Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

John Lyly, Shakespeare's forerunner in English comedy, wrote eight highly individual plays. This study of the plays, with each chapter devoted to a different play, concentrates on the courtly aspects of Lyly's work - he wrote all but one of his plays for court performance. In particular, it examines the relationship of Lylian drama to royal panegyric, a kind of writing which he did much to establish. However, the plays also present a parody of panegyric, and thus might also be said to have a counter-courtly aspect.