35. Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731. A collection of the writings

One of his most popular early works was the satirical poem, The true born Englishman (1701), written in support of William of Orange, but his most notorious work from this period was The shortest way with the Dissenters (1702). This is written ironically, in the person of a High Tory. It recommends that Dissent be punished,

If one severe Law were made, and punctually executed, that who ever was found at a Conventicle, shou’d be banished the Nation, and the preacher be hang’d, we should soon see an end to the Tale. (p. 210)

When it was found that Defoe was being satirical he was arrested for seditious libel, the pamphlet was condemned to be burned by the "common hangman" and Defoe was fined, sentenced to jail and to stand in the pillory. It was at this time that he published the volume of his collected works seen on display, including his satirical poems and his pamphlets on Dissent.