Page:New Poems by James I.djvu/17

 with the English poet Constable and with the minor writers of his own court also calls for attention; indeed, so confined to the court was such poetical activity as existed in the period that a full account of the King's literary dealings might almost become a history of "school" poetry in Scotland in the last quarter of the sixteenth century. Later, during his reign in England, though the King's interests were chiefly in other matters, he was still surrounded by a coterie of somewhat amateurishly poetical friends and companions, mostly Scotchmen like Sir William Alexander, Sir David and John Murray, and Sir Robert Ker. Jonson, Donne, Drayton, and other English poets were friendly with the members of this circle, and there is some tangible evidence that changes in literary taste and fashions which were taking place during the reign were affected by court influence. In this connection an effort has been made to gather together such information as is available with regard to the extension of court patronage to men of letters. Accounts of the royal households and similar documents in the Public Records Office and the British Museum, as well as calendars of state papers and reports of the Historical MSS. Commission, have been searched for records of payments or biographical data of any kind. The results of this search are contained in Chapters V and VI of the Introduction.

In the preparation of the book, the writer has placed himself under many obligations, which it is difficult adequately to acknowledge. Gratitude is due especially to the guardians of the British Museum and the Records Office, for hospitality and courtesy which make his studies in London a pleasant memory; to Sir J. Balfour Paul, of Edinburgh,