Notes
to the
Miscellaneous Poems.
I have no other authority to produce, in proof of this Ode being the production of Dryden, but what is contained in the title, which is printed, just as it is in the original MS. The internal evidence is strongly in its favour. It has all the characters of Dryden's genius, and manner.
When Dryden, on the accession of James II. became a Roman Catholic, it is very probable, that he would form an acquaintance with the principal families of that persuasion, in England, in his time. Among these, that of Stafford was one of the most conspicuous; and the more so, from the circumstance of Lord Stafford having most unjustly been put to death, in 1680, for his supposed participation in Oates's plot. The principal witness against him, was one Dugdale, who had been steward to Lord Aston, but was discharged from his service, for having defrauded his lordship of a large sum of money. This perjured wretch declared, that he had assisted at a great consultation of Catholics, at Tixall, at which Lord Stafford was present; and swore, that his Lordship, on that occasion, had
