baine has preserved part of the general prologue to her plays,
which we shall insert as a specimen of her versification:

But noble readers, do not think my plays
Are such as have been writ in former days;
As Johnson, Shakespear, Beaumont, Fletcher writ,
Mine want their learning, reading, language, wit.
The Latin phrases, I could never tell,
But Johnson could, which made him write so well.
Greek, Latin poets, I could never read,
Nor their historians, but our English Speed:
I could not steal their wit, nor plots out-take;
All my plays plots, my own poor brain did make.
From Plutarch's story, I ne'er took a plot,
Nor from romances, nor from Don Quixote.

* * * * *

WILLIAM CAVENDISH,

Baron Ogle, viscount Mansfield, earl, marquis, and duke of Newcastle,
justly reckoned one of the most finished gentlemen, as well as the
most distinguished patriot, general, and statesman of his age. He was
son of Sir Charles Cavendish, youngest son of Sir William Cavendish,
and younger brother of the first earl of Devonshire, by Katherine
daughter of Cuthbert lord Ogle[1].

He was born in the year 1592, and discovered in his infancy a
promptness of genius, and a love of literature. His father took care
to have him instructed by the best masters in every science. He no
sooner appeared at the court of King James I. than the reputation of
his abilities drew the attention of that monarch upon him, who made
him a knight of the Bath 1610, at the creation of Henry Prince of
Wales[2].

In 1617 his father died, who left him a great estate; and having
interest at court, he was by letters patent, dated Nov. 3, 1620,
raised to the dignity of a peer of the realm, by the stile and title
of baron Ogle, and viscount Mansfield; and having no less credit with
King Charles I. than he had with his father, in the third year of the
reign of that prince, he was advanced to the higher title of earl of
Newcastle upon Tyne, and at the same time he was created baron
Cavendish of Balsovor. Our author's attendance upon court, tho' it
procured him honour, yet introduced him very early into difficulties;
and it appears by Strafford's letters, that he did not stand well with
the favourite duke of Buckingham, who was jealous of his growing
interest, and was too penetrating not to discover, that the quickness
of his lordship's parts would soon suggest some methods