An Apologie for the Royal Party (1659); and A Panegyric to Charles the Second (1661) by John Evelyn
page 5 of 61 (08%)
page 5 of 61 (08%)
|
October 12 or 13 when Morley, pistol in hand, refused to allow him at the
head of his troops to pass through the Palace Yard. Evelyn also wrote on the title-page of this copy of his pamphlet "three tymes printed". In fact there were four printings, all described in the writer's _John Evelyn, a Study in Bibliophily & a Bibliography of his Writings_, New York, The Grolier Club, 1937, the one here reproduced being the fourth and final form. Nevertheless all four issues are now extremely scarce, the first printing being known in three copies (one in the United States), the second in seven (two in the United States), the third in one, and the fourth in one. This apparently unique relic of Evelyn's bold gesture on behalf of his King is in the writer's possession and is still as issued, edges untrimmed and with its eight leaves stitched in a contemporary paper wrapper. It has been reprinted only in Evelyn's _Miscellaneous Writings_, 1825, pp. 169-192. * * * * * When Charles II actually returned to England in 1660 Evelyn's feelings were deeply stirred. He had played some part in the restoration of the monarchy, and, with his literary instinct, naturally felt impelled to be among those who wished to present the King with an address on the day of his Coronation. This took place on April 23, 1661, and on the following day Evelyn recorded in his Diary: "I presented his Ma^tie with his Panegyric in the Private Chamber, which he was pleas'd to accept most graciously: I gave copies to the Lord Chancellor and most of the noblemen who came to me for it."[2] Evelyn's _Panegyric_ was thus distributed privately and no doubt in small number, so that it is today extremely uncommon, being known only in five copies, not more than one of which is in the United States of America. Evelyn possessed a copy in 1687 according |
|