[Rarebooks] FS: 1692- The Diabolical ' Flowerpot Plot '

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

>From our new RECENT ACQUISITIONS catalog
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_303.htm>

Sprat, Thomas, Bishop of Rochester. "A Relation of the Late Wicked
Contrivance of Stephen Blackhead and Robert Young, against the Lives of
several Persons, by Forging an Association under their Hands, Written by
the Bishop of Rochester. In Two Parts: The First Part being a Relation of
what passed at the Three Examinations of the said Bishop by a Committee of
Lords of the Privy-Council. The Second being an Account of the Two
above-mentioned Authors of the Forgery"

Savoy; Printed by Edward Jones: 1692.

A strange tale, known a the time as the Flowerpot Plot. Thomas Sprat
[1635-1713] was the Bishop of Rochester, a noted preacher, wit and man of
letters, one of the founders of the Royal Society of London, and the
author of a history of that institution. While the Dean of Westminster he
oversaw Christopher Wren’s restoration of Westminster Abbey. He was also
almost a victim in one of the more bizarre episodes in the aftermath of
the revolution which saw James II, a Catholic, deposed as king of England
and replaced by the Protestant William of Orange and James’ daughter,
Mary.

Sprat had opposed the motion in 1689 which had declared the English throne
vacant, but he agreed to assist at William and Mary’s coronation. However,
in 1692 a man named Robert Young forged a paper of association purportedly
signed by Sprat, as well as William Sancroft, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, and the Duke of Marlborough, calling for the restoration of
James II to the throne. Stephen Blackhead then visited Sprat’s mansion in
Kent three times on fictitious errands before he succeeded in planting (so
to speak) the forged papers in a flowerpot. Young contacted the
authorities about the paper, noting that they had better focus their
search on the flowerpots.

Bishop Sprat was arrested, but even with Young’s broad hint the searchers
never did locate the correct flowerpot, and Young had to retrieve the
paper himself, sending it to the Secretary of State. The plot unraveled
however, and the Council freed Bishop Sprat, and tried, convicted,
pilloried and imprisoned Young instead.

Hardcover. 6.5"x8", 164 pages; bond in full period leather with raised
spine bands, gilt spine medallions and a gilt-label; the covers are
blind-ruled and decorated with a pleasing sponge-patterned design. Light
cover wear, spine head slightly chipped; internally there is some toning
and soil, heavy in places. The front hinge is cracked internally, but
tight. [31058] $750.00


 - - -

See the entire RECENT ACQUISITIONS catalog at-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_303.htm>

 - - -


JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

Post Office Box 239
Northampton, Massachusetts 01061 USA
telephone (413) 247-5080

Our website-
<http://www.joslinhall.com>

Our Latest Catalogs-

LATE SUMMER, 2007
 -Selections from our stock
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_303.htm>

FOLK ARTS & AMERICANA
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_302.htm>

BOOKS ON GLASS
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_299.htm>

BOOKS ON CERAMICS
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_295.htm>

BOOKS ON FURNITURE
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_293.htm>

BOOKS ON AMERICAN SILVER
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_289.htm>

FIRE AND ICE
 -lighting, fireplaces & ice
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_282.htm>

A GRAVE AFFAIR
 -gravestones, epitaphs & mourning
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_288.htm>

 ~ ~ ~

 SPEAKING OF BOOKS
    -Our free email News List
<http://joslinhall.com/mailman/listinfo/jhrbnews_joslinhall.com>

 FOGGYGATES
    - our Bookselling blog
<http://foggygates.blogspot.com/>

 ~ ~ ~

TERMS:
All payments must be in U.S. funds and negotiable through a U.S. bank; We
accept checks, money orders, American Express, Visa and Mastercard. Books
may be reserved pending payment; Institutions may be billed; Standard
courtesies to institutions and the trade; Postage charges are $5.00 for
the first book, and $2.00 for each additional book. Shipments outside the
U.S. will be billed at cost. We accept returns if we are notified within
ten days of your receipt of the books-please ask for full instructions and
terms. Massachusetts residents must add 5% state sales tax.

As members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America we are
committed to upholding high professional standards and making sure your
bookbuying experience is enjoyable.