Social convention may have prevented Renaissance women writers from openly taking part in the political and religious debates of their day, but they found varied and innovative ways of intervening indirectly.
Isabella Whitney explored issues of sexual morality and her sense of exclusion from the vibrantly greedy and commercial London of the 1570s. Mary Sidney, sister of Sir Philip, produced powerful translations of Petrarch and the Psalms as well as original verse in order to mourn her late brother, develop his legacy and promote the Protestant cause. Aemilia Lanyer, probably the most obviously 'feminist' of these three, wrote poetry which defends Eve's actions in the Garden of Eden, celebrates female virtue and spirituality, and argues for the creation of a non-hierarchical community of 'good women'. All are strong and original voices which decisively alter our picture of the golden age of English Literature.
This edition includes a critical introduction and explanatory notes
Edited by Danielle Clarke
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Further Reading
Table of Dates
A Note on the Texts
Isabella Whitney
from A SWEET NOSGAY
To the worshipfull and right vertuous yong Gentylman, George Mainwaring Esquier...
The Auctor to the Reader
Certain familier Epistles and friendly Letters by the Auctor: with Replies
To her Brother. G.W.
To her Brother. B. W.
A modest meane for Maides... to two of her yonger Sisters servinge in London
To her Sister Misteris. A.B.
To her Cosen
A carefull complaynt by the unfortunate Auctor
IS. W. to C.B. in bewalylynge her mishappes
To my Friend Master T.L. whose good nature I see abusde
IS W. beyng wery of wrtyng, sendeth this for Answere
The Auchtour (though loth to leave the Citie) upon her Friendes procurement, is constrained to departe...and maketh her Wyll and Testament...
A comunication which the Auctor had to London, before she made her Wyll
The maner of her Wyll, and what she left to London: and all those in it: at her departing
***
THE COPY OF A LETTER, lately written in meeter, by a yonge Gentilwoman: to her unconstant Lover...
I.W. To her unconstant Lover
The admonition by the Auctor, to all yong Gentilwomen: And to al other Maids being in Love
***
The lamentation of a Gentilwoman upon the death of her late deceased frend William Gruffith Gent.
Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke
THE SIDNEY PSALTER
"Even now that Care"
To the Angell spirit of the most excellent Sir Phillip Sidney
The Psalmes of Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke
***
A Dialogue betweene two shepheards, Thenot, and Piers, in praise of Astrea...
***
THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH TRANSLATED OUT OF ITALIAN BY THE COUNTESS OF PEMBROOKE
The first chapter
The second chapter
Aemilia Lanyer
SALVE DEUS REX JUDAEORUM
To the Queenes most Excellent Majestie
To all vertuous Ladies in generall
The Authors Dreame to the Ladie Marie, the Countesse Dowager of Pembrooke
To the Ladie Lucie, Countesse of Bedford
To the Ladie Margaret, Countesse Dowager of Cumberland
To the Ladie Anne, Countesse of Dorcet
To the Vertuous Reader
Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum
The Description of Cooke-ham
Abbreviations and Short Titles Used in the Notes and Textual Apparatus
Notes
Textual Apparatus
