Yet eldest lovers scarce would doubt her heart,
So well she weeps, as she to Goltho speaks.

During our author's attendance at court, he wrote several plays, and
employed his time in framing masques, which were acted by the
principal nobility of both sexes; the Queen herself condescended to
take a share in one of them, which gave very great offence to the
scrupulous moralists, which sprung up in those days; the particular
account of this dramatic piece we shall give in the conclusion of his
life, and now proceed in enumerating the incidents of it.

Upon the death of Ben Johnson, which happened in the year 1637, our
poet succeeded to his laurel, notwithstanding the violent opposition
of his competitor Thomas May, who was so extremely affected with his
disappointment, though he had been a zealous courtier, yet from
resentment to the Queen, by whose interest Davenant was preferred, he
commenced an enemy to the King's party, and became both an advocate
and historian for the Parliament.

As soon as the civil war broke out, Mr. Davenant had an early share in
them and demonstrated his loyalty by speaking and acting for the King.
He was accused by the Parliament for being embarked in a design in May
1641, of seducing the army from their adherence to the parliamentary
authority, and bringing it again under the subjection of the King, and
defence of his person. In this scheme many of Sir William's friends
were engaged, viz. Mr. Henry Piercy, afterwards lord Piercy, Mr.
Goring, Mr. Jermyn, Mr. Ashburnham, Sir John Suckling, and others:
most of these persons, upon their design being discovered, placed
their security in flight, and Mr. Davenant amongst the rest; but a
proclamation being published for apprehending him, he was stopped at