merica | 1499. Colet, Erasmus, and More
1509. Henry VIII | bring the New Learning to
| Oxford
| 1509. Erasmus's Praise of
| Folly
| 1516. More's Utopia
| 1525. Tydale's New Testament
1534. Act of Supremacy. The | 1530(c). Introduction of the
Reformation accomplished | sonnet and blank verse by
| Wyatt and Surrey
| 1539. The Great Bible
1547. Edward VI |
1553. Mary | 1557. Tottel's Miscellany
1558. Elizabeth |
===========================================================================

* * * * *

CHAPTER VI

THE AGE OF ELIZABETH (1550-1620)

I. HISTORY OF THE PERIOD

POLITICAL SUMMARY. In the Age of Elizabeth all doubt seems to vanish from
English history. After the reigns of Edward and Mary, with defeat and
humiliation abroad and persecutions and rebellion at home, the accession of
a popular sovereign was like the sunrise after a long night, and, in
Milton's words, we suddenly see England, "a noble and puissant nation,
rousing herself, like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible
locks." With the queen's character, a strange mingling of frivolity and
strength which reminds one of that iron image with feet of clay, we have
nothing whatever to do. It is the national life that concerns the literary
student, since even a beginner must notice that any great development of
the national life is invariably associated with a development of the
national literature. It is enough for our purpose, therefore, to point out
two facts: that Elizabeth, with all her vanity and inconsistency, steadily
loved England and England's greatness; and that she inspired all her people
with the unbounded patriotism which exults in Shakespeare, and with the
personal devotion which finds a voice in the _Faery Queen_. Under her
administration the English national life progressed by gigantic leaps
rather than by slow historical process, and English literature reached the
very highest point of its development. It is possible to indicate only a
few general characteristics of this great age which had a direct bearing
upon