Early Unpublished Poems of Elizabeth Craven
These poems are transcribed from a manuscript volume in the possession of one of Elizabeth Craven's direct descendants. The spine says in gold leaf “Poems Lady Craven”. The leather-bound volume was given by Craven to her friend Lord Macartney, whose bookplate survives inside the front cover. Though the cover is damaged, the handwritten pages are in good condition and perfectly legible. It was mentioned by Broadley in 1914, when he said it was in the possession of another member of the family, Lady Helen Forbes née Craven. She had bought it, from a dealer, as there is a price and brief description pencilled inside: " Most of the poems are unpublished. £5 5s”. From her it was handed down to the present owner. On the first page we find a Dedicatory “Sonnet to the Right Hon Lady Craven, on her Poetical Works, by the Revd Mr Jenner”. I saw fair Craven sit in state... This poem is not a sonnet in the true sense, having 16 lines mostly shorter than a pentameter. It