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The original MS. of the Earl of Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, Written in 1645/6-1672 or 1673

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MS. Clarendon 112
Held at the Weston Library

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The original MS. of the Earl of Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, almost entirely in the hand of the author, except that some documents are copied in the hand of his secretary Edgeman. The editions of the History, as is well known, are a patchwork of the History proper and the Life of the earl: this volume contains the whole of the History proper, ending in the 15th book with the words 'civillity, generosity, and bounty. Vid. pa. 549', the reference being to the Life (see MS. Clarendon 123).

Three passages in bk. 16 which are taken from the History here precede the passage quoted above. There are some, but relatively not many, corrections in the author's hand. The first edition of the History (1702-4) was printed, not from this MS., but from MSS. Clarendon 114-120: but the last edition (1888) is based on a careful collation of the original.

Dates

  • Creation: Written in 1645/6-1672 or 1673

Extent

650 pages

Language of Materials

  • English

Shelfmark

MS. Clarendon 112

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. III, no. 16198

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The first part of this volume appears to be lot 102 on the first day of the Radcliffe sale in 1764 ('First Draught of about Eleven Books of the History of the Rebellion in Lord Clarendon's own hand ...').

Physical Facet

On paper

Dimensions

14 1/4 × 10 3/4 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom