Secret History of the Reigns of Charles II and James II – John Phillips | First edition

At the end of the 17th-century, numerous anti-Catholic pamphlets and propaganda were published being very critical of the reigns of Kings Charles II and James II. This particular book, The Secret History of the Reigns of Charles II and James II, was written by an anonymous author, though modern scholarship attributes it to John Phillips or Robert Burton. The author provides important context on the British throne and the political and religious battles between Protestants and Catholics.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The secret history of the reigns of K. Charles II and K. James II
• Author(s): John Phillips [attrib.]
• Illustrator(s):
• Contributor(s):
• Publisher: [London]: Printed in the year 1690
• Edition: First edition, 1690
• Format: (16mo), single volume
• Binding: Full leather
• Size:  5.75 in x 3.5 in (14.5 cm x 8.5 cm)
• Collation: 214pp
• Illustrations:
• Contents Include:
  • Account of the reign of Charles II
  • Account of the reign of James II
  • Critique of Catholic influence at court
• Reference(s): Wing S 2347

Condition:

Bound in full leather, this copy remains tight and secure, Near Fine. Pages are notably clean for a pamphlet of this vintage, with text block well-preserved and binding sound.

Why Collect This?

• First edition printing from 1690, issued during the year of William and Mary’s consolidation of power
• Rare survival of a politically charged anti-Catholic tract
• Attributed to John Phillips, nephew of John Milton, adding literary significance
• Important insight into English political propaganda of the Stuart era

Item Number: # 29247