Overview
Tottel's Miscellany, formally titled Songes and Sonettes, is a printed anthology of English poetry first issued in 1557 by the London publisher Richard Tottel. It is recognized as the earliest substantial collection of secular English poetry printed in the Tudor period and is notable for introducing the sonnet form and the English (or Shakespearean) sonnet structure to a broad readership.
Publication History
- First edition (1557): Printed by Richard Tottel for John Bynne, the initial volume comprised 124 poems, most of which were sonnets, songs, and narrative verses.
- Second edition (1565): An expanded edition added 27 poems, bringing the total to 151. Subsequent re‑printings appeared in 1584, 1589, 1590, and 1592.
The 1557 edition was printed on relatively inexpensive paper, facilitating its distribution beyond elite literary circles. The 1565 edition incorporated additional material and minor revisions, reflecting the anthology's popularity.
Contents and Authors
The miscellany assembles works by several prominent mid‑16th‑century poets, including:
| Poet | Approximate Number of Poems | Notable Works |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–1542) | 35 | “Whoso List’ning,” “They Flee from Me” |
| Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517–1547) | 23 | “Anson, When in the Night,” “O, I of Unknown Memory” |
| Nicholas Grimald (c.1515–1550) | 12 | “A Sable Countenance” |
| Thomas (or Thomas) Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (c.1536–1555) | 2 | “My Lamentable Saying” |
| Anonymous and lesser‑known writers | Remaining poems | Various love songs, moral verses, and occasional pieces |
The anthology also includes a few poems attributed to the poet Sir John Davies and to “Sir Thomas Wyatt” (the same figure as above). The authorship of some pieces remains uncertain, as attributions were sometimes added in later editions without documentary verification.
Form and Style
Most poems are sonnets, employing the Italian (Petrarchan) rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDE CDE) or the emerging English sonnet pattern (ABAB CDCD EF EF GG). The collection also contains songs in stanzaic forms, lyrical verses, and occasional longer narrative poems. The language reflects the transitional stage between Middle and Early Modern English, showcasing early use of iambic pentameter and rhyme.
Historical Significance
- Introduction of the Sonnet: Tottel's Miscellany played a pivotal role in popularising the sonnet in England, influencing poets such as Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, and later William Shakespeare.
- Literary Canon Formation: By selecting works from Wyatt and Surrey, the anthology contributed to the establishment of these figures as foundational to English Renaissance poetry.
- Cultural Impact: The collection's accessibility helped disseminate Renaissance poetic forms beyond the court and scholarly milieus, informing the tastes of the emerging middle class.
Editions and Scholarship
Modern critical editions include:
- R. H. Higham (ed.), The First Edition of Tottel’s Miscellany (Oxford, 1972) – a facsimile and transcript of the 1557 printing.
- J. M. E. Fisher (ed.), Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey: The Poems in Tottel’s Miscellany (Oxford University Press, 2009) – a scholarly edition with comprehensive annotations.
These editions have facilitated textual analysis, metrical study, and historical research on Tudor poetry.
Legacy
Tottel's Miscellany remains a vital primary source for scholars of early modern English literature. Its influence is evident in the stylistic developments of the Elizabethan sonnet sequence and in the broader trajectory of English poetic tradition.