xii introDuCtion
years after its composition, and the Book of Margery
Kempe (ca. late 14th–early 15th century), a prose spiri-
tual autobiography, was not discovered until 1934.
Printed texts do not necessarily fare much better. For
example, there are a number of sonnet sequences that
exist but have not been edited, updated, or critically
analyzed (e.g., richard linche’s Diella, 1596; William
Percy’s Sonnets to the Fairest Coelia, 1593; William
Smith’s Chloris, 1596). all in all, a great deal of litera-
ture from the pre-1600 era remains to be discovered
and explored. Perhaps this book will provide a glimpse
of the adventure that awaits.