Lodowick Carlell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lodowick Carlell
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| Born | 1602 |
| Died | 1675 |
| Occupation | Courtier, playwright |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Palmer |
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Lodowick Carlell (born 1602, died 1675) was an English writer who lived a long time ago. He wrote plays, especially during the time of King Charles I and the period when England was a republic. His name is sometimes spelled Carliell or Carlile.
Contents
Lodowick Carlell's Life at Court
Lodowick Carlell came from a Scottish family. He was one of four brothers. He didn't go to a university. Instead, he learned a lot by working for the King and Queen. He became a courtier when he was about 15 years old.
Carlell's Royal Jobs
Lodowick had several important jobs for the King. He was the Gentleman of the Bows for King Charles I. This meant he was in charge of the King's bows for hunting. He was also a Groom for the King and Queen's private rooms.
One of his main jobs was being the Keeper of the Great Forest at Richmond Park. This meant he looked after the park and helped King Charles I with his hunts. He even lived in the park at Petersham Lodge. It's interesting that many of his plays had scenes set in forests, just like his job!
Lodowick kept his job at Richmond Park even during the English Civil War. Some people think he secretly helped the King's side during the war. He continued to be the Keeper of both Richmond Park and St. James's Park even after the King was no longer in power.
Lodowick Carlell as a Playwright
Carlell started writing plays in the late 1620s. His first plays were performed by famous acting groups like the King's Men. Another writer, Thomas Dekker, even dedicated one of his plays to Carlell in 1631.
Carlell's Famous Plays
Here are some of the plays Lodowick Carlell wrote:
- The Deserving Favourite (written around 1629)
- The Fool Who Would be a Favourite (around 1637), also known as The Discreet Lover. This was his most popular play.
- Osmond the Great Turk, or The Noble Servant (around 1638)
- Arviragus and Philicia, parts 1 and 2 (around 1639)
- The Passionate Lovers, Parts 1 and 2 (around 1655)
- Heraclius, Emperor of the East (around 1664). This play was his translation of a French play by Pierre Corneille.
Some experts believe Carlell's plays were important. They helped change serious plays from the style of earlier writers like John Fletcher to the "heroic drama" style that became popular later.
Lodowick Carlell's Family Life
In 1626, Lodowick married Joan Palmer. Her father also worked in the Royal Parks. Joan was a portrait painter, which was very unusual for a woman at that time. She was one of the first women to paint professionally.
Lodowick and Joan lived at Petersham Lodge for a while. They moved to Covent Garden in 1654 but returned to Petersham two years later. They had two children: a son named James and a daughter named Penelope.
Later Years and Legacy
Lodowick Carlell continued to work for the royal family even after the King returned to power. In 1664, he was paid £150 for three years of work as the Keeper of the King's house and walk at Petersham in Richmond Park.
Lodowick Carlell passed away in 1675. He was buried on August 21 in Petersham churchyard. His wife, Joan, died in 1679 and was buried next to him.
See also
- Match Me in London, a play written by Thomas Dekker and dedicated to Carlell
