Chapter II: Preface: v

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xi

CHAPTER I
ENGLAND IN EMBRYO 1

CHAPTER II
BOYHOOD AND YOUTH 12

CHAPTER III
THE KING'S SQUIRE 25

CHAPTER IV
THE AMBASSADOR 36

CHAPTER V
THE MAN OF BUSINESS 51

CHAPTER VI
LAST DAYS 64

CHAPTER VII
LONDON CUSTOM-HOUSE 76

CHAPTER VIII
ALDGATE TOWER 93

CHAPTER IX
TOWN AND COUNTRY 104

CHAPTER X
THE LAWS OF LONDON 119

CHAPTER XI
"CANTERBURY TALES"--THE _DRAMATIS PERSONAE_ 137

CHAPTER XII
"CANTERBURY TALES"--FIRST AND SECOND DAYS 151

CHAPTER XIII
"CANTERBURY TALES"--THIRD AND FOURTH DAYS 160

CHAPTER XIV
KING AND QUEEN 173

CHAPTER XV
KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES 188

CHAPTER XVI
HUSBANDS AT THE CHURCH DOOR 202

CHAPTER XVII
THE GAY SCIENCE 217

CHAPTER XVIII
THE GREAT WAR 232

CHAPTER XIX
THE BURDEN OF THE WAR 245

CHAPTER XX
THE POOR 257

CHAPTER XXI
MERRY ENGLAND 272

CHAPTER XXII
THE KING'S PEACE 282

CHAPTER XXIII
PRIESTS AND PEOPLE 294