|
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
|
Earl of Clarendon
|
|
(Edward Hyde, 1609–74, kt 1643, earl 1661) Politician and historian, lord chancellor 1660–7. Appointed guardian to the 15-year-old prince of Wales in 1645, he accompanied him during the years of exile and was the main influence on him when he returned, as *Charles II, at the *Restoration. The king and his chancellor were tolerant in religious matters and the misnamed *Clarendon Code reflects not so much his views as those of the vindictively Anglican parliament, known as the *Cavalier Parliament.
|
|
|
|
Clarendon gradually lost the favour of the king, who did nothing in 1667 to prevent his impeachment by political rivals. He fled abroad, where he wrote his own Life and completed his History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, begun during his previous long spell of exile. He left his manuscripts to the university of Oxford, and the profits from his History were used to build a new printing house, the Clarendon Press. In 1660 his daughter Anne married the future *James II; he thus became grandfather of two queens, *Mary II and *Anne.
|
|
|
|