Royalist plotter.- Christopher Love.- [Wild (Robert)] The Tragedy of Christopher Love at Tower-Hill, final f. rather soiled on verso, n.p., [1651] bound after Love's Name Lives: or, a Publication of Divers Petitions Presented by Mistris Love to the Parliament in Behalf of Her Husband with Severall Letters the Interchangeably Pass'd Between them a Little Before his Death, title a little foxed and soiled, ff. becoming loose, n.p., 1663 and The Whole Triall of Mr Christopher Love, Before a Pretended High Court of Justice in Westminster Hall, I3 lower corner torn away, not affecting text, n.p., 1660, together 3 works in 1 vol., light foxing, bookplate to pastedown, contemporary calf, worn, spine defective, [Wing W2149B, L3142 & W2065], 4to.

⁂ A trio of rare works on the trial and execution of Christopher Love. Love (1618-1651), a Presbyterian preacher, became embroiled in the 1651 plot to restore Charles II to the throne. He was arrested, charged with high treason, tried and found guilty before the high court of justice (at the trial Love was represented by Matthew Hale). Following the verdict Love's wife sent multiple petitions to parliament whilst also sending a number of affectionate letters to her husband, both of which became popular in Presbyterian Royalist circles following Love's execution. The first item here is a short satiric theatrical verse by Robert Wild with only 4 copies recorded on ESTC.

Provenance: M. H. Bloxam (bookplate).