PREFACE.
Reading edition
The chapters composing this book appeared originally in the shape of review articles. I owe acknowledgments to the Editors of Blackwood's Magazine, the National Review and the Gentleman's Magazine for the permission kindly accorded me to republish them.
To my regret I find, on receiving the clean sheets, that pressure of time and a rather troublesome nervous affection of one eye have led me to overlook a few printer's errors, such as: p. 70, occassion for occasion; p. 137, Fuensaldana for Fuensaldaña; p. 253, Nicephoras Phorcas for Nicephorus Phocas; p. 267, Polydore Virgil for Polydore Vergil. The misprints will in every instance, I believe, explain themselves.
H. W. W.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE PRETENDER AT BAR-LE-DUC 1
II. RICHARD DE LA POLE, "WHITE ROSE" 58
III. THE EARLY ANCESTORS OF OUR QUEEN 91
IV. ABOUT A PORTRAIT AT WINDSOR 120
V. THE REMNANT OF A GREAT RACE 145
VI. VOLTAIRE AND KING STANISLAS 181
VII. THE PRINCE CONSORT'S UNIVERSITY DAYS 219
VIII. SOMETHING ABOUT BEER 248