Covent Garden in City of Westminster in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

John Dryden Assaulted

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 26, 2026

1. John Dryden Assaulted Marker

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is December 19, 1679.

Location. 51° 30.702′ N, 0° 7.537′ W. Marker is in City of Westminster, England, in Greater London. It is in Covent Garden. It is at the intersection of Lazenby Court and Rose Street on Lazenby Court. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33 Rose Street, City of Westminster, England WC2E 9EB, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Round House (within shouting distance of this marker); John Dryden (within shouting distance of this

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marker); William Hazlitt (within shouting distance of this marker); John Logie Baird (within shouting distance of this marker); The Long Acre (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Agatha Christie Memorial (about 120 meters away); Sir Joshua Reynolds (about 120 meters away); John Jacob Holtzapffel (1768-1835) (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in City of Westminster.

Also see . . . John Dryden (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

John Dryden (19 August [O.S. 9 August] 1631 – 12 May [O.S. 1 May] 1700) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate.

Dryden's poem "An Essay upon Satire" contained a number of attacks on King Charles II, his mistresses and courtiers, but most pointedly on the Earl of Rochester, a notorious womaniser. Rochester responded by hiring thugs who attacked Dryden whilst walking back from Will's Coffee House (a popular London coffee house where the Wits gathered to gossip, drink and conduct their business) to his house on Gerrard Street. At around 8 pm on 18 December 1679, Dryden was attacked in Rose
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 26, 2026

2. John Dryden Assaulted Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here above the “&” on the Lamb & Flag.
Alley behind the Lamb & Flag pub, near his home in Covent Garden. Dryden survived the attack, offering £50 for the identity of the thugs placed in the London Gazette, and a Royal Pardon if one of them would confess. No one claimed the reward.

(Submitted on April 10, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 10, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.