Robert Herrick's life, sparse in documented details, provides a skeleton outline of a man whose work far exceeds his biographical footprint. Baptized in London on August 24, 1591, he was the seventh child of Nicholas and Julian Herrick. His father's suspicious death in 1592 and his own varied career, from an aborted apprenticeship to a vicar in Devon, paint a picture of a man caught between worlds, yet whose literary contributions remain significant.

Early Life and Education

Robert Herrick entered the world in the bustling city of London, the seventh son born to Nicholas and Julian Herrick. The family was struck by tragedy when Nicholas, a goldsmith by trade, died under mysterious circumstances, falling from his home on November 9, 1592, shortly after finalizing his will. This event left lingering questions concerning the possibility of suicide, unresolved to this day.

Details about Herrick's formative years remain elusive, yet we know that in 1607, he was apprenticed to his uncle, Sir William Herrick, a prosperous goldsmith and merchant. This apprenticeship was short-lived, as his life took a dramatic turn in 1613 when, at the age of twenty-two, he entered St. John's College, Cambridge with his uncle's approval. During his college years, Herrick frequently reached out to his uncle in letters, often reiterating the classic student plea for financial support.

Cambridge and Early Career

Herrick's academic journey at Cambridge culminated in an A.B. degree in 1617, followed by an A.M. in 1620. Three years later, in 1623, he was ordained as an Anglican priest and served as a chaplain during the Duke of Buckingham’s unsuccessful military campaign to the Isle of Ré in 1625. Herrick's path soon led him away from London's cultural vibrancy to the quietude of Dean Prior in Devon, where he took on the role of vicar in 1630.

This period of his life was interrupted in 1647 due to the political upheaval of the time, which saw him expelled from his position because of his royalist sympathies and allegiance to the Church of England. Consequently, Herrick returned to London, where he published his works in the following year. His reinstallation as vicar at Dean Prior in 1660, after the monarchy was restored, marked the final chapter of his pastoral career, which he maintained without significant discord until his death in 1674 at the age of eighty-two.

Interpreting Herrick's Poetry

The scant biographical record of Herrick's life has challenged scholars attempting to connect his experiences to his literary output. Early critics often treated his poetry as transparent autobiography, seeking to bridge the gaps in his life story directly through his verse. However, this approach risks conflating the poetic persona with the man he truly was, potentially obscuring both the poetry's meaning and Herrick's true character.

For instance, in his writings, Herrick portrays himself as an astute observer of feminine beauty, penning numerous reflections addressed to figures such as Corinna, Perilla, Julia, and Dianeme. This does not necessarily imply that Herrick lived a libertine lifestyle or that these muses actually existed. No evidence supports the notion that his verses were composed idly during his supposed withdrawal from London's vibrant society to the bucolic retreat of Dean Prior.

The Weaving of Influence

Despite the temptation to see his poetry as a mirror of his life, a closer examination reveals how Herrick expertly interwove the diverse threads of his background into his work. His poetry reflects a deep immersion in classical literature, likely acquired during his Cambridge years, as well as familiarity with the poetic conventions prevalent in 1620s London. Additionally, his verses reveal a grounding in biblical scholarship and Anglican doctrine,...