This excellent sonnet, which possessed a high degree of fame among the old cavaliers, was written by Colonel Richard Lovelace during his confinement in the gate-house Westminster: to which he was committed by the House of Commons, in April 1642, for presenting a petition from the county of Kent, requesting them to restore the king to his rights, and to settle the government. See Wood's Athenæ, Vol. II. p. 228, and Lysons's Environs of London, Vol. I. p. 109; where may be seen at large the affecting story of this elegant writer, who after having been distinguished for every gallant and polite accomplishment, the pattern of his own sex, and the darling of the ladies, died in the lowest wretchedness, obscurity, and want, in 1658.

This song is printed from a scarce volume o Lis poems intitled, "Lucasta, 1649, 12mo." collated with a copy in the Editor's folio MS.

WHEN love with unconfined wings
Hovers within my gates,
And my divine Althea brings
To whisper at my grates;
When I lye tangled in her haire,
And fetter'd with her eye,
The birds that wanton in the ai '9,
Know no such libertye.

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That for an hermitage : If I have freedom in my love, And in my soule am free, Angels alone, that soare above,

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Enjoy such libertie.

Charing-cross, as it stood before the civil wars, was one of those beautiful Gothic obelisks erected to conjugal affection by Edward I. who built such a one wherever the herse of his beloved Eleanor rested in its way from Lincolnshire to Westminster. But neither its ornamental situation, the beauty of its structure, nor the noble design of its erection (which did honour to humanity), could preserve it from the merciless zeal of the times: For, in 1647, it was demolished by order of the House of Commons, as popish and superstitious. This occasioned the following not unhumourous sarcasm which has been often printed among the popular sonnets of those times.

The plot referred to in ver. 17, was that entered into by Mr. Waller the poet, and others, with a view to reduce the city and tower to the service of the king; for which two of them, Nathaniel Tomkins and Richard Chaloner suffered death July 5, 1643. Vid, Athen. Ox. II. 24.

Whitelocke says, "May 3, 1643, Cheapside cross and other crosses were voted down," &c.-But this Vote was not put in execution with regard to "Charing Cross" till four years after, as appears from Lilly's Observations on the Life, &c. of King Charles, viz. "Charing-Cross, we know, was pulled down, 1617, in June, July, and August. Part of the stones were converted to pave before Whitehall. I have seen Knife-hafts made of some of the stones, which, being well polished, looked like marble." Ed. 1715, p. 18, 12mo.

See an Account of the pulling down Cheapside Cross, in the Supplement to Gent. Mag. 1764.

This excellent old song is preserved in David Lloyd's "Memoires of those that suffered in the cause of Charles I." London 1668, fol. p. 96. He speaks of it as the composition of a worthy personage, who suffered deeply in those times, and was still living with no other reward than the conscience of having suffered. The author's name he has not mentioned, but, if tradition may be credited, this song was written by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Some mistakes in Lloyd's copy are corrected by two others, one in MS. the other in the "Westminster Drollery, or a choice Collection of Songs and Poems, 1671."

The cynick loves his poverty; The pelican her wilderness; And 'tis the Indian's pride to be Naked on frozen Caucasus:

Contentment cannot smart, Stoicks we see Make torments easie to their apathy.

These manacles upon my arm

I, as my mistress' favours, wear; And for to keep my ancles warm,

I have some iron shackles there : These walls are but my garrison; this cell, Which men call jail, doth prove my citadel

I'm in the cabinet lockt up,

Like some high-prized margarite,
Or, like the great mogul or pope,
Am cloyster'd up from publick sight:

Retiredness is a piece of majesty,
And thus proud sultan, I'm as great as thee.

Here sin for want of food must starve,
Where tempting objects are not seen?
And these strong walls do only serve
To keep vice out, and keep me in:
Malice of late's grown charitable sure,
I'm not committed, but am kept secure.

So he that struck at Jason's life*,
Thinking t' have made his purpose sure,
By a malicious friendly knife

Did only wound him to a cure:

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• See this remarkable story in Cicero de Nat. Deorum, Lib. 3, c. 28. Cic. de Offic. Lib. I. c. 30; see also Val. Max. 1, 8.

This sarcastic exultation of triumphant loyalty is printed from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys collection, corrected by two others, one of which is preserved in "A choice collection of 120 loyal songs, &c.: 694, 12mo. -To the tune of Old Simon the king.

REBELLION hath broken up house,

And hath left me old lumber to sell;
Come hither, and take your choice,
I'll promise to use you well:
Will you buy the old speaker's chair?
Which was warm and easie to sit in,
And oft hath been clean'd I declare,
When as it was fouler than fitting.
Says old Simon the king, &c.

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Here's the beesom of Reformation,
Which should have made clean the floor,
But it swept the wealth out of the nation,
And left us dirt good store.

Will you buy the states spinning-wheel,
Which spun for the roper's trade?
But better it had stood still,

For now it has spun a fair thread.
Says old Simon, &c.

Here's a glyster-pipe well try'd,
Which was made of a butcher's stum",
And has been safely apply'd,

To cure the colds of the rump.
Here's a lump of Pilgrim's-Salve,
Which once was a justice of peace,
Who Noll and the Devil did serve;
But now it is come to this.

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• Alluding probably to Major-General Harrison, a but caer's son, who assisted Cromwell in turning out the long parliament April 20, 1653.