John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester (1647-80), was a leading member of the group of "court wits" surrounding Charles II. One of the wittiest, and most sexually explicit poets of the time, his poems circulated principally in manuscript, making the tracing of their transmissional history more difficult. This edition presents a scholarly text based on detailed examination of the manuscripts, with full textual and explanatory notes. It is intended as a contribution to the study of manuscript publication as well as a resource for all students of Rochester.