The Court of King James the First, Volume 2

During the Parliamentary struggle, Reading was besieged by the Earl of Essex (во время борьбы парламента /с королем/ Рэдинг был осажден графом Эссекским), and, a quarter of a century later, the Prince of Orange routed King James's troops there (и четверть века спустя принц Оранский разбил здесь войска короля Якова; to rout разбивать наголову; обращать в беспорядочное бегство). Henry I. lies buried at Reading, in the Benedictine abbey founded by him there, the ruins of which may still be seen (Генрих Первый похоронен в Рэдинге, в Бенедиктинском аббатстве, основанном им, развалины которого можно по-прежнему видеть); and, in this same abbey, great John of Gaunt was married to the Lady Blanche (в этом же самом аббатстве великий Джон Гонт обвенчался с леди Бланш; gaunt изможденный; длинный, тощий). Parliament [xp:lЌmЌnt] plague [ple] besieged [bxsi:Td] In later years, Reading seems to have been regarded as a handy place to run down to, when matters were becoming unpleasant in London. Parliament generally rushed off to Reading whenever there was a plague on at Westminster; and, in 1625, the Law followed suit, and all the courts were held at Reading ...»