“If parhappes some mislike the statelinesse of stile remoued from the rude skill of common eares: I aske help of the learned to defend their learned frendes, the authors of this work.”

Asking cultivated readers to stand up for elevated English style · Preface, The Printer to the Reader, Songes and Sonettes (1557)

• Learning
• Readers
• Style

“It resteth nowe (gentle reder) that thou thinke it not evill doon, to publish, to the honor of the Englishe tong, and for profit of the studious of Englishe eloquence, those workes which the vngentle horders vp of such treasure have heretofore envied thee.”

Justifying print as public service against private hoarding of courtly verse · Preface, The Printer to the Reader, Songes and Sonettes (1557)

• Freedom
• Poetry
• Readers

“That to have well written in verse, yea and in small parcels, deserveth great praise, the works of divers Latines, Italians, and other, do prove sufficiently.”

Defending short lyric as a form worthy of the same honour given to classical and Italian verse · Preface, The Printer to the Reader, Songes and Sonettes (1557)

• Language
• Poetry
• Praise