PREFACE 

THE ungentle laws and customs touched upon in
this tale are historical, and the episodes which are
used to illustrate them are also historical.  It is
not pretended that these laws and customs existed in
England in the sixth century; no, it is only pretended
that inasmuch as they existed in the English and other
civilizations of far later times, it is safe to consider that
it is no libel upon the sixth century to suppose them to
have been in practice in that day also.  One is quite
justified in inferring that whatever one of these laws or
customs was lacking in that remote time, its place was
competently filled by a worse one. 

The question as to whether there is such a thing as
divine right of kings is not settled in this book.  It
was found too difficult.  That the executive head of a
nation should be a person of lofty character and