in our own lifetime Henry the Second, King of the English, was conducting an expedition into South Wales against this nation, he was stationed at Pencader, which means Chair-head.* Here he consulted a certain elderly person of the same people, a man who, through the national vice,* had (Welshman though he was) joined himself to the king against other Welshmen. The king asked him what he thought of the royal army and of the power of the rebel people to withstand it, and urged him to make clear to him his opinion about the outcome of the war.
He answered: “The Welsh nation, O king, may now, as many a time in the past, its sins requiring it, be harassed and in great part broken down and crippled by your armed might and that of others. Yet it will not be utterly blotted out because of the wrath of man, not unless the wrath of God also go with it. Nor, whatever may happen in regard to the larger realm, do I think that any other nation than this of Wales, or any other tongue, shall in the day of strict account before the Most High Judge answer for this corner of the earth.”
* Pencader is a small village in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales.
* That is, infighting. Gerald was a quarter Welsh himself, and inclined to think poorly of Welsh dynastic squabbling and of throwing in with the Normans.
Précis
During his Welsh campaign in 1163, Henry II asked a local man in his service what he thought of Wales’s chances. The old man replied that the Welsh might for their sins suffer at the hands of other nations, but on the Judgment Day they would still be there to answer for their stewardship of Wales, in their own language. (60 / 60 words)
During his Welsh campaign in 1163, Henry II asked a local man in his service what he thought of Wales’s chances. The old man replied that the Welsh might for their sins suffer at the hands of other nations, but on the Judgment Day they would still be there to answer for their stewardship of Wales, in their own language.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, may, not, otherwise, since, unless, until, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
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 Himself. Realm. Through.
2 Ask. Head. Urge.
3 Happen. Part. South.
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.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Time. 2 Consult. 3 Answer. 4 Break. 5 Happen. 6 Station. 7 Chair. 8 Man. 9 Arm.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
grt (6+2)
girt. grate. great. greet. grit. grout.
egret. groat.
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