ded 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
Feversham, sent up to town, and put into the custody of a sergeant at
arms[2]. In the month of July following, our author was bailed, and
not long after finding it necessary, on account of the violence of the
times, to withdraw to France, he had the misfortune to be seized again
in Kent by the Mayor of Canterbury; how he escaped the present danger,
none of his biographers have related, but it appears that he did not,
upon this occasion, suffer long confinement; he at last retired beyond
sea, where he continued for some time, but the Queen sending over a
considerable quantity of military stores, for the use of the earl of
Newcastle's army, Mr. Davenant returned again to England, offered his
service to that noble peer, who was his old friend and patron, and by
him made lieutenant-general of his ordnance: this promotion gave
offence to many, who were his rivals in his lordship's esteem: they
remonstrated, that Sir William Davenant, being a poet, was, for that
very reason, unqualified for a place of so much trust, and which
demanded one of a solid, and less volatile turn of mind, than the sons
of Parnassus generally are. In this complaint they paid but an
indifferent compliment to the General himself, who was a poet, and had
written, and published several plays. That Davenant behaved well in
his military capacity is very proba