[Forwarded from Terry Krier]
Hi all,
*The Spenser Newsletter* 12, 1 (Winter 1981) noted "with pleasure
the betrothal of Charles, the Prince of Wales, to a lady from a
house of ancient fame, Lady Diana Spencer of the Spencers of
Althorp: a blood relative, as we understand, of Phyllis, Charyllis,
& Amaryllis."
The next issue, 12, 2 (Spring/Summer 1981) noted that "with the
concurrence of Thomas P. Roche, Jr., the following letter had been
sent to Lady Diana Spencer:"
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219
May 11, 1981
Lady Diana Spencer
Clarence House
London W1, England
Madam:
On behalf of the *Spenser Newsletter* and on behalf of the
Spenser Society, whose president is Thomas P. Roche, Jr., of
Princeton University, I am pleased to send you under separate cover
a copy of *The Illustrated "Faerie Queene,"* a modernized and
handsomely appointed version of Edmund Spenser's allegorical epic
written to honor Queen Elizabeth I. The presentation copy has been
donated by Mr. Alvin Garfin of Newsweek Books, the publisher of the
volume.
As you know, Edmund Spenser claimed kin with the Spencers of
Althorp, and in one of his poems entitled *Colin Clouts Come Home
Againe* he celebrated Lady Elizabeth Carey, Lady Anne Compton and
Mounteagle, and Lady Alice Strange, the second, fifth, and sixth
daughters of Sir John Spencer of Althorp. He called these
ladies--who were presumably your aunts (with many "greats"
prefixed)--by the names "Phyllis, Charillis, and sweet Amaryllis"
respectively.
I hope you will enjoy perusing this artistic visual treatment
of the epic poem by "the prince of poets in his time," who may have
been a relative of yours. I speak for Spenser scholars everywhere in
wishing you the best of good fortune.
Faithfully yours,
(Signed)
Foster Provost
Professor of English
Editor *The Spenser Newsletter*
>Dear All,
>I vaguely recall a thread on the list from many years back which mentioned a
>copy of a junior edition of The Faerie Queene that was presented to Princess
>Diana in 1981 by the Spenser Society on the occasion of the royal
>wedding. Does
>anybody else by any chance remember/ know anything about this event, or am I
>entirely misremembering this? (Eumnestes needs a little help here...)
>Thanks greatly,
>
>Matt Woodcock
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