Edward Hyde

In the 1667 former Lord Chancellor Edward Hyde, earl of Clarendon was impeached by the House of Commons. Having carefully analyzed the text of the blame the author comes to conclusion that the charge was fabricated and pursued two main aims: firstly, it was directed to destroy a reputation of Clarendon and thereby negate his influence in the House of Lords, secondly, it was directed to blamed him for mistakes of the government and so legitimated the current power.

The paper represents principal points of view on Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, and his “History of the rebellion and Civil wars in England” (1702-04), expressed by English intellectuals of the first half of the 18th century. It also reconstructs aesthetical and political contexts which brought up these notions. Special attention is paid to Mr. Oldmixon’s revisionist conception on this “History” and its criticism by his opponents.