Literary Theory

Dante Alighieri, 1265 -- 1321  ●  Dante's Treatise  ●  1303

Hawes, Stephen, d. 1523?  ●  [Ryyght myghty prince\et redoubted souerayne] [in, This boke called pastyme of pleasure ... made and compyled by Stephen hawes ...]  ●  1509

Erasmus, Desiderius, d. 1536 / Chaloner, Thomas, Sir, 1521 -- 1565.  ●  [Poetes are somewhat lesse beholding vnto me] [Extract] [in, The praise of Folie. Moriae Encomivm; a booke made in latine by that great clerke Erasmus Roterodame. Englished by Sir Thomas Chaloner Knight ...]  ●  1511

Skelton, John, 1460? -- 1529.  ●  A Ryght Delectable Tratyse vpon a Goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell by mayster Skelton ...  ●  1523

Skelton, John, 1460? -- 1529.  ●  [Howe yong scolers nowe a dayes ...] [in, A replycacion agaynst certayne yong scolers abiured of late etc.]  ●  1528

Agrippa von Nettesheim, Heinrich Cornelius, 1486? -- 1535  ●  Henrie Cornelius Agrippa, of the Vanitie and vncertaintie of Arts and Sciences, Englished by Ia. San. Gent  ●  1530

Elyot, Thomas, Sir, 1490? -- 1546.  ●  What ordre shulde be in lernynge ... Cap. x.; The most co~modious and necessary studies ... Cap. xi.; Why gentilmen in this present tyme ... Chapi. xii.; The seconde and thirde decay of lernyng ... Cap. xiii.; Of Experience whiche haue preceded our tyme ... Cap. xxiiii [in, The boke named the Gouernour, deuised by Thomas Elyot Knight]  ●  1531

Cox, Leonard, fl. 1572.  ●  The arte of Crafte of Rhethoryke  ●  1532

Udall, Nicholas, 1505 -- 1556.  ●  The Prologue [in, [Ralph Roister Doister]]  ●  1553

Sherry, Richard, ca. 1506 -- ca. 1555  ●  A Treatise of the Figures of Grammer and Rhetorike, profitable for al that be studious of Eloquence ... sette foorth by Richarde Sherrye ...  ●  1555

Tottel, Richard, d. 1594  ●  The Printer to the Reader [in, Songes and Sonettes, written by the ryght honorable Lorde Henry Haward ... and other]  ●  1557

Baldwin, William, ca. 1518 -- 1563?  ●  Prefaces [in, A Myrrovre For Magistrates. Wherein may be seen by example of other, with how greuous plages vices are punished: and how frayle and unstable worldly prosperitie is found, even of those, whom fortune seemeth most highly to favour]  ●  1559

T. H., fl. 1560  ●  The Fable of Ouid treting of Narcissus  ●  1560

Wilson, Thomas, 1525? -- 1581.  ●  The Arte of Rhetorique, for the use of all soche as are studious of Eloquence, [... by Thomas Wilson]  ●  1560

Rainolde, Richard, d. 1606.  ●  The Foundation of Rhetoric  ●  1563

Edwards, Richard, 1523? -- 1566.  ●  The Prologve [in, The excellent Comedie of two the moste faithfullest Freendes, Damon and Pithias. Newly Imprinted, as the same was shewed before the Queenes Maiestie, by the Children of her Graces Chappell, except the Prologue that is somewhat altered for the proper vse of them that hereafter shall have occasion to plaie it, either in Priuate, or open Audience. Made by Maister Edvvards ...]  ●  1564

Painter, William, 1540? -- 1594.  ●  To the Right Honorable ... Earl of VVarvvike; To the Reader; To the right worshipfull Sir George Howarde; To the Reader [in, The Pallace of Pleasure Beautified ... By William Painter Clarke of the Ordinaunce and Armarie]  ●  1566

Fenton, Geoffrey, Sir, 1539? -- 1608.  ●  To one righte honorable ... Ladye Marye Sydney [in, Certaine Tragicall Discourses written oute of Frenche and Latin ...]  ●  1567

Golding, Arthur, 1536 -- 1606.  ●  Too the Reader [in, The .xv. Bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis, translated oute of Latin into English meeter, by Arthur Golding ...]  ●  1567

Ascham, Roger, 1515 -- 1568.  ●  John Astely to R. Ascham [etc.] [in, A REPORT and Discourse written by Roger Ascham, of the affaires and state of Germany and the Emperour Charles his court, duryng certaine yeares while the sayd Roger was there]  ●  1570

Ascham, Roger, 1515 -- 1568.  ●  The Scholemaster ... By Roger Ascham  ●  1570

Castelvetro, Lodovico, 1505 -- 1571. / Aristotle, 384 -- 322 BC  ●  Aristotle's Art of Poetry. Translated from the Original Greek, according to Mr. Theodore Goulston's Edition. Together, with Mr. D'Acier's Notes Translated from the French  ●  1570

Rainolds, John, 1549 -- 1607.  ●  Oratio in Laudem Artis Poeticae  ●  1572

Gascoigne, George, 1542? -- 1577.  ●  H. VV to the Reader and The Letter of G. T. to his very friend H. W. concerning this worke [in, A Hundreth Sundrie Flowers bounde vp in one small Poesie ...]  ●  1573

Gascoigne, George, 1542? -- 1577.  ●  To the reuerende Diuines ..., To al yong Gentlemen ..., To the Readers generally ..., Certayne notes of Instruction concerning the making of verse or ryme in English ... [in, The Posies of George Gascoigne Esquire. Corrected, perfected, and augmented by the Authour. 1575]  ●  1575

Harvey, Gabriel, 1550? -- 1631.  ●  Gabriel Harvey's Ciceronianus [With an Introduction and Notes by Harold S. Wilson; And An English Translation by Clarence A. Forbes]  ●  1577

E. K.  ●  To the most excellent and learned both Orator and Poete, Mayster Gabriell Harvey, his verie special and singular good friend E. K. commendeth the good lyking of this his labour, and the patronage of the new Poete; [in, The Shepheardes Calender Conteyning tvvelve Aeglogues proportionable to the twelve monethes]  ●  1578

Lyly, John, 1554? -- 1606  ●  To The Ladies and Gentlewomen of England, Iohn Lyly wisheth what they would [in, Euphues and his England ... By John Lyly, Maister of Arte]  ●  1578

Tyler, Margaret, fl. 1580  ●  M T. to the Reader [in, The Mirrour of Princely deedes and Knighthood ... Now newly translated out of Spanish into our vulgar English tongue, by M T.]  ●  1578

Whetstone, George, 1544? -- 1587?  ●  To His Worshipfvll friende, and Kinseman, William Fleetewoode Esquier, Recorder of London [in, The Right Excellent and famous Historye of Promos and Cassandra ... The worke of George Whetstones ...]  ●  1578

Gosson, Stephen, 1554 -- 1624.  ●  An Apologie of the Schoole of Abuse, against Poets, Pipers, Players, and their Excusers [in, The Ephemerides of Phialo, deuided into three Bookes ... By Step. Gosson]  ●  1579

Gosson, Stephen, 1554 -- 1624.  ●  The Schoole of Abuse, Conteining a Plesaunt inuectiue against Poets, Pipers, Plaiers, Iesters, and such like Caterpillers of a Co~monwelth ... by Stephen Gosson ...  ●  1579

Lodge, Thomas, 1558? -- 1625.  ●  [A Reply to Gosson's Schoole of Abuse] [in, The Schoole of Abuse]  ●  1579

North, Sir Thomas, 1535 -- 1601?  ●  Amiot To The Readers [in, The Lives of the Noble Grecians Romans; Translated out of Greek into French, by James Amiot ... And out of French into English by Sir Thomas North Knight]  ●  1579

Northbrooke, John  ●  A Treatise against Idlenes, Idle Pastimes, and Playes [in, Spiritus est vicarius Christi in terra. A Treatise wherein Dicing, Dau~cing, Vaine plaies or Enterludes ... are reprooved ... Made Dialoguewise by Iohn Northbrooke ...]  ●  1579

Spenser, Edmund, 1552 -- 1599  ●  October. Aegloga decima [in, The Shepheardes Calender Conteyning tvvelve Aeglogues proportionable to the twelve monethes]  ●  1579

Harvey, Gabriel, 1550? -- 1631.  ●  TVVO OTHER very commendable Letters, of the same mens vvriting: both touching the foresaid Artificiall Versifying and certain other Particulars ...  ●  1580

Harvey, Gabriel, 1550? -- 1631.  ●  Three Proper, and Wittie, Familiar Letters: lately passed betvvene tvvo Vniuersitie men: touching the Earth-quake in Aprill last, and our English refourmed Versifying. With the Preface of a wellwller to them both  ●  1580

Lyly, John, 1554? -- 1606  ●  To the right honourable ... Sir William West Knight [in, Euphves. The Anatomy of Wit etc.]  ●  1580

Sidney, Philip, Sir, 1554 -- 1586.  ●  To my dear Lady and Sister the Countess of Pembroke; Nota; and, [Discussion of Metre] [in, Sir Philip Sidney's The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia (The Old Arcadia); Edited with Introduction and Commentary by Jean Robertson]  ●  1581

Gosson, Stephen, 1554 -- 1624.  ●  Playes Confuted in fiue Actions [By Steph. Gosson]  ●  1582

Mulcaster, Richard, 1530? -- 1611.  ●  The First Part of the Elementarie VVhich Entreateth Chefelie of the right writing of our English tung, set furth by Richard Mvlcaster  ●  1582

Stanyhurst, Richard, 1547 -- 1618.  ●  Too Thee Right Honovrable My Verie Looving Broother. Thee Lord Baron of Dvnsanye [in, Thee First Fovr Bookes of Virgil His AENeis translated ... by Richard Stanyhurst ...]  ●  1582

Sidney, Philip, Sir, 1554 -- 1586.  ●  The Defence of Poesie  ●  1583

Stubbes, Phillip.  ●  [Front matter]; Of Stage-playes and Enterluds; Of Musick in Ailgna, and how it allureth to vanitie; and A fearfull Iudgement of GOD, shewed at the Theaters [in, The Anatomise of Abuses: Contayning A Discoverie, or Briefe Summarie of such Notable Vices and Imperfections, as now raigne in many Christian countreyes of the Worlde: but (especiallie) in a verie famous ILANDE called AILGNA: Together, with most fearefull Examples of Gods Iudgements, executed vpon the wicked for the same, aswell in AILGNA of late, as in other places, elsewhere ... Made dialogue-wise, by Phillip Stubbes]  ●  1583

Fenner, Dudley, 1558? -- 1587  ●  The Artes of Logicke and Rethorike  ●  1584

James I, King of England, 1566 -- 1625  ●  Ane Schort Treatise, conteining some Revlis and Cautelis to be obseruit and eschewit in Scottis Poesie [in, The Essayes of A Prentise, In The Divine Art of Poesie]  ●  1584

Webbe, William  ●  A Discourse of English Poetrie  ●  1586

Day, Angel, fl. 1575 -- 1595.  ●  The English Secretorie. VVherein is contayned a Perfect Method, for the inditing of all manner of Epistles and familiar Letters ... Nowe first deuized, and newly published, by Angell Daye  ●  1587

Fraunce, Abraham, fl. 1587 -- 1633.  ●  The Arcadian Rhetorike ... by Abraham Fraunce  ●  1588

Nash, Thomas, 1567 -- 1601  ●  To the Gentlemen Students of both Uniuersities [in, Menaphon: Camillas alarum to slumbering Euphues, in his melancholie Cell at Silexedra ... Robertus Greene]  ●  1589

Nash, Thomas, 1567 -- 1601  ●  [Zeuxes béeing about to drawe the counterfet of Iuno ...], [I leaue these in their follie ...], [Hence come our babling Ballets ...] and [There is no such discredit of Arte ...] [in, The Anatomie of Absurditie: Contayning a breefe confutation of the slender imputed prayses to feminine perfection, with a short description of the seuerall practises of youth, and sundry follies of our licentious times ... Compiled by T. Nashe]  ●  1589

Puttenham, George, d. 1590  ●  The Arte of English Poesie. Contriued into three Bookes: The first of Poets and Poesie, the second of Proportion, the third of Ornament  ●  1589

Spenser, Edmund, 1552 -- 1599  ●  A Letter of the Authors expounding his whole intention in the course of this worke ... [in, The Faerie Qveene. Disposed into twelue books, Fashioning XII. Morall vertues]  ●  1590

Harington, John, Sir, 1560 -- 1612.  ●  A Preface, or Rather a Briefe Apologie of Poetrie, and of the Author and translator of this Poem [in, Orlando Furioso in English Heroical Verse, by Iohn Haringto~  ●  1591

Nash, Thomas, 1567 -- 1601  ●  Somewhat to reade for them that list [in, Syr P. S. His Astrophel and Stella ...]  ●  1591

Spenser, Edmund, 1552 -- 1599  ●  The Teares of the Muses. By Ed. Sp [in, Complaints; Containing sundrie small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie ... By Ed. Sp.]  ●  1591

Harvey, Gabriel, 1550? -- 1631.  ●  Fovre Letters, and certaine Sonnets: Especially touching Robert Greene, and other parties, by him abused: But incidentally of diuers excellent persons, and some matters of note  ●  1592

Nash, Thomas, 1567 -- 1601  ●  Strange Newes, of the intercepting certaine Letters, and a Conuoy of Verses, as they were going Priuilie to victuall the Low Countries  ●  1592

Fletcher, Giles, 1549? -- 1611  ●  To the Reader [in Licia, or Poemes of Love, in Honour of the admirable and singular vertues of his Lady ...]  ●  1593

Harvey, Gabriel, 1550? -- 1631.  ●  A Nevv Letter of Notable Contents. With a straunge Sonet, intituled Gorgon, Or the wonderfull yeare  ●  1593

Harvey, Gabriel, 1550? -- 1631.  ●  Pierces Supererogation or a New Prayse of the Old Asse. A Preparative to certaine larger Discourses, intituled Nashes S. Fame  ●  1593

Peacham, Henry, 1546 -- 1634  ●  The Garden of Eloquence; Conteyning the Figures of Grammer and Rhetorick ... Set foorth in Englishe, by Henry Peacham ...  ●  1593

Nash, Thomas, 1567 -- 1601  ●  [Before I goe anie further ...] [in, The Vnfortvnate Traveller. Or, The life of Iacke Wilton ... Tho. Nashe]  ●  1594

Carew, Richard, 1555 -- 1620  ●  The Excellencie of the English tongue by R. C. of Anthony Esquire to VV. C [in, Remaines concerning Britaine: But especially England, and the Inhabitants thereof ... Reviewed, corrected, and encreased]  ●  1595

Chapman, George, 1559? -- 1634.  ●  To the Trvlie Learned, and my Worthy Friende, Ma. Matthew Royden [in, Ovid's Banquet of Sence. A Coronet for his Mistresse Philosophie, and his amorous Zodiacke ...]  ●  1595

Beard, Thomas, d. 1632.  ●  The Theatre of Gods Iudgements: Or, A Collection of Histories out of Sacred, Ecclesiasticall, and prophane Authours ... Translated ovt of French, and Avgmented by more than three hundred Examples, by Th. Beard  ●  1597

Hall, Joseph, 1574 -- 1656  ●  1597

Chapman, George, 1559? -- 1634.  ●  To the most honored Earle, Earle Marshall. To the vnderstander. To my admired and soule-loued friend ... M. Harriots [in, Achilles Shield. Translated ... out of his eighteenth booke of Iliades. By George Chapman Gent.]  ●  1598

Chapman, George, 1559? -- 1634.  ●  To the most honored now liuing Instance of the Achilleian Vertues, ... To the Reader [in, Seaven Bookes of the Iliades of Homere]  ●  1598

Meres, Francis, 1565 -- 1647  ●  Poetrie; Poets; and A Comparatiue discourse of our English Poets, with the Greeke, Latine, and Italian Poets [in, Palladis Tamia. Wits Treasvry ... By Francis Meres ...  ●  1598

Anon.  ●  [A Warning for Faire Women] [in, A Warning for Faire Women]  ●  1599

Daniel, Samuel, 1562 -- 1619.  ●  Mvsophilvs. Containing, A generall Defence of all Learning [in, The complete works in verse and prose of Samuel Daniel. Edited ... By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart  ●  1599

Hoskins, John, 1566 -- 1638.  ●  Directions for Speech and Style by John Hoskins; edited with an Introduction and Notes by Hoyt H. Hudson ...  ●  1599

Marston, John, 1575? -- 1634.  ●  To those that seeme iudiciall perusers [in, The Scoovrge of Villanie. Three Bookes of Satyres]  ●  1599

Rainolds, John, 1549 -- 1607. / Gager, William, fl. 1580 -- 1619  ●  Th'overthrow of Stage-Playes  ●  1599

Thynne, Francis, 1545? -- 1608.  ●  Animaduersions Uppon the Annotacions and Correcto~ns of some Imperfecto~ns of Impresso~ns of Chaucers Workes ... Sett Downe by Francis Thynee [in, Illustrations of the Lives and Writings of Gower and Chaucer ... by the Rev. Henry J. Todd ...]  ●  1599

Jonson, Ben, 1573? -- 1637  ●  [Exchanges between Cordatus and Mitis on comedy] [in, The Comicall Satyre of Every Man Ovt of His Hvmor. As it was first composed by the Author B. I. ...]  ●  1600

Vaughan, William, 1577 -- 1641.  ●  To the Reader; Whether Stageplayes ought to be suffred in a Commonwealth? Chapt. 51 [Book I]; Of Grammar. Chap. 39; Of Logick. Chap. 40; Of Rhetoricke, and the abuse thereof. Chap. 41; Of Poetry, and the excellence thereof. Chap. 42 [Book III] [in, The Golden-groue, moralized in three Bookes ... Made by W. Vaughan ...]  ●  1600

Campion, Thomas, 1567 -- 1620.  ●  Observations in the Art of English Poesie. By Thomas Campion ...  ●  1602

Daniel, Samuel, 1562 -- 1619.  ●  A Defence of Ryme: Against a Pamphlet: Observations in the Art of English Poesie  ●  1602

Drayton, Michael, 1563 -- 1631.  ●  To the Reader [in, The Barrons Wars in the raigne of Edward the Second ... By Michaell Drayton]  ●  1603

Florio, John, 1553? -- 1625  ●  To the Right Honorable my best-best Benefactors ... To the curteous Reader; and To my deere friend M. Iohn Florio ... [in, The Essayes or Morall, Politike and Millitarie Discourses of Lo: Michaell de Montaigne ... First written by him in French And now done into English By ... Iohn Florio]  ●  1603

Bacon, Francis, 1561 -- 1626  ●  [The Parts of humane learning] and [Poesie is a part of Learning] [extracts] [in, The Tvvoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the proficience and aduancement of Learning, diuine and humane ...]  ●  1605

Greville, Fulke, Baron Brooke, 1554 -- 1628.  ●  A Treatie of Humane Learning 111 -- 115 [in Certaine Learned and Elegant Works of the Right Honorable Fulke Lord Brooke ...]  ●  1605

Jonson, Ben, 1573? -- 1637  ●  To the Readers [in, Seianvs His Fall. Written by Ben. Ionson ...]  ●  1605

Drayton, Michael, 1563 -- 1631.  ●  To The Reader [in, Poems: By Michael Drayton, Esqvire ...]  ●  1606

Bacon, Francis, 1561 -- 1626  ●  The Wisdome of the Ancients  ●  1609

Chapman, George, 1559? -- 1634.  ●  To the High Borne Prince of Men, Henrie ... [in, Homer Prince of Poets: Translated according to the Greeke, in twelve Bookes of his Iliads. By Geo. Chapman]  ●  1609

Fletcher, John, 1579 -- 1625.  ●  To the Reader [in, The Faithfull Shepheardesse]  ●  1609

Jonson, Ben, 1573? -- 1637  ●  The Epistle and The Prologve [in, Volpone Or The Foxe]  ●  1609

Fletcher, Giles, 1588? -- 1623.  ●  To the Reader [in, Christs Victorie, And Triumph in Heauen and Earth ...]  ●  1610

Chapman, George, 1559? -- 1634.  ●  The Preface To The Reader [in, The Iliads of Homers Prince of Poets ... Donne according to the greeke; By Geo: Chapman  ●  1611

Chapman, George, 1559? -- 1634.  ●  To the Right Vertvovs, And truely Noble Knight, Sr. Thomas Howard [in, The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois. A Tragedie ... Written by George Chapman, Gentleman]  ●  1611

Lanyer, Aemilia  ●  To the Queenes most Excellent Majestie. To all vertuous Ladies in generall [in, Salve Deus Rex Ivdaeorvm ... Written by Mistris Aemilia Lanyer ...]  ●  1611

Heywood, Thomas, d. 1641  ●  An Apology For Actors. Containing three briefe Treatises. 1. Their Antiquity. 2. Their ancient Dignity. 3. The true vse of their quality. [Written by Thomas Heywood]  ●  1612

Jonson, Ben, 1573? -- 1637  ●  Prologve [in, Euery MAN IN HIS HVMOVR. A Comoedie. Acted in the yeere 1598. By the then Lord Chamberlaine his Seruants; The Workes of Beniamin Jonson]  ●  1612

Jonson, Ben, 1573? -- 1637  ●  To The Reader.; The Prologve [in, The Alchemist. Written by Ben Ionson]  ●  1612

Webster, John, 1580? -- 1625?  ●  To the Reader [in, The White Divel, or, The Tragedy of Paulo Giordano Ursini, Duke of Brachiano, with The Life and Death of Vittoria Corombona the famous Venetian Curtizan ... Written by Iohn Webster  ●  1612

Chapman, George, 1559? -- 1634.  ●  A Free And Offenceles Iustification of A Lately Pvblisht and Most Maliciously Misinterpreted Poeme: Entitvled Andromeda liberata  ●  1614