THE HISTORY OF THE REBELLION AND CIVIL WARS IN ENGLAND, Begun in the Year 1641. With the precedent Paffages, and Actions, that Written by the Right Honourable EDWARD EARL of CLARENDON, Κτήμα ἐς ἀεί. Thucyd. VOLUME II. PART. I. OXFORD, Printed at the THEATER, An. Dom. MDCCXXXI. ་ 31. c.12. ΤΟ ΤΗΕ QUE E N. MADAM, T 0 Your Majefty is most humbly Dedicated this Second Part of the Hiftory of the Rebellion and Civil Wars, written by Edward Earl of Clarendon. For to whom so naturally can the works of this Author, treating of the Times of Your Royal Grandfather, be addrefs'd, as to Your Self; now wearing, with Luftre and Glory, that Crown, which, in those unhappy days, was treated with fo much contempt and barbarity, and laid low even to the Duft? Vol. II. Part. I. A 2 This This Second Part comes with the greater confidence into Your Prefence, by the advantage of the favourable reception the First bath met with in the World; fince it is not to be doubted, but the fame truth, fairness, and impartiality, that will be found throughout the whole thread of the Hiftory, will meet with the fame Candour from all equal Fudges. 'Tis true, fome few Perfons, whofe Ancestors are here found not to have had that part during their lives which would have been more agreeable to the wishes of their furviving Pofterity, have been offended at some particulars, mention'd in this Hiftory, concerning fo near Relations, and would have them pass for mistaken Informations. But it is to be hoped, that fuch a concern of Kindred for their Families, though not blameable in them, will rather appear partial on Their fide; fince it cannot be doubted, but this Author must have had his materials from undeniable, and unexceptionable hands, and could have no temptation to infert any thing, but the truth in a work of this nature, which was defign'd to remain to Pofterity, as a faithful record of Things, and Perfons in thofe Times, and of his own unquestionable fincerity in the reprefentation of them. In this affurance it is humbly hoped, it will not be unprofitable to Your Majefty to be here inform'd of the fatal and undeferv'd misfortunes of one of Your Ancestors, with the particular and fad occafions of them; the better to direct Your Royal Perfon through the continual uncertainties of the Greatness of this World. And as Your Majefty cannot have a better Guide, throughout the whole Course of Your Reign, for the good Adminiftration of Your Government, than Hiftory in general, fo there cannot be a more ufeful one to Your Majesty than this of Your own Kingdoms; and it is prefum'd, without lying under the Imputation of mifleading Your Majesty, it may be afferted that no Author could have been better inftructed, and have known more of the Times and Matters of which he writes, than this who is here prefented to You. Your Majefty may depend upon his Relations to be true in Fact; and You will find bis Obfervations juft; his Reflections made with judgment and weight ; and his Advices given upon wife and honeft Principles; not capable of being now interpreted as fubfervient to any Ambition or Intereft of his own; and having now outliv'd the Prejudices and Partialities of the Times in which they were Written. And Your Majesty thus Elevated, as by God's bleffings You are, from whom a great many Truths may be induftriously conceal'd, and on whom a great many wrong Notions under falfe Colours may with equal care be obtruded, will have the greater Advantage from this faithful Remembrancer. This Author, once a Privy Counsellor and Minifter to. two Great Kings, and, in a good degree, Favourite to one of Them, hath fome pretence to be admitted into Your Majesty's Council too, and may become capable of doing You Service alfo; whilft the Accounts he gives of Times, past, come seasonably to guide You through the Times prefent, and thofe to come. This Hiftory may lie upon Your Table unenvied, and Your Majefty may pass hours and days in the perusal of it, when poffibly, They who fhall be the most useful in Your Service, may be reflected on for aiming too much at influencing Your Actions, and engroffing Your Time. From this Hiftory Tour Majefty may come to know more of the nature, and temper of Your own People, than hath yet been obferv'd by any other Hand. Neither can any Living Converfation lay before Your Majefty in one view, So many Tranfactions neceffary for Your obfervation. And Seeing no Prince can be endued in a moment with a perfed Experience in the Conduct of Affairs, whatever knowledge may be useful to Your Majesty's Government, if it may bave been concealed from You in the Circumstances of Your Private Life, in this Hiftory it may be the most effectually supplied; where Your Majefty will find the true Conftitution of Your Government, both in Church and State, plainly laid before You, as well as the Miftakes, that were committed in the management of both. Here Your Majefty will fee how both those Interefts are infeparable, and ought to be preferv'd fo, and hor fatal it hath prov'd to both, whenever, by the Artifice and Malice of wicked and felf-defigning Men, they have happen'd to be divided. And though Your Majesty will fee B 3 bere |