Robert Herrick (1591-1674) was perhaps the greatest poet to have worked in Devon. Born in London, the son of a goldsmith, he studied at Cambridge and later fell in with the London poets who had gathered around the magnetic figure of Ben Jonson. In order to make a living - since he had not pursued the family trade - he entered the Church and in 1627 was appointed chaplain to the Duke of Buckingham, whom he accompanied on an unsuccessful military expedition in 1627. In 1629 he was appointed to the living of Dean Prior, a village on the edge of Dartmoor, about half way between Exeter and...

ROBERT HERRICK: SELECTED POEMS

ROBERT HERRICK (1591-1674) was one of the Cavalier poets (other Cavalier poets included Suckling, Carew and Lovelace). He was born in London and lived much of his life in the rough remoteness of a parish in Devonshire. He studied at Cambridge (St John's College and Trinity Hall). His law studies were dropped in 1623, and he was ordained as a deacon and priest in 1624.

Herrick's major work, Hesperides or The Works Both Humane and Divine of Robert Herrick Esq., was published in 1648. There are some 1130 poems in the first, secular part, Hesperides,...

Robert Herrick was a 17th century English poet. Herrick began as an apprentice to a jeweler before attending college. In 1627 he took his orders and became chaplain to the Duke of Buckingham. He then became a vicar in Devon where he lived for 31 years writing some of his best poetry. When the English Civil War broke out he lost his position, since he refused to pledge to the Solemn League and Covenant. He returned to London living off the charity of his friends and spent his time preparing his lyric poems for publication. When Charles became king Herrick returned to his post. His poetry...

A collection of classic erotic poetry from authors such as Robert Herrick, Walt Whitman and Christina Rossetti.