Merrie England; travels, descriptions, tales and historical sketches

Preface

More than half a century ago Grace Greenwood made what seemed to her a perilous journey across the Atlantic. She wrote about her travels for the Little Pilgrim, a magazine for children, and soon after some of the stories were published in book form under the title of Merrie England. It was to this book that many a child of those days owed his first introduction to English history and legend.

It is largely by right of her ability to interpret the historical and legendary ideal that Grace Greenwood holds her high place as a writer for children. The keynote she seeks is fearless truth, bold daring for the right, patient suffering under wrong — the finest qualities to quicken the sympathies of a boy or a girl. In Merrie England she has obtained also the very spirit of travel in the way she has associated history and legend with their local habitations. The old stones of York Minster are real because Queen Philippa was married there, and the Tower is sacred by reason of Raleigh's noble spirit.

iv PREFACE

Books with the merit of this one are rare, because writers with the author's charm are very few. It is hoped that Merrie England may gain with the children of to-day the popularity it had of old.

Contents

Page

Introduction vii

Sherwood Forest i

The Tower — Conti7iued in

The Tower — Continued „ „ .131

The New Palace of Westminster ..... 165 The Prorogation

V