Plaque

John Dryden attacked

Inscription

On the 19th December 1679 in the alley by the Lamb & Flag the poet John Dryden was nearly done to death by rogues hired by the Earl of Rochester.

Odd that the plaque gives the 19th and not the 18th as the date.

Site: Bowden & Dryden (3 memorials)

WC2, Rose Street, Lamb & Flag pub

This pub and the nearby streets are the subject of a post by the great A London Inheritance.

At around 8pm on 18 December 1679, Dryden was attacked in Rose Alley probably because, in his poem "An Essay upon Satire," he attacked amongst others King Charles II, one of the king's mistresses Louise De Keroualle, and the Earl of Rochester. It is generally thought that Rochester hired some henchmen to carry out the attack.

The pseudo-antique panel is on the ceiling of the passageway to the right (east) of the pub.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
John Dryden attacked

Subjects commemorated i

John Dryden

Poet and playwright. Born in Aldwincle, Northamptonshire. The first Poet Laur...

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Earl of Rochester, John Wilmot

Poet, wit and courtier. Born Ditchley, Oxfordshire. The picture source websit...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
John Dryden attacked

Also at this site i

Emma Bowden

Emma Bowden

We've found confirmation that Emma was a real person (check the details on he...

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Lamb & Flag - pub information board

Lamb & Flag - pub information board

This plaque implicates De Keroualle in the attack on Dryden whereas it's more...

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Nearby Memorials

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Eric Ravilious

W6, Upper Mall, 48

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Watch-house in Giltspur Street

Watch-house in Giltspur Street

EC1, Giltspur Street, 10

Watch-house, erected 1791, destroyed 1941, rebuilt 1962.

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Cutty Sark Gardens - Opening

Cutty Sark Gardens - Opening

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The plaque can be seen in the lower left of our photo. 'Cutty Sark Gardens' sounds like a sarky name for a large area which is almost ent...

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Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson

Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson

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Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, actor, lived here. Born 1853, died 1937.

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PP - 3I - Selves

PP - 3I - Selves

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This garden acquired its name due to its popularity as a lunchtime garden with workers from the nearby General Post Office (long gone). ...

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