[702]Mr. Abraham Cowley[CW]: he was borne in Fleet-street, London, neer Chancery-lane; his father a grocer, at the signe of....
He was secretarie to the earle of St. Alban's (then lord Jermyn) at Paris. When his majestie returned, the duke of Buckingham hearing that at Chertsey was a good farme of about ...li.per annum, belonging to the queene-mother, goes to the earl of St. Alban's and the commissioners to[703]take a lease of it. They answered that 'twas beneath his grace to take a lease of them. That was all one, he would have it, payd for it, and had it, and freely and generously gave it to his deare and ingeniose friend, Mr. Abraham Cowley, for whom purposely he bought it.
He lies interred at Westminster Abbey, next to Sir Jeffrey Chaucer, N., where the duke of Bucks has putt a neate monument of white marble, viz. a faire pedestall, wheron the inscription:—
Abrahamus Couleius,Anglorum Pindarus, Flaccus, Maro,Deliciae, Decus, Desiderium aevi sui,Hic juxta situs est.Aurea dum volitant latè tua scripta per orbem,Et famâ aeternùm vivis, divine Poeta,Hic placidâ jaceas requie; custodiat urnamCana Fides, vigilentque perenni lampade Musae;Sit sacer iste locus. Nec quis temerarius ausitSacrilegâ turbare manu venerabile bustum.Intacti maneant, maneant per secula, dulcisCoulei cineres serventque immobile saxum.
Abrahamus Couleius,Anglorum Pindarus, Flaccus, Maro,Deliciae, Decus, Desiderium aevi sui,Hic juxta situs est.
Aurea dum volitant latè tua scripta per orbem,Et famâ aeternùm vivis, divine Poeta,Hic placidâ jaceas requie; custodiat urnamCana Fides, vigilentque perenni lampade Musae;Sit sacer iste locus. Nec quis temerarius ausitSacrilegâ turbare manu venerabile bustum.Intacti maneant, maneant per secula, dulcisCoulei cineres serventque immobile saxum.
Sic vovet,Votumque suum apud posteros sacratum esse voluit, qui viro incomparabili posuit sepulcrale marmor, GEORGIUS dux BUCKINGHAMIAE.Abraham Cowley excessit e vitâ anno aetatis suae 49; et, honorificâ pompâ elatus ex Aedibus Buckinghamianis, viris[LI.]illustribus omnium ordinum exequias celebrantibus, sepultus est die 3 mensis Augusti anno Domini 1667.
Sic vovet,
Votumque suum apud posteros sacratum esse voluit, qui viro incomparabili posuit sepulcrale marmor, GEORGIUS dux BUCKINGHAMIAE.
Abraham Cowley excessit e vitâ anno aetatis suae 49; et, honorificâ pompâ elatus ex Aedibus Buckinghamianis, viris[LI.]illustribus omnium ordinum exequias celebrantibus, sepultus est die 3 mensis Augusti anno Domini 1667.
[LI.]His grace the duke of Bucks held a tassell of the pall.
[LI.]His grace the duke of Bucks held a tassell of the pall.
Above that a very faire urne, with a kind of ghirland of ivy about it.
The inscription was made by Dr.
On his very noble gravestone, his scutcheon, and
Abrahamus CouleiusH. S. E.1667.
Memorandum:—this George, duke of Bucks, came to the earl of St. Albans and told him he would buy such a lease in Chertsey belonging to the queen mother. Said the earle to him, 'that is beneath your grace, to take a lease.' 'That is all one,' qd. he, 'I desire to have the favour to buy it for my money.' He bought it, and then freely bestowed it on his beloved Cowley: which ought not to be forgotten.
By Sir J. Denham:—
Had Cowley ne're spoke, nor Th.[704]Killigrew writt,They'd both have made a
Had Cowley ne're spoke, nor Th.[704]Killigrew writt,They'd both have made a
—A. C. discoursed very ill and with hesitation.
He writ when a boy at Westminster ... poems and a comedy calledLove's Riddle, dedicated to Sir Kenelme Digby; printed, London, ..., 8vo.
[705]Abraham Cowley:—vide his will, scilicet, for his true and lasting charity, that is, he settles his estate in such a manner that every yeare so much is to be payd for the enlarging of poor prisoners cast into gaole by cruel creditors for some debt. This I had from Mr. Dunning of London, a scrivener, who is an acquaintance of Dr. Cowley'sbrother. I doe thinke this memorable benefaction is not mentioned in his life in print before his workes; and it is certainly the best method of charity.
Note.[CW]Aubrey notes that he was of 'Cambridge,' and gives in trick the coat:—--'..., a lion rampant ..., within a bordure engrailed ...,' wreathed in laurel.
[CW]Aubrey notes that he was of 'Cambridge,' and gives in trick the coat:—--'..., a lion rampant ..., within a bordure engrailed ...,' wreathed in laurel.
[CW]Aubrey notes that he was of 'Cambridge,' and gives in trick the coat:—--'..., a lion rampant ..., within a bordure engrailed ...,' wreathed in laurel.