Mock poem: or, Whiggs supplication. Part I (Subsequently published under titles "Whiggs supplication", and "The Scotch Hudibras".)

Edinburgh: Printed by James Watson, and Sold at his shop opposite to the Lucken-Booths, 1711, 1711. ESTC Citation No. R12941; Wing (2nd ed., 1994), C5426. Octavo, A-G8, H4 This copy is bound in modern quarter calf. Of Colvil's personal history nothing is known His first appearance as a writer is supposed to have been in 1673 A work printed at Edinburgh in that year is extant, entitled "An Historical Dispute of the Papacy and Popish Religion," which bears to be written by "Sam Colvil," but whether this was the same individual who wrote the "Whigs' Supplication" is not certain

¶ The latter work was published at London, in duodecimo, in the year 1681 It was much read, and has even continued to be read, down to a late period Samuel Colvile, was a poet of considerable reputation He is described as a gentleman ; * an expression which is perhaps intended to signify that he belonged to no profession ; and his name occurs in a " bond of provision," executed by his father on the 5th of May 1643 His popularity as a poet seems at least to have equalled his merit His " Whiggs Supplication" was circulated before it appeared in print, and manuscript copies of it are still to be found: it was published in the year 1681, and has passed through several editions Colville is manifestly an imitator of Butler, but he displays a slender portion of Butler's wit and humour The language of his poem was apparently intended for English, but is interspersed with many Scotish words and idioms. An imitation of Butler's "Hudibras", treating of the insurrection of the Covenanters in Scotland during the reign of Charles II.