Most of the biographers of Spenser have utilized mainly the biographical material in the poet's own writings. This is quite right and natural, as this sort of material in itself is of more interest and profit for the study of a great poet than is any other and extraneous material. S61incourt in the short life prefixed to his one-volume Oxford edition of Spenser has utilized this material with great skill, and one agrees with him that much of Spenser's verse is highly autobiographical and abounds in self-revelation, however guarded and veiled. But a fascination in the case of Spenser attaches to the strange contrast in his nature between Spenser the idealist and the man of poetic sensibility, and Spenser the man of affairs and servant of the state.' By reason of this contrast it is even more interesting to study the career of Spenser as an office-holder than it is to study that of Chaucer. For the study of this career we have certain records and data, although for less than we would wish, and recent important discoveries2 lead to the hope that others may yet follow. The Irish records especially have been very imperfectly searched, and the better part of Spenser's active life was connected with Ireland. Moreover such records as have been calendared or noticed have been very slightly studied and interpreted. It is true that, like many other data in Spenser's biography, they abound in difficulties. All the more reason therefore why attention should be directed to them and discussion of them invited. For it is only by the method of trial and error that the way can be prepared for the as yet unwritten life of Spenser in Ireland. Accordingly what is here submitted is rather in the nature of notes and queries than of definite thesis.