Love poetry by Leonard Wheatcroft of Ashover in Derbyshire

Leonard Wheatcroft (1627-1707) was born in the village of Ashover, Derbyshire, and lived there for most of his life. He was the village tailor, later branching out into other endeavours including malting and ale-house keeping, and from 1680 he was the parish clerk and a school teacher. He was also a prolific author for a man of his social position, composing poems and writing an autobiography, none of which were published until the twentieth century.

He married Elizabeth Hawley in 1657 after courting her for over two years, and the couple had nine children. Their courtship features in a group of poems in 'The Art of Poetry, or, Come ye Gallants Look and Buy, here is Mirth and Melody', his manuscript book of poems. In these pages from 'The Art of Poetry', Leonard Wheatcroft has written his verses to Elizabeth in six decorated boxes which, as it says below, can be read six ways. On the opposite page is a declaration of love by Elizabeth above which he has drawn a dart, possibly intended to be cupid's arrow.