Poor Robin was an English 17th and 18th-century satirical almanac series, appearing as Poor Robin's Almanack from 1663. Other similar writings by the pseudonymous Poor Robin were published later, in America and into the 19th century.
The earliest volume published under the pseudonym of 'Poor Robin' was an almanac calculated from the meridian of Saffron Walden, which is said to have been originally issued in 1661 or 1662. It was taken over by the Stationers' Company, and was continued annually by various hands until 1776. The identity of its original author has been disputed, but is assigned as William Winstanley by Sidney Lee, in the Dictionary of National Biography, who dismisses the claim that Robert Herrick wrote it. He notes the discovery in the parish registers of Saffron Walden for 14 March 1646-7 relating to Robert Winstanley (a nephew of William and a younger brother of Henry Winstanley) but argues that Robert would still have been a boy when the first almanacs were written; a listing for Robert's publications was given by H. Eckroyd Smith.[1][2] On internal grounds, namely the verse style of William Winstanley in his known works, Lee argues for the latter, and mentions a 1667 portrait of William Winstanley with the caption 'Poor Robin,' with verses by Francis Kirkman, in a volume called Poor Robin's Jests, or the Compleat Jester'.
In the Dictionary of National Biography article on Robert Pory, by Joseph Hirst Lupton, it is said that Pory, at the time of the first edition in 1663 archdeacon of Middlesex, had his name taken in vain with the claim that he had licensed the almanac.[3]
Another volume in verse by 'Poor Robin,' in which the tone of John Taylor the water-poet is closely followed, was called Poor Robin's Perambulation from Saffron Walden to London performed this Month of July 1678 (London, 1678,); the doggerel poem deals largely with the alehouses on the road, and Lee assigns it to William Winstanley.[4]
Contentedit
"Poor Robin" established a tradition of parody, reporting the trivial and inconsequential juxtaposed with the serious, in parallel chronologies—set in rhymed couplets—of the "Loyal" and the "Fanatic", which began in 1663 and became Old Poor Robin with the 1777 issue.[5]Poor Robin offered deadpan prognostications of the obvious, and substituted parodic saints' days under the "Fanatic" rubric. From the turn of the 18th century, the satire becomes blunted and wise homilies of prudence take their place. It observes the continued use of cucking stools in 1746.
Further worksedit
Poor Robin's Dreams, commonly called Poor Charity
Other works purporting to be by 'Poor Robin' and attributed to Winstanley or his imitators are:
'Poor Robin's Pathway to Knowledge' (1663, 1685, 1688);
'Poor Robin's Character of France,' 1666;
'The Protestant Almanack,' Cambridge (1669 and following years);
'Speculum Papismi' (1669);
'Poor Robin's Observations upon Whitsun Holidays' (1670);
'Poor Robin's Parley with Dr. Wilde,' 1672, sheet in verse;
'Poor Robin's Character of a Dutchman,' 1672; 'Poor Robin's Collection of Ancient Prophecies,' 1672;
'Poor Robin's Dreams, commonly called Poor Charity' 1674 (sheet with cuts);
'Poor Robin 1677, or a Yea and Nay Almanac,' a burlesque on the quakers (annually continued till 1680);
'Poor Robin's Visions,' 1677;
'Poor Robin's Answer to Mr. Thomas Danson,' 1677;
'Poor Robin's Intelligence Reviv'd,' 1678;
'Four for a Penny,' 1678;
'A Scourge for Poor Robin,' 1678;
'Poor Robin's Prophecy,' 1678;
'Poor Robin's Dream . . . dialogue between . . . Dr. T[onge] and Capt. B[edloe],' 1681;
'The Female Ramblers,' 1683;
'Poor Robin's Hue and Cry after good Housekeeping,' 1687;
'Poor Robin's True Character of a Scold,' 1688 (reprinted at Totham Hall press, 1848);
'Curious Enquiries,' 1688; 'A Hue and Cry after Money,' 1689 (prose and verse);
'Hieroglyphia Sacra Oxoniensis,' 1702, a burlesque on the frontispiece to the Oxford almanac;
'New High Church turned Old Presbyterian,' 1709;
'The Merrie Exploits of Poor Robin, the Merrie Sadler of Walden,' n.d. (Pepysian Collection; reprinted Edinburgh, 1820, and Falkirk, 1822);
poor, robin, english, 17th, 18th, century, satirical, almanac, series, appearing, almanack, from, 1663, other, similar, writings, pseudonymous, were, published, later, america, into, 19th, century, contents, origins, content, further, works, editors, also, not. Poor Robin was an English 17th and 18th century satirical almanac series appearing as Poor Robin s Almanack from 1663 Other similar writings by the pseudonymous Poor Robin were published later in America and into the 19th century Contents 1 Origins 2 Content 3 Further works 4 Editors 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksOrigins editThe earliest volume published under the pseudonym of Poor Robin was an almanac calculated from the meridian of Saffron Walden which is said to have been originally issued in 1661 or 1662 It was taken over by the Stationers Company and was continued annually by various hands until 1776 The identity of its original author has been disputed but is assigned as William Winstanley by Sidney Lee in the Dictionary of National Biography who dismisses the claim that Robert Herrick wrote it He notes the discovery in the parish registers of Saffron Walden for 14 March 1646 7 relating to Robert Winstanley a nephew of William and a younger brother of Henry Winstanley but argues that Robert would still have been a boy when the first almanacs were written a listing for Robert s publications was given by H Eckroyd Smith 1 2 On internal grounds namely the verse style of William Winstanley in his known works Lee argues for the latter and mentions a 1667 portrait of William Winstanley with the caption Poor Robin with verses by Francis Kirkman in a volume called Poor Robin s Jests or the Compleat Jester In the Dictionary of National Biography article on Robert Pory by Joseph Hirst Lupton it is said that Pory at the time of the first edition in 1663 archdeacon of Middlesex had his name taken in vain with the claim that he had licensed the almanac 3 Another volume in verse by Poor Robin in which the tone of John Taylor the water poet is closely followed was called Poor Robin s Perambulation from Saffron Walden to London performed this Month of July 1678 London 1678 the doggerel poem deals largely with the alehouses on the road and Lee assigns it to William Winstanley 4 Content edit Poor Robin established a tradition of parody reporting the trivial and inconsequential juxtaposed with the serious in parallel chronologies set in rhymed couplets of the Loyal and the Fanatic which began in 1663 and became Old Poor Robin with the 1777 issue 5 Poor Robin offered deadpan prognostications of the obvious and substituted parodic saints days under the Fanatic rubric From the turn of the 18th century the satire becomes blunted and wise homilies of prudence take their place It observes the continued use of cucking stools in 1746 Further works edit nbsp Poor Robin s Dreams commonly called Poor CharityOther works purporting to be by Poor Robin and attributed to Winstanley or his imitators are Poor Robin s Pathway to Knowledge 1663 1685 1688 Poor Robin s Character of France 1666 The Protestant Almanack Cambridge 1669 and following years Speculum Papismi 1669 Poor Robin s Observations upon Whitsun Holidays 1670 Poor Robin s Parley with Dr Wilde 1672 sheet in verse Poor Robin s Character of a Dutchman 1672 Poor Robin s Collection of Ancient Prophecies 1672 Poor Robin s Dreams commonly called Poor Charity 1674 sheet with cuts Poor Robin 1677 or a Yea and Nay Almanac a burlesque on the quakers annually continued till 1680 Poor Robin s Visions 1677 Poor Robin s Answer to Mr Thomas Danson 1677 Poor Robin s Intelligence Reviv d 1678 Four for a Penny 1678 A Scourge for Poor Robin 1678 Poor Robin s Prophecy 1678 Poor Robin s Dream dialogue between Dr T onge and Capt B edloe 1681 The Female Ramblers 1683 Poor Robin s Hue and Cry after good Housekeeping 1687 Poor Robin s True Character of a Scold 1688 reprinted at Totham Hall press 1848 Curious Enquiries 1688 A Hue and Cry after Money 1689 prose and verse Hieroglyphia Sacra Oxoniensis 1702 a burlesque on the frontispiece to the Oxford almanac New High Church turned Old Presbyterian 1709 The Merrie Exploits of Poor Robin the Merrie Sadler of Walden n d Pepysian Collection reprinted Edinburgh 1820 and Falkirk 1822 Poor Robin s Creed n d 4 Editors editIn the 18th century editors included Thomas Peat 6 See also editJames Franklin printer Notes edit Notes and Queries ser vi vol 7 pp 325 3 A H Bullen A Christmas Garland London John C Nimmo 1885 p 214 on line Pory Robert Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 a b Winstanley William Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Frank Palmeri Satire History Novel Narrative Forms 1665 1815 University of Delaware Press 2003 Poor Robin pp 51ff Dictionary of National Biography article Peat Thomas References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Winstanley William Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 External links editWorks by or about Poor Robin at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Poor Robin amp oldid 1144066203, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
