Book ID: 26956 The Idol of the Clownes, or Insurrection of Wat the Tyler . . JOHN CLEVELAND.

The Idol of the Clownes

The Idol of the Clownes, or Insurrection of Wat the Tyler . . .

Place and Imprint: London: Printed in the year, 1654.
Edition: First edition.
Bibliographical References: ESTC R208498; NCBEL I, 1305; Wing C-4672.
Condition: Plate mounted and possibly trimmed; frontis portrait repaired in the lower left corner with manuscript facsimile; very good copy.
Book ID: 26956

Physical Description

Small octavo, 19th century calf rebacked, red morocco spine label, blind rules and decorations, gilt lettering, a.e.g. Frontis portrait and one plate.

Comments

John Cleveland's account of the famous peasant insurrection led by Walter Tyler (d. 1381) against Richard II in protest over his tax on commoners to pay for the war with France. Tyler and his rebels entered London and terrorized supporters of the monarchy, but Tyler was killed after meeting with Richard II, and his followers were allowed to go home. G.A. Henty, among others, have fictionalized Tyler's Insurrection; Cleveland may be making subtle comparisons between Tyler and Cromwell. The text is preceded by a six-stanza poem to John Lydgate, the 15th century English poet and monk; in this copy another version poem, from Cleveland's Majestas Intemerata (1647) has also been inserted. Bookplate of Robert Marquess of Crewe on the front paste-down; bookplate of Robert S. Pirie on the front free endpaper.

Price: $950.00

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