Sedley's "The Mulberry Garden" (1668) and the Genre of the Dramatic Dedication

Abstract

The dedication of playtexts was a common practice during the Restoration since it might offer playwrights many advantages, including access to the patron’s network of connections. Authors, therefore, assumed a lowly stand by praising their addressee and humbly acknowledging their obligation. However, Sir Charles Sedley’s dedication of The Mulberry Garden (1668) to Frances Stuart, duchess of Richmond and Lennox, flouts the conventions of dedicatory writing. Sedley did not require her support or protection, for he was a member of King Charles’s intimate circle and an admired court wit. Moreover, the duchess was not in a position to offer protection at this junction, given her personal circumstances. In this epistle, Sedley challenges the intrinsic asymmetrical relation between patron and client by placing himself (and not her) in the position of superiority and in control of the exchange. This unusual dedication exemplifies the diversity of this genre during the Restoration.