Lucy Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon facts for kids
Lucy Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (born Lucy Davies in 1613 – died 14 November 1679), was an English poet from the 1600s. Her poems were not published while she was alive. She had ten children, including Elizabeth and Theophilus Hastings, who later became the 7th Earl of Huntingdon.
Contents
About Lucy Hastings
Her Early Life and Family
Lucy Hastings was the daughter of Lady Eleanor and Sir John Davies (1569–1626). Her father was a famous poet and an important person in the royal courts of King James I and King Charles I. Her mother, Dame Eleanor Davies (1590–1652), was known for her unusual religious writings.
Marriage and Education
When Lucy was only ten years old, her father arranged for her to marry Ferdinando Hastings. He was the son and future heir of Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon. This marriage helped connect Lucy's wealthy family with an important noble family.
After her marriage, Lucy Hastings received a great education from Bathsua Makin. She became very good at many languages, including French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. She even translated Latin poems by Peter du Moulin into English.
Family Challenges
As Countess of Huntingdon, Lucy Hastings had a difficult disagreement with her mother over family property between 1627 and 1633. Her mother strongly disagreed with Lucy. However, because of her own religious writings, Lucy's mother was put in prison and Lucy gained control of her mother's property for ten years.
The English Civil War and Family Life
During the English Civil War, Lucy's husband, the 6th Earl of Huntingdon, tried to stay neutral. However, other family members, like his brother Henry Hastings, strongly supported the King. The family's home, Ashby de la Zouch Castle, was taken by the Parliament's forces in March 1646. The castle was later torn down, and the family moved to their estate at Donington Park.
Lucy Hastings and her husband had ten children, including Lady Elizabeth Langham. Three of their sons passed away before their father. When their oldest son and heir, Henry Hastings, died from smallpox in June 1649, many poets wrote sad poems about him. These poems were collected in a book called Lachrymae Musarum ("Tears of the Muses"). Famous poets like John Dryden and Andrew Marvell contributed to this collection.
When the 6th Earl died on 13 February 1656, their fourth and only surviving son, Theophilus Hastings, became the 7th Earl.
Her Legacy as a Poet
Lucy Hastings' poems were not published during her lifetime. This was common for women writers in that historical period. Today, many people are rediscovering women writers from the past, and Lucy Hastings' work is now getting more attention from critics.
Images for kids
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Katherine, Countess of Chesterfield, and Lucy, Countess of Huntingdon, by Anthony van Dyck
