Engraved by J.Fittler, A.RA. after a drawing by W. Skelton, taken from an Original Picture. in the poffefsion of the Right Reverend D.Fwher, the present Lord Bishop of Salisbury. GILBERT BURNETT, D.D. BISHOP OF SALISBURY. Published as the act directs Dec1819 by I Parker Oxford. BEQUEST OF A. L. CROSS 43-41 L V. PREFACE TO THIS EDITION. THE History of his Own Time by bishop Burnet lays claim to our regard as an original work containing a relation of public transactions, in which either the author or his connexions were engaged. It will therefore never lose its importance; but will continue to furnish materials for other historians, and to be read by those, who wish to derive their knowledge of facts from the first sources of information. The accuracy indeed of the author's narrative has been attacked with vehemence, and often, it must be confessed, with success; but not so often, as to overthrow the general credit of his work. On the contrary, it has in many instances been satisfactorily defended, and time has already evinced the truth of certain accounts, which rested on this single authority. It has also had the rare fortune of being illustrated by the notes of three persons of high rank, possessing in consequence |