I

PREFACE

HAVE to thank Mr. Temperley for his help and

advice, for permitting me constantly to avail

myself of his immense store of historical research,

and for what is, if possible, the even more valuable assistance I have gained in the course of our many walks and conversations.

Miss Winifred Pierpoint Mitchell for her patience in hearing and criticizing practically everything I have written, and for help with the proofs.

Mr. Roy Truscott for the index.

Mr. John Lane for placing at my disposal his unique knowledge of early English art.

Mr. G. Lowes Dickinson, Mr. C. R. L. Fletcher, and Mr. G. M. Trevelyan for reading and criticizing my manuscript.

The Countess of Darnley for her criticism and for permission to quote from a letter of the late Mr. G. F. Watts.

Mr. C. K. Webster for lending me unpublished matter about Castlereagh.

Miss Helena Hadley, Mr. C. R. Fay, Mr. Harold Terry, Mr. W. Jesser Coope, and all of my friends who have, at various times, given me their help.

And most of all, my grandmother.

ESME WINGFIELD-STRATFORD.

THE BEGINNINGS OF NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Norman and Englishman-Saxon patriotism-The Norman

ideal-Feudalism-The central power-Tendency to union

-The towns-Military system-The Church-Solidarity of

Christendom-Legal origins-Magna Carta-Roman and

English law-Papal tyranny-Grosseteste-Simon de Mont-

fort-Constitutional origins-The Chroniclers-The Arthur-

ian legend-Other national traditions-Battle of Dover

CHAPTER II

THE END of the Middle Ages

.3-55

A patriot King-Legal and Constitutional maturity-Foreign

policy-The Low Countries-Scotland-The bow-A national

Army-The Navy-Robin Hood-The romance of Richard

Cœur de Lion-Political songs-Laurence Minot-Merry

England-Chaucer-Decorative architecture-The Gothic

spirit-The relapse-Military failure and loss of sea power—

Misgovernment-The Black Death-Discontent and revolt

-Wycliffe-Piers Plowman-Humphrey de Bohun-Gloom

in literature-Gower-Hoccleve-Henry V and Agincourt-

Renewed depression - Lydgate - Malory - Faintness of

patriotism-The "Libel of English Policy"

CHAPTER III

THE TUDOR SYSTEM

56-101

Need for strong government - Edward IV - Machiavelli-
Sovereignty and kingcraft-Henry VII-Insecurity of his
power-Need for money-Dislike of war-Dudley-More-

Henry VIII-Ephemeral patriotic revival-Sir Edward

Howard-Skelton-Henry VIII at his zenith-Defects of

national spirit-Renaissance architecture-The new learn-

ing-Its comparative sterility-Necessary harshness of central

power
. Pages 102-127

CHAPTER IV

THE REFORMATION

Decadence of the Church-The quarrel political-Extreme

peril of Henry-His courage and energy-Fisher and More

-Reginald Pole-A policy of terror-Its justification-Con-

servatism of Henry-Rome and ecclesiastical Toryism—The

Protestants and ecclesiastical Radicalism-Patriotic tendency

of English Reformation-Becon on war-Tudor system in

Church and State-Expounded by Edward VI and Latimer

-Weakness and subservience of the Church-Dissolution of

monasteries-Enhanced power of landed gentry-Testimony

of architecture-Triumph of magnates Misery of the

people-Crowley-Necessity of Tudor System-The Catholic

interlude

128-163

CHAPTER V

COUNTER-REFORMATION

Desperate situation of Elizabeth-Apparent impotence of Rome

-Calvinism in theory and practice-Erasmus-The Catholic

Revival-Italy-Spain-Magnitude of the struggle-Philip II

-Renewed energy of Catholicism-The Anglican compro-

mise-Elizabeth's character-Her popularity-Her advisers

-Her statesmanship-Siege of Leith-The Lord Keeper's

speech-Elizabethan commercial policy-Aliens-Catholics

and Puritans-Tyrannicide and the right to rebel-Persecu-

tion and national depression-Poverty of literature—Sack-

ville-Gascoigne

164-193

CHAPTER VI

THE TRIUMPH OF THE TUDOR SYSTEM

The Sea-dogs-Trade routes-Hawkins-Drake-Frobisher-
Davis-Charge of piracy refuted-The dangers thicken-The
example of Holland-Elizabeth and Holland-Rampant in-
dividualism-Sir Philip Sidney-Drake-Grenville-Lyly—
Marlowe - Cult of horrors The Armada - Outburst of

-

patriotism-Anthony Marten-Triumph of literature-The

song-books-The three ladies of London-Peele-Epics of

Drayton, Daniel, and Wharton-The "Polyolbion❞—Camden

and antiquarianism — Browne - Battle songs - Religion

Popular ballads-The patriotic drama-Spenser's "Faerie

Queene"-His Tory philosophy-Richard Hooker-The

reign of law-The Social Compact-The Elizabethan ideal

at its best-Its insufficiency.

Pages 194-230

CHAPTER VII

SHAKESPEARE

Shakespeare criticism-Authorship of plays-Early influences-

"Titus Andronicus"-The Armada-The three parts of

"Henry VI "_"Richard III"-Unity and meaning of the

tetralogy—“ King John "Richard II"-" Henry IV"—

"Henry V"-" Cymbeline "_" Henry VIII”—“King Lear"

-"Troilus and Cressida "-The Roman plays-Ben Jonson's

"Sejanus and Catiline "-Shakespeare's Rome-" Corio-

lanus” — “ Julius Cæsar Antony and Cleopatra".

Shakespeare's conception of the State-Divine Right and

patriotism

-

231-266

CHAPTER VIII

THE DECLINE OF THE TUDOR SYSTEM

Defects in Tudor ideal-Revealed in Shakespeare-Lack of

spiritual discipline-Lukewarmness of the Church-Piracy-

Growth of Puritanism-Character of James I-The "Basili-

kon Doron "-Divine Right and kingcraft-The Court-The

nation-Liberty, and precedent-Hatred of Rome-Seeds of

disloyalty-The mercantile interest-The Hampton Court

Conference - England and Scotland - Gondomar - Pro-

Spanish policy - Fate of Raleigh Fiasco of Spanish

marriage-Outbreak of Thirty Years' War-Protestant en-

thusiasm—Indecision of James-Decadence of Tudor System

-The Court Drama-Beaumont and Fletcher-Massinger-

Cooling of inspiration-Doubt and preciosity

-

CHAPTER IX

THE FALL OF THE TUDOR SYSTEM

267-296

Protestant sympathies-Holland-"The Interpreter "-" Tom
Tell Troath"--Coke-Bacon-His philosophy-Concep-