John Rushworth

was born of Gentile Parents in the County of Northumberland, educated for a time in this University in the latter end of the Raign of K. Jam. 1, but left it soon after without being matriculated, and retiring to London, he entred himself a Student in Lincolns Inn, of which he became a Barrister. But his Geny then leading him more to State affairs than the Common Law, he began early to take in Characters Speeches and passages at conferences in Parliament and from the Kings own mouth which he speak to both the Houses, and was upon the stage continually an eye and an ear witness of the greatest transactions. He did also personally attend and observe all occurrences of moment during the eleven years interval of Parliament, in the Star-Chamber, Court of Honour and Exchecquer Camber, when all the Judges of England met there upon extraordinary cases; and at the Council Table when great causes were tried before the K. and Council. Afterwards when matters were agitated at a great distance, he was there also, and went on purpose, out of curiosity, to see and observe the passages at the Camp at Berwick, at the fight at Newborne upon Tyne, with the Scots at the Treaty at Rippon and at the great Council at York, an. 1640. Soon after, when that Parliament called the Long Parliament began, which was on the 3. of Nov. the same year, he was chosen an Assistant to Hen. Elsing Clark of the Commons House, by which means he was privy afterwards to all circumstances in their proceedings: And both Houses having confidence in, they sent their addresses by, him to the King then at York, being forced thither by their violent proceedings: And it so fell out that he rode several times with that expedition between London and that City, which is 150 miles, that he performed the journey in 24 hours. In 1643 he took the Covenant and was a great man among the Presbyterians; and being near of kin to Sir Thomas Fairfax (for his father and mother were Natives of Yorkshire of antient extract) he became Secretary to him when he was made Generalissimo of the Parliament Forces; in which Office he obtained, or at least might have so done, what wealth he pleased, which might, had he husbanded it well, have supported his necessities in his last days. In 1646 when the Garrison of Oxon was besieg’d by the said Generalissimo, his help was somtimes required, and when the Treaty for the delivery of it up for the use of the Parliament was in agitation, he was often posting to London upon intermessages and fatigues, till it was concluded. In 1649 he attended his Master, (then Lord Fairfax) with several great Officers of note to the University of Oxon, where being all splendidly entertain’d by the then chief Members thereof of the Presbiterian and Independent perswasion, he was actually created Master of Arts, and at the same time, he, as a Member of Queens Coll, was made one of the Delegates to take into consideration the affairs then depending between the Citizens of Oxon, and Members of the said University. After his Lord had laid down his Commission as General, he took up his quarters for some time in Linc. Inn, and being in great esteem by the men of those times, he was in January 1651 constituted one of the Committee to consult about the Reformation of the Common Law. In 1658 he was chosen a Burges for Berwick upon Twede, (near to which place he had received his first breath) to serve in that Parliament called Richards Parl, which began at Westm. 27. Jan. the same year, and again for the same place for that which commenc’d 25. of Apr. 1660, but for that which began in May 1661, he was not. In Sept. 1667, at which time Sir Orl. Bridgman was made L. Keeper of the Great Seal, he was by him made his Secretary, and continuing in that Office so long as his Lord kept his, he was then again in a capacity of enriching himself, or at least to lay up some thing for a wet day. Afterwards when the Popish Plot broke out and the Presbyterians and other discontented people began to be dominant, he was elected Burges for the same place to serve in that Parl. which began 6. Mar. 1678, as he was afterwards for that which commenc’d 17. Oct. 1679, and for the Oxford. Parl. that followed; he being then, as alwaies before, esteemed no great friend to the Church of England and Prelacy. After the dissolution of Oxford Parliament, he lived very retiredly and obscurely within the City of Westminster; but at length being committed prisoner for debt to the Kings bench, he finished his course there as I shall anon tell you. His works are these.

Historical Collections of private passages of State, weighty matters in Law and remarkable proceedings in five Parliaments. Beginning the 16 year of K. James, an. 1618 and ending the fifth year of K. Charles, an. 1629, digested in order of time. Lond. 1659 fol. There again by stealth, bearing the same date, an. 1675. When the author was fitting this book for the Press he made use of certain Manuscripts in the hands of Bulstr. Whitlock one of Olivers Lords, and when it was finished he presented it to the view of Oliver himself, but he having no leisure to peruse it, he appointed the said Whitlock to do it Jan. 1657, and accordingly running it over more than once, he made some alterations in, and additions to, it. After it was finished at the Press, he dedicated the book to Richard Cromwel then L. Protector.

Historical Collections. The second part, containing the principal matters which hapned from the dissolution of the Parl. on the 16. of Mar. 4. Car. 1. 1628/9. until the summoning of the other Parliam, which met at Westm. 13. Apr. 1640, with an account of the proceedings of that Parl; and the transactions and affairs from that time, until the meeting of another Parl. on the 3. of Nov. following. With some remarkable passages therein, during the first sixth months, &c. Lond. 1680. in two vol. in fol. At the end of the last is a large Appendix, containing Star-Chamber Reports, for the years 1625. 26. 27 and 1628, Articles of Peace, entercourses and Commerce, with several other things.

The tryal of Thomas Earl of Strafford, L. Lieutenant of Ireland, upon an impeachment of High Treason by the Commons assembled in Parliament, in the name of themselves and all the Commons of England: begun in Westm. Hall 20. Mar. 1640 and continued before judgment was given until the 10. of May 1641, &c. Lond. 1680. fol. To which is added a short account of some other matters of fact transacted in both Houses of Parl, precedent, concomitant, and subsequent to the said tryal, with some special arguments in Law relating to a bill of attainder.—But the publisher of the said Collections, having, as ’tis said, concealed truth, endeavoured to vindicate the then prevailing distractions of the late times, as well as their barbarous actions, and with a kind of rebound to libel the government at second hand; it pleased Joh. Nalson LL. D. of Cambridge to publish in vindication of the real truth An impartial Collection of the great affairs of State; from the beginning of the Scotch Rebellion, an. 1639. to the murther of K. Ch. 1. &c. Printed at Lond. in two vol. in fol. The first extending to the end of 1641. was printed an. 1682, and the other to the said murther, an. 1683; both published by his Maj. special command, &c. Afterwards were Reflections made on the said Impartial Collection by Rog. Coke Esq a Descendant from Sir Edw. Coke the great Lawyer, printed with his Treatises of the life of man, &c. Lond. 1685. fol. This Dr. Nalson who was an eminent Historian, and otherwise well qualified, hath written besides the former volumes (1) The Countermine: or, a short, but true discovery of the dangerous principles, and secret practices of the dissenting party, especially the Presbyterians: shewing that Religion is pretended, but Rebellion is intended. And, &c. Lond. 1677. oct. &c. (2) The common interest of King and people, shewing the original, antiquity and excellency of Monarchy compared with Aristocracy and Democracy, and particularly of our English Monarchy: and that absolute, Papal and Presbyterian popular supremacy are utterly inconsistent with prerogative, property and liberty. Lond. 1678 oct. (3) A true copy of the Journal of the High Court of Justice, for the trial of K. Ch. 1. as it was read in the H. of Commons, and attested under the hand of Phelps, Clerk to that infamous court. Lond. 1684. fol. With a large introduction by the said Nalson. He hath also translated into Engl. The History of the Crusade; or the expeditions of the Christian Princes for the Conquest of the Holy Land. Lond. 1685 fol. Written originally in French by the fam’d Monsieur Maimbourgh. What other things he hath written or translated I know not as yet, or any thing else of him only that he died at, or near, the City of Ely on the 19. of March, or thereabouts (according to the English accompt) an. 1685. to the great loss of the true Sons of the Church of England, of which he had been a zealous Member. Our author Rushworth hath also written

The History of the Civil War of England—This which is the fift vol. is in MS, and not yet published.

Several Letters to the Parliament, and to particular Members thereof—These he wrote while the War continued, and were subscribed by himself and not by Gen. Fairfax as the printed copies shew. What other books he hath written I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he spent the six last years (or thereabouts) of his life in the Prison called the Kings bench in Southwark, where being reduced to his second childship, for his memory was quite decayed by taking too much Brandy to keep up his spirits, he quietly gave up the Ghost in his lodging in a certain Alley there, call’d Rules Court, on Munday the twelfth of May in sixteen hundred and ninety, aged 83 years or thereabouts.1690: Whereupon his body was buried on Wednesday following, behind the Pulpit, in the Church of S. George within the said Borough of Southwark. He had no son, only daughters, virtuous women, of which one was married to Sir Franc. Vane of the North.