THE PICTURE OF A FAVOURITE: OR SECRET MEMOIRS OF ROBERT DUDLEY, EARL OF LEICESTER, PRIME MINISTER AND FAVOURITE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, AND STADTHOLDER OF HOLLAND; Containing An Instructive Account of his Rise and Fall; excessive Power and Wealth; his cruel Oppressions; the exorbitant Grants made to him; his ambitious Aim at the Crown; his Lusts, Hypocrisie, and Irreligion; also his Secret Combination with the Papists and Fanaticks, to Undermine the Church of England, and Exclude the Royal Family. Written during his Life, and now publish'd from an Old Manuscript: with a Preface by James Drake, Fellow of the Royal Society and College of Physicians

J.D.

Published by Printed for Samuel Briscoe at the Bell-Savage on Ludgate-Hill; and sold by Tho. Bickerton at the Crown in Pater-Noster-Row,1721, London, 1721

About this Item

Small 8vo. Full old polished calf, crackled at edges and along spine. Title in red and black Rebacked, with original title tab ruled in gilt) glued on. 3rd Edition, Corrected. 7-1/2 in, [30] 218pp (Pp.211-218 misnumbered 111-118). Supposed printing for the first time from an old manuscript. Taken largely from Leicesters Commonwealth which was apparently written by a courtier before 1584 who passed the blame to Father Parsons. Leicester is depicted as a professional poisoner and debauchee. The book was first printed in Antwerp, translated into French and Latin, and reprinted in London in 1641, when it was suppressed. The death of his wife, Lady Amy Robsart, appears in many forms in subsequent books. She was found dead of a broken neck at the foot of the stairs. Dudley's enemies soon put out the word that she had been murdered because Dudley aspired to the Queen's bed. Indeed Dudley did not attend the funeral. Suspicion dogged Dudley for the rest of his life. Derham portrays Leicester "as an amoral opportunist of almost satanic malevolence," a quintessential Machiavellian power broker surrounded by lurid stories of his scandalous deeds and dangerous plots, among which was being the longtime secret lover of Queen Elizabeth. First published in 1584 as "The copie of a leter, wryten by a master of arte of Cambrige' and republished in 1641 as 'Leycester's common-wealth'; this edition is a reissue of 'Secret memoirs of Robert Dudley' first published in 1706, and reissued in that year as 'The second edition corrected', and subsequently reissued in 1708 as 'The perfect picture of a favorite: . The third edition, corrected'. ESTC Citation No. T140915. "An instructive account of his Rise and Fall; excessive Power and Wealth; his cruel Oppressions; the exhorbitant Grants made to himn; his ambitious Aim at the Crown; his Lusts, Hypocrisie, and Irreligion; also his Secret Combination with the Papists and Fanaticks, to Undermine the Church of England, and Exclude the Royal Family." "Written During his Life, and now publish'd from an Old Manuscript : with a Preface by James. Fellow of the Royal Society and Collee of Physicians.

Seller Inventory # 81130

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE PICTURE OF A FAVOURITE: OR SECRET MEMOIRS OF ROBERT DUDLEY, EARL OF LEICESTER, PRIME MINISTER AND FAVOURITE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, AND STADTHOLDER OF HOLLAND; Containing An Instructive Account of his Rise and Fall; excessive Power and Wealth; his cruel Oppressions; the exorbitant Grants made to him; his ambitious Aim at the Crown; his Lusts, Hypocrisie, and Irreligion; also his Secret Combination with the Papists and Fanaticks, to Undermine the Church of England, and Exclude the Royal Family. ...
• Publisher: Printed for Samuel Briscoe at the Bell-Savage on Ludgate-Hill; and sold by Tho. Bickerton at the Crown in Pater-Noster-Row,1721, London
• Publication Date: 1721
• Binding: Leather-bound
• Edition: Third Edition, Corrected.
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Biography, Autobiography