that they have become
as living as have Uncle Toby or Mrs. Gamp--symbolic people, embracing
a type of national character.

A third writer--Langland--pictured his age from the poor man's point
of view, and the three writers, together with the artist of the
Loutrell Psalter, bring the age most vividly to our eyes.

Of course, in these days of hasty work, it seems hardly feasible to
suggest that artists who would illustrate these times should read the
works of these three men, and go to the British Museum to look at the
Psalter; but any writer must do this, and can do this, considering
that the works of the poets are cheap to obtain and the British Museum
is free to all.

Anyone wishing to picture these times will find that Chaucer has
written very carefully of the costume of his Pilgrims. They will find
the pith of the costume in this book of mine; but since no book is
complete in every sense, they should see for themselves how men of
the day drew the costume they saw about them. It will give them a
sense of the spirit of the age which so many modern drawings lack.

I give you Gower's picture of an exquisite; no words of mine could
show so well the manner of the man:

'And therof thenketh he but a lite,
For all his lust is to delite
In newe thinges, proude and veine,
Als ferforth as he may atteine.
I trowe, if that he mighte make
His body newe, he wolde take
A newe form and leve his olde.
For what thing that he may behold
The which to common use is straunge,
Anone his olde guise chaunge
He woll, and falle therupon
Lich unto the camelion,
Whiche upon every sondry hewe
That he beholt he mote newe
His coloun; and thus unavised
Full ofte time he stand desguised.
More jolif than the brid in Maie,
He maketh him ever fressh and gaie
And doth all his array desguise,
So that of him the newe guise
Of lusty folke all other take.'

Now, if I have described the costume of these times clearly--and I
think I have done so--these lines should conjure up a gay fellow, with
his many changes of dress. If the vision fails, then allow me to say
that you are at fault, and have taken no pains with the description.
Because the coloured drawing to the chapter of Richard II. shows a
long houppelande and a chaperon tied in a certain way, you will very
possibly forget that this dandy would have also a short houppelande,
differently jagged sleeves, mo