The following Introductory Notes on Henry Peacham's Minerva Britanna were written by the students of the Middlebury College first-year seminar, Emblem Literature, Fall 2001. All copyrights reserved by the authors.
- About Henry Peacham
- On the Dedication
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Peacham dedicates Minerva Britanna with a praising letter to Prince Henry, hoping that he would accept the emblem book. He deeply respects the king, and addresses his letter to "the right high and mighty Henry, eldest son of our sovereign Lord the king, Prince of Wales, and knight of the most noble order of the garter." This is his first reference of giving him a godly status. He asks to bring his book up to "the Altar of your gracious acceptance" and "most religiously owes unto your highness." In this era there was no separation between church and state, and it was commonly believed that royalty had received "divine instructions." The royalty was believed to have a right or mandate from the God's that guided them in their rulings. Peacham goes on to flatter the prince by saying, "princely and generous inclination, to all good learning and excellency."
The Aeneid is mentioned to describe how the Basilicon Doron assisted Peacham. He says just as Aeneas was guided by the golden branch in his journey, the Basilicon Doron aided him. He tells the prince that his work was "royally descended" from the book, although he "newly invented" some emblems from other collections.
He also writes to the king about his new style of emblem writing, which is "tying my invention to no one subject." This emblem book will consist of a "variety" of emblems that will be "intermixed one with the other in one entire volume."
He finishes his letter by saying that he knows Henry "already knows whatsoever he might speak of" in his book, but he is giving it to him for "your gracious view and protection." He wishes God would bless him "with the finest gifts of his grace, and knowledge." He closes his letter, "To your highness, the most affectionately devoted in all duty and service."
As Bath points out, "the book appeared at a significant moment, dedicated to Prince Henry who was to later die that very year, 1612." The book gained popularity as people mourned Henry's death, and looked to Peacham as "a faithful representative of the cultural aspirations surrounding the Henrican court…".
--Scott McDonald
- On Basilicon Doron
- Peacham's Emblematic Method
- On Peacham's Personifications
- On Peacham's Imprese
- On "The Author's Conclusion"
