3 OCTOBER 1908, Page 37

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

[Under this heading us notice such Books of the week as have not been .reserved for review in other forms.] F.C.G.'s Froissart's Modern Chronicles, 1903-1906. Told and Pictured by Sir F. Carruthers Gould. (T. Fisher Unwin. 2s. 6d. met.)—Sir John Froissart, having it in his mind to continue his -Chronicles, comes to Dever and proceeds to London. On his way he overtakes various pilgrims returning from Canterbury, among -them a lady whom he took for the Wife of Bath, but found to be the Deceased Wife's Sister—she is riding man's fashion—and Dr. 'Clifford. They had been to see the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had fled from them in hot haste. Also he sees various :pilgrims who, " howbeit they were going the same way, and were not unknown to each other, yet regarded one another con- trariously." These, he found, were "men of letters," and was told that "it was their manner that they should not accord with -each other, for each man busyeth himself with whacking his own -donkey." Arrived at London he sees certain ladies knocking at a -door or chained to the railings, and learns that they are demand- ing- their rights. He had heard their cries, and, thinking that they were damsels in distress, goes up to do some deed of chivalry. After this comes the story of the three years,—how Sir Arthur de Balfour was parted from Sir Joseph de Birmingham, with whom, 'however, he continued to have a good understanding; how ha -bade farewell, not very unwillingly, to the Lord George de Hamilton, the Lord Balfour de Burleigh, and Sir Charles de Ritchie, but counted it a grievous loss when the Duke of Devon -also-departed. We hear of many other things and persons, and all -of _them are most admirably set forth by the chronicler's penciL Nothing could be happier than the way in which the modern faces .and figures are fitted into the old-world habiliments.