1696 The Arraignment, Tryal, and Condemnation of Peter Cooke, Gent. for High-Treason

Description

First Edition, Rebound, Very Scarce

Peter Cooke was an English merchant accused of involvement in a plot to overthrow King William III and replace him with the deposed James II, who at the time was exiled in France. Cooke was alleged to have provided financial support to William's supporters.

Cook was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was subsequently executed. Chillingly, the judges sentence of hanging, drawing and quartering is printed here.

The trial was a high profile event and received much publicity at the time, with some believing that Cooke had been forced to confess under duress.

ESTC reference R3080, WING A3757.

With the register [A2], B-T2. The imprimatur leaf [A1] has been erroneously bound as the final leaf, rather than the first. Collated, complete.

With a Wigan Public Library bookplate to the front pastedown, and a further bookplate, dated July 1907, to the front free endpaper, in which the Earl of Crawford - James Ludovic Lindsay at the time - presents the work to the library. With a blind stamp to the tail of the title page and final leaf, and no further library markings.

A fascinating and scarce account of this significant trial.