In 1483, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, returns home a hero after a triumphant victory over the invading Scots. His adoring family awaits him, but their happiness will soon be shattered by the death of Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. With his young son as his only heir, Edward makes Richard Protector of England on his deathbed, entrusting him to guide and rule until the child king is old enough to take the throne. This spellbinding novel depicts a Richard III far removed from the popular legend of a bloodthirsty tyrant. A man who makes a loyal friend, but a hard enemy. A thoughtful husband, whose devoted care for his young wife is one of the great love stories in history. And a man betrayed from the time of his brother's death until the bloody climax of his reign on Bosworth Field. Praise for Some Touch of Pity: ‘The most moving novel about Richard that I have ever read’ - Rosemary Sutcliff 'An excellent book' - The Times 'The depth of the research and her love for her subject show through on every page... a compelling moving and sometimes haunting novel' - The Times Literary Supplement

    In them the modern reader can catch a glimpse of the genius an entire generation found irresistible.

    In recent years historians and literary critics have begun to study the legend of Robin Hood, taking as their starting point the earliest known ballads from the 14th century and beyond. Thirteen of the surviving ballad texts are reproduced in this volume, with accompanying commentary and an additional selection of related poems and play extracts. Together they illustrate the development of the Robin Hood myth from his medieval portrayal as a common criminal to the romantic idealization of pre-industrial merry England in the nostalgia of the 19th century.

    Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

    

    Two princes desirous of marrying the same princess are told that whoever shall find the touchstone of truth shall win her.

    The singers and musicians of the time were expected to add elaborate ornamentation according to very precise rules, but exactly how these rules should be interpreted and applied has always presented considerable problems to the modern performer. This clear, concise, and practical guide to the kinds of ornamentation appropriate to sixteenth-century music is a valuable handbook for those desiring to perform the music of the period.

    The material covers intellectual education and church and monastic schools before the time of the universities.

    To his contemporaries it revealed the secrets of composition he had learned from Adrian Willaert, who brought to Italy the polyphonic art of the Netherlands. To the modern scholar Zarlino’s treatise illumines the compositional technique of the golden age of vocal polyphony. The essence of this art is contained in Part III, “The Art of Counterpoint,” which is here translated into English for the first time.