John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester was an English Libertine poet, a friend of King Charles II, and the writer of much satirical and bawdy poetry. He was the toast of the Restoration court and a patron of the arts. He married an heiress, Elizabeth Malet, and had many mistresses, including the actress Elizabeth Barry.
Apr 2024
On Satire: The Earl of Rochester
According to one contemporary, the Earl of Rochester was a man who, in life as well is in poetry, ‘could not speak with any warmth, without repeated Oaths, which, upon any sort of provocation, came almost naturally from him.’ It’s certainly hard to miss Rochester's enthusiastic u ... Show More
13m 59s
Apr 2025
King Charles II's Mistresses
Charles II, King of England, Scotland & Ireland from 1660 to 1685 is one of the most notorious lotharios in history. The swarthy sovereign started early and continued making love, sometimes multiple times a day, until the week he died at 54. His court was famous for it’s flagrant ... Show More
31m 48s