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Gentleman's Magazine 1818 part 1 p.330
'Thence to Nesham, now translated, Once a nunnery dedicated;
Vallies smiling, bottoms pleasing, Streaming rivers never
ceasing, Deckt with tufty woods and shady, Graced by a
lovely lady.
Thence to Darlington; I boused, Till at last I was espoused;
Marriage feast, and all prepared, Not a fig for th' world I
cared,' &c.
In 1617 Brathwayte married at the Church of Hurworth,
near Darlington, Frances, daughter of James Lawson,
of NESHAM, which is in the parish of Hurworth.
Barnabee again mentions this subject in his Fourth Journey.
'Nunc ad Richmund, primo flore,
Nunc ad Nesham cum uxore,
Laeto cursu properamus,
Et amamur, et amamus, &c.
Now to Richmond, when spring's coming,
Now to Nesham with my woman
With free course we both approve it;
Where we love,and are beloved,' &c.
Does the rest of Brathwayte's character agree with
that of Barnabee? The former spent his youthful years
at Oxford, Cambridge, and in London; and the latter in the
North as a Country Gentleman, and a Magistrate. He was a
loyalist - so was Barnabee. He tells us in his Holy
Memorials, at the end of The Spiritual Spicery,
1638, 'WHILE ROARING WAS IN REQUEST, I HELD IT A COMPLETE
FASHION. A long Winter night seemed but a Midsummer-Night's
Dream, being merrily past in a Catch of Four Parts, a deep
health to a light Mistress, and a knot of brave blades to
make up the Consort,' &c.
Barnabee, like Brathwayte, reforms, and ends in a retreat to
the quiet and innocence of the country.
'Nunc as Staveley, ubi aves
Melos, modos, cantant suaves;
Sub arbustis, et vigultis
Molliore musco fultis
Cellis, sylvis, et tabernis,
An foeliciorem cernis?
MIRTIL. Esto, Faustule! recumbe,
Rure tuo carmina funde;
Vive, vale, profice, cresce,
Arethusae alma masse;
Tibi Zephyrus sub fago
Dulciter afflet. FAUST. Gratias ago.'
'Now to Staveley strait repair I,
Where sweet birds do hatch their airy;
Arbours, osiers freshly showing
With soft mossy rind o'ergrowing;
For woods, air, ale, all excelling,
Wouldst thou have a neater dwelling?
MIRTIL. Be't so, Faustulus! Here repose thee,
Cheer thy country with thy posy;
Live, farewell, as thou deservest,
Rich in Arethusa's harvest:
Under th' beech while shepherds rank thee,
Zephyrus bless the. FAUST. I do thank thee.
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