Aston Cockayne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Aston Cockayne
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| 1st Baronet Cockayne of Ashbourne | |
Engraving
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| Baptised | 20 December 1608 |
| Died | 1684 |
| Noble family | Cockayne |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Kniveton (daughter of Sir William Kniveton) |
| Father | Sir Thomas Cockayne |
| Mother | Lady Anne Stanhope (daughter of Sir John Stanhope) |
| Occupation | Baronet, Landowner, Cavalier, Poet and Writer. |
Sir Aston Cockayne, 1st Baronet (1608–1684) was an English writer and a supporter of the King during the English Civil War. He was known as a "Cavalier." He was also a friend to many famous writers of his time, like Philip Massinger and John Fletcher.
Contents
Life and Times
Aston Cockayne was born at Ashbourne Hall in Derbyshire. He was baptized on December 20, 1608. His father was Thomas Cockayne. His mother was Ann, the daughter of Sir John Stanhope.
He went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and the University of Oxford. He also studied law at the Inns of Court. Like many rich people of his time, he traveled around Europe. In 1632, he spent a lot of time in France and Italy. He learned to speak French and Italian very well. He even translated books from those languages into English.
His Role in the English Civil War
Aston Cockayne was a Roman Catholic. At that time, Catholics in England faced challenges. On January 10, 1641, King Charles I made him a Baronet. This was a special title.
During the English Civil War, he supported the King. This meant he was on the Royalist side. He even joined the future King Charles II when he was living in exile. After the war, during a time called the English Interregnum, he lived on his estate. This estate was called Pooley Hall in Warwickshire.
Connections and Later Life
Sir Aston Cockayne was a cousin to the poet Charles Cotton. He also knew other famous people, like Izaak Walton.
He owned important lands, including the Manors of Pooley and Ashbourne. However, in his later years, he had money problems. To pay his debts, he sold Ashbourne Hall in 1671. He sold it to Sir William Boothby. Later, his family also lost Pooley Hall. Sir Aston Cockayne died without much money.
His Writings
Sir Aston Cockayne wrote several interesting works. These give us clues about life in England in the mid-1600s.
Plays and Poems
- A Masque at Bretbie: This was a special play performed during Christmas in 1639.
- Small Poems of Divers Sorts: This was a collection of his poems, published in 1658.
- The Obstinate Lady: This was a comedy play, first printed in 1657.
- Trappolin Suppos'd a Prince: This was a tragicomedy, printed in 1658. A tragicomedy mixes sad and funny parts.
- The Tragedy of Ovid: This play was printed in 1662.
All three of his plays were published together in one book in 1669.
Literary Connections
In his Small Poems collection, he wrote verses to Humphrey Moseley. Moseley was a famous publisher. Sir Aston was friends with the playwrights Philip Massinger and John Fletcher. In his poems, he mentioned that Massinger helped write many plays in the 1647 Beaumont and Fletcher collection. This helped people later study who wrote which parts of those plays.
He also dedicated his play about Ovid to his cousin, Charles Cotton.
His Family
Sir Aston Cockayne married Mary Kniveton. She was the daughter of Sir Gilbert Kniveton. Sir Gilbert was a Baronet and a High Sheriff of Derbyshire.
Aston and Mary had three children:
- A son who died before his father. He did not have any children.
- Two daughters, Mary and Isabella. They became co-heiresses, meaning they shared the inheritance.
After Aston's death, his titles and lands went to other members of the Cockayne family. They passed to Caleb Cockayne. He was a male relative from an earlier branch of the family.
