Introduction

These essays arose from a conference, organized as part of the "Early Modern Manuscript Poetry" project, which was funded by the U.K.'s Arts and Humanities Research Council and led by Steven W. May. From his 1968 PhD thesis—an edition of Henry Stanford's anthology, under the guidance of William A. Ringler Jr.—Steve has been in the forefront of early modern manuscript studies, as the author of numerous influential articles and books, including The Elizabethan Courtier Poets (1991), and as the editor of The First-Line Index of English Verse, 1559–1603 (2004), an indispensable reference guide for anyone researching Elizabethan poetry, in manuscript or print. This issue is dedicated to him, with thanks for his generosity as a scholar, colleague, and teacher.