The secret history of the reigns of K. Charles II and K. James II John Phillips [attrib.]

Printed in London in 1690, The Secret History of the Reigns of K. Charles II and K. James II is a politically charged pamphlet that emerged at the height of late Stuart controversies. Though published anonymously, it is widely attributed to John Phillips, nephew of John Milton, or to Robert Burton. Issued shortly after the Glorious Revolution, the text sharply criticizes the Catholic leanings of both Charles II and James II, framing their reigns within the struggle between Protestantism and Catholicism that dominated English politics of the seventeenth century. These polemical accounts functioned as propaganda, intended to sway opinion against the Stuart line and justify the Protestant succession. Copies of this first edition are increasingly scarce in commerce, particularly in such appealing condition. Near Fine, bound in full leather, the volume remains tight and secure with clean pages, an unusually well-preserved survival. Format: Sextodecimo (16mo), single volume. Size: 5.75 x 3.5 inches (14.5 x 8.5 cm). Collation: Not provided. Illustrations: None. Edition: First edition, 1690. References: Wing S 2347. #29247 PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.