PREFACE v✦LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xiCHAPTER 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✦