[MILTON, John (1608-1674)] CHARLES II (1630-1685). By the King. A Proclamation For calling in, and suppressing of two Books written by John Milton… London: Printed for John Bill, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, 1660.

Broadside in two sheets, 285 x 360mm ea. (mild marginal wear, pinhole at lower left corner of bottom sheet, mounting remnants on verso show through to recto at the lower right corner of both sheets).

With the restoration of the monarchy, Charles II bans two "Treasonable" works by John Milton. A firm supporter Cromwell, Milton authored numerous works in support of the republican government before its fall in 1660. The works included, Johannis Miltoni Angli pro Populo Anglicano Defensio, contra Claudii Anonymi, aliàs Salmasii, Defensionem Regiam, and The Pourtraiture of his Sacred Majesty in his Solitude and Sufferings which, according to the authorities, "contained sundry Treasonable Passages against Us and Our Government, and most Impious endeavours to justice the horrid and unmatchable Murther of Our late Dear father, of Glorious memory." The order, given at Whitehall on 13 August 1660 also calls for a ban on a work by John Goodwin: The Obstructors of Justice. Soon after the restoration of the Stuarts, Milton, fearing for his life, went into hiding, emerging only after the proclamation of a general amnesty. Still, he was arrested and imprisoned until the intervention of fellow poet, Andrew Marvell, who by then was a Member of Parliament. Rare. RBH records only one copy appearing at auction in the past century. Provenance: A. T. Stewart – by descent to the consignors.