Transcription of Samuel Colvil, Mock Poem, c.1690.

A transcription of Samuel Colvil, Mock Poem or Whiggs Supplication, part one, in two hands, both unidentified, starting with 'The Authors Apologie to the Reader'. The poem is a satire on the injustices suffered by Presbyterians under Cromwell, and their attempts to gain redress by means of a supplication to Charles II.

Samuel Colvil (fl.17th century), was the son of Elizabeth Melville (fl.1599-1631), known for her own religious writings, including an allegorical poem based on Calvinist doctrines, Ane Godlie Dreame. Her father was Sir James Melville of Halhill, diplomat and courtier, and she married John Colvil, commendator of the abbey at Culross. Samuel was a political satirist who came to public prominence after Cromwell's Commonwealth, with his attack on militant Puritanism in his Mock Poem. This was heavily influenced by Samuel Butler's Hudibras, itself a satire on the Cromwellians and on the Presbyterian church written by a staunch Royalist and Anglican. Colvil's version was known as the Scottish Hudibras. He also wrote The grand imposter discovered: or a historical dispute of the Papacy and Popish religion; 1. Demonstrating the newness of both; 2. By what artifices they are maintained; 3. The contradictions of the Roman doctors in defending them, published in 1673 in Edinburgh and dedicated to the duke of Lauderdale; and Prophecy anent the Union, published in 1707.

Single item

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Purchased from Sotheran for nine guineas, 6 July 1955.

Call number used to be ms1741, ms1742

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Binding: calf with gold decoration. Title and author embossed on spine.Paper: 14.5x19.3cm

Description compiled by Maia Sheridan, Archives Hub project archivist, based on material from the Manuscripts Database

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Second volume inscribed 'James Simpson' [p.i].

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The poem was first printed in 1681.