The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687)

The work compiles brief biographies, bibliographical notes, and excerpts for a wide range of English poets spanning the medieval period to the late seventeenth century. Entries vary in length and method: some reproduce earlier catalogues, while others include original quotations, publication details, and the compiler's judgments about merit. The arrangement is roughly chronological and aims to guide readers through evolving reputations, textual sources, and issues of attribution. An introduction discusses the compiler's sources and methods, and the whole reads as an early popular survey intended for both curious readers and collectors.