Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/89

 country had been, for many years, divided into several small kingdoms, and the disputes of the chiefs had often given rise to warfare among themselves; but it now happened that the king of Leinster, having been deposed by another prince, went direct to the king of England, to beg his assistance, which Henry readily promised, on condition that, if he were restored, he should hold his kingdom as a vassal of the English crown.

11. Dermot, that was the name of the Irish prince, agreed to these terms, and several English knights and noblemen undertook the enterprise. After a great many interesting adventures, which are told in the history of Ireland, Dermot was replaced on his throne; but other quarrels arising among the chiefs, the English continued the war, and, after some time, the Irish chiefs acknowledged the king of England as a lord and master of Ireland, which has been under the authority of the English government ever since.

12. Henry the Second died in 1189, and was succeeded by his son Richard, who was called Cœur-de-lion, because he was very brave, so that every body said he had the heart of a lion.

13. Now it is a very good thing for men to be brave, for I do not know what we should do