Satyrs upon the Jesuits – John Oldham – 1685 | Poems on the Popish Plot

Satyrs upon the Jesuits by John Oldham, printed in 1685, is one of the sharpest poetic responses to the turbulent religious struggles of late 17th-century England. Written during the period of the Popish Plot, these satires target the Jesuit order and form part of a broader anti-Catholic movement in contemporary English verse. The book is not confined to topical satire. It also includes The Passion of Byblis in Ovid’s Metamorphosis Imitated in English, demonstrating Oldham’s interest in adapting classical texts.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Satyrs upon the Jesuits: Written in the Year 1679: And Some Other Pieces by the Same Hand
• Author(s): John Oldham; Ovid
• Contributor(s): Ovid
• Publisher: London, Joseph Hindmarsh
• Edition: Third edition, 1685
• Format: (8vo), single volume
• Binding: Full leather, modern
• Size:  7.25 in x 4.5 in (18.4 cm x 11.4 cm)
• Collation: [4], 148 pp
• Contents Include:
  • Satyrs upon the Jesuits
  • The Passion of Byblis in Ovid’s Metamorphosis Imitated in English
• Reference(s): Wing O 237; ESTC R 3086

Condition:

Bound in modern full leather, the book remains tight and secure. The text block shows light toning consistent with seventeenth-century paper. Very Good.

Why Collect This?

• significant Restoration satire
• Includes both topical poems and an Ovid adaptation
• Modern full leather binding in stable condition

Item Number: # 29369