Page:Tixall Poetry.djvu/448

 P. 256. I found these beautiful lines, on a scrap of paper, which belonged to a letter, part of the direction on the back of it, being still legible as follows: "These for Mrs Constance Aston, at the Lady Marchiones of Clanricard's, dowager, Red Lion Square—." This must have been written at least as early as 1634, for about that time, or sooner, Constance Aston changed her name, and became Mrs Fowler.

P. 257. These lines afford a presumption, that the poem at page 21, was the production of Edward Thimelby. The thought in the four last lines appears to me original.

P. 259. Mrs E. C. was perhaps Eliza Thimelby, daughter of Sir John Thimelby, and wife of Mr Cottington; probably, Francis Cottington, nephew of Lord Cottington. Of this lady, I have four letters, addressed to her uncle, Herbert Aston, at Bellamour; by whom, these lines to her, on "New Yeares Day," were probably composed. Lord Cottington was twice ambassador in Spain, and died without issue, at Valladolid, in 1653. See his character in Clarendon's "History," vol. i. p. 151.

P. 265. The lines at the top of this page, contain allusions to the commonwealth, and usurpation of Cromwell.

P. 266. I have thought this poem worth preserving for the singularity of the subject, and the manner in which the poet has treated it. Cowley, in his elegy on Crashaw, who died at Loretto, says,

Angels, (they say) brought the famed chapel there, And bore the sacred load in triumph through the air.

P. 268. This effusion on love, I ascribe to Herbert Aston.

P. 272. These lines were probably written by Edward Thimelby. His friend was perhaps Henry Neville, a man of some celebrity in his day, who was second son of Sir Henry Neville, Bart, of Billingbere, in Berkshire. The reader will find