The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641.

This is a First Edition of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon's "The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England," published in 1704. Clarendon's work has been praised by the Edinburgh Review as 'one of the noblest historical works of the English Nation.' It stands out as one of the earliest comprehensive accounts of the British Civil Wars, penned by a prominent royalist figure. Edward of Clarendon served as an advisor to both Charles I and Charles II, and upon the Royalists' surrender in the summer of 1646, he went into exile with the future Charles II. During his exile, he continued to write and expand on his History of the Wars, eventually passing away in 1674. The publication of Edmund Ludlow's Memoirs in 1698-1699, detailing the Roundhead perspective, enjoyed significant success and triggered a wave of similar memoirs recounting the experiences of Roundhead soldiers during the Civil War. In 1701, the Royalist Tories countered with the publication of Cavalier memoirs authored by Sir Philip Warwick. The success of Warwick's memoirs, in turn, paved the way for the release of Clarendon's History. Three folio volumes each the first as published April 1702, September 1703 and October 1704. Very Good Condition. Three uniform volumes bound in contemporary half-calf with marbled paper-covered boards. All three volumes have a wonderful frontispiece portrait of Clarendon by Robert White. All volumes' bindings and hinges are firm. Very light and occasional pencil marginalia. Neat previous owner's pen inscription to title pages and front free endpapers. Tipped-in newspaper cutting to front pastedown of the third volume. Pages are clean with minor tanning; the only fault is moderate crinkling to pages due to age. Minor worming to preliminary pages of Volume 3. Boards have moderate edge-wear with some notable bumping to corners causing minor splits to the leather. Light peeling to marbled paper's fore-edge. General shelf wear to boards. Spines are presentable, and gilt lettering remains bright and clear.