Manuscripts, in different hands, of a collection of several dozen primarily satirical and anonymous poems, many scatological. The majority of the poems are political satires, especially concerning the abdication of King James II and the accession of King William III; other targets include Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax; religious zeal; and France. Other poems satirize women, including Barbara Villiers (afterwards Palmer), Countess of Castlemaine and Duchess of Cleveland, with reference to her affair with rope-dancer Jacob Hall; Mrs. Moseley and her link with Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Baron Ashley and 1st Earl of Shaftesbury; and women's conduct generally. The collection also includes a broadside printing of Packington's Pound, as well as numerous satirical songs sung to its tune.
Description:
Binding: marbled covers, detached. and See "Early American Literature, vol. XIV, 1979, concerning the attribution of "A Fart" (p. 193).
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Court and courtiers, Great Britain--Politics and government--1660-1714, and Great Britain--Social life and customs--17th century
Subject (Name):
Cleveland, Barbara Villiers Palmer, Duchess of, 1641-1709, Etherege, George, Sir, 1635?-1691, Hall, Jacob, James II, King of England, 1633-1701. aut, Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of, 1621-1683, and William III, King of England, 1650-1702
Subject (Topic):
Ballads, English, English poetry--17th century, Political poetry, English, Songs, English, Verse satire, English, and Women--Conduct of life
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection of 239 political poems expressing loyalty to James II and entreaties for him to resume the English throne. Titles of such poems include His majestie's royal farewell to England and The confinement by Sir Robert L'Estrange. Other entries consist of songs in praise of King James, including A health to the King's return; A song to the tune of the King shall enjoy his own again; and A loyal Jacobean song. Many other poems lampoon or eulogize specific figures, such as Elegy on Mr. Ashton; An acrostic on John Tillotson; and an Epitaph on Algernon Sidney. Numerous poems mock the figures of William and Mary, including On the coronation of K. William and Q. Mary; and On the late metamorphosis of an old picture of Oliver Cromwells into a new picture of King William, the head chang'd the hierogliphicks remaining; others satirize the Protestant Church, Parliament, the Church of England, and the nonjuror controversy that followed the Revolution of 1688.
Description:
Binding: contemporary red morocco; gilt decoration. In gilt on cover: the arms of King James II, to whom the manuscript was presented about 1700. Title on spine: "Loyal Poems &c.", Formerly owned by Sir Thomas Strange. On flyleaf: T. A. W. L. Strange., Marbled endpapers., Pasted on flyleaf: dealer's description of manuscript., Table of contents at beginning of manuscript, and index at end., and Title from title page.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--History--Revolution of 1688 and Great Britain--Politics and government--1660-1714
Subject (Name):
Great Britain.--Parliament |d (1689), James--II,--King of England,--1633-1701, L'Estrange, Roger,--Sir,--1616-1704, Mary II, Queen of England, 1662-1694, Russell, Archibald George Blomefield, 1879-1955, Sidney, Algernon,--1622-1683, Strange, Thomas,--Sir--Autograph, Tillotson, John,--1630-1694, and William--III,--King of England,--1650-1702
Subject (Topic):
English poetry--17th century, English wit and humor, Jacobites--Poetry, Nonjurors, Political poetry, English--Early modern, 1500-1700, and Verse satire, English
Ascribed by the book-dealer to John Taylor, the water poet. The work is listed anonymously by the British museum cat. and Wing, and the attribution to Taylor is, according to the Professor Notestein, without foundation., Imperfect: head-lines bled., Signature: A4., and Title-woodcut.