The spirit of reform which was developed during the early part of the
sixteenth century brought about a desire on the part of young men of
means to travel on the continent of Europe. This was for the purpose of
making themselves acquainted with the politics, social life, literature,
art, science, and commerce of the various nations of the same,
especially of France, Spain, and Italy. These young Englishmen on their
return introduced into the society in which they mixed not only the
politenesses of these countries, but the wit of Italy, and the character
of the poetry which was then in vogue in Southern Europe. Among these
travellers during the reign of Henry the Eighth were Sir Thomas Wyatt
and the Earl of Surrey. These courtiers possessed the poetical faculty,
and therefore paid special attention to literary form. As a result they
introduced the Sonnet of the Petrarchan type into England. The amorous
verse of the inhabitants of these sunny climes took hold of the young
Englishmen. Many men of rank and education, who did not regard
themselves as of the world of letters, penned pleasant verse, much of it
being of an amatory character based upon that of the Italians. During
the reign of "Good Queen Bess" England was full of song. Of the writers
of love verses William Watson occupied a very high, probably the
highest, position during the time of Elizabeth. A glance at the Table of
Contents of this volume will show that some of the best poets who were
born between the years 1503 and 1679 have handed down to us poetical
contributions of this character.
Of the Elizabethan amatory verses only a small portion has been
transmitted to us. That which possessed least literary merit did not
long survive, and, no doubt, some of considerable merit has been lost
too. The best has been preserved. Selections from these, arranged in
chronological order, appear in this anthology. Richard Tottel printed
his "Miscellany" in 1557. It is to this work, and to Richard Edwards'
"Paradise of Dainty Devices," issued nineteen years later, that much of
the best poetical literature of the sixteenth century has come down to
us. The first-named passed through eight editions during thirty years:
the last issue being dated 1587.
From the amatory verses produced by seventy-one writers during the reign
of Henry the Eighth and down to those of the early Georges one hundred
and thirteen appear in this love anthology. The limitation of space
prevents further biographical particulars being given than the years of
birth and death, which will be found in the Table of Contents. As
writers do not always agree in this respect, "The Dictionary of National
Biography" has been taken as the authority.
Whatever labour has been bestowed on the preparation of this anthology
has not been in bulking it out to its present dimensions, but rather in
keeping it within the prescribed limits; and, at the same time,
furnishing these best examples of the love verses of the numerous
authors who have been requisitioned for the purpose of this volume of
"Tudor and Stuart Love Songs."