Collection items

An Account of Popery and Arbitrary Government, 167...

Book, Folio

This anonymous political tract denounces the growing influence of both France and Catholicism at the English court, and ...

An early manuscript copy of Marvell's 'To His Coy...

Manuscript Created date: c. 1667–82

This manuscript miscellany of Restoration poetry contains the earliest known copy of Andrew Marvell’s celebrated lyrical...

Areopagitica by John Milton, 1644

Book, Quarto

This controversial pamphlet, entitled Areopagitica was written by John Milton in 1644. It argues against the censorship...

Bribery and debauchery at a Whig electioneering ba...

Print, Image

This image by William Hogarth, printed in 1755, depicts the violence, gluttony and bribery of an election banquet among...

Denham Place, Buckinghamshire

Painting, Image Created date: c. 1695

This detailed aerial view of Denham Place, the country seat of Sir Roger Hall (1642–1729) MP and Sheriff of Buckinghamsh...

Dutch picture bible: Bybel-Printen, 1659

Book, Folio, Engraving, Illustration, Image

The Protestant Reformation that swept through Europe in the 16th century radically reshaped Christianity. It overturned...

Engraved plate from The Devils Cabinet-Councell wi...

Engraving, Image, Illustration

Following his Civil War victory, Oliver Cromwell was declared Lord Protector of the Commonwealth in 1653. But after the...

First edition of Andrew Marvell's Poems, 1681

Book, Folio, Engraving

This posthumous edition of Andrew Marvell’s (1621–1678) Miscellaneous Poems was the first collected volume of his poetry...

John Dryden's Fables

Book

John Dryden’s Fables Ancient and Modern are considered one of his best works, a model of linguistic clarity and elegance...

Note by Dryden authorising his wife to collect his...

Manuscript, Letter

On 13 April 1668 John Dryden (1631–1700) was appointed England’s first official Poet Laureate. The position of Poet Lau...

Operatic adaptation of The Tempest by Dryden, Dave...

Book, Quarto

British theatres reopened in 1660, after an 18 year closure while the country was under Puritan rule. At the Duke’s Thea...

Pamphlet on the death of Oliver Cromwell

Book, Octavo, Woodcut, Engraving, Engraving, Image

Some Farther Intelligence of the Affairs of England (1659) provides a rare insight into the Protectorate’s official vers...

Photographs of the RSC's The Rover, 2016

Photograph, Image Created date: 2016

Directed by Loveday Ingram, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2016 production of The Rover embraced the play’s raucous ca...

Poems on Affairs of State, 1703

Book, Octavo

As this book reveals, the political turbulence of the 17th century had a significant impact on literature and readers’ ...

Portrait of Andrew Marvell

Painting, Image Created date: c. 1655-60

This portrait of Andrew Marvell (1621–1678), painted by an unknown artist, dates from around 1655–60. It is the only re...