СНАР. VII. Works by Laud. characters whose capacities and energies were developed by the experiences of the Civil War and the preceding political contests, were the occasion of a corresponding number of biographies or autobiographies, many of which are interesting and valuable. Of the Life of Father Gerard mention has already been made. For the eventful career of WILLIAM PRYNNE some new material will be found in a recent publication of the Camden Society. For that of his antagonist, LAUD, the true key is contained in the Letters to Strafford,' and the History of his Troubles and Trials (written by himself), both of which are much more important than the Diary, a record on which somewhat undue stress has been laid by hostile criticism. The light in which this prelate's policy and motives were viewed by his enemies is to be seen in the two treatises of Prynne ;1 the estimate formed by his admirers is expressed in the Life by HEYLIN: an excellent illustration of the period, Heylin's Life of though presenting us with a somewhat superficial view Laud. of Laud's character. 'Papers relating to the Life of William Prynne, with the Fragment of a Biographical Preface by the late J. Bruce, Esq. Edited by S. R. Gardiner. C. S. 1878. The Earl of Strafford's Letters and Despatches, with an Essay towards his Life by Sir George Radcliffe. From the originals in the possession of is Great Grandson, the Right Hon. Thomas, Earl of Malton &c. By William Knowler. 2 vols. fol. 1739. * See his Works. Edited by Rev. W. Scott. 9 vols. Anglo-Catholic Lib. 1847-70. (i.) Hidden Works of Darkness brought to Publike Light: or, a necessary Introduction to the History of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Triall, &c. London, 1845, fol. (ii.) Canterburie's Doome: or, the first part of a Compleat History of the Commitment, Charge, Tryall, Condemnation, Execution, of W. Laud, late Archbishop of Canterbury. fol. 1846. Cyprianus Anglicanus: or, the History of the Life and Death of the most reverend and renowned Prelate, William, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. In 2 parts. Containing also the Ecclesiastical History of the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, from СНАР. Lives of Williams, Bedell, and the Dukes of The Life of Colonel Hutchinson,' by his widow, is among the most widely known. Hutchinson represented Nottingham in the Long Parliament, and the narrative, besides its many characteristic incidents, throws much light on the conduct of the committees through which Parliament worked, and the machinery whereby it maintained its authority over the whole kingdom. HACKET'S Life of the Lord Keeper Williams-undoubtedly the most important piece of biography in this period-depicts a character of great force and originality, and one who was especially conspicuous as the rival of Laud. The Memoir of Colonel Birch,3 governor of Hereford during the Civil War, is an account of an officer who attained to considerable distinction in his day; this will gain in interest if read in conjunction with Webb's Memorials, above referred to (p. 342). The Lives of BISHOP BEDELL supply a graphic description of the difficulties. and perils that surrounded the English settlers in Ulster. BISHOP BURNET'S Lives of the two Dukes of Hamilton, dedicated to Charles II., are a highly eulogistic account of the careers of two distinguished royalist leaders from the year 1625 to 1652. 4 his first Rising till his Death. By P. Heylin, D.D., Chaplain to Charles I. and Charles II. Dublin, 1719. Memoirs of the Life of Colonel Hutchinson, Governor of Nottingham Castle and Town, with original Anecdotes of many of the most distinguished of his Contemporaries and a Summary View of Public Affairs. By his Widow, Lucy. To which is prefixed the life of Mrs. Hutchinson, written by herself. 1848. 2 Scrinia Reserata: Memoirs of the Life of Archbishop Williams. By John Hacket, D.D. Fol., 1693. A Military Memoir of Colonel Birch, Governor of Hereford during the Civil War. Edited by the late Rev. John Webb and Rev. T. W. Webb. C. S. 1874. (i.) Life of Bishop Bedell, by his Son. Edited by John E. B. Mayor. 1871. (ii.) A true Relation of the Life and Death of William Bedell, Lord Bishop of Kilmore. Edited by Thomas Wharton Jones. C. S. 1873. The Memoires of the Lives and Actions of James and William, Dukes 1 CHAP. Autobio Sir Si D'Ewes, Lord Her bert of Cherbury, Lady Hai ket, and Mrs. Among the numerous autobiographies of this period, each possessing a certain character and value of its own, that of SIR SIMONDS D'EWES,' terminating with the year 1636 (although he lived to the year 1650), includes graphies of interesting sketches of many of his contemporaries, and monds represents generally the views of a moderate Puritan, Sir R. but one of very dogmatic spirit, and no little eccentricity. That of SIR ROBERT CAREY, earl of Monmouth,2 ends with the year 1639. That of LORD HERBERT OF CHERBURY 3 is the frank and ingenuous record of the career of a high-spirited and chivalrous nobleman, who mixed Thornton. much with society both at home and abroad; it illustrates, however, to a painful extent, the singularly vindictive and lawless spirit that prevailed among even the highest classes at this period. Two similar productions from the pens of ladies,-the one that of LADY HALKET, a royalist lady who saw much of public events and political society under the reigns of both the Charleses, the other that of MRS. ALICE THORNTON," which extends to the year 1669, and is the record of the quiet domestic life of a true and pious wife and mother, of Hamilton and Castleherald, &c. In which an account is given of the Rise and Progress of the Civil Wars of Scotland, with other great Transactions both in England and Germany, from the year 1625 to the year 1652. Together with Letters and Papers written by King Charles I., never before published. By Gilbert Burnet. 1677. The Autobiography and Correspondence of Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Bart., during the Reigns of James I. and Charles I. Edited by J. O. Halliwell. 4 vols. 1845. 2 Memoirs of the Life of Robert Carey, written by himself, and now first published from an original manuscript, in the custody of John, earl of Cork and Orrery. London, 1759. The Life of Lord Herbert of Cherbury. Written by himself. London, 1827. Autobiography of Lady Halket, in the Reign of Charles I. and Charles II. Edited by the late John Gough Nichols. C. S. 1875. The Autobiography of Mrs. Alice Thornton, of East Newton, co. York. S. S. 1875. СНАР. Letters, etc. dence of Fairfax Correspondence. whose days were passed in Richmondshire,-are valuable as examples of two very different phases of social life and feeling. The Correspondence of this period is also valuable and often of great interest. The second volume of Halliwell's HALLIWELL'S Letters of the Kings of England comprises numerous letters by king James VI. of Scotland, James I., the duke and duchess of Buckingham and Charles I. Correspon- The Correspondence of the Hatton Family extends from the Hatton A.D. 1601 to 1704. These letters contain but little that Family. is of direct historical value, much resembling in their character and contents the better known Paston Letters. They are, however, a fair sample of the correspondence of a family of the higher classes in the sixteenth century. The Fairfax Correspondence, so far as published, is mainly a selection from a series of letters which extend over two centuries. Those selected by JOHNSON belong to the years A.D. 1625-40, and their contents have been supplemented by the editor by a continuous narrative of the period. Many of these letters are of considerable value as coming from some of the most prominent actors in the struggle, and bearing directly on the great events then in progress; the editor has also prefixed to the work a 'Historical and Biographical Memoir' of the Fairfax family. The volumes edited by BELL comprise the period 1642-70; in these the editor's function has been restricted chiefly to careful arrangement of the materials. Hamilton The Hamilton Papers, belonging to the period A.D. 1 Correspondence of the Family of Hatton, 1601–1704. Edited by E. M. Thompson, Esq. 2 vols. C. S. 1879. 2 The Fairfax Correspondence. (i.) Memoirs of the Reign of Charles I. Edited by G. W. Johnson. 2 vols. 1848. (i.) Memorials of the Civil War. Edited by Robert Bell. 2 vols. 1849. The Hamilton Papers: being Selections from Original Letters in the possession of his Grace the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon. Edited by S. R. Gardiner, C. S. 1880. 1638-50, contain letters by the MARQUIS of HAMILTON, those written from Newcastle by SIR ROBERT MURRAY during the king's imprisonment in that city, and numerous letters which throw light on the second civil war. CHAP. Letters, etc. The Letters and Fournals of ROBERT BAILLIE,' prin- Baillie's cipal of the University of Glasgow, contain accounts of public transactions, civil, ecclesiastical, and military, in England and Scotland, and date from the year 1637 to 1662. Memoirs. A small volume, known as WELWOOD'S Memoirs, Welwood's published towards the close of the seventeenth century, purports to be a concise account of the principal events of the century preceding the year 1688. It is, however, rather a series of criticisms than a connected narrative. Maseres had so high an opinion of its merits as to deem it deserving of republication in 1820. (B.) Later Writers. No period of our history has attracted to it so much of the best literary talent of our own age as the one now under consideration. To such an extent, indeed, has this been the case, that writers of the intermediate period, who have put forth works on the subject, have become almost superseded. The labours of DR. BIRCH, the editor of the Thurloe Thomas Papers, deserve however to be briefly noticed. He was b. 1705. one of the first of our historical scholars to perceive the d. 1766. advantages to be derived by the use not only of State Papers and similar formal documents, but also of the His 'Intelligencers' or news-letters of the time; and his Court Courts of James and Times of James I., along with a similar work on and The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie, A.M. With a Memoir of the Author, by D. Laing. 2 vols. B. C. 1841. 2 Memoirs of the most material Transactions in England for the last hundred years, preceding the Revolution in 1688. By James Welwood, M.D. 1820. • The Court and Times of James the First: illustra ́ed by authentic and Birch. Charles I. etc. |