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As Americans mark Independence Day, I wanted to out that the shift in Western thinking that eventually produced a document like the Declaration of Independence began with a doctrine of the 16th century Protestant Reformation and its influence on Tudor political thought.

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Some say he is the first real poet of the English Renaissance.  Whatever that may mean, Edmund Spenser certainly looms large in 16th century English literature.  In this first of two episodes, we will look at his paradoxically traditional and innovative lyric poetry, especially The Shepheardes Calendar, Amoretti, and "Epithalamion."

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While the political history of Queen Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603) has been well-rehearsed, fewer listeners may be aware that she was also a devilishly accomplished poet and rhetorician.  In this episode of the Subcast, we look at her most important poems -- "When I was fair and young," "On Monsieur's Departure," and "The Doubt of Future Foes" -- as well as note her stirring 1588 speech to the troops at Tilbury.

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Though he spent only a brief period as a courtier of Elizabeth I, Sir Philip certainly cut a dashing figure.  He also dashed off one of the most influential works of literary theory in English.  And he was quite the dab hand at versifying.  Today, we look at Sidney's Defence of Poesie, "Ye Goatherd Gods" from Arcadia, and sonnets from Astrophil and Stella.

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Sir Thomas More's 1516 book inaugurated a new genre of English literature: the utopian fantasy.  But More's own life, combined with the text's irony and narrative layering, make this a more complex prescription than you might think!

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Today we do a quick look at some of the poetry of Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey, who is credited with the development of the English sonnet and of blank verse.  We'll look at "The Night Piece," "Love that Doth Reign," and  “Alas, so all things now do hold their peace."

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Firmly in the Tudor Renaissance now, literati!  Today, we'll look at Sir Thomas Wyatt, the first major poet of Henry VIII's court.  He brought back the iambic pentameter line and developed the English sonnet.  We'll look particularly at "They Flee from Me" and "Whoso List to Hunt."

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As we move our discussions toward 16th century Tudor literature, we look at a key transitional figure: John Skelton.  His virtuosic versifying introduces the English Renaissance and we'll hear "To Mistress Margaret Hussey" and take a deep look at "The Book of Phillip Sparrow."

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To mark the coronation of Charles III, I present to you a 15th century coronation poem written for Henry VI by John Lydgate.  God Save the King!

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Let's have a look at perhaps why Chaucer, in his "The Miller's Tale," alludes so often to the incipient mystery plays of the late 14th century.

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Podcast Theme Music: "Rejoice" by G.F. Handel, perf. The Advent Chamber Orchestra
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