philip sidney historisch

philipsidney

knight, courtier, gentleman

Sir

(1554 – 1587)

Text

Michiel Haans

EditingPeter Cornet

Ellen de Man Lapidoth

DesignFrederik de Wal

© Copyright Philip Sidney, 2014All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, stored in a

computer data file or published, in any form or manner, whether electronic,

mechanical, photocopied, recorded or any other method, without the prior

written permission of the publisher.

Production and realisationPavlov, Haarlem

www.pavlovpubliceert.nl

Sir PHiLiP SidNEy, by uNkNoWN ArtiSt, C.1576.

PortrAit oF robErt dudLEy, EArL oF LEiCEStEr,

by StEvEN vAN HErWijCk, C.1650.

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philip sidneyknight, courtier, gentleman

foreword

i respeCT & TrUsT Youth&studies (1554–1571)

ii CoUrTesy GrandTouranddiplomatictraining (1572–1581)

iii dediCATion Knightandhusband (1581–1585)

iV inTeGriTy BattleatZutphen&death (1586–1587)

philip sidneya spirit without spot

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philip sidney

foreword

Tempus volat, hora fugit.Timeflies,thehourflees.Andwithitgoesmuchofourcollectivememory.Once-impor-tantandfamouseventsorpeopleareforgottenandcon-signedtothequietcavernsofhistory.LouiseBrookswasworld-famousasanactressinthe1920s,butfewpeoplewill recall her these days. Who still remembers Cleis-thenesofAthens,FrederickIIIorJamesKnox?There’sagoodchance that thenextgenerationwillmorereadilyassociatethenameVanillaIcewithadessertthanwiththerapper from the 1990s. And sometimes history hasbecomedistorted.Oftenallthatremainsisaneventwhicheclipsestheactualindividualandhisdeeds.O.J.Simp-sonbecamemorerenownedforthecourtcasethanforhiscareerasafootballplayerandfilmactor.

Occasionally this ‘historic depreciation’ is unjustified.Certainpeopledeserve to remain in thehistorybooks.PhilipSidneyisjustsuchaperson.Hereandtherequota-tionsbyhimstillflutteraround,andthereisstillaforgot-tenstatue,but intheyear2013thereareveryfewwhoknowthispoetandnoblemanotherthanahandfulofhis-toriansandliteraryacademics.Thingswereonceverydif-

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ferent. In the seventeenth century no fewer than ninereprints(!)weremadeofhisprosework,‘Arcadia’,morethanthecollectedworksofShakespeare.InitspompandcircumstancehisfuneralwasonlysurpassedbythestatefuneralofChurchill in 1965.Anactual cult spranguparoundhimfollowinghisdeathin1587.QueenElizabethissaidtohaveremarkedthatshewouldhavelikedtohavebought back his life ‘with many millions’, and entirebookshelveshavebeenwrittenabouthim.Notsurpris-ingly.SirPhilipwasanexceptionallytalentedman.Adip-lomat,poet,militarymanandaboveall,thearchetypeofthe complete gentleman. ‘The most accomplished noble-manofhistimes’,ashewascalled.Acourtierwithanenormous degree of ambition, who was almost forcedintoMachiavellianchoicesthroughpoliticalintriguesandschemingatcourt,butwhopersistedunshakeablyalonghisowncourse.Amanwhodiedfartooyoungandwhoweshouldcontinuetoremember.

GertDemminkManaging partner Philip Sidney

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‘Theonlydisadvantageofanhonest

heartiscredulity.’

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philip sidney

respeCT & TrUsT

yoUTh & sTUdies (1554 – 1571)

PhilipSidneycamefromanaristocraticbackground.Hewas‘borninsilksheetsandgrewupwithasilverspoon’as biographer Alan Stewart notes so strikingly. On 30November1554,‘onFridaythelastofNovember,beingSt.Andrewsday,aquarterbeforefiveinthemorning’hefirstsawthelightofday,inthesplendidestateofPenhurstinthegreenhillsofKent,thefamilydomainofmotherLadyMaryDudleyandfatherHenrySidney.Thepsalm-bookrecallsthehappyeventandallowsnomisunderstandingofthefactthatthisyoungnoblemanstemmedfromhighbeginnings:

...His godfathers were the great King Philip, King of Spain, and the noble John Russell Earl of Bedford. And his godmother, the most virtuous Lady Jane Duchess of Northumberland his grandmother.[AlanStewart,PhilipSidney,2000]

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ThatSpain’sKingPhilipIIwasnamedashisgodfatherrequiressomehistoricalexplanation.PhilipSidneywasbornduringanextremelyturbulentperiodinEnglishhis-tory.Ayearearlier,in1553,KingEdwarddiedandProtes-tantismhadgainedsomanysupportersinEnglandthattheDukeofNorthumberlandput forwardaProtestantcandidateforthethrone:LadyJaneGrey.HoweverherCatholiccousinMariaTudorwasfarmorelovedbythepeople,andafterjustninedaysJanehadtoabdicate.ShewassucceededbyMary,whose fanaticalstyleofrulingquicklygainedherthepredicate‘Bloody’.Attheendof1553shelaunchedanumberofdrasticmeasurestorein-troduceRomanCatholicismintoEngland.LadyGreyandtheDukewereimprisonedandbeheadedintheTowerofLondon.

However,theDukeofNorthumberlandhadadaughter,MaryDudley.Shewasmarried toSirHenrySidney, anoblemanwhogrewupinthecourtofKingEdward.Hisauntsweretheladies-in-waitingtotheyoungMaryTudor,andperhapsthiswasthereasonSirHenryandhiswifewerenotpunishedforthe‘shameful’behaviourofNorth-umberland.ThecoupleproducedasontheynamedPhil-ip, after the Spanish king, so as to somewhat appeaseMaryandherSpanish followers.The tactic succeeded,becausetheSidneyswerenotpursuedanyfurther.

ThustheyoungPhilipwasabletogrowupwithoutcon-cerns.Hespenthisinitialyearsingilt-edgedlaceclothinginthesplendidPenhurstPlace,afourteenth-centurycas-

PHiLiP ii oF SPAiN, by SoFoNiSbA ANguiSSoLA, AFtEr 1570.

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tlehiddeninthegreenhillssouthofLondon.Thisgigan-ticbuilding,withan18-metre-highhall,madeasignifi-cantimpressiononthenobleinfant.Helaterdescribedthecastleinhisnovel,Arcadia:

The house itself was built of fair and strong stone, not affecting so much any extraordinary kind of fineness, as an honourable representing of firm stateliness; the lights, doors and stairs, rather directed to the use of the guest than to the eye of the artificer, and yet, as the one chiefly heeded, so the other not neglected; each place handsome without curiosity, and homely without loathsomeness, not so dainty as not to be trod on, nor yet slubbered up with good fellowship – all more lasting than beautiful (but that the consideration of the exceeding lastingness made the eye believe it was exceeding beautiful).

WhenPhilipwasjusteighteenmonthsoldhisfather,SirHenry,decidedtocontinuehiscareerinIreland:hispolit-ical position had turned out to be too problematic toremaininEnglandafterall.HebeganworkthereasLordDeputy(atypeofviceroy)andwithhiswifespentmostofhis time in the IrishAthloneCastle.TheyoungPhilipremainedinKentand–likemostnobleyouthsofthattime–wasbroughtupbyservantsandladies-in-waiting.Intheearlyyearsfollowinghisbirthhewasfollowedbythreesisters,whoalldiedyoung.Onlyin1563,whenPhil-ipwasalreadynine,wasabrotherborn:Robert.Attheageof sevenhewasgivenaprivate tutor,who taughthim

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FrenchandLatinandeducatedhimin‘suitablemannersandmorals’,ashisparentswished.

Philipturnedouttobeanindustriousstudent,andeventhoughhisparentsallowedhim‘completefreedom’inhisstudies,hecouldalmostalwaysbefoundwithhisnoseinabook:‘Scarcelywasheunoccupiedatbreakfast,andstillmorerarelyatluncheon.’AttheageofninePhilipwasenrolledasapupilatShrewsburyCollege,foundedin1552,wherethe‘younggentlemen’satattheirdesksfromsixinthemorninguntilsixintheeveningandwheretheironrulesofCalvinapplied,underthewatchfuleyeofrectorThomasAshton.In1561some260boyswereenrolled.OneofthemwasFulkeGreville,whowouldlaterbeknownasLordBrookeandwouldremainPhilip’sbestfriendthroughouthis life.Philip’soldestcousinJamesHarringtonwasalsoapupil.FounderAshtonwashappywiththearrivaloftheseyoungaristocrats.Theschoolreg-istergoesintogreatdetailaboutthenobleoriginsofFulkeandSidney.Hardlysurprising,giventhattheyputwhathadbeenafairlyunknowncountryschooluptothattime,onthenationalmap.

Shrewsbury changed Philip’s life. Suddenly he foundhimself not among lackeys and ladies-in-waiting, butamongcontemporaries.HereadproseandpoetryfromthegreatLatinandGreekwriters.AlongsideCalvin’scat-echismhelearnedFrenchandtherulesofrhetoricandpoeticart.Therewasalsotheatre:thepupilsperformed

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classicplayseveryyearwhichattractedmanyvisitors.Ofcourse suchaneliteupbringingdoesn’t comecheaply.Philip’s personal servant Thomas Marshall kept a log-book,showingexactlywhatmoneywasbeingspenton:

– Washing the linen of Philip and his companions, 3s 4d– Wiping and making clean their boots, 6d– Item, upon Monday the 10th day for the mending of the lock of Mr Philip’s coffer, and for an iron bolt for his chamber door, 12d. – Item, upon Thursday the 13th day for black silk buttons 8d, for quills 2d, for a black silk lace 2d– Item, for a pen and inkhorn and sealing-wax, 6d. – Item, for two quire of paper for example-books, phrases and sentences in Latin and French, 8d. – Item, for mending a glass window in his chamber, 4d.

The money for all this came, naturally, from Philip’sfather: ‘Sums of money received by me, Thomas Mar-shall,yourLordship’shumbleservant,totheuseofmyyoungmasterMrPhilipSidneyinmycaresinceyourhon-our’sdeparturewithmyLadyfromWestchestertowardsIreland,namelyMondaythe3rdofDecember,1565’.InthatyearPhilip’sfatherleftforIreland.Hewrotealettertohisyoungsonin1566,thankinghimfortwoearlierlet-ters in Latin and French, and pointing out to him theimportanceofgratitude,piety,obedienceandcourtesy.‘Thinkuponeverywordthatyouwillspeakbeforeyouutterit,andrememberhownaturehathrampartedup,asitwere,thetonguewithteeth,lips–yea,andhairwithout

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[outside]thelips,andallbetokeningreinsandbridlesforthe looseuseof thatmember.Aboveall things, tellnountruth;no,notintrifles.’InthatsameyearthepursehadtobedippedintomoredeeplyforatriptoOxford.Equippedwithnew‘doublets,breeches,coatsandshoesmadeofdamask,velvet, silkandsatininavarietyofcoloursandfinishedinsilverandgoldedging’,PhiliptravelledtoOxfordunderthesupervi-sionoftherector,theretoattendwithhisuncleRobertDudley(therenownedEarlofLeicester)theceremonialentryofElizabeth.The‘mostsereneprincess’enteredthecityinanopentriumphalcarriage,precededbyaretinueof registrars and high functionaries, dressed in scarletandgoldandanerminecloak.Itmustallhavemadeanenormousimpressiononhim.Equippedwithanewsad-dleandasuitcaseembossedwiththefamilycrestoftheDudleys,herodebackhomewards.

In 1568, on his thirteenth birthday, Philip establishedhimselfdefinitivelyinOxford,whereheattendedChristChurchCollege.HisuncleensuredthathewouldcomeunderthewingoftutorThomasCooper,theProtestantdeanthere.His‘reader’wasThomasThornton,theologi-anandlaterVice-ChancellorofOxford,laterpraisedful-somelybySidney.Thefeelingwasinfactmutual:Thorn-tonwasinturnextremelygratefultoPhilip,becausehis‘unaccustomedmannerofwriting’ensuredthatThorn-tonobtainedgoodreferencesforapostascanoninChristChurch.ThiswasPhilip’sfirstappearanceasadiplomat.

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IntheintellectualworldofOxfordPhilipestablishedcon-tactswhichwoulddeterminetherestofhiscareer.HegottoknowtheCatholicmathematicianThomasAllen,thehistorian Philip Camden (author of Britannia, the firstbook on the history of England), the explorer WalterRaleighandEdmundSpenser,poetofthefamousFaerie Queene.

Philip’sstayinOxfordwasinterruptedsuddenlyinApril1571whenplaguebrokeoutandthecampuswasclosedfor a year. Perhaps Sidney was also ill for some time,becauseanOxfordlogbookofthetimementions£38paid‘forexpensesofMrPhilipSidney,intimeofsicknessatReading, and other’. Whatever the case, educating theyoungSidneywascompletedin1571.Withoutanacadem-ic degree, to be sure, but this made little difference toyouthsofnobleorigin,andcertainlynottoSidney,whohadalreadyprovedhimselfentirelyinthreeyears: ‘norcouldhistutorspourinsofastashewasreadytoreceive,’accordingtoacontemporary.Philipwasreadyforthenextstepinhislife:joiningtheflourishingculturalworldatthecourtofElizabethI.

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leave me, o love, which reachest but to dust

Leaveme,OLove,whichreachestbuttodust;Andthou,mymind,aspiretohigherthings;Growrichinthatwhichnevertakethrust;Whateverfadesbutfadingpleasurebrings.DrawinthybeamsandhumbleallthymightTothatsweetyokewherelastingfreedomsbe;Whichbreaksthecloudsandopensforththelight,Thatbothdothshineandgiveussighttosee.Otakefasthold;letthatlightbethyguideInthissmallcoursewhichbirthdrawsouttodeath,Andthinkhowevilbecomethhimtoslide,Whoseekethheav’n,andcomesofheav’nlybreath.Thenfarewell,world;thyuttermostIsee:EternalLove,maintainthylifeinme.

From: Certain Sonnets

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‘Ohthatgoodgentleman,

havemecommendeduntohim.’

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CoUrTesy

GrAnd ToUr And diplomATiC TrAininG

(1572 – 1581)

AttheendofthesixteenthcenturyitwascustomaryinEnglandthatafter theireducation,youngmenofgoodupbringingwouldundertakeanextendedjourneyacrosstheEuropeancontinent:theGrand Tour.Heretheywouldoften follow a regular route past all the major culturalattractions,becomingacquaintedwithothercultures,lan-guagesandcustoms.Suchagrandtourwasalsoasensi-blewayforparentstolettheirsonssowtheirwildoatsfarfrom home while also preparing them for their futurecareers.

PhilipSidneyundertooksuchagrandtourin1572.Armedwith a letter from his uncle Leicester for the BritishAmbassador in France, Philip arrived on the Frenchmainlandin1572.HisfirstdestinationwasParis,wherehestayedforthreemonthsandmet,amongothers,LouisofNassau,brotherofWilliamofOrange.Fromthehome

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oftheEnglishAmbassadorhewitnessedtheSt.Bartho-lomew’sDaymassacre,thewholesaleslaughterofFrenchProtestants,wheresome20,000Huguenotsweremas-sacredunderthesupervisoryeyeoftheking.ItmadeahugeimpressiononhislaterviewsonCatholicism.ThehomefrontbackinEnglandwasnaturallyveryconcernedaboutthisdangeroussituation,butPhiliphadalreadyleft.Togetherwiththe55-year-oldHubertLanguet,areformeddiplomat, he crossed the Rhine, to spend the summermonthstogetherinFrankfurt,StrasbourgandVienna.Aclosefriendshipdevelopedbetweenthetwo,andwouldlast until Languet’s death in 1581. Languet introducedPhiliptoseveralheadsofstateanddiplomats,andwhenPhilipagaindeparted intheautumntheycontinuedtoconductanintensecorrespondence,keepingeachotherabreast of philosophical, religious and political issues.The‘Dutchissue’wasalsomentionedinalmosteverylet-ter:LanguetkeptinsistingthatthestruggleagainsttheSpanish occupiers was also an English issue. SidneycountedonavictoryforOrange:‘AsfarastheDutchareconcerned, truly I cannot see how it could go better.Becauseeventhoughthathighlybeautifulcountryisinflames,oneshouldconsiderthattheSpaniardswillnotbeable tobedrivenoutwithout sucha conflagration,’hewrotetoLanguetfromVenice.

QuEEN ELizAbEtH i oF ENgLANd

iN HEr CoroNAtioN robES , C .1600.

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AfterashortstayinCracow,PragueandatripthroughHungary,SidneytravelledontoItaly.Becauseofallthe‘spiritual dangers’ Languet had impressed on him, hedecidedtobypassRomeandtotravelontoVeniceandPadua,whereheimmersedhimselffurtherinAristotleandthemajorRomanandItalianwriters.HealsomadehimselffamiliarwithItalianandSpanish,whichwouldlaterstandhimingoodsteadinhisdiplomaticpositions.Back in Venice he had his portrait painted by PaoloVeronese,givingitlatertoLanguetduringashortvisittoVienna.In1575heleftAntwerptoreturntoEngland.HisGrandTourhadlastedthreeyears,familiarisinghimwithEurope’s complicated political relationships, new andclassical literary trendsanda varietyof scientificdisci-plines.

Philip’sexpectationsoftheEnglishcourtwerehigh.Hewasconvincedhewascontemplatingabrilliantpoliticalcareergivenhisoriginsandeducation.Butthingsturnedoutdifferently:intheinitialyearshisactivitiescomprisedmainly ceremonial duties and a representative role.TogetherwithhisparentsandhissisterMaryhepartici-patedinoneofthefirstroyaltoursbyElizabeth,theRoyalProgressions.Herethequeen,inthecompanyofanenor-mousretinuefromtheroyalcourt,letherselfberegaledby celebrations, musical performances, masquerades,huntsandbear-fightswhichcouldlastweeksandwereunrivalledinscopeandspectacle.

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LittleisknownofPhilip’sexactactivitiesintheseyears.WedoknowthathewenttovisithisfatherinIrelandin1576,accompaniedbytheEarlofEssex,WalterDevereux.Hereheunderwenthisfirstmilitary experience,whenwithhisfatherhewasabletosurroundabandofrebelsinDublin.Thesewerelong,rigorousjourneysintheunwel-coming Irish nation and it was miles away from thedreamshehadentertainedasachildinPenhurstPlace,ofheroic campaigns and glorious chivalrous conquests.During his Irish stay the Earl of Essex became ill andexpressed the wish on his deathbed that Philip wouldmarryhisdaughterPenelope,butforanunknownreasonthiswishwasnotfulfilled.Philipjourneyedbacktothecourt.PenelopewouldinspirehimintheguiseofStellainhissonnetcycle,Astrophel and Stella.

InMay1577Sidneydepartedagainforthecontinent,thistimeforhisfirstdiplomaticmission,inthecompanyofhisfriendsFulkeGrevilleandEdwardDyer.Officiallytheassignment was to convey condolences to the GermanEmperoronthedeathofhisfather,butinrealityitwastoassessthepoliticalsituationonthemainlandforEliza-beth. She was in a delicate position between CatholicSpainononesideandtheProtestantnorthernstateslikethe Netherlands on the other. She wanted to remainfriendlywithboth,inthiswaysecuringEngland’sposi-tion.ItbecameadifficulttaskforPhilip,whopresentedhimselfeverywhereasanactualprince,nephewof theEarlsofLeicesterandWarwickandsonoftheIrishvice-roy.HefirstvisitedSpanishGovernorDonJuan(known

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particularly for his arrogance), who was immediatelyimpressedby ‘thatbraveandhigh-mindedPrince’.Hethen continued on to Heidelberg, where the Electorunfortunately appeared to be largely uninterested in atypeofProtestantalliance.Thenheundertookamaterni-ty visit to the Netherlands, and met Prince William ofOrangeinMiddelburg,alongwithCharlottedeBourbonandPhilipsofMarnix,LordofSaint-Aldegonde(mayorofAntwerp,WilliamofOrange’sright-handandtheproba-bleauthoroftheDutchnationalanthem).Thingsclickedimmediately between Philip and the prince, who latercomplimentedtheEnglishqueenon‘oneoftheripestandgreatest counsellors of Estate that at this day lived inEurope’andsuggestedsheshouldquicklypromotePhiliptoahigherposition.Therewasalsodiscussionofapossi-blemarriagebetweenPhilipandMarieofNassau,theold-estdaughterofthePrinceofOrange.Thiswouldstrength-en the relationship between both countries, while alsoopening the way for an administrative position (vice-regent)forPhilipintheNetherlands.InalettertoEliza-beth,WilliamofOrangeraised the ideaofanEnglish-Dutch alliance, where Elizabeth would gain ports inHollandandZeeland,inreturnforEnglishportsbeingclosedtoSpanishships.

WiLLiAM i (1533-1584) , PriNCE oF orANgE, CALLEd WiLLiAM

tHE SiLENt, by AdriAEN tHoMASz. kEy , C .1570.

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BackinEnglanditturnedoutthattheplansforaProtes-tantAlliancewerenotreallyabletogetofftheground.ElizabethfeltthepoweroftheDutchrebelstobetoogreat,anddecidedtobecomeengagedtoFrancisofAnjou,theCatholicDukeofAlençon(‘mylittlefrog’)whowas22yearsherjunior,restoringthebalancebetweenHugue-notsandCatholics.Avisitfollowedbythedukeandhisretinue.Asalways,Sidneywaslaudatoryabouthisbelov-edqueenandwrote:

Like sparkling gems her virtue draws the sightAnd in her conduct she is always brightWhen she imparts her thoughts, her words have forceAnd sense and wisdom flow in sweet discourse.

Philipwaslesslaudatoryabouttheduke’sstay,andhisbetrothaltoElizabeth.Afewmonthslater,attheendof1580, he wrote a subtle letter (probably partially at therequestofagroupoffellowCalvinistswhowereagainstanypossiblemarriage),pointingouttoherthedangersofherproposedmarriage.Philippointedouttheduke’soriginsandhis involvementintheviciousslaughteroftheHuguenotsearlierinFrance.ToasignificantextentAnjou’smotherCatharinewasresponsibleforthenotori-ousSt.Bartholomew’sNightin1572,alowpointinthecontinent’sreligiousquarrels.

Sidneymadenofriendswithhiscourteousbutextreme-lysincereletter.AnexchangeofwordswiththeEarlofOxford,theinitiatoroftheweddingplan,almostledtoa

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duelwhichwasonlyavoidedattheverylastminute.TheengagementbetweenAnjouandthequeenwouldeven-tuallycometonothing,buttherelationshipbetweenthequeenandSidneywasupset.Sidneywasmadeinactiveforseveralyears,andinpoliticaltermstheyearsafter1580werequietforthecourtierpoet,givinghimtheopportu-nitytopursuehisliteraryambitionsfurther.

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most feared and beloved, most sweet and gracious sovereign,

Oseekoutexcusesofthismyboldness,andtoarmtheacknowledgingofafaultwithreasonsforit,mightbettershowIknewIdidamiss,thananywaydiminishtheattempt,especiallyinyourjudgment;whobeingabletodiscernlivelyintothenatureofthethingdone,itwerefollytohope,bylayingonbettercolours,tomakeitmoreacceptable.Therefore,carryingnootherolivebranchofintercession,thanthelayingofmyselfatyourfeet;nornootherinsinuation,eitherforattentionorpardon,butthetruevowedsacrificeofunfeignedlove;Iwill,insimpleanddirectterms(ashopingtheyshallonlycometoyourmercifuleyes),setdowntheoverflowingofmymindinthismostimportantmatter,importing,asIthink,thecontinuanceofyoursafety;and,asIknow,thejoysofmylife.Andbecausemywords(Iconfessshallow,butcomingfromthedeepwell-springofmostloyalaffec-tion)havedeliveredtoyourmostgraciousear,whatisthegeneralsumofmytravellingthoughtstherein;Iwillnowbutonlydeclare,whatbethereasonsthatmakemethink,thatthemarriagewithMonsieurwillbeunprofit-ableuntoyou;thenwillIanswertheobjectionofthosefears,whichmightprocuresoviolentarefuge.

Introduction from Sidney’s ‘Letter to Queen Elizabeth’ (1580)

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‘Ifyouneglectyour

work,youwilldislikeit;

ifyoudoitwell,youwill

enjoyit.’

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dediCATion

KniGhT And hUsbAnd (1581 – 1585)

Sidneydrewhisconclusionsfollowinghisexperiencesatcourt.HesettledtemporarilyinWilton,thehomeofhissisterMary,wifeoftheEarlofPembroke.Herehefoundtheidealenvironmentfordevotinghimselffurthertohisliterary occupations. He took great inspiration in thisfrom Mary, who also wrote poetry. At her request hebeganhisbest-knownwork,The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia.Itbecameacomprehensiveworkofprose,withsplendid descriptions of nature and a wide variety ofpoeticforms,inspiredashewasbythegreatGreekandSpanish novelists. In the Arcadia he also deployed anumberofclassicalpoetryforms,whichwasextremelymodernatthetime.Sincethe‘father’ofEnglishlitera-ture,GeoffreyChaucer,littlehadinfactchangedintheartofpoetry.Sidney(again)encounteredhisformerfel-lowstudentEdmundSpenser,whodedicatedhisShep-herd’s Calendar to him. With Spenser and his friendsFulkeGrevilleandEdwardDyer,Sidneyformedasmall

FroNtiSPiECE to ‘tHE CouNtESS oF PEMbrokE’S ArCAdiA’

by Sir PHiLiP SidNEy, 1605.

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literarygroup,calledtheAreopagus,inimitationoftheFrenchPleiadegroup.

ThemostsignificantoccurrencesofSidney’slifefoundtheirwayintohisliteraryworks.InhispoemAstrophel and Stellahe sings thepraisesof theunhappy loveofPenelope,withwhomhecouldhavebeenmarriedhadhesaidyesafewyearsearlierinIreland.Theyear1581prob-ably also saw the publication of his well-known pam-phlet,The Defence of Poesie,infactthefirstworkofliterarycriticisminEnglishhistory.InthisbrilliantargumentSidneysumsupanumberofcriteriahebelievespoetrymustmeet.Theessenceofthepieceisthattheartofpoet-ryistheultimatemediumforachievinggreaterinsightandknowledge–evenmorethanahistoricorphilosoph-icalwork,giventhatitmanagestocombinethefactual-ness of history in an ideal manner with philosophy’sethicalfocus.Despitehisenormousliteraryproductivityintheseyears,forSidney itwasnot literaturebuthispolitical careerwhichheregardedashislife’smainobjective.After1581wealsoseenomoreworksfromhishand.OnNewYear’sDay1581heisbackinthecourt,whereheoffersElizabethanitemofjewellery,‘consistingofasmallwhipsetwithdiamonds and pearls’. Perhaps with this Sidney wasalludingthathewasandalwayswouldbeafaithfulcour-tier.Inanycasethegestureachieveditseffect:overthefollowingyearshewasvisiblyactiveinanynumberofcommissions,andin1583hewasevenknighted,when

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hetooktheplaceofJohnCasimirofthePalatinate-Sim-mern,whowasmadeaKnightoftheGarter.Forthisman-dateitwasnecessarythatheheldaknighthood.Hisnameandtitlethuschanged,andfromthenonhecouldintro-ducehimselfasSir Philip Sidney of Penhurst.

Thefreshnewknightworkedtirelesslyonmaintaininghisforeigncontacts.HereceivedhisoldfriendsLanguet,CasimirandCharlesdel’Ecluse,andbefriendedthelaw-yerJeanHotman.HealsocameincontactwithGiordanoBruno,aninfluentialItalianphilosopherandoneofthemostenlightenedmindsofthetime.HedevotedhisbookSpaccio de la bestia trionfantetoSidney,andagainSidneywassubjectedtoallmannerofpraise:

‘The Italian likes to talk with someone who can under-stand. The poetry in the book is under the criticism and protection of a poet; the philosophy is nakedly revealed to so clear an intellect as yours; and the heroic matters are directed to an heroic and noble mind, with which you have shown yourself to be endowed.’

Thankstoallhisforeigncontacts,Sidneyreceivedthereq-uisiteoffersandinvitations.DonAntonio,candidateforthe Portuguese crown, invited Sidney to join him inEurope,butElizabethputaspokeintheworks.AnotherplanwasthathewouldleadacolonialenterpriseinAmer-ica,butthistooturnedoutdifferently.AtthattimePhilipwasstillunmarried,andintheyear1580thisnaturallycaused some raised eyebrows. His father, Sir Henry,

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madecontactwithSirFrancisWalsingham,theSecretaryofStateandElizabeth’s‘spymaster’(orheadofthesecretservice).Hisfifteen-year-olddaughterFranceswasinfactavailable.Thissnippetofnewsquicklyspreadthroughthecourtandin1583SidneymarriedFrancesWalsingham,theCountessofEssexandClanricarde.

Sidney did however remain involved in the Americaplans. In parliament, where he represented Kent, hearguedwithgreatconvictionforanexpeditionbyWalterRaleightoAmerica.SidneywasconvincedthatEnglandcouldaffectCatholicSpainthemostbyeliminatingthatcountry’shelpontheothersideoftheocean.Heproposedalarge-scalenavaloperation,withafleetledbyFrancisDrake.TheproblemwasthatDrakehadverylittleinclina-tiontosharecommandwithSidney,andatthetimeSid-neywas toreceiveaPortuguesedelegation,hesecretlyinformedthequeen.Shepreferredtohavehercourtierclosertohome.SheappointedhimGovernorofVlissin-gen/FlushingandGeneralofthecavalry,apositionSid-neyhad always coveted.On 16November 1586he leftEnglandinthecompanyofhisbrotherRobertandsettledwithhiswife andnew-borndaughterElizabethatFortRammekens,WesternEurope’soldestfort.

TheNetherlandswasinchaos.TheEnglishsoldiershadnotbeenpaidforages,werebarelytrainedandwerepoor-lyarmed.ThepoliticalsituationintheNetherlandswasalsoextremelytense.IntheirstruggleagainsttheSpanishthedesperateprovinceshadlongsoughtanewgovernor,

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aftercontactswiththeDukeofAnjouturnedintoafiasco.SomecontactshadalreadybeenestablishedbetweenEng-landandtheNetherlands, inwhichithadbeenagreedthatElizabethwouldsendreinforcementtroops,againstthesuretyofthecitiesofVlissingen/Flushing,DenBriel/BrillandFortRammekens.On17August1585thesitua-tionescalatedwhenAntwerpfelltotheSpanish,raisingtensionstoapeak.IngreathastetheTreatyofNonsuchwassigned,whereEnglandreceivedthe‘surety’citiesandsentfivethousandsoldierstotheNetherlandstosupportthe government troops, with Robert Dudley, Earl ofLeicester, in command. His entry into Vlissingen fol-lowedin1586,commandingmorethanahundredships,twohundredlordsandgentlemenofficers,withservants,pages,lackeys,kitchenstaff,clergymen,musiciansandactors. Prince Maurice and Sidney welcomed the Earl.Receptions followed in Middelburg, Dordrecht, Rotter-dam,DelftandLeiden,wheretheretinuewastreatedtofireworks, triumphal arches, speeches, eulogies andgiganticfeasts.

Butthegaietyoftheentranceswasshort-lived.LeicesterofferednoresistancewhatsoevertotheDutchwelcomes,allowinghimselftoassumefartooimportantapositionwiththeDutch.Andthiswasnottheintention:Elizabethhadassignedhimtoworkwithspecificreserveandcare.ThemorepowerwasaccordedtoEnglandofficially,theworseitwouldappeartotheSpanish,withwhomshewasconductingsecretnegotiations.Throughfearofdisgrace,Leicesterattemptedtoshifttheblametoothers.

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philip sidney

These developments were difficult for Sidney. He alsoencounteredresistancefromtheDutch.WhenLeicesterpromotedhimtoColonelinchargeoftheZeeuwsregi-ment,theDutchcommandersimmediatelysubmittedaprotestagainsttheappointmentofthisinexperiencedfor-eigner. Sidney was happy when he finally saw action.TogetherwithPrinceMauriceheundertookasuccessfulattackagainstthefortressofAxel.Sidneyrewardedthesoldiers who had swum across the moat handsomelyfromhisownpocket.Hebelieved thatpayment to thetroopsleftmuchtobedesired,andthatpartoftheirpaywas deliberately being withheld. He asked Elizabethmanytimetoresolvethis.

1586wasagrimyearforSidney.HisfatherdiedinMay,followed by his mother three months later. Given thetensesituationintheNetherlands,hewasnotpermittedtoreturntoEnglandtowinduptheiraffairsandbidhisfarewell.SidneyneverthelessremainedmotivatedandinSeptember1586hejoinedLeicester’sarmyinArnhemforhisfinalmilitaryoperation.

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AxEL (zEELANd) CoNQuErEd by MAuriCE oF NASSAu, PriNCE oF

orANgE ANd PHLiP SidNEy, 1586, by SiMoN FriSiuS, C.1613.

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ring out your bells

Ringoutyourbells,letmourningshowsbespread;ForLoveisdead–Allloveisdead,infectedWithplagueofdeepdisdain;Worth,asnoughtworth,rejected,AndFaithfairscorndothgain.Fromsoungratefulfancy,Fromsuchafemalefranzy,Fromthemthatusementhus,GoodLord,deliverus!

Weep,neighbours,weep;doyounothearitsaidThatLoveisdead?Hisdeath-bed,peacock’sfolly;Hiswinding-sheetisshame;Hiswill,false-seemingholy;Hissoleexec’tor,blame.Fromsoungratefulfancy,Fromsuchafemalefranzy,Fromthemthatusementhus,GoodLord,deliverus!

43Letdirgebesungandtrentalsrightlyread,ForLoveisdead;SirWronghistombordainethMymistress’marbleheart,Whichepitaphcontaineth,“Hereyeswereoncehisdart.”Fromsoungratefulfancy,Fromsuchafemalefranzy,Fromthemthatusementhus,GoodLord,deliverus!

Alas,Ilie,ragehaththiserrorbred;Loveisnotdead;Loveisnotdead,butsleepethInherunmatchedmind,Whereshehiscounselkeepeth,Tillduedesertshefind.Thereforefromsovilefancy,Tocallsuchwitafranzy,WhoLovecantemperthus,GoodLord,deliverus!

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philip sidney

‘Thynecessityisgreaterthan

mine.’

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philip sidney

inTeGriTy

bATTle of ZUTphen & deATh (1586 – 1587)

Thedateis22September1586.Inthedeadofnight,inthethickmistsoftheWarnsveldforest,aSpanishconvoyapproachesZutphen’scitywalls.Theconvoy,ledbyAlfon-soFelicedeAvalos,thefifthMarquisofPescara(whohadalreadyconqueredAntwerp),comprisedsometwothou-sandfusiliers,cavalryandlance-bearers.Theyhadarrivedto relieveZutphen,whichhadbeenbesieged forsomeweeksbyanEnglishcontingentofaround6,000men,ledbyRobertDudley,thefirstEarlofLeicester.PhilipSid-neywasalsoamongthegroup;togetherwithhisbrotherhehadvolunteeredtoliberatethecityfromtheSpaniards.

ThusfartheSpanishconvoyhadnotbeenspottedbyDud-ley and his men. A courier was despatched to quietlyappriseJohanBaptistevanTaxis,theSpanishlieutenantin Zutphen, of the night-time arrival of the reinforce-ments.Taxisdecidedtorideoutofthecitywitharoundathousandsoldiers,toformasinglefrontagainstthehuge

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knight, courtier, gentleman

Englishpresence.Butathousandsetsofarmour,horsesandwagonscreateagreatdealofnoise.Englishscoutswereawokenandmadegreathastetotellthealliedforces.Cavalry and infantry mobilised and surged en massetowardstheenemyhiddeninthefog.

‘There came to my remembrance a vanity wherein I had taken delight, whereof I had not rid myself. It was the Lady Rich. But I rid myself of it, and presently my joy and comfort returned.’

Itwasabloodybattle.CertainlytheEnglishhadthegreat-ernumbers,butbecamedisorientatedinthemist.TheirSpanishopponentswerebetterpreparedfortheterrainandtheconditions.Butaboveall:moralewaslowamongtheEnglishtroops.EarlierthatyearPhiliphadwrittentohisfatherthatthemenwerecomplainingbitterly.Theyhadwaitedmonthsforpay,andthecourtshouldnotbesurprisediftheysoonlaiddowntheirarms.Thatitwouldcertainlynotbehisfaulthenotedinhisletters:‘Awiseandfaithfulmanshouldneverbeovertakenbyregret,aslongashehasfulfilledhisduty,asitwere,evenifothersshould relinquish theirs.’ Philip regarded himself as asensibleanddecentmanofhisword,whowouldcontinuetodohisdutyasheshouldatalltimes.

Backtotheturmoilinthemist.TheEnglishlosseswereconsiderable,anditlookedasthoughtheSpanishwouldwinthisbattle.Philipconductedachargeatleastthreetimesonhorseback,inthehopeofadvancingthebattlefurtherinthefray.Thistimetheconsequencewasfatal.

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Duringamanoeuvrehisthigh-bonewasshatteredbyabullet.Heavilywounded,hewasconveyedaway.InthisdistressPhilip remained thenoblemanhehadso longbeen–hegaveawoundedsoldierhiswater-bottle,withthewords:‘Thynecessityisgreaterthanmine’.Thisfineexample of magnanimity would become famous; evenmore, this phrase by Philip Sidney became one of themostfamousquotesinEnglishhistory.Philipbelievedthesoldiercravedwatermorethanhedid,thepoetandthecourtier,whoselifehadalwaysbeenintheserviceofoth-ers.OnastretchertheherowascarriedtoArnhem,wherehediedthreeweekslaterasaconsequenceoftraumaticfever,onMonday17October1586attwoo’clockintheafternoon,attheageof32.

VictoryhadgonetotheSpanish–notleastthankstotheappallingmilitaryleadershipbyDudley.HisofficersWil-liamStanleyandRowlandYorkplayedadubiousrole,notonlybysurrenderingtheredoubtinfrontofZutphentotheSpaniards,but lateralsobysquanderingthecityofDeventertotheenemy.Zutphen,Deventerandlargeare-astotheireastcontinuedtobeoccupiedbySpainforfivemoreyears,whentheyfelloncemoretotheUnitedProv-incesfollowingtheSiegeofZutphen,inacampaignledbyPrinceMaurice.

Sidney’sbodywastakenfromArnhemtoVlissingen,andwas carried to England aboard his own ship. He wasburiedamidgreatpompandcircumstanceinSt.Paul’sCathedralon26February 1587.TheEarlsofLeicester,

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Huntingdon,PembrokeandEssextookpartinthecere-mony,andalltheDutchregionswerealsorichlyrepre-sented.Thequeen,LeicesterandmanystatesmenwereinmourningforthegreatestlossithadfallentoEnglandtosuffer.

philip sidney

epiloGUe

PhilipSidneywasheldinhighesteeminvirtuallyallcir-cles,frompoliticaltocultural.Initiallythiswasbecauseofhisliterarywork.NoteverythingSidneywrotehasstoodthetestoftimeintheyear2013,butthemostsuccessfulexamplesofhisworkrightlyestablishhishighrankinthehistoryofEnglishliterature,asoneoftheleadingrepre-sentativesoftheEnglishrenaissance.HisworkandstylewerecontinuedbygreatnameslikeShakespeare,Addi-son,RichardsonandCowper.

AsastatesmanandsoldierSidneydidnotplayaleadingrole,yetitwascertainlyadeterminedone.QueenEliza-bethlethimoccupyasubordinatepositionforaconsider-abletime,butdespitethislimitationhewasabletomakeextremelygooduseofhisdiplomaticskills.Thefranknesswithwhichheexpressedhisopinionssometimesbroughthimintoconflictwiththoseattheheadofthecourt,butSidneycontinuedtoargueforhisbeliefsandpoliticalcon-victions,nomatterhowdifficultthecircumstances.Hisexceptionalvirtuelayinthestrengthofhischaracterandhisuniquegiftas‘thecompletegentleman’.

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Withaswordthoumayestkillthyfather,andwithaswordthoumayestdefendthyprinceandcountry.

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