Epitaph
on Katherine, Lady Ogle First printed by Gifford from the
Newcastle manuscript (BL Harley MS 4955, fol. 55). [Editor: Colin Burrow]
Katherine Lady Ogle was the mother of Jonson’s patron William
Cavendish, Earl (later Duke) of Newcastle (
Und. 53 and
59), wife of Sir Charles Cavendish (‘Cavendish’, 5.350), and younger
sister of Jane Ogle (‘Jane Ogle’, 5.713). She died on 18 Apr. 1629, and
was buried two days later at Bolsover. She married Sir Charles on 11
July 1591, and was granted the title Baroness Ogle by letters patent on
4 Dec. 1628 (A. Collins,
1752, 24). She was a Catholic (Hasler,
1981, 1.565).
The poem needs to be imagined in the physical form in which it is
presented in the Newcastle MS: lines 9–32 are depicted on a tablet
(drawn in pencil) supported by two
putti (baby
angels), who float with clouds above them, with lines 1–8 and 33–40
framing this central tableau. Lines 9–32 are thus physically represented
as the ‘record in heaven’ referred to in line 1. It is followed, like
‘Cavendish inscrip.’, by an elaborate design by ‘Mr Lukin’, which
describes her as ‘Honourable for uniting so pure devotion with such
upright charitable conversation’, and elegies by George Holmes. The MS
is probably a copy of the funeral placard, which records a design for a
monument for Katherine Ogle that was never erected. Cf.
Und. 12 headnote.
῾Ο
Ζεὺς . . . δὶφϑεράς ‘In the fullness of time Zeus looks down
on the records.’ Stephanus’s Dictionary (s.v. δὶφοερα): fingitur enim e pelle
Amaltheae caprae habere membranas, in quibus facta hominum notet, et
tandem aliquando ea inspiciens beneficio vel poena rependat,
‘It is feigned that Zeus has a vellum book made from the skins of goats
from Amalthea, in which he notes the deeds of men, and at which he will
eventually look, and decide on reward or punishment.’
1 record
Stressed on the second syllable.
3 nephews
descendants (‘Cavendish inscrip.’ 10).
5 own
acknowledge.
8 Code, digests,
pandects Compendia of Roman law ordered to be made by the
Emperor Justinian in the sixth century ad;
i.e. ‘comprehensive authority’.
8 Diphthera Jovis Jove’s book. A diphthera is a skin prepared
for writing. If the poem originally appeared on a funeral placard it was
probably made of vellum; hence Jonson alludes to the physical medium of
his own poem.
14 circles The
circle was emblem of perfection (as at Und.
84.4.32).
22 By warrant
In a way that could be guaranteed.
26 freehold
The most absolute form of tenure of property or land, which can be
assigned to the holder’s heirs without restriction.
26 inmate
sub-tenant or lodger (and therefore liable to eviction).
32 phoenix
Symbol of married chastity, see Forest 10.
33 this i.e.
the tablet of fame given above.
35 charter
document granting special privileges.
36 gift and
purchase Property could be transferred by inheritance (as at
.
above), conquest (not appropriate here), gift, or ‘purchase’, which
covered ‘The acquisition of property by any legal means other than
inheritance’ (
OED, 5).
39 Lord The
word blends God with Sir Charles Cavendish.