Walter Montagu - Works

Works

• The Shepheard's Paradise: a Pastoral Comedy. Lond. 1629, 8vo ; ib. 1659, Svo ; acted before Charles I. by the Queen and her ladies of honour.

Walter W. Greg, Pastoral Poetry and Pastoral Drama, gives this plot summary. "The King of Castile negotiates a marriage between his son and the princess of Navarre. The former, however, is in love with a lady of the court named Fidamira, who repulses his advances in favour of Agenor, a friend of the prince's. The prince therefore resolves to leave the court and seek the Shepherds' Paradise, a sequestered vale inhabited by a select and courtly company, and induces Agenor to accompany him on his expedition. In their absence the king himself makes love to Fidamira, who, however, escapes, and likewise makes her way to the Shepherds' Paradise in disguise. Meanwhile, Belesa, the princess of Navarre, misliking of the proposed match with a man she has never seen, has withdrawn from her father's court to the same pastoral retreat, where she has at once been elected queen of the courtly company. On the arrival of the prince and his friend they both fall in love with her, but the prince's suit is seconded by the disguised Fidamira, and soon takes a favourable turn. At this point the King of Castile arrives in pursuit, together with an old councillor, who proceeds to reveal the relationship of the various characters. Fidamira and Belesa, it appears, are sisters, and Agenor their brother. The marriage of the prince and Belesa is of course solemnized; the king renews his suit to Fidamira, but she prefers to remain in Paradise, where she is chosen perpetual queen."

• A Letter sent from France by the Hon. Walter Montague to his father, the Earl of Manchester, containing the motives of his conversion, dated Paris, 21 Nov. 1635.
• A Coppy of (i) The Letter sent by the Queen's Majestic concerning the Collection of the Recusant's Mony for the Scottish Warre (2) The Letter sent by Sir K. Digby and Mr. Montagu concerning the Contribution, &c. Lond. 1641, 410.
• Miscellanea Spiritualia, or Devout Essaies: composed by the Hon. Walter Montagu, Esq, in Twenty-one Treatises. Lond. (Nov.) 1648, sm. 410, with cngr. front, by Marshall ; 1649, 410. First part, on human nature, religion, devotion, scurrility, love, duties towards enemies, solitude, &c. &c.
• Jeremias redivivus: or, An elegiacall lamentation on the death of our English Josias, Charles the First, King of Great Britaine, &c. (1949)
• Miscellanea Spiritualia; or Devout Essayes. the Second Part. Containing Twelve Treatises. Lond. (31 Oct.), 1654, 4to.
• The Accomplish'd Woman. Written originally in French; since made English by Walter Montagu. Lond. (Nov.) 1656, 12mo. This is a translation of Jacques du Bosc.
• An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholique Church in the Points of Controversie with those of the Pretended Reformation. By James Benignes Bossuet, Counsellor in the King's Counsels, Bishop and Lord of Condom, Tutor to his Royall Highnesse the Dolphin of France. Translated into English by W. M. Paris, Yin. du Moutier, 1672, 12mo, pp. 196.
• A writer in the Rambler, vol. ix. N.S. p. 208, credits Abbot Montagu with a translation of St. Augustine's City of God, but assigns no date.