SOURCE: "The Feminist Poetics of Aemilia Lanyer's Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum," in Feminist Measures: Soundings in Poetry and Theory, edited by Lynn Keller and Cristanne Miller, University of Michigan Press, 1994, pp. 208-36.

Here, Mueller analyzes Lanyer's feminist theology, stating that "in her handling, universalism and essentialism empower a feminism that proves rich, outrageous, and originary by any present-day standard."

The year 1611 saw the publication, in London, of the first volume of poetry in English written by a woman: Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum. Its title page identified the poet as "Mistris Aemilia Lanyer, Wife to Captaine Alfonso Lanyer, Servant to the Kings Majestie." In the expatiating fashion of the time, the title page also highlighted the following portions of the volume's title poem: "1 The Passion of Christ. 2 Eves Apologie in defence of Women. 3 The Teares of the Daughters of Jerusalem. 4 The Salutation and Sorrow of the Virgine Marie," while...