this crisis he should have been able to begin his History.  He began it in Scilly on March 18, 1646—­the date is at the head of his manuscript; and once he was settled in Jersey he immediately resumed it.  But in writing his History he did not, in these days, think of himself only as an historian.  He was a trusted adviser of the defeated party, and he planned his faithful narrative of what he knew so well not solely to vindicate the character and conduct of the King, but also with the immediate purpose of showing how the disasters had been brought out, and, by implication, how further disaster might be avoided.  The proof of this is to be found not in the History itself, where he seems to have his eye only on ‘posterity’ and ‘a better age’, but in his correspondence.  In a letter written to Sir Edward Nicholas, the King’s secretary, on November 15, 1646, Clarendon spoke of his History at some length: 

As soon as I found myself alone, I thought the best way to provide myself for new business against the time I should be called to it (for, Mr. Secretary, you and I must once again to business) was to look over the faults of the old; and so I resolved (which you know I threatned you with long ago) to write the history of these evil times, and of this most lovely Rebellion.  Well; without any other help than a few diurnals I have wrote of longer paper than this, and in the same fine small hand, above threescore sheets of paper....  I write with all fidelity and freedom of all I know, of persons and things, and the oversights and omissions on both sides, in order to what they desired; so that you will believe it will make mad work among friends and foes, if it were published; but out of it enough may be chosen to make a perfect story, and the original kept for their perusal, who may be the wiser for knowing the most secret truths; and you know it will be an easier matter to blot out two sheets, than to write half an one.  If I live to finish it (as on my conscience I shall, for I write apace), I intend to seal it up, and have it always with me.  If I die, I appoint it to be delivered to you, to whose care (with a couple of good fellows more) I shall leave it; that either of you dying, you may so preserve it, that in due time somewhat by your care may be published, and the original be delivered to the King, who will not find himself flattered in it, nor irreverently handled:  though, the truth will better suit a dead than a living man.  Three hours a day I assign to this writing task; the rest to other study and books; so I doubt not after seven years time in this retirement, you will find me a pretty fellow.[5]

From this, as from other passages in his letters, Clarendon’s first intentions are clear.  The History was to be a repository of authentic information on ‘this most lovely Rebellion’, constructed with the specifically didactic purpose of showing the King and his advisers what lessons