Early Seventeenth Century Verse Miscellany

Cedric C. Brown, Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Reading, subsequently Professorial Research Consultant at the University of Plymouth, was formerly a well-known Miltonist and the founder Editor of the very long-running interdisciplinary book series, Early Modern Literature in History, which has now passed 100 titles. With regard to the present project, he also published frequently on occasional poetry of all kinds. There are also connections with his Friendship and its Discourses in the Seventeenth Century (2016).

• AcknowledgementsList of illustrationsChapter 1: Why “Directed” and “Re-directed” Texts?Chapter 2: Songs: performances, provocations, and opportunistic responsesChapter 3: William Browne writes death, and networks in OxfordChapter 4: William Browne’s later friendships and opportunities; redirections in a new reignChapter 5: The courtier poet Aurelian Townshend treads on eggshells; young Katherine Philips understandsChapter 6: The development of Strode’s performative identityChapter 7: The popular Strode: three stories of direction and re-directionChapter 8: Pastoral pictures, topographies, and working under LaudChapter 9: Leonard Wheatcroft, Derbyshire artisan, church clerk, in dialogue with Thomas Randolph and the gentryChapter 10: Final words: challenges and delightsAppendix 1: William Strode and Elizabeth Lucy/Ferrers/Cromwell – a quiet friendship to discover?Appendix 2: Merton College and the scribe of Folger MS V.a.345Appendix 3: Harley MS 6931, Devon politics, and the socio-religious complexities of poetry collecting in 1630s Christ ChurchIndex