This short work builds on a great deal of wonderful medieval scholarship read and absorbed over thirty years. Because there are no footnotes in these little books, my debt is indicated only in part by the Further reading provided at the end. I thank my fellow medievalists for their dynamism, passion, and inspirational scholarship. Medieval Studies is the best of fields. In particular, I thank Benjamin Albritton, Orietta Da Rold, Jill Frederick, Andrew Prescott, Kathryn Starkey, and Greg Walker for their friendship and support. Special thanks to Dr George Younge, who kindly and perceptively read a draft of this book. I am grateful for the helpful critiques of the OUP readers and my editor, Jenny Nugee. To my family—Andrew, Jonathan, and Isabel Fryett—you are the epitome of patience, joy, and love: thank you.