Women of History: Selected from the Writings of Standard AuthorsVarious
History
Women of History: Selected from the Writings of Standard Authors
Various
Women -- Biography
The youngest daughter of Sir Charles Lucas, and the wife of the Marquis
of Newcastle, had, from her infancy, a natural inclination to learning,
and spent so much of her time in study and writing, that it is much to
be lamented she had not the advantage of an acquaintance with the
learned languages, which would have extended her knowledge, refined her
genius, and have been of infinite service to her in the many
compositions and productions of her pen.
In 1643, she obtained leave of her mother to go to Oxford, where the
court then resided, and was made one of the maids of honour to Henrietta
Maria, the royal consort of King Charles I.; and when the queen, by her
rebellious subjects, was unhappily forced to leave England and go to her
native country, she attended her thither. At Paris she met with the
Marquis of Newcastle, then a widower, who, admiring her person,
disposition, and ingenuity, was married to her in that place in the year
1645. She was said to be the most voluminous dramatic writer of our
female poets, that she had a great deal of wit, and a more than ordinary
propensity to dramatic poetry. Mr Langbaine tells us that all the
language and plots of her plays were her own, which is a commendation
preferable to fame built on other people's foundation, and will very
well atone for some faults in her numerous productions. [A catalogue of
this lady's works, "tragicomical, poetical, romancical, philosophical,
and historical," both in prose and verse, would occupy pages.]
Her person was very graceful, her temper naturally reserved, and she
seldom said much in company, especially among strangers. She was most
indefatigable in her studies and contemplations; truly pious,
charitable, and generous; an excellent economist; very kind to her
servants, and a perfect pattern of conjugal love and duty.
LADY PAKINGTON.
[1679.]
BALLARD.
Daughter of Thomas, Lord Coventry, Keeper of the Great Seal, and wife of
Sir John Pakington, was well known to, and celebrated by, the best and
most learned divines of her time. Yet hardly my pen will be thought
capable of adding to the reputation her own has procured to her, if it
shall appear that she was the author of a work which is not more an
honour to the writer than a universal benefit to mankind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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