ABSTRACT
Spenser’s epic evokes the desires and sins of the bold hero who plunges into the morass of terrestrial error and sorts it out with reason, faith and the sword. “Be Bold,” the poem tells us (III.xi.50.4, 54.3): Spenser and his planter clique boldly transformed Irish land and society for their own material and spiritual benefit and are allegorized as heroes in an epic battle that celebrates the aggressive glory of the Protestant planter against the Catholic Antichrist in England’s backyard. Erasmian and Lutheran doctrine found such evil influences operating everywhere in worldly affairs and encouraged Christian soldiers to combat them. Many Englishmen found the powers of the Antichrist represented by the Spanish Roman Catholic Hapsburg emperor and the pope.2 The Desmond rebellion brought the Antichrist to Munster shores and Grey dealt with the devil as he deserved; Spenser’s poetry kept Grey’s crusade alive.
