CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Warton's Observation on the interest attached to the Progress of Social Life.-It

applies more closely to our Age than to that of Warton.-The Literature of

Society dates most distinctly from the period succeeding the Wars of the

Roses.-Origin of Romantic Fiction.-It passes from Africa into Spain and Basse

Bretagne.-Connexion of Bretagne with Wales and Cornwall.-Similarity of

Dialect. Scarcity of Books.-The attention paid therefore to Minstrels by the

Higher Classes.-Their Privileges.- Richard Cœur de Lion. The Anecdote

of his Captivity.-The Roniance founded on his Name and Exploits.-Written by

Robert de Brunne.-Extract from that Poem
p. 1

CHAPTER II.

Court of Edward III.-Geoffrey Chaucer; the respect paid to him; the Beauty

and Grace of his Person; his Reputation; his Youth; his Acquirements.-The

Father of English Poetry.-An Astronomer; a Philosopher.-His Lineage doubt-

ful.-Stated to be the Son of a Tavern-Keeper; Fuller's Jest on this point.-

Chaucer appears to have been of Good Birth; his Name originates from Le

Chausir, in Chaussiers.-A Gentleman by Nature and by Education.-Born in

the City of London, in a then pleasant and well occupied part.-His Claims to

'Gentility shown.-A Favourite at Court.-Old Woodstock, his Residence.-

Described in Chaucer's Dream.-Poem of the Flowre and the Leafe.'-Famous

Floral Games founded by Isaure, Countess of Tholouse.-Remarks of Warton on

the Immorality of the Dark Ages.-Chaucer's Friendship with John of Gaunt

and the Duchess Blanch.—Chaucer marries Philippa.—His Appointments and

Success.-Wickliffe, the Morning Star of the Reformation; his Labours.—

Chaucer attacks the Monkish Orders.-His Debts and Difficulties. Decline of his

Life and Fortunes.-John of Gaunt's Marriage.-Dunnington Castle, Chaucer's

Residence. His Death.-The Canterbury Tales.'-The Plan of the Work taken

from The Decameron.'-Some of the Characters described.-The Poem left

unfinished by Chaucer

P. 24

John Gower.-Friendship between him and Chaucer.-Origin and Family of Gower

disputed by Historians.-Doubtful whether he ever became a Judge, or not.—

Conclusions drawn from his wearing the Collar of SS.-His adherence to

Thomas of Woodstock.-Supposed to be the First Crowned Poet in England.-

The Chaplet he wore adduced as a proof.-Fuller's angry Observations on this

point.-Gower's Works.-The 'Confessio Amantis,' or Lover's Confession, de-

scribed.-Gower acknowledged to have been, with Chaucer, the Father or Restorer

of English Poetry.-As a Poet highly moral.-Chaucer's Lines to him.-Spe-

cimen of Gower's style.-His Death.-Description of his Tomb in St. Marie

Overies

CHAPTER IV.

p. 53

Court of Henry VIII.-All Halloween.-Hawking.-Skelton.-Revels at Hampton

Court.-Wolsey.-Henry.-Will Sommers.-Anne Boleyn.-Wyatt; the risk he

ran.-His Passion for Anne Boleyn.-Wyatt a Poet of Social Life; Warton's

Opinion of him.-His Retirement at Allington Castle.-Wyatt's Love Poetry

introduces him to Surrey

CHAPTER V.

P. 67

Court Festivities in the time of Henry VIII.; Ladies introduced into them.-Earl of

Surrey; his Birth; his Early Training, and Residence at Windsor. - Henry

Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond.-The Friendship of Richmond and Surrey.-They

Study together at Christ Church.-Death of the Duke of Richmond.- Surrey's

passion for the Fair Geraldine.—Sketch of her Life. He marries; Falls into

disgrace with Henry.-His Death.-Extracts from his Poems.-Contempora-

ries of Surrey, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, Sir Francis Bryan, and Lord

Vaux

CHAPTER VI.

p. 85

Mary Tudor; her Sadness and Obstinacy.—Henry's Brutality.—Intends at one time

putting her to Death.-John Heywood, the only Person who could make her

smile. His Life and Poems.-Sackville; his Mirrour of Magistrates.'-Spenser ;

his Early Life and Struggles.-Anecdote of Sir Philip Sidney of Burleigh.

-Spenser retires to the North of England.-Falls in Love.-His Friendship

for Gabriel Harvey and Ralegh.-His Misfortunes in Ireland.-Last Days and

Death.-Spenser's Works

P. 103

CHAPTER VII.

England distinguished for Literature in the time of James I.-Lillie the Grammarian;
his Euphues.-Sir Philip Sidney, called 'The Darling of his Time;' his

'Arcadia' and other Poems.-Horace Walpole's Opinion of Sidney.-Anecdote

of his reading the Faery Queen.'-Sir Walter Ralegh; his Works.-Abraham

Cowley'; his Life, Character, and Writings; his Opinion of the Faery Queen.'—

Pope's Tribute to him.-Other Writers.-Denham's Verses.-Anecdote of Dr.

Donne and James I.

p. 135

CHAPTER VIII.

Origin of Newspapers.-The various Places of Resort for Newsmongers in the Days of

the Stuarts.-Whitehall, Chelsea, Paul's Cross, the Exchange, Westminster Hall.

-Nathaniel Butter; his Office.-Ben Jonson's 'Staple of News.'-Newsletters;

how transmitted.-' Parlour Window Miscellanies.'-Sir Thomas Overbury's

'Characters.'-His Life.-The Story of his Poisoning.-His Death.-Extracts

from his Works

CHAPTER IX.

p. 157

Masques; their Popularity during James the First's reign.-Anecdote of Shakespeare

and Davenant.-Ben Jonson; his Unpopularity as a Dramatist.-Success of his

Masques. His 'Hymenei' and 'Masque of Queens' performed before the Court.

-The English Stage owes the Classical Drama to Jonson.-Quarrels of Jonson

and Inigo Jones.-Shakespeare and Jonson.-The Club in the Devil Tavern. —

The Tone of Literature in the Time of Elizabeth and Charles II.

CHAPTER X.

p. 187

Samuel Butler, son of an obscure Farmer; his Acquaintance with John Selden.—

Selden's Birth and Parentage.-His Learning.-His Liberality to Poor Scholars.

-Butler is appointed Secretary to Sir Samuel Luke.-May-day in the Olden

Time. The Character of Sir Hudibras disputed.-Butler receives a Present from

the King. Latter part of his Career obscure.-His Death.-His Monument in

Westminster Abbey.-Extracts from Hudibras.-Dr. Johnson's opinion of that

Poem .

CHAPTER XI.

p. 205

The Letter Writers and Diary Writers of the Seventeenth Century.-Howell.--

Pepys; his Birth and Education.-His Diary found at Cambridge.-The Scenes

and Characters introduced by him.-Sir John Suckling.-Sir William Davenant;

Pepys' Account of his Funeral.—Davenant's Poem on the Death of Shakespeare.—

Scenic Decoration due to him.-Sir John and Lady Denham.-Death of Lady

Denham.-Denham's Poems.-Lord Roscommon; his Life and Works; anecdote

of his Generous Conduct.-His Marriage.-The Purity of his Verses.-Pope's

Lines on him

p. 227

State of the Times at the Accession of Charles II.—Favourable to Light Literature.—

Quotations from Pepys.-De Grammont at the Coronation of Charles II.—The

Earl of Rochester.-Some Anecdotes of him.-His Poem upon Nothing.'—His

Lines on Sir Car Scroop.-Sir Car's answer. - Rochester's Death.-Sir Charles

Sedley.-Etherege.-De Grammont. St. Evremond's Epitaph on him.—The

Court at Whitehall.-The Plague.-Conduct of Pepys and of Evelyn at that

crisis.-Effects of the Plague on Light Literature

CHAPTER XIII.

p. 265

John Evelyn. The obligations we owe to him and Pepys as Diarists.-Evelyn's

lighter Works. "Tyrannus, or the Mode;' extracts from that Work.—Scarcity of

Books.-Evelyn's Strictures upon the Deficiencies of Public Libraries.— The

Golden Book of St. Chrysostom' and his various other Works.-Cowley's Picture

of Evelyn at Wotton.-Marriage of the Duke of Monmouth and Lady Sunderland.

-John Dryden; his Parentage.-The Character of his Relatives.-His Ode to

Cromwell.-The Commencement of his Career

P. 285