Queer Excess and Hybrid History in Elizabeth Cary’s Edward II

Elizabeth Cary’s prose history The History of the Life, Reign, and Death of Edward II (1627) follows the fourteenth-century king of England, whose love affairs with his favorite courtiers ultimately resulted in his overthrow and execution. She identifies Edward’s queerness, and his resulting lack of emotional control, as central to his inability to govern England, and as an example of the dangers of excessive emotions for her readers. Because of Edward II ’s complicated publishing and attribution history, much of the scholarly effort around this text has been spent attempting to interpret it through Cary’s personal life and political aims. While this has been essential work, placing Cary more firmly among the historical literature of her time allows us to examine her innovative use of form. The early Stuart historiographical field is often viewed as lacking clear direction or focus, but Cary’s ability to repurpose the many forms available to her demonstrates the possibilities inherent in this period of literature. She writes in the popular “politic history” tradition, but incorporates the conventions and language of various other histories, treatises, and verse narratives to create a hybrid form. Though Cary does express strong political opinions, she uses these forms to expose and condemn Edward’s queer excess, as well as excess passion in general.