What does the term courtier poet of middling talent mean

To comprehend this term, it’s important to break it down. The term courtier refers to someone in attendance at the royal court, in this case, involved with poetry. The court served as a venue for the elite members of society, such as kings and queens, to partake in various gatherings and performances. The word middling was used historically to mean average or ordinary, signifying that the poet in question lacks extraordinary talent.

It characterizes the key traits of the individual speculated in the text to be the real author of Shakespeare’s works. The text argues that a true author must have more than innate writing talent; they must possess formal education to create such high-quality works. Hence, the description 'courtier poet of middling talent' outlines the presumed qualifications of the individual believed to be the actual author.