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Updated: June 14, 2025
Though the work was taken up idly as a summer's pastime, it became immensely popular and was imitated by a hundred poets. The Apologie for Poetrie , generally called the Defense of Poesie, appeared in answer to a pamphlet by Stephen Gosson called The School of Abuse , in which the poetry of the age and its unbridled pleasure were denounced with Puritan thoroughness and conviction.
As Sir Philip Sidney, Spenser's friend, says: "Do they not know that a tragedy is tied to the laws of Poesie and not of History, not bound to follow the story, but, having liberty, either to fain a quite new matter, or to frame the history to the most tragical convenience?"* *Sidney, Apologie for Poetrie.
It was during the ten years preceding the publication of Webbe's Discourse that this controversy seems to have been hottest. From the first, perhaps, it bulked more largely with the critics than with the poets themselves. Gosson's School of Abuse, 1579. Webbe's Discourse of English Poetrie, 1586. Puttenham's Arte of English Poesie, 1589. Harington's Apologie of Poetrie, 1591.
It recalls the Phadrus and the Ion; it anticipates the utterance of a still more kindred spirit, the Defence of Poetry by Shelley. Philosopher as he was, Sidney arranges his thoughts in the loose order of the poet or the orator. It may be well, therefore, to give a brief sketch of his argument; and to do so without much regard to the arrangement of the Apologie itself.
Take only a single jurisdiction, that of the Dean of York's Peculiar, between the years 1592-1601, and a number will be found. Cosen, An Apologie, etc., 64. As has been above stated, an excommunicate could not attend service. P. 47 supra. According to 23 Eliz. c. i, sec. 4 and sec. 6. See A.P.C., xiii, 271-2 . Cardwell, Doc. P. 19, note 33, supra. Hale, Crim.
Later critics can hardly be said to have yet filled out the design that he laid. They have certainly not gone beyond it. The Apologie was probably written about 1580; Gosson's pamphlet, which clearly suggested it, having appeared in 1579. Nothing need here be added to what has been said in the Introduction.
"I am sensible I have troubled your Lordship with a very long letter, which I should be ashamed of, were I myself singly concerned; but where the honour of the King's Government is touched, I need make no apologie, and I shall only beg leave to add, that I am, with great respect, and truth, "My Lord, "yr. Lords most humble and obedient servant, "MONTROSE" "Chappellarroch, Nov. 19th, 1716.
"I am sensible I have troubled your Lordship with a very long letter, which I should be ashamed of, were I myself singly concerned; but where the honour of the King's Government is touched, I need make no apologie, and I shall only beg leave to add, that I am, with great respect, and truth, "My Lord, "yr. Lords. most humble and obedient servant, "MONTROSE" "Chappellarroch, Nov. 19th, 1716.
While in the meantime two Armies fly in, represented with four swords and bucklers, and then what hard heart will not receive it for a pitched field!"* *An Apologie for Poetrie, published 1595. If the actors of the Elizabethan time had no scenery they made up for the lack of it by splendid and gorgeous dressing. But it was the dressing of the day.
James I. entered the lists with a book entitled /Apologie for the Oath of Allegiance/, in which he sought to meet the reasons contained in the papal documents and in the letters of Father Persons and Cardinal Bellarmine.
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