Possible Clues:

• Edmund ... 16th century poet
• Writer regularly sneers about writers
• English linesman having second to think in Paris
• Edmund --, author of 'The Faerie Queene'
• Old poet taking sherry regularly, dipping quills?
• Poet's author in ship with monarch
• Poet's feeling right about opening of poem
• Edmund --, poet best known for the allegorical romance 'The Faerie Queene'
• 'The Faerie Queene' writer
• English poet said to be associated with Marx