CAREW, TuomAs (1598-1638). An English poet. Of his life very little is known. Ile was a son of Sir Matthew Carew, of Middle-Littleton, Worcestershire, a master in Chancery, and was ,born probably in 1598. From Westminster School he went to Corpus Christi College, Ox ford, but left about 1615, without a degree. "Af terwards," says Anthony Woad, "improving his parts by traveling and eouversation with in genious men in the metrommlis, he beeame reck oned among the ehiefest of his time for delicacy of wit and poetic fancy. About which time, being taken into the Royal Court for his most admirable ingenuity, he was made Gentleman of the Privy-Chamber, and Sewer in Ordinary to King Charles 1." The King bestowed on him the royal domain of Sunning Hill, a part of Wind sor Forest. Carew died, it would seem, early in 1638. lie was the first of it group of lyrists, often classed as Cavalier poets, to the making of whom two influences contributed: the Eliza bethan lyrists, especially Ben Jonson, and the pretty conceits of Dr. Donne. Carew's theme
is love, which is treated with great frankness and with a luxuriant imagination. His verses are often very sweet and beautiful. lie pub lished, in 1634, a masque entitled Ca•um Britan nicum: lint his poems did not appear until 1640. some time after his death. Recent editions are by Hazlitt, for the Roxburghe Library (London, 1870) ; by Ebsworth (London. 1893) ; and by Vincent for the Muses Library (London, 1899). The last-named editor would identify the subject of this sketch with the Thomas Carew who entered Merton College, Oxford, in 1608, at the age of thirteen, and received the degree of B.A. in 1611. Ile also argues for 1639 as date of death.