|
Harry, it's a torrent of propaganda, anti-Catholic, anti-Spain, etc., the most amazing feat of toadying - to Elizabeth I - ever attempted and, indeed, triumphantly carried off. The future King James I tried to prosecute him for his libellous portrayal of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots ("Duessa"). Spenser was also much hated in Ireland, where he served as secretary to Lord Grey, and in his Viewe of the Present State of Irelande recommended putting the inhabitants to the sword as a way of solving the Irish question. In fact, if you value your front teeth it's still not a good idea to mention him in a Dublin pub.
Despite all that, it's a fantastic piece of work and the guy was undoubtedly a poetic genius as well as a polymath. I could go on, but have no wish to threadjack!
|