HAM, though representing very different conceptions of the period are each well deserving of perusal. Miss STRICKLAND'S Lives of the last Four Princesses of the Royal House of Stuart (1872) form an interesting supplement to her studies of the Stuart dynasty, and may be compared for their treatment of the subject with the concluding volume of the series by Mrs. EVERETT GREEN (see supra, p. 228). СНАР. VII. СНАР. already CHAPTER VIII. FROM THE PROTECTORATE TO THE REVOLUTION. A CONSIDERABLE proportion of the works named in the preceding chapter, e.g., those of Fuller, Collier, Thurloe, Authorities Winwood, Whitelock, Challoner, Harrington, Neal, described. Lloyd, Welwood, the Lords' and Commons' Journals, the Ormonde Papers, the Sydney, Hatton, and Fairfax Correspondence, are equally useful either for the whole or for a part of the present period. Hardwicke's State Papers contain documents relating to the duke of Monmouth's rebellion. Calendar of State Burnet's The Calendar of State Papers of the reign of Charles II., by Mrs. Everett Green, is published as far as the year 1667. (A.) Contemporary Writers.-BURNET'S History of his Own Times,' after a recapitulation of events from the 'beginning of the troubles' to the Restoration, proceeds with a more detailed narrative extending to the year 1713. As a truthful and impartial record, it is of less authority than even his History of the Reformation. For a criticism on its merits, the student should consult that of Ranke in the sixth volume of his History (pp. 45-87), where Burnet's statements are compared with the Dutch Reports, and a collation is also given of the printed text with the original manuscript. Ranke's conclusions, it may be noted, are far less favourable than those of Macaulay to Burnet's claims to be regarded as an accurate historian. The best edition is that in 6 vols. Clarendon Press. 1823. and VIII. and Lives of Charles For the two years 1660-62, KENNET'S Register and CHAP. Chronicle, though scarcely the work of a contemporary, is a valuable collection of materials. It was not until Kennet's after the Revolution, when he had embraced the views Register of the Low Church party, that the same writer published Chronicle his Lives of Charles II. and James II., in which the character and policy of both monarchs are candidly, but somewhat severely, dealt with. Kennet's representations of the facts were acrimoniously attacked, a few years. after his death, by the well-known Tory writer, ROGER NORTH, in his Examen. 11. and James II. Present In the year 1669, appeared the first edition of EDWARD CHAMBERLAYNE'S Angliae Notitia, or Present ChamberState of England,3 a kind of gazetteer, condensing a layne's large amount of information (now of considerable histo- State, &c. rical and antiquarian interest) on the physical geography, institutions, customs, and social life of the England of those days. The work subsequently passed through thirty-seven editions; and from the edition for 1684 lord Macaulay derived many of the facts which furnished material for his graphic picture of England in 1685. The Memoirs by SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE were originally in three parts. Of these, the first was destroyed by the author, although its place is in some ▾ A Register and Chronicle ecclesiastical and civil: containing Matters of Fact, delivered in the Words of the most authentic Books, Papers, and Records, digested in exact order of Time: with proper Notes and References towards discovering and connecting the true History of England. . . from the MS. Collections of the Lord Bishop of Peterborough, 1728. Vol. i. [The work was left incomplete, owing to Kennet's death, and no second volume appeared.] 2 Published in his Complete History: see supra, pp. 217-8. • In later editions (by John Chamberlayne) the treatment of the subject is extended to the whole of Great Britain, and the work is entitled Magnae Britanniae Notitia. CHAP. Letters and Memoirs by Reresby's measure supplied by his Letters, which contain an account of the principal political events, both in England and on the Continent, during the years 1665 to 1672. The second part 2 contains a more systematic narrative 'from the war begun in 1673, to the peace concluded 1679,' although, to quote the criticism of Swift, this portion would have been more correctly designated, 'Memoirs of what passed at the Treaty of Nimeguen,' in which event the chief interest of the recorded facts centres. The third part3 extends from 1679 to Temple's final retirement from political life in February, 1680-1. Of the whole it may be said that its interest is derived rather from the writer's powers of subtle observation and felicitous style, than from any material contribution which it makes to our knowledge of the facts. It should, however, be observed that neither the Letters nor the Memoirs were designed by Temple himself for publication. The notes left by SIR JOHN RERESBY of his travels supply us with a concise survey of the principal courts and governments of Europe during the period of Cromwell's rule. The writer's point of view may be inferred from the fact that, while frankly admitting the Protector's unrivalled capacity for administering the affairs of a state, he looks upon him as 'the deepest dissembler on earth.' The Travels are followed by the Memoirs, which extend from 1658 to 1689, and are mainly occupied with the gossip and scandal of the courts of Charles II. and James II. Works (4 vols. 1770), vols. i. and ii. Ibid. vol. ii. pp. 240–479. • Ibid. vol. ii. pp. 481-552. The Travels and Memoirs of Sir John Reresby, Bart. Edited by J. J. Cartwright. 1875. * It was always the custom to reckon that an historical year commenced January 1. CHAP. VIII. William A series of Letters to SIR JOSEPH WILLIAMSON,' while he was engaged as plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cologne from May, 1673 to March, 1674, are the The vehicle of news of various kinds transmitted by his son Corredependents and friends in the Secretary of State's office, spondence. and by other correspondents in the House of Commons and in the City. In an Appendix the student will find some interesting particulars concerning the management of the State Paper Office (of which Sir Joseph was keeper) and also details shewing the mode of preparing and circulating the news-letters of the time. The Diary of JOHN EVELYN 2 is one of the most Evelyn's important and attractive records of the kind in the Diary. language. Evelyn was personally well known both to Charles II. and James II., and throughout his life consistently maintained the character of a staunch episcopalian and royalist. He was distinguished for his enlightened interest in the progress of learning and science, and few foreigners of eminence in the scientific world visited England without seeking to make his acquaintance. During a short period of his life, Evelyn was engaged in the public service, and his Diary is a storehouse of illustration as regards the political, literary, and scientific movements of his age. It contains a record of events from the year of his birth (1620) to that of his death (1706). By the student of the manners and social life of the Pepys's times, the Diary of Evelyn's friend, SAMUEL PEPYS,3 Diary. Letters addressed from London to Sir Joseph Williamson while Plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cologne in the year 1673. Edited by W. D. Christie, C.B. 2 vols. C. S. 1874. 2 Diary and Correspondence of John Evelyn. To which is subjoined the private Correspondence between King Charles 1. and Sir Edward Nicholas, and between Sir Edward Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon, and Sir Richard Browne. Edited by W. Bray. New edit. 4 vols. 1850. Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys. From his MS. cypher |