Cabinet 9: Political Conspiracies

This work recounts the events surrounding the Rye House plot to assassinate Charles II and his brother James in 1683. Although the plot was thwarted, Charles went to great pains to publicise it, including commissioning Thomas Sprat to write an account of the event. Both Charles and James “made divers alterations” to the text, which may help to explain the extreme vilification of the conspirators.

Thomas Sprat, A True Account and Declaration of the Horrid Conspiracy against the Late King, His Present Majesty, and the Government: as it was Order'd to be Published by His Late Majesty (London: Thomas Newcomb, 1685) de Beer Ec 1685 S