91³Ô¹ÏÍø

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 .

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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them

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...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Earl of Rochester, John Wilmot

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

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

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...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Lamb & Flag - pub information board

Lamb & Flag - pub information board

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

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Nearby Memorials

Ethel Gordon Fenwick

Ethel Gordon Fenwick

W1, Upper Wimpole Street, 20

Plaque unveiled on 25 June 1999, the centennial of the formation of the International Council of Nurses.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Gladys Mills

Gladys Mills

IG10, Barncroft Close, 43

Gladys Mills, 1918 - 1978, pianist lived here. Loughton Town Council 2008

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Red Cross Garden 1

Red Cross Garden 1

SE1, Redcross Way, 50

The plaque is in a sheltered area just to the left of our main photograph. The quotation is an edited version of Isaiah 35:1, “The wilder...

1 subject commemorated
Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby

W1, Argyll Street, 8

We could not find the sculptor's name on the piece. Bing Crosby performed for two weeks at the Palladium starting 21 June 1976. The resu...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Queen Mary

Queen Mary

SW1, Marlborough Road

Queen Mary died in 1953 at her home, Marlborough House, which is the building behind this plaque.  The unveiling, by the Queen, took plac...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators