I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

CONTENTS

V. [Tom as a patrician.]
VI.[Tom receives instructions.]
VII. [Tom's first royal dinner.]

ILLUSTRATIONS

[TOM AS A PATRICIAN]
["NEXT HE DREW THE SWORD"]
["RESOLVED TO FLY"]
["THE BOY WAS ON HIS KNEES"]
["NOBLES WALKED UPON EACH SIDE OF HIM"]
["HE DROPPED UPON HIS KNEES"]
["HE TURNED WITH JOYFUL FACE"]
["THE PHYSICIAN BOWED LOW"]
["THE KING FELL BACK UPON HIS COUCH"]
["IS THIS MAN TO LIVE FOREVER?"]
[TOM RECEIVES INSTRUCTIONS]
["PRITHEE, INSIST NOT"]
["THE LORD ST. JOHN MADE REVERENCE"]
[HERTFORD AND THE PRINCESSES]
["SHE MADE REVERENCE"]
["OFFERED IT TO HIM ON A GOLDEN SALVER"]
["THEY MUSED A WHILE"]
["PEACE MY LORD, THOU UTTEREST TREASON!"]
["HE BEGAN TO PACE THE FLOOR"]
[TOM'S FIRST ROYAL DINNER]
["FASTENED A NAPKIN ABOUT HIS NECK"]
["TOM ATE WITH HIS FINGERS"]
["HE GRAVELY TOOK A DRAUGHT"]
["TOM PUT ON THE GREAVES"]