| 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 |
