The Collected Works of Ann Yearsley Vol 2

Kerri Andrews, Tim Fulford, Bridget Keegan

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN:
  9781138758322
• eBook ISBN:
  9781000748789
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

Presents the works of Ann Yearsley, a laboring-class poet' whose writing forms part of an under-represented area of romanticism. This work includes her play "Earl Goodwin" and novel "The Royal Captives".

EARL GOODWIN, AN HISTORICAL PLAY.

BY

ANN YEARSLEY,

MILK-WOMAN, OF CLIFTON, NEAR BRISTOL.

PERFORMED WITH GENERAL APPLAUSE AT THE

THEATRE-ROYAL, BRISTOL.

When first the dove forsook the Patriarch’s hand,

She ventur’d far to find some friendly land;

Like her, from frozen regions quickly hurl’d,

My nest shall be – the bosom of the world.¹

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR G. G. J. AND J. ROBINSON,

PATER-NOSTER-ROW.

M.DCC.XCI.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND

FREDERICK,

EARL OF BRISTOL, BISHOP OF DERRY, &c. &c.²

MY LORD,

SUPERSTITIOUS Zeal having been clad in the external Loveliness of Truth, I have dared to disrobe the furious, yet enchanting Hypocrite, whose Votaries are blind, and whose Joy is Persecution: If I have failed, my Lord, pardon my erring Judgment, and approve a Wish that exists not but in the Endeavour to diffuse an Idea of active Virtue! Your Example gives Force to my Thought; your exalted Sentiments claim my Imitation.

With endless Gratitude, I am,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship’s

Obliged and Obedient Servant,

ANN YEARSLEY.

PREFACE.

GOODWIN has been supported by the most brilliant Audiences, yet it is insinuated that ‘I have departed from verity of character.’ Where is the proof? We are assured the characters of individuals have been blackened, nor those alone, but even the conduct of Kings, by the infernal spirit of Party. In more early ages, the chain of Superstition fell heavy on the people of England; learning was confined within the cloister, among the frozen, yet ambitious Monks; and the man who dared trust his reason or his faith beyond priestly rule, was pronounced an alien to God and Society. The vulgar drank of the cup of Calumny from the hand of the furious Bigot, and gave the burning draught to their generations. Such are the streams which have too copiously flowed down to us. I will not stand reproved for endeavouring to withdraw a character from the malignant shade of ancient Malice! a character against which no proof exists, except the legendary tales of Monks, whose artful power GOODWIN justly scorned. For his contempt of absurd austerities and unholy slavery, has the memory of this noble Earl been branded, himself accused, and the rustic champion of his virtues illiberally attacked. Such feeble efforts shall never arrest the generous current of my thought, when I would defend an injured Reputation.

To the impartial Reader,

I am an obliged

and obedient Servant,

ANN YEARSLEY.

PROLOG...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• CONTENTS
• Intorduction
• Earl Goodwin, an Historical Play (1791)
• Appendix: Actors’ Biographical Directory
• Editorial Notes