Yard of the “George and Dragon,” West Wycombe 223 The Yard of the “Sun,” Dedham 225 The “Old Ship,” Worksop 226 The “Old Swan,” Atherstone 227 The “King’s Arms,” Sandwich 229 The “Keigwin Arms,” Mousehole 230 The “Swan,” Knowle 231 Sign of the “Swan,” Knowle 232 The “Running Horse,” Merrow 233 Ingle-nook at the “Talbot,” Towcester 243 Tipper’s Epitaph, Newhaven 251 Preston’s Epitaph, St. Magnus-the-Martyr 253 “Newhaven” Inn 257 House where the Duke of Buckingham died, Kirkby Moorside 265 The “Black Swan,” Kirkby Moorside 267 Washington Irving’s “Throne” and “Sceptre” 270 Yard of the “Old Angel,” Basingstoke 279 The “White Hart,” Whitchurch 281 The “Bell,” Tewkesbury 285 The “Wheatsheaf,” Tewkesbury 287 Henley-in-Arden, and the “White Swan” 301 [Illustration] THE OLD INNS OF OLD ENGLAND CHAPTER I A POSY OF OLD INNS “Shall I not take mine ease at mine inn?” In dealing with the Old Inns of England, one is first met with the great difficulty of classification, and lastly with the greater of coming to a conclusion. There are--let us be thankful for it--so many fine old inns. Some of the finest lend themselves to no ready method of classifying. Although they have existed through historic times, they are not historic, and they have no literary associations: they are simply beautiful and comfortable in the old-world way, which is a way a great deal more keenly appreciated than may commonly be supposed in these times. Let those who will flock to Metropoles and other barracks whose very names are evidence of their exotic style; but give me the old inns with such signs as the “Lygon Arms,” the “Feathers,” the “Peacock,” and the like, which you still find--not in the crowded resorts of the seaside, or in great cities, but in the old English country towns and districts frequented by the appreciative few. I shall not attempt the unthankful office of determining which is the finest among these grand old English inns whose title to notice rests upon no adventitious aid of history, but upon their antique beauty, combined with modern comfort, alone, but will take them as they occur to me.