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

Full title: 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 [with] The Second Part of the relation Of the Late Wicked Contrivance Against the Lives of several Persons, by Forging an Association under their Hands: Being a further account of the said Forgery, and of the Two Authors of It, Stephen Blackhead; and Robert Young, aliàs Youngs, aliàs Brown, aliàs Hopkins, aliàs Hutt, aliàs Green, aliàs Smith, aliàs &c. Written by the Bishop of Rochester.

Two volumes bound in one 4to. f. [1] (blank), pp. [4], 5-75, [1] (blank); pp. [8], 164, f. [1] (blank). Later polished calf gilt. Gilt spine and boards, brown lettering panel. Manuscript note "Ex dono autoris" on second title page.

First editions, the second a presentation copy inscribed ‘Ex dono Autoris’. An autobiographical account by Thomas Sprat (1635-1713) of the attempt to incriminate him by Robert Young, the notorious forger of recommendatory letters and documentary evidence, during the treason and plot climate of the 1650s through 1690s. The so-called ‘Flowerpot Plot’ of 1692 was designed to undo the liberal bishop, but was triumphantly exposed through astute palaeographical analysis and the credible testimony of Sprat’s servants. The first volume relates what passed at the three examinations of the bishop by a committee of Lords of the Privy-Council; the second is an account of the two authors of the forgery, Robert Young and Stephen Blackhead. The second part was also issued separately. See D. Wing (ed.), Short-title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and British America, and of English Books Printed in Other Countries, 1641-1700. 4 vols. New York, 1982-1998 (2nd ed.), S 5046 and S 5051; ESTC, R24611.

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