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LEONARD WHEATCROFT, OF ASHOVER. 39 



The sparring or fastening of the door against him, whether 

 metaphorical or literal, made a deep and painful impression on 

 his ardent spirit, and was the cause of the following lines : — 



" At night when I should take my rest, 

 And in my bed lie quietly, 

 Then do I think on my dearest 



Whom I doe love so heartiJee : 

 Then do I turne and never rest 



Because she sparrd the door on me. 



What 1 dost thou thinke I'm basely borne, 

 Or, I've not means enough for thee? 



Why dost thou hold me in such scnnic 

 Knowing I love thee lieartilee ? 



Why dost thou hold me in sucli scurne 

 That thou dost spar the door on me? 



■' 'Leo' my name begins withall 



And ' Nardus ' makes it full you see. 

 I am an heir, and that's not all ; 



(for I do love her heartily) 

 My pedigree it is not small. 



And yet, she sparred the door on me ! 



" And 'Wheat' my surname doth begin 



With 'Croft,' which never changed shall l)ee. 



And when her name shall be put in 

 Then I shall love her heartilee ; 



And when her name shall be put in, 

 She'll never spar the door on me. " 



No wonder Leonard took his treatment to heart, for her 

 attractions must ha\e been ot no common order : — 



" First to set out her lovely beauty 



I know not where I should begin ; 

 Her wit, her wisdom, and her beauty 

 Argue thai she hath no sin. 



Shee is a neat one, and compleat one. 



If you saw but every part. 

 This pure Frances as it chaunces, 



Stolen hath niv loving heart. 



