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58
Samuel Gedge Ltd
CATHOLIC ATTACK ON CROMWELL
75. LE NOIR, Jean. Le voyage
de Cromvvel en l’autre
monde, et son retour sur la
terre. Avec ses nouveaux
desseins, & ses nouvelles
intrigues, pour conquêter
l’empire des esprits:
réprésentez sur l’original
du sieur John of
VVerstaonnay Chevalier,
gentilhomme ordinaire de
la chambre de sa Majesté
Brittanique … histoire
nouvelle, politique &
ecclesiastique … augmenté
de la geneaologie de
Jacques Second Roy
d’Angleterre …
Londres, Imprimé par R. Daniel
pour Iean Clarke. 1690. “Seconde
edition” [but actually first edition]
8vo (9.5 x 14.5cm) 8, 163,
[5]pp., front flyleaves with some
light spotting and nineteenth century
shelf label pasted in, titlepage
with ownership inscription “ex
libris Michaelis de la Roche”, very
good in original calf, marbled
pastedowns, rebacked to style, light
wear to extremities, both boards
with gilt stamp of the Society of
Writers to the Signet.
This rare and unusual work
begins with a humourous
description of Oliver
Cromwell’s travels in the
world of the spirits. A history
of the English Civil War from
the Catholic perspective and genealogy of James II follows. A vehicle for the projection of Jacobite sympathies,
it appears to be the work of Jean le Noir (1622-1692), priest of Alençon and Catholic polemicist.
A dedication to Charles II by the seemingly spurious originator “John of Werstaonnay” is employed
as an opening conceit. The publication is representative of anti-Protestant feeling and Catholic disappointment
at the failure of James II to regain his throne in 1689.
This book is included in ESTC, presumably on account of the imprint, “Londres”. This however seems
almost certain to be false: by 1690 “R.Daniel” had long since ceased printing in “Cheap-side”. The typographic
absence of any letter“w” throughout, and the Catholic perspective of the work, both support a
printing location in France. That it really is a “seconde edition” also appears as unlikely as it having been
translated from an English original – both probably being publishing tricks. Provenance: the French literary
journalist Michel de la Roche (c.1680-1742), a Huguenot exile resident in London from around
1700, has penned his name on the title-page. De la Roche was a pioneer in reviewing English literature
for French and Dutch audiences and might have brought this work with him from France to England.
The later provenance of the Society of Writers to the Signet is also appropriate on account of the novel’s
Stuart sympathies.
ESTC records 4 copies only (Lg; E; DGU; CtY). OCLC adds Yale & Newberry Library.
£950