Drayton was born at Hartshill in Warwickshire and as a youth he became page to Sir Henry Goodere of Polesworth. He fell in love with Sir Henry's daughter, Anne, and worshipped her as 'Idea' in his poetry. Even after her marriage to Sir Henry Rainford he continued to celebrate her charms in verse, and he never married.
He had wanted to be a poet from the age of ten, and achieved his ambition through hard work and a succession of noble patrons, in spite of some ill-fortune. His first work was a verse paraphrase of parts of the Old Testament and Apocrypha, The Harmony of the Church. Ironically, the Harmony caused offence among the authorities and was banned. When James I became king in 1603 Drayton angled for royal favour with To the Majesty of King James: a Gratulatory Poem. Unfortunately he omitted to include the customary tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth, and this gaffe probably cost him an appointment at court.
In spite of this setback, Drayton had a fairly successful career as a poet, and he counted Ben Jonson and William Drummond of Hawthornden among his friends.
Poems by this Poet
| Poem | Post date | Rating |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Sonnet IX As Other Men | 31 July 2013 |
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| Sonet. 9 | 5 September 2014 |
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| The Earle Douglasse for this day doth with the Percies stand | 19 May 2014 |
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| Other Song of the Faithful, for the Mercies of God, An | 19 May 2014 |
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| Amour 41 - | 5 September 2014 |
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| Sonnet VIII There's Nothing Grieves Me | 31 July 2013 |
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| Noahs Floud | 5 September 2014 |
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| The Moses His Birth and Miracles - First Booke | 19 May 2014 |
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| M.D. Esquire To His Good Friend, T.V. | 19 May 2014 |
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| Sonnet XV Since to Obtain Thee | 31 July 2013 |
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