(9.) Of Catherine Gage, Lady Aston, wife of the third Lord Aston, I have given some information above.[1]
(10.) Of Edward Thimelby, the last in this poetical fraternity, (but though last certainly not least,) all the information I have been able to obtain, is contained in the following short extract from Dodd's "Church History "Edward Thimelby, of an ancient and worthy family at Irnham, in Lincolnshire. Being sent abroad for education, he entered into an ecclesiastical state, and lived a considerable time in Rome, in the family of an eminent cardinal. He was afterwards made provost of the collegiate church of Saint Gery, in Cambray, where he died about 1690. He was a person of remarkable piety. Some verses of his composition may be seen in the beginning of Cressy's Church History."[2]
From his poems in this collection, and from a few of his letters, which have been preserved, he appears to have been, in his youth at least, of a very lively and sprightly disposition, and to have possessed a considerable share of wit and humour. That he was a classical scholar, a critic, a man of taste, and extensive information, his poems, though few, afford abundant proofs. I found several short poems on a large sheet of paper, among which were the following, not inserted in this collection: "To Mr Edward Thimelby, on the cutting of a grove of bay trees." "To Mr Ed. Thimelby, on a holiday." "To Mr Edward Thimelby, dissuading him from translating Dr Donne into Italian."
- ↑ See page XVIII.
- ↑ These verses I have perused; but as it is a long effusion, and would not add to his reputation, I have left them where they are.
