Chapter Spencer to Spenser of S by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

none of its readers have regretted its incompleteness. In it Protestantism and Puritanism receive their most poetic and imaginative presentation and vindication.

Summary.—B.1552, ed. Merchant Taylor’s School and Cambridge, became known to Leicester and Sir P. Sidney 1578, publishedShepheara’s Calendar 1579, appointed secretrayto Lord Deputy of Ireland 1580, and began Faerie Queen, receives various appointments and grants 1581-6, publishedAstrophel in memory of Sidney 1586, visited by Raleigh and by him presented to Queen Elizabeth, who pensioned him 1590, and in same year published first three books of Faerie Queen, Teares of Muses, etc., writes Colin Clout, published 1595, and in 1596 publishedFour Hymns and Prothalamion,m. E. Boyle 1594, whom he had courted in Amoretti, and now celebrated in the Epithalamion, returned to England 1595, Sheriff of Cork 1598, in which year the rebellion broke out and ruined his fortunes, returned to London and died 1599.

There have been very numerous edition of the works, among which may be mentioned the Globe (1899), and Dr. Grosart’s (10 vol., 1882-84). There is an excellent biography by Dean Church (1879).