Historical Collections of Private Passages of State, Weighty Matters in Law, Remarkable Proceedings in Five Parliaments. Beginning the Sixteenth Year of King James, Anno 1618, and Ending the Fifth Year of King Charles, Anno 1629. Digested in Order of Time. And Now Published by John Rushworth of Lincolns-Inn, Esq. London: D. Browne, et al., 1721.
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John Rushworth was a very important figure in English history. Rushworth, influenced by John Pym's 1640 speech, documented key battles during the Civil War. He later served as Thomas Fairfax's secretary, chronicling events around Charles I's capture, trial, and execution. Rushworth aligned with Oliver Cromwell, aiding in drafting plans for an English Republic. He held various governmental roles, including Registrar of the Court of Admiralty and as Member of Parliament for Berwick.
After Oliver Cromwell's death, Rushworth supported his son, Richard Cromwell, but power shifted to the Council of State. He became Secretary of the council during negotiations for the return of Charles II. Upon the monarchy's restoration, he was appointed Treasury Solicitor. Accusations tied him to the regicides, but he professed ignorance. Despite not being re-elected, he still served as Berwick's agent. He later became secretary to Sir Orlando Bridgeman and represented the Massachusetts colony, albeit with minimal impact.
Elected to multiple Parliaments, Rushworth's final years were marked by financial troubles and imprisonment. He passed away in 1690, leaving behind these extremely influential writings which found great favour in America where they served as a source of inspiration for Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson bought a copy of Rushworth's Historical Collections for use in his own library and he often quoted from them. His views of Charles I as a king who had declared war on his own people, were later echoed in words by Thomas Jefferson and others when writing about the reign of George III in the Declaration of Independence.
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Size: 212 x 324 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[1), frontis, t.p., 27pp., 691pp., 57pp., (1)]; [(2), t.p., 8pp., 884pp., (1)]; [(3), t.p., pp.885-1388, 315pp., 16pp., (1)]; [(3), t.p., 2pp., 788pp., 12pp., (1)]; [(3), t.p., 934pp., 10pp., (1)]; [(1), t.p., i-xvi, 656pp., 8pp., (1)]; [(3), t.p., pp.731-1431, 18pp., (1)]; [(3), t.p., 8pp., 778pp., 8pp., (1)].
Full calf with blindstamped boards and red tooled labels in compartments to the spines between raised bands. Gilt numbering to the heads of spines from 860 to 867. All boards attached with rubbing along joints, hinges worn, some starting or cracked. Shelf and edge wear. Red spotted page edges dulled. Ex-Library bookplate of P. W. Donner attached to front pastedown in volumes two, six, seven, and eight. Armorial bookplate of the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Lymington" attached to the rear pastedown upside down in volume three, to the front pastedown in volumes four and five. Edge toning to endpapers as commensurate with the full calf bindings. Text blocks extremely clean with light toning and occasional foxing. Some loss of text to the first few leaves in volume one with some repairs, mostly still legible. Small dent to the side of the rear board of volume one. Very small wormholing to the bottom of the spine of volume two. Small loss of leather to the rear board of volume two. Very minor wormholing to the bottom of the last few leaves in volume three. Minor damp staining to the bottom corner of the first few leaves in volume eight.
