The Reign of King Charles : An History Faithfully and Impartially delivered and disposed into Annals

London: printed by E[llen]. C[otes]. for Edward Dod, and Henry Seile the younger, and are to be sold at the Gun in Ivie-lane, and over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street, 1655. First Edition. Full Calf. Fine-. First Edition of this rare history of the reign of Charles I to May 1641. Crown folio (267 x 178mm): [8],266,[6]pp, with woodcut device on title page and additional engraved title page ("The history of King Charles by H: L: Esqr."), signed G. Faithorne. Contemporary speckled calf, covers elaborately paneled and decorated in blind, spine in six compartments divided by raised bands, red morocco lettering piece gilt. Title page stub-mounted with neat name in manuscript to top (John Bournes?). An excellent example in handsome period binding, securely bound and generally clean throughout. Wing L1189. Lowndes III, 1346 ("A book of considerable merit, written in a bad style."). A second enlarged and revised edition, in which L'Estrange answered the criticisms of Peter Heylyn, who had excoriated L'Estrange's history for its hasty composition and consequent omissions, misunderstandings, and errors, was published in 1656. L'Estrange was an English writer on history, theology, and liturgy. On the outbreak of the civil wars, he threw in his lot with the king, and was embroiled in the attempt to deliver the market town of King's Lynn, which supported the Parliamentarians, to Royalist forces. "In 1655 L'Estrange published The Reign of Charles I, a history of the reign to May 1641. Fuller described it as 'an handsome history likely to prove as acceptable to posterity as it hath done to the present age' (DNB). This has been claimed as one of the earliest attempts at impartiality in accounting for the tensions which led to the civil war in England. Certainly L'Estrange himself believed that he was setting the record straight by offering 'a modest vindication of this King in some particulars, not reflecting upon the fatall proceedings against him' (preface)." (ODNB) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).