lucasta-第3节
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to Peter House； in London； where he framed his poems for the press； entitled； LUCASTA： EPODES； ODES； SONNETS； SONGS； &c。； Lond。 1649； Oct。 The reason why he gave that title was because； some time before； he had made his amours to a gentlewoman of great beauty and fortune； named Lucy Sacheverell； whom he usually called LUX CASTA； but she； upon a stray report that Lovelace was dead of his wound received at Dunkirk； soon after married。 He also wrote ARAMANTHA ＇Amarantha＇； A PASTORAL； printed with LUCASTA。 Afterwards a musical composition of two parts was set to part of it by Henry Lawes； sometimes servant to king Charles I。； in his public and private music。
〃After the murther of king Charles I。 Lovelace was set at liberty； and； having by that time consumed all his estate； grew very melancholy （which brought him at length into a consumption）； became very poor in body and purse； was the object of charity； went in ragged cloaths （whereas when he was in his glory he wore cloth of gold and silver）； and mostly lodged in obscure and dirty places； more befitting the worst of beggars and poorest of servants； &c。 After his death his brother Dudley； before mentioned； made a collection of his poetical papers； fitted them for the press； and entitled them LUCASTA： POSTHUME POEMS； Lond。 1659； Oct。； the second part； with his picture before them。 These are all the things that he hath extant； those that were never published were his tragedy； called THE SOLDIER or SOLDIERS； before mentioned； and his comedy； called THE SCHOLAR； which he composed at sixteen years of age； when he came first to Gloucester hall； acted with applause afterwards in Salisbury Court。 He died in a very mean lodging in Gunpowder Alley； near Shoe Lane； and was buried at the west…end of the church of S。 Bride； alias Bridget； in London； near to the body of his kinsman Will。 Lovelace； of Gray's Inn； Esq。； in sixteen hundred fifty and eight； having before been accounted by all those that well knew him to have been a person well versed in the Greek and Latin poets； in music； whether practical or theoretical； instrumental or vocal； and in other things befitting a gentleman。 Some of the said persons have also added； in my hearing； that his common discourse was not only significant and witty； but incomparably graceful； which drew respect from all men and women。 Many other things I could now say of him； relating either to his most generous mind in his prosperity； or dejected estate in his worst state of poverty； but for brevity's sake I shall now pass them by。 At the end of his Posthume Poems are several elegies written on him by eminent poets of that time； wherein you may see his just character。〃
Such is Wood's account； it is to be regretted that that writer did not supply the additional information； which he tantalizes us by saying that he possessed； and could have published； had he not been afraid of being tedious。 His love of brevity is； in this case； most provoking。
As might be expected； the Journals of Parliament cast additional light on the personal connexion of Lovelace with the Kentish Petition of 1642； which was for the GENERAL redress of existing grievances； not； as the editor of the VERNEY PAPERS seems to have considered； merely for the adjustment of certain points relative to the Militia。 Parliamentary literature has not a very strong fascination for the editors of old authors； and the biographers of Lovelace have uniformly overlooked the mine of information which lies in the LORDS' AND COMMONS' JOURNALS。 The subject was apparently introduced； for the first time； into Parliament on the 28th March； 1642； when a conference of both Houses took place； respecting 〃a petition from Kent； which； praying for a Restoration of the Bishops； Liturgy and Common Prayer； and other constitutional measures； was voted seditious and against privilege and the peace of the kingdom；〃 on the same occasion； Lord Bristol and Mr。 Justice Mallett were committed to the Tower for having in their possession a copy of the document。 On the 7th April it was ordered by both Houses； that the Kentish Petition should be burned by the hands of the common hangman。
On the 28th April； the Commons acquainted the Upper House； by Mr。 Oliver Cromwell； 〃that a great meeting was to be held next day on Blackheath； to back the rejected Kentish Petition。〃
Two days later； a strange scene occurred at Westminster。 Let the Commons' Journals tell the story in their own language：
〃30 April； 1642。 The House being informed that divers gentlemen of the county of Kent were at the door； that desired to present a petition to the House；
〃They were called in； presented their Petition； and withdrew。
〃And their Petition was read； and appeared to be the same that was formerly burnt； by order of both Houses； by the hands of the common hangman。 Captain LEIGH reports that； being at the Quarter Sessions held at MAIDSTONE； he observed certain passages which he delivered in writing。
〃Captain Lovelace； who presented the Petition； was called in； and Mr。 Speaker was commanded to ask him； from whose hand he had this Petition； and who gave him warrant to present it。
〃'Mr。 GEO。 CHUTE delivered him ＇he replied＇ the Petition the next day after the Assizes。'
〃'The gentlemen ＇he continued＇； that were assembled at BLACKHEATH； commanded him to deliver it。'
〃＇The Speaker then inquired＇ whether he knew that the like was burnt by the order of this House； and that some were here questioned for the business。
〃'He understood a general rumour； that some gentlemen were questioned。
〃'He had heard a fortnight since； that the like Petition was burned by the hand of the common hangman。
〃'He knew nothing of the bundle of printed petitions。'
〃He likewise said； 'that there was a petition at the Quarter Sessions； disavowed by all the Justices there； which he tore。'
〃Sir William Boteler was likewise called in； ＇and＇ asked when he was at Yorke。
〃＇He＇ answered； 'On Wednesday last was sevennight； he came from Yorke； and came to his house in London。
〃'He heard of a petition that was never delivered。
〃'He never heard of any censure of the Parliament。
〃'He heard that a paper was burnt for being irregularly burnt ＇？presented＇。
〃'He had heard that the Petition； that went under the name of the Kentish Petition； was burnt by the hands of the common hangman。
〃'He never heard of any order of either； ＇or＇ of both； the Houses concerning ＇the Petition＇。
〃'He was at Hull on Thursday or Friday was a sevennight： as he came from Yorke； he took Hull in the way。 He had heard； that Sir Roger Twisden was questioned for the like Petition。
〃'He was yesterday at BLACKHEATH。'
〃Resolved； upon the question； that Captain Lovelace shall be presently Committed prisoner to the Gatehouse。
〃Resolved； upon the question； that Sir William Boteler shall be presently committed prisoner to the Fleet。
〃Ordered； that the sergeant shall apprehend them； and carry them in safe custody； and deliver them as prisoners to the several prisons aforesaid。〃
On the 4th May； 1642； the House of Commons ordered Mr。 Whittlock and others to prepare a charge against Mr。 Lovelace and Sir William Boteler with all expedition； but nothing further is heard of the matter till the 17th June； When Lovelace and Boteler petitioned the House separately for their release from custody。 Hereupon Sir William was discharged on finding personal bail to the extent of 10；000； with a surety for 5000； and in the case of his companion in misfortune it was ordered； on the question； that 〃he be forthwith bailed upon GOOD security。〃 This 〃good security；〃 surely； did not reach the sum mentioned by Wood； namely； 40；000； but it is likely that the author of the ATHENAE is ONLY wrong by a cypher； and that the amount fixed was 4000； as it has been already suggested。 Thus Lovelace's confinement did not exceed seven weeks in duration； and the probability； is that the sole inconvenience； which he subsequently experienced； was the loss of the bail。
The description left by Wood and Aubrey of the end of Lovelace can only be reconciled with the fact； that his daughter and heiress conveyed Kingsdown； Hever； and a moiety of Chipsted； to the Cokes by marriage with Mr。 Henry Coke； by presuming that those manors were entailed； while Lovelace Place； as well perhaps as Bayford and Goodneston； not being similarly secured； were sold to defray the owner's incumbrances。 At any rate it is not； upon the whole； very probable that he died in a hovel； in a state of absolute poverty； that he received a pound a week （equal to about 4 of our money） from two friends； Cotton and another； Aubrey himself admits； and we may rest satisfied that； however painful the contrast may have been between the opening and close of that career； the deplorable account given in the ATHENAE； and in the so…called LIVES OF EMINENT MEN； is much exaggerated and overdrawn。
It has not hitherto been remarked； that among the Kentish gentry who； from time to time； elected to change the nature of their tenure from gavelkind to primogeniture； were the Lovelaces themselves； in the perso
