Political Poems
During the period of her exile at St-Germain, Barker wrote a collection of twenty political poems, titled "A Collection of Poems Referring to the Times" (1701). To be presented as a New Year’s gift for the Prince of Wales (the 12-year-old James Francis Stuart), this compilation became one of the most important contributors to Barker's literary fame. The collection contains themes of England’s various political affairs from 1685 to 1691, including the disasters after the Glorious Revolution (1688) and James’ defeat at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland (1690). Comprising nearly ninety quarto pages of loyalist verse, the collection of poems vents the anguish of a Jacobite poet and her anxiety towards the political future of England.
Interestingly, the making of this collection of poems involved the help of a male amanuensis, Barker’s cousin William Connock. Having suffered from cataracts, Barker decided to undergo a couching operation in 1696, which involved the insertion of a needle into her eye to remove the clouded lens. The operation worsened her eyesight, and she was unable to produce legible handwriting suitable for presentation at court. As a result, she sought the assistance of her cousin, who permitted the presentation of the collection of poems to the Prince of Wales.
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