3. Those marked (3) are in the Five Centuries of the English Language and Literature," published by Tauchnitz, a good and useful selection of longer pieces. Robert of Gloucester-Reign of William the Con- Hereford's Version of the queror. 1a Robert Mannyng-The Tale of Pers the Usurer. 1a Psalms. 1a 1a. Those marked (1) are in Morris & Skeat's Specimens of Early English (Clarendon Press). Second volume, 1298–1393. 5. Those marked (5) are in the Globe Series (Macmillan & Co.) LIST OF POETS-LAUREATE. THE Poet-Laureate is an officer of the Royal Household. The first seems to have been John Kay, in the reign of Edward IV. The office became a patent office in 1630, and a salary of £100 a year and a tierce of canary was attached to it. In Charles II.'s time the office of Poet-Laureate and Royal Historiographer were generally united in one person. So Dryden. From Shadwell down to Pye, there is no "poet" of even a respectable standing, except Cibber, who had natural vigour, and Warton, who had cultivated taste. The rest are below critical appreciation and are now never heard of. |