Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester (1563–1626)

Verse

A crown of sonnets, but unfinished (‘Thogh the most parfet stile kannot attaine’)

A sequence of sonnets numbered ‘11’, ‘2 Sonnet. 12’, ‘3 Sonnet 13’, ‘4 Son: 14’, and ‘5 Son:’, subscribed ‘The rest of the 13 sonnets doth want.’ Croft, pp. 174-81.

*SiR 1

Autograph, with revisions.

In: Autograph volume of poems by Robert Sidney, with his revisions, 46 quarto leaves, in 19th-century black morocco gilt. Written for Sidney' wife, Barbara (née Gamage), but inscribed by him (f. 1r) ‘For the Countess of Pembroke’ (his sister).

Bookplate of Warwick Castle. Tipped-in letter about the MS by W. Blott to H.J. Cooke, 24 January 1848. Item 794 in an unidentified sale catalogue.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 13v-15r.

Elegy 16 (‘Fayrest of Venus greate posteritee’)

Croft, pp. 280-5.

*SiR 2

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 40r-1r.

In another place (‘So when wthout all noyse of mee’)

Croft, pp. 270-1.

*SiR 3

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 37v.

Pastoral 2: Shepherd, Nymph (‘Shepherd, iffaith now say how wel’)

Croft, pp. 140-7.

*SiR 4

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 5r-6v.

Pastoral 7 (‘Lysa sweet Nymph did sit’)

Croft, pp. 198-201.

*SiR 5

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 19v-20r.

Pastoral 8 (‘Shepheard, why doest thow so looke still on mee’)

Croft, pp. 206-9.

*SiR 6

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 21v-2r.

Pastoral 9 (‘Day wch so bright didst shyne, how darck art thow?’)

Croft, pp. 228-31.

*SiR 7

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 27r-v.

Pastoral 14 (‘What a change is this I see’)

Croft, pp. 272-5.

*SiR 8

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 38r-v.

Song 1 (‘O eyes, o lights deuine’)

Croft, pp. 130-3.

*SiR 9

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 2v-3r.

Song 3 (‘Loue not who haue not lou'd’)

Croft, pp. 148-55.

*SiR 10

Autograph, with a revised line.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 7r-8v.

Song 4 (‘My sowle in purest fyre’)

Croft, pp. 166-71.

*SiR 11

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 11v-12v.

Song 5 (‘If those deuotions now noe more’)

Croft, pp. 182-3.

*SiR 12

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 15v.

Song 6 Lady. Pilgrim. (‘Yonder comes a sad pilgrim’)

Croft, pp. 184-95.

*SiR 13

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 16r-18v.

Song 10 (‘Yow whoe fauor doe enioy’)

Croft, pp. 232-5.

*SiR 14

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 28r-v.

Song 11 (‘Thowghts vnto mee so deer’)

Croft, pp. 242-7.

*SiR 15

Autograph, with revisions

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 30v-1v.

Song 12 To a french Tune Ou estes vous allez mes belles amourettes (‘Since now those fayre eyes doe shyne in theyr cleer light’)

Croft, pp. 248-51.

*SiR 16

Autograph, written sideways up the length of the page, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 32r-v.

Song 13 (‘Vpon a wretch, that wastes away’)

Croft, pp. 262-5.

*SiR 17

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 35v-6r.

Song 15 (‘Heauen if any heauen there is’)

Croft, pp. 276-9.

*SiR 18

Autograph, with a line deleted.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 39r-v.

Song 17 (‘The Sun is set, and masked night’)

Croft, pp. 284-5.

*SiR 19

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 41r.

Song 18 (‘How oft sayd I, delaies are death’)

Croft, pp. 286-7.

*SiR 20

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 41v.

Song 19 (‘Sun bee hencefourth from shyning parted’)

Croft, pp. 288-9.

*SiR 21

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 42r.

Song 20 (‘Senses by vniust force banisht’)

Croft, pp. 290-3.

*SiR 22

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, ff. 42v-3r.

Song 21 (‘So did the morning crymson ryse’)

Croft, pp. 294-5.

*SiR 23

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 43v.

Song 22 (‘But alas why do yow nowrish’)

Croft, pp. 296-9.

*SiR 24

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 44r-v.

Song 23 (‘Greefs sent from her whome in my sowle I bless’)

Croft, pp. 300-3.

*SiR 25

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 45r-v.

Song 24 (‘Absence I fled to thee’)

Croft, pp. 304-7.

*SiR 26

Autograph, with two revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 46r-v.

Sonnet 1 (‘Yow purest stars, whose neuer dijng fyres’)

Croft, pp. 128-9.

*SiR 27

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 2r.

Sonnet 2 (‘The pains wch I vncessantly susteine’)

Croft, pp. 134-5.

*SiR 28

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 3v.

Sonnet 3 (‘Beauties born of the heauens, my sowles delight’)

Croft, pp. 136-7.

*SiR 29

Copy in: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 4r.

Sonnet 4 (‘These purest flames, kindled by beauties rare’)

Croft, pp. 138-9.

*SiR 30

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 4v.

Sonnet 5 (‘Of trauailes past oft when I thincking ame’)

Croft, pp. 156-7.

*SiR 31

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 9r.

Sonnet 6 (‘When rest locks vp the treasures of delight’)

Croft, pp. 158-9.

*SiR 32

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 9v.

Sonnet 7 (‘The hardy Captein vnusde to retyre’)

Croft, pp. 160-1.

*SiR 33

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 10r.

Sonnet 8 (‘If that her worth I kowld as wel forget’)

Croft, pp. 162-3.

*SiR 34

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 10v.

Sonnet 9 (‘Oft had I past the ioies and greefs in loue’)

Croft, pp. 164-5.

*SiR 35

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 11r.

Sonnet 10 (‘Shee whoe I serue to wryte did not despyse’)

Croft, pp. 172-3.

*SiR 36

Copy in: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 13r.

Sonnets 11-14

See A crown of sonnets (SiR 1), but unfinished.

Sonnet 15 (‘Yow that haue power to kil, haue wil to saue’)

Croft, pp. 196-7.

*SiR 37

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 19r.

Sonnet 16 (‘Most fayre when first wth pleasd but cursed eyes’)

Croft, pp. 202-3.

*SiR 38

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 20v.

Sonnet 17 (‘The endless Alchymist, wth blinded will’)

Croft, pp. 204-5.

*SiR 39

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 21r.

Sonnet 18 (‘Most faier: The feeld is yowrs: now stay yor hands’)

Croft, pp. 210-11.

*SiR 40

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 22v.

Sonnet 19 (‘When other creatures all each in theyr kinde’)

Croft, pp. 212-13.

*SiR 41

Copy in: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 23r.

Sonnet 20 (‘Shine on fayre stars: giue comfort to these eyes’)

Croft, pp. 214-15.

*SiR 42

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 23v.

Sonnet 21 (‘Alas why say yow I ame ritch? when I’)

Croft, pp. 216-17.

*SiR 43

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 24r.

Sonnet 22 (‘On vnknown shore, wth wether hard destrest’)

Croft, pp. 218-19.

*SiR 44

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 24v.

Sonnet 23 (‘Absence what floods of plaints gainst thee would ryse’)

Croft, pp. 220-1.

*SiR 45

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 25r.

Sonnet 24 (‘Canst thow turn from the haue of thy rest’)

Croft, pp. 222-3.

*SiR 46

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 25v.

Sonnet 25 (‘Yow that take pleasure in yowr cruelty’)

Croft, pp. 224-5.

*SiR 47

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 26r.

Sonnet 26 (‘Ah deerest lims my lifes best ioy and stay’)

Croft, pp. 226-7.

*SiR 48

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

Facsimile of this page in Croft, p. [117].

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 26v.

Sonnet 27 (‘Falshood: how long did I yowr stings endure’)

Croft, pp. 236-7.

*SiR 49

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 29r.

Sonnet 28 (‘Ayre wch about these wanton leaues dost play’)

Croft, pp. 238-9.

*SiR 50

Autograph, with revisions

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 29v.

Sonnet 29 (‘Yowr hate to mee, must needs bee violent’)

Croft, pp. 240-1.

*SiR 51

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 30r.

Sonnet 30 (‘Absence I cannot say thou hyd'st my light’)

Croft, pp. 252-3.

*SiR 52

Autograph, with revisions.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 33r.

Sonnet 31 (‘Forsaken woods, trees wth sharpe storms opprest’)

Croft, pp. 254-5.

*SiR 53

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 33v.

Sonnet 32 (‘All yow fayre minds whome chois or destiny’)

Croft, pp. 256-7.

*SiR 54

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 34r.

Sonnet 33 (‘Fayrest of fayre, on whome the heaues bestow’)

Croft, pp. 258-9.

*SiR 55

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 34v.

Sonnet 34 (‘Wth how wyde iawes would I my poison drinck’)

Croft, pp. 260-1.

*SiR 56

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 35r.

Sonnet 35 (‘Time cruel time how fast pass yow away’)

Croft, pp. 266-7.

*SiR 57

Autograph, with a revision.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 36v.

Translated out of Seneca (‘Yow vnto whome hee that rules sea and land’)

Croft, pp. 270-1.

*SiR 58

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 37v.

Translated out of Spanish (‘Shee whome I loued, and loue shall still’)

Croft, pp. 268-9.

*SiR 59

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 37r.

Vpon a Snufkin (‘Goe happy furres the hands preserue’)

Croft, pp. 268-9.

*SiR 60

Autograph.

In: the MS described under SiR 1.

British Library, Add. MS 58435, f. 37r.

Miscellaneous

Commonplace book

*SiR 61

Autograph commonplace book, on political and historical subjects, under headings, with some additions, including an index, possibly in the hand of the second Earl of Leicester, 754 folio pages (including numerous blanks), in contemporary vellum. c.1613-15.

Among papers of the Sidney family, Viscounts De L'Isle, of Penshurst Place, Ashford, Kent.

Discussed in Robert Shephard, ‘The Political Commonplace Books of Sir Robert Sidney’, Sidney Journal, 21 (2003), 1-30, and in Fred Schurink, ‘Manuscript Commonplace Books, Literature, and Reading in Early Modern England’, HLQ, 73/3 (2010, 453-69 (pp. 457-60).

Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, U1475 Z1/1.

*SiR 62

Autograph commonplace book, on principally genealogical and historical matters, with a few additions possibly in the hand of the second Earl of Leicester, 486 pages (including blanks), partly in ruled columns, in contemporary vellum, with green silk ties. Early 17th century.

Recorded in Robert Shephard, ‘The Political Commonplace Books of Sir Robert Sidney’, Sidney Journal, 21 (2003), 1-30 (p. 2 n).

Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, I1475 Z1/2.

*SiR 63

Autograph commonplace book, on coinage and history, 348 quarto pages (including blanks, plus further blanks at the end), in contemporary vellum. Late 16th-early 17th century.

Among papers of the Sidney family, Viscounts De L'Isle, of Penshurst Place, Ashford, Kent.

Recorded in Robert Shephard, ‘The Political Commonplace Books of Sir Robert Sidney’, Sidney Journal, 21 (2003), 1-30 (p. 2 n).

Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, U1475 Z1/3.

*SiR 64

Autograph commonplace book by Robert Sidney, on political subjects, under some headings, with additions, including an index, possibly in the hand of the second Earl of Leicester, 954 folio pages (including numerous blanks), in contemporary vellum. c.1600.

Among papers of the Sidney family, Viscounts De L'Isle, of Penshurst Place, Ashford, Kent.

Discussed in Robert Shephard, ‘The Political Commonplace Books of Sir Robert Sidney’, Sidney Journal, 21 (2003), 1-30.

Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, U1475 Z1/10.

Liber amicorum

*SiR 65

Robert Sidney's autograph inscription while in Vienna, 11 August 1581. 1581.

In: The liber amicorum of Nicolaus Engelhardt.

This MS recorded in George Gömöri, ‘Inscriptions by Philip and Robert Sidney in Alba Amicorum’, N&Q, 50 (September 2004), 240-2.

Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, MS 18597, f. 70r.

SiR 66

Autograph inscription in Latin by Robert Sidney in the liber amicorum of Gregorius Horváth Stansith, dated 29 March 1580. 1580.

Probably destroyed in World War II. A copy of the MS made by Jenö Abel is in Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Kézirattára, Budapest, Hungary, MS 335/12, entry 3.

This MS recorded in George Gömöri, ‘Inscriptions by Philip and Robert Sidney in Alba Amicorum’, N&Q, 50 (September 2004), 240-2.

Untraced, [Liber amicorum].