| Introduction: The Earlier History of English Prose by W. P. Ker |
| Sir John Mandeville. | Critical Introduction by George Saintsbury |
The Lady of the Land |
Of the Qualities of the Right Balm |
The Castle of the Sparrowhawk |
The State of Prester John |
John Wycliffe.
c. 1324–1384. | Critical Introduction by Henry Craik |
Extracts from Sermons |
A Short Rule of Life |
The Clergy subject to the Civil Magistrate |
Geoffrey Chaucer.
c. 1340–1400. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
Preface to the Treatise on the Astrolabe |
Description of Hell |
Reginald Pecock.
c. 1395–1460. | Critical Introduction by Henry Craik |
The Uses of Logic |
Reason and Scripture |
Divinity and Moral Philosophy |
Reasonable Use of Images |
Defence of Religious Orders |
Sir Thomas Malory.
d. c. 1470. | Critical Introduction by John W. Hales |
Extracts from the Morte d’Arthur |
Sir John Fortescue.
c. 1394–1476. | Critical Introduction by H. R. Reichel |
Extracts from the Governance of England |
The Lawyer refuting his own Arguments |
John Capgrave.
1393–1464. | Critical Introduction by J. Churton Collins |
Dedication to Edward IV. |
Causes of the Longevity of the Antediluvians |
The Vision which appeared to Augustus Cæsar |
The Story of Count Leopold |
The Ghost of Bishop Grosteste appears to the Pope |
William Caxton.
c. 1415–1491. | Critical Introduction by Henry Craik |
Prologue to the Recueil des Histoires de Troye |
Epilogue to the Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers |
Piety of King Henry the Fifth |
The Character of the True Knight |
Robert Fabyan.
d. 1513. | Critical Introduction by Henry Craik |
Charlemagne |
William with the Long Beard |
Wat Tyler’s Rebellion |
Marriage of Richard II. and Isabel of France |
Sir John Bourchier,
Lord Berners.
c. 1467–1533. | Critical Introduction by Henry Craik |
Extract from the Preface to Froissart’s Chronicles |
The Death of King Robert the Bruce |
How the Town of Calais was given up to the Kind of England |
The Bird in borrowed Feathers |
The French King seized by Madness |
Froissart’s Visit to England |
John Fisher.
c. 1469–1535. | Critical Introduction by Henry Craik |
Dependence upon Divine Mercy |
Character of Henry VII. |
Character of Margaret, Countess of Richmond |
Comparison between the Life of Hunters and that of Christians |
Sir Thomas More.
1478–1535. | Critical Introduction by H. R. Reichel |
Pasturage destroying Husbandry |
The Doctrine of the Utopians |
King Richard the Third in Council |
Plunder of the Church by Heretics |
The Apology of Sir Thomas More |
How far Is Recreation lawful? |
William Tyndale.
c. 1490–1536. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
Of Worshipping of Sacraments, Ceremonies, Images, Relics, and So Forth |
Pilgrimages |
Sir Thomas Elyot.
c. 1490–1546. | Critical Introduction by Alfred Ainger |
What Order Should Be in Learning? |
The Decay of Learning among Gentlemen |
Prince Henry’s Placability |
Miles Coverdale.
c. 1488–1569. | Critical Introduction by James Miller Dodds |
Prologue to the Translation of the Bible |
Thomas Cranmer.
1489–1556. | Critical Introduction by J. Churton Collins |
The Uses of Holy Scripture |
Faith and Works |
The Dangers of False Doctrine |
The Good of Sound Teaching |
Hugh Latimer.
c. 1485–1555. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
Decay of the Yeomanry |
Duties and Respect of Judges |
Illegal Profits of King’s Officers |
John Leland.
c. 1506–1552. | Critical Introduction by James Miller Dodds |
The Laborious Journey and Search of John Leland for England’s Antiquities |
The Complaint
of Scotland, 1549. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
Ane Monologue of the Actor |
George Cavendish.
c. 1500–1561. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
A Great House in France |
The King Entertained at York Place |
Augury |
Sir John Cheke.
1514–1557. | Critical Introduction by Henry Craik |
The Lessons of Sedition |
Treason Judged by Its Fruits |
The Blessings of Peace |
Roger Ascham.
1515–1568. | Critical Introduction by Henry Craik |
A Plea for Music |
A Defence of Archery |
False Flattery of the Scots |
A Dialogue in the Socratic Manner |
What We May Learn from Athens |
The Force of Example |
Books That Do hurt |
Thomas Wilson.
c. 1526–1581. | Critical Introduction by F. H. Trench |
A Lesson in Tactics |
The Virtue of Simplicity |
The Uses of Wit |
Rules of Art |
Intolerance in Rome |
The Teaching of Poets |
John Knox.
c. 1505–1572. | Critical Introduction by James Miller Dodds |
John Knox Chosen as Preacher |
Knox and Queen Mary |
The Necessity of Schools |
George Buchanan.
1506–1582. | Critical Introduction by James Miller Dodds |
Chamæleon |
Conspiracies against King James the Fifth |
Raphael Holinshed.
c. 1515–1573. | Critical Introduction by Mary Darmesteter |
The Flight of the Empress from Oxford |
The Weird Sisters |
The Murder of the Little Princes in the Tower |
The Trial of Queen Katharine |
John Foxe.
1516–1587. | Critical Introduction by James Miller Dodds |
Cranmer at the Stake |
Rose Allin |
Cicely Ormes |
Sir Thomas North.
1535–1601?. | Critical Introduction by Charles Whibley |
The Greatness of Pericles |
Volumnia’s Pleading |
The Flight of Antony |
Philemon Holland.
1552–1637. | Critical Introduction by Charles Whibley |
Marcellus and Hannibal at Nola |
Grief and Sudden Joy |
The Metamorphosis of Lucius Apuleius |
The End of Cyrus |
Great Britain and Her Inhabitants |
John Stow.
1525?–1605. | Critical Introduction by James Miller Dodds |
Oration of Sir Philip Sidney |
May Day in London |
Whitehall |
John Lyly.
1555?–1606. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
Love’s Constancy |
Robert Parsons.
1546–1610. | Critical Introduction by Vernon Blackburn |
Extracts from the Christian Directory |
The Security of Ecclesiastical Order |
Disturbers of Peaceful Union |
Stephen Gosson.
c. 1554–1624. | Critical Introduction by George Saintsbury |
Modern Luxury |
The Evils of Stage Plays |
What Is Pleasure? |
The Playmakers’ Sophistries Exposed |
Sir Philip Sidney.
1554–1586. | Critical Introduction by A. W. Ward |
The King of Arcadia and His Daughter |
Horsemanship |
The Esquire’s Death |
Pamela’s Faith |
Parthenia’s Return to Argalus |
Lyric and Heroic Poetry |
The Honour of Poesy |
Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke.
1554–1628. | Critical Introduction by George Saintsbury |
William of Orange |
Sidney’s Religion |
Of England and Spain |
A Honeymoon |
The Excellence of Duty |
William Webbe.
c. 1550–1591. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
An Account of English Poets |
George Puttenham.
1529–1590. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
English Poets |
William Cecil, Lord Burleigh.
1520–1598. | Critical Introduction by William Minto |
Ten Precepts |
Edmund Spenser.
1552?–1599. | Critical Introduction by John W. Hales |
Irish Costume |
Irish Bards |
The Misery of Ireland |
Richard Hooker.
c. 1554–1600. | Critical Introduction by Vernon Blackburn |
Calvin’s Return to Geneva |
Christian Unity Counselled |
Man’s Desire for Happiness |
Defence of Church Ceremonial |
The Doctrine of Grace |
Man’s Sinfulness |
Hooker’s Defence of Himself |
Justice and the Harmony of Creation |
A Virtuous Woman |
An Appeal |
Richard Knolles.
c. 1550–1610. | Critical Introduction by George Saintsbury |
Amurath, an Example of the Vanity of Worldly Honour |
Mahomet and Irene |
William Camden.
1551–1623. | Critical Introduction by Edmund Gosse |
The Beauties of the Isle of Britain |
Of Its Inhabitants |
King Canute |
The Earl Marshal of England |
James Melville.
1556–1614. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
Shipwrecked Captains of the Armada |
Richard Hakluyt.
c. 1553–1616. | Critical Introduction by W. P. Ker |
Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of the English Nation |
Drake at Nombre de Dios, July 1572 |
Sir Walter Raleigh.
1554?–1618. | Critical Introduction by Edmund Gosse |
The Revenge |
A Useful Hostage |
Misdeeds of Henry VIII. |
The Attributes of God |
Death |
The Law of Change |
The Absence of the Queen |
Thomas Lodge.
1558–1625. | Critical Introduction by A. W. Ward |
A Rake’s Progress |
The Wrestling Match |
Evening and Morning in Arden |
Robert Greene.
1558–1592. | Critical Introduction by A. W. Ward |
Italian Suitors |
The Cupbearer’s Dilemma: Whether to Poison the King’s Guest, or to Vex the King |
Bellaria’s Babe |
An Arcadian Wit-Combat |
A Parthian Prayer |
Thomas Nashe.
1567–1601. | Critical Introduction by A. W. Ward |
How the Herring Became King of All Fishes |
Religious Faction |
A Latter-Day Appeal |
John of Leyden and His Crew |
Surrey’s Knight-Errantry |
Samuel Daniel.
1562–1619. | Critical Introduction by George Saintsbury |
A Defence of Rhyme |
The Limits of Authority |
Let Us Be True to Ourselves |
Thomas Dekker.
c. 1570–1632. | Critical Introduction by George Saintsbury |
City Hunting |
How the Warren Is Made |
The Tumbler’s Hunting Dry-foot |
The Tumbler’s Hunting Counter |
The Dove |
The Pelican |
The Phœnix |
William Clowes.
1540–1604. | Critical Introduction by Norman Moore |
The Boasting of a Quack |
A Braggart’s Fate |
Dr. Timothy Bright.
1551–1615. | Critical Introduction by Norman Moore |
How the Soul by One Simple Faculty Performeth So Many and Divers Actions |
