Chapter I: Preface

King Richard the Second lived in the days when the chivalry of feudal times was in all its glory. His father, the Black Prince; his uncles, the sons of Edward the Third, and his ancestors in a long line, extending back to the days of Richard the First, were among the most illustrious knights of Europe in those days, and their history abounds in the wonderful exploits, the narrow escapes, and the romantic adventures, for which the knights errant of the Middle Ages were so renowned. This volume takes up the story of English history at the death of Richard the First, and continues it to the time of the deposition and death of Richard the Second, with a view of presenting as complete a picture as is possible, within such limits, of the ideas and principles, the manners and customs, and the extraordinary military undertakings and exploits of that wonderful age.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. RICHARD'S PREDECESSORS 13

II. QUARRELS 37

III. THE BLACK PRINCE 81

IV. THE BATTLE OF POICTIERS 103

V. CHILDHOOD OF RICHARD 140

VI. ACCESSION TO THE THRONE 166

VII. THE CORONATION 185

VIII. CHIVALRY 197

IX. WAT TYLER'S INSURRECTION 225

X. THE END OF THE INSURRECTION 255

XI. GOOD QUEEN ANNE 273

XII. INCIDENTS OF THE REIGN 290

XIII. THE LITTLE QUEEN 310

XIV. RICHARD'S DEPOSITION AND DEATH 324

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

PARLEY WITH THE INSURGENTS _Frontispiece._

RUINS OF AN ANCIENT CASTLE 15

MAP--SITUATION OF NORMANDY 23

KING JOHN 29

CAERNARVON CASTLE 51

PORTRAIT OF EDWARD THE SECOND 55

WARWICK CASTLE 61

KENILWORTH CASTLE 66

A MONK OF THOSE DAYS 69

BERKELEY CASTLE 71

CAVES IN THE HILL-SIDE AT NOTTINGHAM CASTLE 75

MORTIMER'S HOLE 79

MAP--CAMPAIGN OF CRECY 85

VIEW OF ROUEN 87

GENOESE ARCHER 94

OLD ENGLISH SHIPS 105

MAP--CAMPAIGN OF POICTIERS 110

STORMING OF THE CASTLE OF ROMORANTIN 116

RICHARD RECEIVING THE VISIT OF HIS UNCLE JOHN 152

PORTRAIT OF RICHARD'S GRANDFATHER 165

EDWARD, THE BLACK PRINCE 169

THE BULL 177

STORMING OF A TOWN 205

KNIGHTS CHARGING UPON EACH OTHER 220

VIEW OF THE TOWER OF LONDON 235

THE SAVOY 248

RUINS OF THE SAVOY 252

COSTUMES 282

FASHIONABLE HEAD-DRESSES 283

SEAL OF RICHARD II 300

HENRY OF BOLINGBROKE--KING HENRY IV 340

PONTEFRACT CASTLE 342

KING RICHARD II.