1. Life and literary activity of Charles Kingsley. Historical fiction genre in Literature

Chapter 8. How the Noble Brotherhood of the Rose was Founded

Words to look up: pedantry, anachronism, coxcomb, malign. Eros means Cupid, son of Venus, represents love. Deus venter means the god of the stomach.
Copywork: Let us rather open our eyes, and see in these old Elizabeth gallants our own ancestors, showing forth with the luxuriant wildness of youth all the virtues which still go to the making of a true Englishman. Let us not only see in their commercial and military daring, in their political astuteness, in their deep reverence for law, and in their solemn sense of the great calling of the English nation, the antitypes or rather the examples of our own: but let us confess that their chivalry is only another garb of that beautiful tenderness and mercy which is now, as it was then, the twin sister of English valor; and even in their extravagant fondness for Continental manners and literature, let us recognize that old Anglo-Norman teachableness and wide-heartedness, which has enabled us to profit by the wisdom and civilization of all ages and of all lands, without prejudice to our own distinctive national character.
Narration and Discussion: How did Jack Brimblecombe end up as one of the "brotherhood?" Do you think he will prove himself worthy?

Chapter 9. How Amyas Kept His Christmas Day

Words to look up: gabions, politic (adjective), abstemious. That accursed Popish rag means the flag of Spain, flying over the fort. Manoa means the fabled lost city of gold (see introductory note on El Dorado).
A little literature: You can read more about Spenser in Marshall's English Literature, or in any book about English literature.
A little history: "After a three-day siege [at Smerwick], commander Di san Giuseppe [called San Josepho in the novel] surrendered on 10 October 1580 [on Christmas Day in the novel]. Grey de Wilton ordered the massacre of the invasion forces, sparing only the commanders . . ." (Wikipedia, "The Second Desmond Rebellion") (very useful article!)
Copywork: "Good heaven! how that brave lad shames me, singing here the hymns which his mother taught him, before the very muzzles of Spanish guns; instead of bewailing unmanly, as I have done, the love which he held, I doubt not, as dear as I did even my Rosalind. This is his welcome to the winter's storm; while I, who dream, forsooth, of heavenly inspiration, can but see therein an image of mine own cowardly despair." OR Battles (as soldiers know, and newspaper editors do not) are usually fought, not as they ought to be fought, but as they can be fought; and while the literary man is laying down the law at his desk as to how many troops should be moved here, and what rivers should be crossed there, and where the cavalry should have been brought up, and when the flank should have been turned, the wretched man who has to do the work finds the matter settled for him by pestilence, want of shoes, empty stomachs, bad roads, heavy rains, hot suns, and a thousand other stern warriors who never show on paper.
Narration and Discussion: Lord Grey says to Raleigh, "[The Queen] will be furious when she hears of this cruelty." Raleigh answers, "Her Majesty shall at least not find me among the number of those who prefer her favour to her safety." What does he mean?