Introduction

`ALIA'

`Farewell, that was my lef so dere

ANONYMOUS (c. 1520)

`Wolde God that hyt were so'

ANONYMOUS (c. 1520)

`Evyn as mery as I make myght'

ANONYMOUS (c. 1520)

A lettre sende by on yonge woman to a-noder, which aforetyme were felowes to-geder

ANONYMOUS (c. 1520)

`Right best beloved and most in Assurance'

LADY MARGARET HOWARD, nee STEWART, later DOUGLAS, LADY LENNOX (1515-1578)

`Now that ye be assemblled heer'

`the sueden chance ded mak me mues'

CIRCLE OF ANNE BOLEYN (1530s)

`I ame not she by proweff of syt'

KATHERINE, LADY BOROUGH, nee PARR, later NEVILLE, TUDOR, SEYMOUR (1512-1548)

from `Considerant ma vie miserable'

ALIS FERCH GRUFFYD AB IEUAN AP LLEYWELYN FYCHAN (fl. c. 1540-70)

Englynion o waith Alis ach Ryffydd ap Iefan pan ofynodd ei thad pa fath wr a fyne hi/ Verses written by Alis daughter of Gryffydd son of Iefan when her father asked her what sort of husband she would like

Pan ofynne ei thad yn wr gweddw beth a ddoede hi am iddo amcanu priode llances o lodes/ When her father a widower asked what she would say to his intention of marrying a young girl

ANNE KYME, nee ASKEW (1521-1546)

The voyce of Anne Askew out of the 54. Psalme of David, called, Deus in nomine tuo

The Balade whych Anne Askewe made and sange whan she was in Newgate

LADY ELIZABETH TYRWHIT (fl. c. 1548-1582)

The Hymne of the daie of judgment

An Hymne of the state of all Adams posteritie

MILDRED CECIL, nee COOKE, LADY BURLEIGH (1526-1589)

Ως πρωτιστα &epsis;ναι&ogr;μ &epsis;πι χ&thetas;&ogr;νι π&ogr;λ&upsis;β&ogr;τ&epsis;ιρη As when at first primitive men were dwelling on the fruitful earth

LADY MARY CHEKE, nee HILL, later MACWILLIAM (c. 1527-1616)

Erat quaedam mulier

ANNE BACON, nee COOKE (1528?-1616)

A-B-in D. B. Sylcal A-B-on the learned Bartholo Sylva

FRANCES NEVILL (nee MANNERS), LADY ABERGAVENNY (after 1527-1576)

A necessarie praier in Meeter against vices

EMMA FOXE (d. 1570)

`To you that lyfe possess grete troubles do befall'

ELIZABETH I (1533-1603)

Genus Infœlix Vitæ

`The dread of future foes exyle my present Joy'

Reginae Responsum/The Queen's Answer

A songe made by her Majestie and songe before her at her cominge from white hall to Powles through Fleete streete in Anno domini 1588

ANN LOK (nee VAUGHAN, later DERING, PROWSE) (c. 1535-after 1590)

Anna Dering in Bartholomeum Sylvam Medicum Tauriniensium./ Anna Dering on Bartolomeo Silva, Doctor of Turin

The necessitie and benefit of Affliction

CATRIN FERCH GRUFFYDD AB IEUAN AP LLYWELYN FYCHAN, or CATRIN FERCH GRUFFYDD AP HYWEL O LANDDEINIOLEN (fl. 1555)

Owdwl foliant i Grist/ A Praise poem to Christ

ANNE DUDLEY, nee SEYMOUR, later UNTON, with MARGARET and JANE SEYMOUR (after 1535-1587/8, after 1535-??, 1541-1551)

from the Hecatodistichon

LADY JANE DUDLEY (nee GREY) (1537-1554)

`Certaine verses written by the said lalie Jane with a pinne'

ELIZABETH HOBY (nee COOKE, later LADY RUSSELL) (1540-1609)

Elizabetha Hobaea conjux, ad Thomam Hobaeum, Equitem Maritum/ Elizabeth Hoby, wife, to Thomas Hoby, Knight, her husband

Elizabethae Hobeae, Matris, in obitum duarum, filiarum Elizabethae, et Annae, Epicedium/ An epicedium by Elizabeth Hoby, their mother, on the Death of her two daughters Elizabeth and Anne

ISABELLA WHITNEY (c. 1540-after 1580)

I. W. To her unconstant Lover

A communication which the Auctor had to London, before she made her Wyll

KATHERINE DOWE (fl. before 1588)

`Arise carelie'

KATHERINE KILLIGREW (nee COOKE) (1542?-1583)

`Si mihi quem cupio cures Mildreda remitti'/ `Mildred, if you take the trouble to send me what I want'

in mortem suam haec Carmina dum vixerat scripsit D. Katharina Killigreia/ The lady Katherine Killigrew wrote this poem about her own death

MARY STUART, QUEEN OF SCOTS (1542-1587)

`En mon trist et doux chant'/ `In my sweet and sad song'

Carmina Italica et Gallica scripta per Regina Scotiae ad Anglicae Regina/ Verses in Italian and French, written by the Queen of Scots to the Queen of England

`Celuy vraiment na poinct de courtoisie'/ `He is, in truth, lacking in civility'

ANONYMOUS (before 1568)

`Haif hairt in hairt 3e hairt of hairtis haill'

NIGHEAN DHONNCHADH, THE DAUGHTER OF DUNCAN CAMPBELL OF GLENLYON (fl. 1570)

`Moch madainn air latha Lunasd''/ `Early on Lammas morning'

ELLIN THORNE (c. 1576)

Ellin thorne songe

MARIE COLLYN, nee HARVEY (1555/6-after 1600)

`The thursday before new years day (being on the satterdy) the Maide, by councell of on, she trustid well, excussid herself on this wise to Milord.'

ANNE FIELD, nee VAVASOUR, later RICHARDSON (c. 1560-after 1622)

`Thoughe I seeme straunge sweete friende be thou not so'

CATHERIN LLWYD, nee OWEN (d. 1602)

At Sion Lloyd: cynghorion y fam i'w hetifedd/ To Sion Lloyd: the mother's advice to her heir

CHRISTIAN LINDSAY (fl. 1580/86)

Christen Lyndesay to Ro. Hudsone

MARGARET CLIFFORD, COUNTESS OF CUMBERLAND, nee RUSSELL (1560-1616)

Epitaph for Richard Cavendish, engraved on his monument in Hornsey church

MARY HERBERT (nee SIDNEY), COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE (1561-1621)

Miserere Mei Deus

Deus Fudicium

De Profundis

A Dialogue betweene two shepheards, Thenot and Piers, in praise of ASTREA, made by the excellent Lady, the lady, Mary Countess of Pembrook at the Queenes Maiesties being at her house at Anno 15

ANONYMOUS (c. 1600/1625)

Bealach a' Gharaidh/ The Breach in the Wall

ANNE WRIGGLESWORTH (fl. 1584)

`Yf I had as fair a face as John Williams'

ELIZABETH, LADY TANFIELD, nee SYMONDES (?1565-1628)

Tomb of Sir Lawrence Tanfield obiit 30 Ap. 1625 erected by Lady Tanfield 1628

ANONYMOUS, possibly MARIE LAUDER, nee MAITLAND (born after 1528, fl. before 1586)

`As phoebus in his spheris hicht'

`E. D.' [ELIZABETH? COBURNE, nee DOUGLAS] (fl. 1587)

E. D. in prayse of Mr W fouler her freind

E. D. in commendation of the Author and his choise

AEMILIA LANYER (nee BASSANI) (1569-1645)

from Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum

The Description of Cooke-ham

ANNE DOWRICHE nee EDGCUMBE (fl. 1589-1596)

The Admiralls being slaine, they likewise murdred most cruellie not onelie all such frends, Phisitians, Preachers, and all other that were found hidden in the Admirals lodging, but also as manie as were suspected to be of that religion within the towne or anie where els, were lamentablie put to the sword, as here folowing we may plainlie see

Verses written by a Gentlewoman upon the Jaylors Conversion

ANNE DORMER, LADY HUNGERFORD (d. 1603)

The Lady Hungerford's Meditacions upon the Beades

JANE SEAGER (fl. 1589)

To Queen Elizabeth

Lybica

ELIZABETH COLVILLE, nee MELVILLE, LADY CULROSS (?1570s-after 1630)

from Ane Godlie Dreame, compylit in Scottish Meter be M. M. Gentelvvoman in Culross, at the requeist of her friendes

A Sonnet sent to Blackness to Mr John Welsch, by the Lady Culross

LADY ANNE SOUTHWELL (nee HARRIS) (1571-1636)

To the kinges most excellent Majestye

`All maried men desire to have good wifes'

An Elegie written by the Lady A. S. to the Countesse of London, Derrye supposyenge hir to be dead by hir longe silence

An Epitaph, uppon Cassandra Mac Willms wife to Sr Thomas Ridgway Earle of London Derry by ye Lady A. S.

ESTHER KELLO (nee INGLIS/LANGLOIS) (1571-1624)

Priere a Dieu/Prayer to God

MARTHA PRYNNE (nee DORSETT, later THROUGOOD, MOULSWORTH) (1577-after 1632)

The Memorandum of Martha Moulsworth Widdowe

LUCY RUSSELL (nee HARINGTION), COUNTESS OF BEDFORD (1581-1627)

`Death be not proud, thy hand gave not this blow,'

ELIZABETH JANE LEON (nee WESTON, `WESTONIA') (1582-1612)

De Inundatione Pragae ex continuis pluviis orta, anno 96/ On the flooding of Prague, which arose from continuous rain in the year 1596

In obitum nobilis et generosae foeminae, dominae Ioannae post mortem magnifici et generosi domini Edovardi Kellei de Imany, equitus aurati sacraeque Caesare Maiestatis consiliarii, derelicta viduae, matris suae honorandissimae charissimaeque lachrymaebunda effudit filia/ On the Death of the Noble and Gentle Woman, Lady Joanna Kelley, after the death of the Magnificent and Gentle Sir Edward Kelley of Imania, Knight, Counsellor of his Sacred Majesty Caesar, having been left widow: a daughter sheds grieving tears for her most honourable and beloved mother

In 2. Ovidii Trist./ On the second Tristia of Ovid

Ad Lectorem/ To the Reader

ELIZABETH CARY (nee TANFIELD), COUNTESS OF FALKLAND (c. 1585-1639)

Chorus

To the Queens most Excellent Majestie

LADY MARY WROTH (nee SIDNEY (1587-c. 1652)

A crowne of Sonetts dedicated to Love

Sonnet XIX

Sonnet XXII

Sonnet XXXVIII

Song

Sonnet II

Railing Rimes returned upon the Author by Mistress Mary Wrothe

ISOBEL BEAUMONT with JOHN COLEMAN, a servant (1589-after 1607)

`Poor Bess Turpin, I pytty thy case as farr as I can'

HESTER WYAT (c. 1600)

A poem made by a friend of mine in answere to One who Ask't why she wrotte

A MAID OF HONOUR (fl. 1603)

A short and sweet Sonnet made by one of the Maids of Honour, upon the death of Queen Elizabeth, which she sewed upon a Sampler, in Red Silke

A GENTLEWOMAN (fl. 1603)

A Gentlewoman yt married a yonge Gent who after forsooke whereuppon she tooke hir needle in which she was excelent and worked upon hir Sampler thus

ANONYMOUS

`The Lyke Wake Dirge'

ELEN GWDMAN (fl. 1609)

Cwyfan merch ifanc am ei chriad: y ferch oedd Elen Gwdman o Dalyllyn a'r mab oedd Edward Wyn o Fodewryd, y Mesur Rogero/ A young woman's complaint about her sweetheart; the girl was Elen Gwdman from Talyllyn and the lad was Edward Wyn from Bodewryd, to the tune `Rogero'

ELEANOR DAVIES (nee TOUCHET, later DOUGLAS) (LADY ELEANOR AUDLEY) (1590-1652)

When hee was come to the other side of the contrye, of the Gergesenes, there mett him two: possessed with Devils Coming Out of the Tombes

The Gatehouse Salutation

BRID INIAN IARLA CHILLE DARA (BRIGID O'DONNELL, nee FITZGERALD) (c. 1590-after 1607)

`A mhacoimh dhealbhas an dan'/ `O young man who composes the poem'

ANONYMOUS (redacted by JENNET DEVICE) (fl. 1612)

Charm

ANONYMOUS GENTLEWOMAN (early 1600s)

A Gentle: womans: answer to one, that sayd he should dye, if shee refuse his desires

MARY OXLIE (fl. 1656)

To William Drummond of Hawthornden

MRS WINCHCOMBE (fl. 1614)

`I lovd thee living and lament thee dead'

HONOR STRANGMAN, JENNYFER BENNY (with JOHN DIER, BENJAMIN STRANGMAN, and others) (fl. 1616)

`Yf there be any man that can tell me quicklye'

FIONNGHUALA, INGHEAN UI DOMHNAILL BHRIAIN (O'BRIEN) (c. 1617)

Fionnghuala Inghean Domhnaill Ui Bhriain Cecenit/ Fionnghuala daughter of Domhnaill Ui Bhriain composed (sang) this

BAPTINA CROMWELL (nee PALAVICINO) (1595/8-1618)

Verces made by Mistress Battina Cromwell, wife to Henry Cromwell esq. Sir Oliver Cromwell's sone

ELIZABETH STUART, later QUEEN OF BOHEMIA (1596-1660)

Verses by the Princess Elizabeth, given to Lord Harrington, of Exton, her Preceptor

MOR NIGHEAN UISDEIN (c. 1615)

`He, mandu!'/ Ay, bashful thou!

HESTER PULTER, nee LEE (1596-1678)

The complaint of Thames 1647 when the best of Kings was imprisoned by the worst of Rebels at Holmbie

Upon the imprisonment of his Sacred Majesties that unparaled Prince King Charles the First

Upon the Death of my deare and lovely Daughter J. P. Jane Pulter, Baptized May 1 1625 and died Oct 8 1646 Act. 20

On those two unparalleld friends, S: G: Lisle and S: C: Lucas, who were shott to death at Colechester

ELIZABETH BANCKES AND GEORGE JAMES (1616)

`Roysters give Rome, for here comes a Lass'

`CONSTANTIA MUNDA' (fl. 1617)

To the Right Worshipful Lady her Most Dear Mother, the Lady Prudentia Munda, the true pattern of Piety and virtue, C.M. wisheth increase of Happiness

RACHEL PROCHTER (nee SPEGHT) (1597-after 1621)

The Dreame

MRS. BOUGHTON (c. 1600-after 1650)

Epitaph

ELEANORA FINCH, nee WYATT (later 1590s-1623)

``Tis true I weepe, I sigh, I wring my hands'

`Lady weare those bayes, you may'

`When I first was brought to light'

ALICE SUTCLIFFE, nee WODSHOWS (fl. 1620s-1630s)

from 'Of our losse by Adam, and our gayne by Christ; the first Adam was made a living sould, the second Adam a quickning Spirit; For as in Adam wee all dye, so in Christ, shall all be made alive. I Corinth. 15.'

BATHSUA MAKIN (nee RAINOLDS) (1600-after 1673)

AD Fridericum V.G.D. comitem Palatinum Longe maximum et illustrissiomum Rheni, Bavarie Duncem, Principem Electorem, et Archidapiferum Sacri Imperii Romani, et, sede vacant, Vicarium, & c. Encomiasticon Bathsvæ Reginaldæ, Anno salutis, 1616. Londini./ To Frederick V, by the Grace of God, for a long time the most great and illustrious count Palatine, Duke of Bavaria, Chief Elector and Steward of the Holy Roman Empire, and, when the throne is empty, its Vicar: an Encomiastic by Bathsua Rainolds, in the year of grace 1616, from London

Upon the much lamented death of the Right Honourable the Lady Elizabeth Langham

KATHERINE, LADY DYER (nee D'OYLEY) (c. 1600-1654)

M. S. Sir Will: Dyer, Kt: Who put on Immortality April the 29th Anno Domini 1621

DAME GERTRUDE (HELEN) MORE (1604-1633)

A dittie to the same subject

A short oblation of this smal work by the writer gatherer thereof to our most sweet and merciful God

JANE HAWKINS (fl. 1629)

`O lett it be for ever told'

DIANA PRIMROSE (fl. 1630)

The Eight Pearle

ANONYMOUS [?`Lady Lothian'] (circulating 1630s)

Ane godlie Instructione for old and young `The Lady Lothian's Lilt'

SIBELLA DOVER, nee COLE (fl. 1630)

To Her Modest Mirth-Making Friend, Mr. Robert Dover, this pastorall Pipe, by the name of a Syrinx, dedicates her selfe, with her annexed Annagrams

ANNE BRADSTREET, nee DUDLEY (1613-1672)

Prologue [to the Tenth Muse]

`As loving Hind that (Hartless) wants her Deer,'

The Author to her book

A Dialogue between Old England and New, Concerning their present Troubles. Anno 1642

Before the Birth of one of her Children

Upon the Burning of our house, July 10th, 1666, copyed out of a loose paper

LUCY HASTINGS, nee DAVIES, COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON (b. 1613)

autograph written in her copy of the 1650 issue of Lachrymae Musarum, now in the Huntington

DAME CLEMENTIA (ANNE) CARY (1615-1671)

`You blessed Soules, who stand before'

MAIRI NIGHEAN ALASDAIR RUAIDH (MARY MACLEOD) (c. 1615-after 1705)

Mairearad nan Cuireid/ Tricky Margaret:

Marbhrann/ Dirge

GERTRUDE THIMELBY, nee ASTON (c. 1615-c. 1670)

Mrs Thimelby, on the Death of Her Only Child

To Her Husband, on New Year's Day 1651)

Upon a Command to Write On My Father

ANNA LEY, nee NORMAN (before 1620-1641)

Upon the necessity and benefite of learning written in the beginning of a Common place booke belonging to W. B. a young scholler

Upon a booke written at the beginning of the Parliament 1640

KATHERINE ASTON, nee THIMELBY (c. 1620s-1650s)

To my Daughter Catherine on Ashwednesday 1645c, finding her weeping at prayers, because I would not consent to her fasting

Upon the LD saying KT could be sad in her company

LADY DOROTHY SHIRLEY, nee DEVEREUX, later STAFFORD (1600-1636)

The LD ansure

MARY FAGE (fl. 1637)

to their most excellent majesty of Great Brittaines Monarchy

POETS OF THE TIXALL CIRCLE (fl. 1630s-1650s)

To a Gentleman that Courted Several Ladys

From a Sick Poetess to Mrs St George on Her Feeding the Swans

A Confession

SEONAID CHAIMBEUL (JANET CAMPBELL) c. 1645)

``S tha 'n oidhche nochd fuar'

ELIZABETH CROMWELL (?fl. 1636/40)

The Sisters newyearsgift from Elizabeth to Mary a happie motherof good children

DIORBHAIL NIC A BHRIUTHAINN (DOROTHY BROWN) (c. 1620s-late seventeenth century)

Oran do dh' Alasdair mac Colla/ A Song to Alasdair Mac Colla

LUCY HUTCHINSON, nee APSLEY (1620-after 1662)

The Argument of the third booke

Another on the Sun Shine

To the Gardin att O: [Owthorpe] 7:th

On my Visit to WS which I dreamt of That Night xi:th

AN ANONYMOUS WOMAN OF THE CLAN CAMPBELL (fl. 1645)

Oran air blar Inbhir Lochaidh/ The battle of Inverlochy

FRANCES (DOROTHY) FEILDING, nee LANE, later JAMES (?1650-1709)

one the morening the King was taken ill my dreame of him

THE NURSE OF DONALD GORM (c. 1650)

Taladh Dhomhnaill Ghuirm, le a mhuime/ Lullaby of Donald Gorm, by his nurse

JANE CHEYNE (nee LADY JANE CAVENDISH) (1621-1669)

On the 30th of June to God

On my honorable Grandmother, Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury

An answeare to my Lady Alice Edgertons Songe of I prithy send me back my Hart

ANNE DUTTON, nee KING, later HOWE (1621-after 1671)

An essay upon Good-Friday, 30 April, 1640, by A. K.

HANNAH WOLLEY, later CHALLINOR (c. 1621-74)

From The Queen-Like Closet

ANNA TRAPNEL (c. 1622-after 1660)

Having prayed for, and made much mention of the Merchants, she Sings the following Hymn to them

MARGARET CAVENDISH (nee LUCAS), DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE (1624-1674)

Of Cold Winds

The Hunting of a Stag

The Ruine of this Island

MARY CAREY (nee JACKSON, later PAYLER) (fl. 1643-80)

Written by me at the death of my 4th son, and 5th Child, Peregrine Payler

ANNE DOCWRA, nee WALDEGRAVE (1624-1710)

`The Mystery of Profession great'

MAIRI CHAMARAN, NIGHEAN FREAM CHALLAIRD (MARY CAMERON) (b. c. 1625?)

Oran Broin/ A Song of Sorrow

KATHERINE AUSTEN (nee WILSON) (1628-1683)

Dec. 5th 1644 Upon Robin Austins recovery of the small pox and General Popams son John diing of them-a youth of a very forward growth and their ages the same. popham 3 yeares for growth more

On the Situation of Highbury

ELIZABETH EGERTON (nee CAVENDISH), LADY ELIZABETH BRACKLEY, later COUNTESS OF BRIDGEWATER (1623-1663)

On my Boy Henry

RACHEL JEVON (1627-after 1662)

Carmen ΘPiambeytikon Regiæ Maiestati Caroli II, Principum Et Christianorum Optimi in Exoptatissimum Eius Restaurationem

Exultationis Carmen To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty Upon his Most Desired Return

KATHERINE PHILIPS (nee Fowler) (1632-1664)

Friendship in Emblem, or the Seale, to my dearest Lucasia

On the Welch Language

Lucasia, Rosania, and Orinda Parting at a Fountain, July 1663

On the 3 September 1651

To Antenor On a Paper of mine; which an unworthy Adversarey of his threatned to publish, to pregiudice him, in Cromwels time

`A LADY' (KATHERINE PHILIPS?)

Advice to Virgins

`ELIZA' (fl. 1652)

To my Husband

To Generall Cromwell

AN COLLINS (fl. 1653)

A Song composed in time of the Civill Warr, when the wicked did much insult over the godly

FRANCELLINA STAPLETON (fl. 1655)

Upon a Joynted Ring

ELIZABETH WITH (fl. 1659)

How Elizabeth Foole and her husband parted by means of her Sister in Law

ELIZABETH, VISCOUNTESS MORDAUNT (nee CARY) (d. 1678)

Sepr. ye 6th 1666 Thursday A thanks geving for the stoping of the Fire in London

MARTHA, LADY GIFFARD (nee TEMPLE) (1638-1722)

To Mother Luddwels cave and spring

Of Sleep

ANNE GREENWELL (nee DOWNER, later WHITEHEAD) (1630s-1680)

Some Account of Anne Whitehead's Early Experience, as written by her near thirty years ago

JANE VAUGHAN, nee PRICE (fl. Mid-seventeenth century)

Ymddiddanion rhwng: Mrs Jane Vaughan o Geargae a Chadwaladr y prydydd/ Debate between Mrs Jane Vandhan of Caergae and Cadwaladr the poet

O f' arglwydd Dduw trugarog' tydi su'n un a thri/ `O my merciful Lord God, you, who are one in three'

ANONYMOUS BENEDICTINE NUN OF CAMBRAI

`Alone retired in my native cell'

ANNE KEMP (fl. 1650s)

A Contemplation on Bassets down-Hill* by the most Sacred adorer of the Muses Mrs A. K.

ELIZABETH NEWELL (fl. 1655-1668)

A Dialogue

ELIANOUR HAVEY (fl. 1658)

An Acrostick Eligie on the death of the no less prudent than victorious prince Oliver lord Protector

ANN WILLIAMS (previously CROMWELL) (fl. 1660s)

Greifes farwell, to an Inherritor of joy

APHRA BEHN (nee JOHNSON) (?1640-1689)

The Disappointment

A Congratulory Poem to her Sacred Majesty Queen Mary, Upon her Arrival in England

To the Fair Clarinda, who made Love to me, imagin'd more than Woman

On the Death of the late Earl of Rochester

On Desire A Pindarick

Mrs. A. B.

Song. On her Loving Two /Equally

Captain Pack

To Mrs. W. On her Excellent Verses (Writ in Praise of some I had made on the Earl of Rochester) Written in a Fit of Sickness

A Paraphrase on Oenone to Paris

To Damon. To inquire of him if he cou'd tell me by the Style, who writ me a Copy of Verses that came to me in an unknown Hand

Mrs. A. B.

Silvio's Complaint. A Song, to a Fine Scotch Tune

JANE SOWLE (fl. 1680)

A short Testimony for Anne Whitehead

ELIZABETH WILMOT (nee MALET), COUNTESS OF ROCHESTER (c. 1640-1681)

Song

ANNE LEE (fl. 1660s)

On the returne of King Charles 2nd

SARAH GOODHUE (nee WHIPPLE) (1641-1681)

`My first, as thy name is Joseph, labour so in knowledge to increase'

BARBARA SYMS AND CAPTAIN COOKE (fl. 1663)

Song

DOROTHY WHITE (1630-1685)

An Epistle of Love and of Consolation unto Israel

redacted by ISOBEL GILBERT, nee GOWDIE (fl. 1662)

[Charm to destroy the male child of the Laird of Parkis]

[For cadging fish]

[Shapeshifting]

ANNA ALCOX (c. 1645-?)

`All you that are to mirth Inclin'd'

`PHILO-PHILIPPA' (fl. 1667)

To the Excellent Orinda

FRANCES BOOTHBY (fl. 1669-70)

To my most honord Cosen, Mrs Somerset on the unjust censure past upon my poore Marcelia

ELIZABETH POLWHELE (1651-?1691)

Song

On his Royal Highness His Expedition against the Dutch

Mrs E. P.

ELIZABETH HINCKS (fl. 1671)

Something about Silence

Some more Scruples clear'd

MARY MOLLINEUX (nee SOUTHWORTH) (1651-95)

`Esuriens agnis quantum concedet in agris'/ `Even what the hungry Wolf in Field would do'

In a Letter dated the 9th of the Twelfth Month, 1691, she sent to me in Prison these lines, viz

Meditations on Persecution

JULEA PALMER (fl. 1671-3)

78 The fruit of sin, or a lamentation for england

MARY ENGLISH (1652?-1694)

`May I with Mary choose the better part'

MAREY WALLER, later MORE (fl. 1674)

To; Oxon

EPHELIA (before 1678-after 1681)

To Madam Bhen

Song

To one that asked me why I lov'd J.G.

Advice to his Grace

JANE BARKER (1652-1732)

On the Death of my Dear Friend and Play-Fellow Mrs. E. D. having dream'd the night before I heard thereof that I had lost a Pearl

Necessity of Fate

To Dame---Augustin nun on her curious gum-work

MARY ADAMS (fl. 1676)

`Oh London I once more to thee do speak'

KATHERINE COLYEAR (COUNTESS OF DORCHESTER), nee SEDLEY (1657-1717)

`As Frazier one night at her Post in the Drawing Room stood'

MARGARET, LADY GODOLPHIN, nee BLAGGE (1652-1678)

Song

AMY HAMMOND (nee BROWNE) (?-1693)

Verses by my mother in her own hand

ANONYMOUS IRISHWOMAN

`Ni binn do thorann lem thaoibh'/ `Ugly your uproar at my side'

MARY, LADY CHUDLEIGH (nee LEE) (1656-1710)

To Almystrea

ANNE WENTWORTH (fl. 1676-1679)

Revelation V, October 8

Revelation VIII, March 31

ANNE WHARTON (nee LEE) (1659-1685)

A Song

My Fate

DAMARIS, LADY MASHAM (nee CUDWORTH) (1659-1708)

The Irreconcilable

On Damons Loveing of Clora

SILEAS NA CEAPHAICH (SILEAS MACDONALD) (c. 1660-c.1729)

Comhradh Ris a' Bhas/ A Conversation with Death

ANNE KILLIGREW (1660-1685)

Upon the saying that my Verses were made by another

On the Birth-Day of Queen Katherine

ANNE FINCH (nee KINGSMILL), COUNTESS OF WINCHELSEA (1661-1720)

The Introduction

A Letter to Daphnis

Cæsar and Brutus

An Epistle from Alexander to Hephaestion in His Sickness

ELIZABETH BRADFORD (nee SOWLE) (1663?-1731)

To the Reader, in Vindication of this Book

`A YOUNG LADY' (fl. 1683)

The Emulation. A Pindarick Ode

ANONYMOUS SAMPLER VERSE (late 17th cent.)

`When I was young I little Thought'

A LADY OF QUALITY (before 1685)

Verses Made by Sappho, done from the Greek by Boyleau, and from the French by a Lady of Quality

LADY WYTHENS, nee ELIZABETH TAYLOR, later COLEPEPER (before 1670-1708)

Off the Dutchesse made by Mrs Taylor

To Mertill, who desird her to speak to Clorinda of his Love

BARBARA MACKAYA, LADY SCOURIE (fl. 1660s/70s)

from The Song of Solomon in verse

MARY EVELYN (1665-1685)

A Voyage to Marryland: or, the Ladies Dressing-Room

LADY GRISELL BAILLIE (nee HUME) (1665-1746)

Were ne my Hearts light I wad Dye

MARY PIX (nee GRIFFITH) (1666-before 1709)

To Mrs. Manley, upon her Tragedy call'd The Royal Mischief

To Mrs S. F. on her Poems

MARY ASTELL (1666-1731)

In emulation of Mr Cowleys Poem call'd the Motto page I

ALICAI D'ANVERS (nee CLARKE) (1668-1725)

A True Relation of their Practice at Oxford Town when there an ACT is

A LADY (fl. 1688)

A Pindarick to Mrs Behn on her Poem on the Coronation, Written by a Lady

ANNE FYCHAN (fl. 1688)

I'r saith esgob/ On the seven bishops

CLEONE (fl. 1688)

To Mrs B. from a Lady who had a desire to see her, and who complains on the ingratitude of her fugitive Lover

A YOUNG LADY OF QUALITY (fl. 1688)

An Elegy Upon the Death of Mrs. A. Behn; the incomparable Astrea

SARAH FIELD (nee FYGE, later EGERTON) (1670-1723)

The Liberty

To Orabella, Marry'd to an old Man

On my Wedding Day

DELARIVIERE MANLEY (c. 1670/s-1724)

Prologue, Spoken

Mr. Horden

To the Author of Agnes de Castro

Song and Musick

Mr. Eccles

Sung

Mrs. Leveridge

LADY SARAH PIERS (nee ROYDON) (c. 1670-before 1720)

To my much Esteemed Friend on her Play call'd Fatal-Friendship

A YOUNG LADY (fl. 1691)

Maria to Henric

BATHSHEBA BOWERS (1672?-1718)

Rev. xxii, v 17

ANNE MORCOTT (fl. 1692)

The Loyal English Man's Wish for the Preservation of the King and Queen

ELIZABETH TIPPER (fl. 1693-8)

Some Experimental Passages of my Life, with Reflections upon Jacob's Words, Few and Evil have the days of the years of my Life been

To a Young Lady that Desired a Verse of My Being Servant One Day, and Mistress Another

ELIZABETH ROWE (nee SINGER) (1674-1737)

To a very Young Gentleman at a Dancing-School

The Reflection

ELIZABETH THOMAS (1675-1731)

The Dream, An Epistle to Mr Dryden

To Almystrea on her Divine Works

ANGHARAD PRITCHARD (nee James) (1677-1749)

Ymddiddan rhwng Dwy Chwaer un yn Dewis Gwer oedrannus; ar Ilall yn Dewis Leuaingctydd, iw canu ar fedle fawr/ A Conversation between two sisters, one choosing an aged man, and the other choosing a youth, to be sung to the great medley

CATHARINE COCKBURN (nee TROTTER) (1679-1749)

Verses sent to Mr Bevil Higgons, On his Sickness and recovery from the Small-pox, in the Year 1693

To Mrs. Manley. By the Author of Agnes de Castro

MARGARET MAULE, COUNTESS OF PANMURE, nee DOUGLAS, (c. 1667-1731)

`Now let us unto some fair Medow goe'

AMEY HAYWARD (fl. 1699)

A Spiritual Mediation upon a Bee

ANONYMOUS (`A LADY OF HONOUR') (fl. 1699)

The Golden Island or the Darian Song. In commendation of All Concerned in that Noble Enterprise Of the Valiant Scots, by a Lady of Honour

ANN MERRYWEATHER (d. after 1702)

`The Prince who said an English Senate can'

Sources and Notes

Index of Titles and First Lines

Index of Authors