‘You may come to a play now and neither understand the beginning nor ending, for it containeth not any example of well living, but only a fardell of gibes cobbled together by an ignorant idiot’

Thomas Forrest, c. 1580

‘Quick wits commonly be apt to take, unapt to keep; soon hot and desirous of this and that; as cold and soon weary of the same again; more quick to enter speedily than able to pierce far: even like over-sharp tools, whose edges be very soon turned. Such wits delight themselves in easy and pleasant studies, and never pass far forward in high and hard sciences. And therefore the quickest wits commonly may prove the best poets, but not the wisest orators: ready of tongue to speak boldly, not deep of judgement, either for good counsel or wise writing. ... For manners and life, quick wits commonly be in desire, newfangle, in purpose, unconstant, light to promise anything, ready to forget everything ...’

Roger Ascham, The Schoolmaster

1591 Philip Sidney, Astrophel and Stella, printed posthumously.

1592 Samuel Daniel, Delia.Henry Constable, Diana.

1593 Thomas Lodge, Phillis.Barnabe Barnes, Parthenophil and Parthenophe.Thomas Watson, The Tears of Fancie, or Love Disdained .Giles Fletcher, Licia.

1594 Michael Drayton, Idea’s Mirror.William Percy, Coelia.Anonymous, Zepheria.

1595 Edmund Spenser, Amoretti. Richard Barnfield, Cynthia.

Barnes (again), A Divine Centurie of Spirituall Sonnets.

1596 Bartholomew Griffin, Fidessa.Richard Linche, Diella.William Smith, Chloris.