Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

Mary, Lady Carey

c.1609–c.1680

Introduction

Mary, Lady Carey (née Jackson), was author of a series of largely autobiographical poems and meditations, which exist in two manuscripts: one her reportedly autograph manuscript, in private hands (*CaM 1); the other a later formal copy now in the Bodleian (CaM 2). Although selections have appeared in print, the full text of her poems and meditations has yet to be published.

Verse and Prose

Meditations and Poetry

Selectively edited in Meditations from the Note Book of Mary Carey 1649-1657, ed. Francis Meynell (Westminster, 1918), and in Kissing the Rod, ed. Germaine Greer et al. (New York, 1988), pp. 156-61.

*CaM 1
Autograph

Autograph MS.

Selectively edited from this MS in Meynell's edition (1918) and in Kissing the Rod (1988).

1653-7

In the possession of the Meynell family. Recorded in the online Perdita Project as seen by Faith Lanum in 2001.

Private owners in the UK (Lady Carey MS)
CaM 2

Copy, in Charles Hutton's hand, headed Herein is contained my Lady Carey's Meditations, & Poetry, comprising a dedicatory epistle to her second husband George Payler, a religious dialogue and meditations, and verse, chiefly on the deaths of her children, including (f. 95r) an elegy by Payler, subscribed (f. 117v) January, 12th: 1657. saith Maria Carey always in Christ happy.

Recorded in HMC, 5th Report (1876), p. 40, and in HMC, 55 (1901-14), I, 15. Selected extracts from this MS by editors. Also described in the online Perdita Project.

A compilation of two sets of works, in the hand of Charles Hutton, prepared as a presentation MS, 166 octavo leaves (plus blanks).

Comprising Lady Carey's Meditations, & Poetry (ff. 1r-117v) and works by and about Thomas Lord Fairfax. (ff. 118r-66v).

1681

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