Folger-specific note
From dealer's description: "POPISH PLOT. WILLIAMS, Sir William. PEYTON, Robert. Fair Copy Manuscript: ‘The Speakers Speech to Sir Robert Peyton.’ [n.p.] 18 lines in an attractive, readable hand, on one side of a folio leaf; sl. spotted, inner margin sl. chipped. 33cm x 21cm. An interesting survival. [100773] ¶ A fair manuscript copy of Sir William Williams’ (1634-1700) infamous speech to Robert Peyton, while the former was the Speaker of the House of Commons. Robert Peyton, c.1633-1689, acted as Examiner Robert, he being, as the deponent is informed by several persons, a very desperate and unruly man, who often gets drunk and beats those he meets with, though not provoked. Peyton was in favour of the exclusion bill, and as a result, fell out with James, Duke of York. After the revelation of the Meal-Tub Plot in November 1679, he tried to repair his relationship with the Duke through the Catholic midwife Elizabeth Cellier and the Catholicconvert astrologer John Gadbury. After working on various committees relating to the Popish Plot, it was perhaps to be expected that many of his colleagues in government were not impressed by his sudden collaborations with high-profile Catholics. He was expelled from Parliament, and in February 1681, a copy this speech purportedly given by the Speaker of the House, was published. It begins: ‘You are absolutely the worst of men and have committed the greatest of offences for which you deserve to be obliterated from the knowledge of all, being of a base and timorous spirit you have endeavoured to cast your damnable plot upon the most innocent of his Majesties subjects’. Williams continues ‘you have forsaken God and your country, and as Satan being your Director you endeavoured to bring Popery into this Kingdom by the vilest ways the Devil and the Pope could assist you’. Following the publication of the speech, he demanded Williams issue a public disavowal, and when the latter refused, challenged him to a duel. He was sent to the Tower for the challenge, but no charges were forthcoming and he was bailed in May 1681. ESTC records the speech, titled ‘A specimen, of the rhetorick, candour, gravity, and ingenuity of Wi. Williams, Speaker to the late House of Commons at Westminster, in his speech to Sir Robert Peyton, when he expell’d him that House’ in six copies in the UK and three in the US." Ordered from Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers, D9768, 2024-09-18, A Catalogue for The York Book Fair, September 12-13 2024, item 23.
