The original form of the work survives in two transcripts (one of them with Burnet's autograph corrections) in the Harleian collection in the British Museum, and in a fragment of Burnet's original manuscript in the Bodleian. The portions of this original version that differ materially from the final printed version were published in 1902 by Miss H.C. Foxcroft under the title _A Supplement to Burnet's History_. Much of the interest of the earlier version lies in the characters, which are generally longer than they became on revision, and sometimes contain details that were suppressed. But in a volume of representative selections, where the art of a writer is as much our concern as his matter, the preference must be given to what Burnet himself intended to be final. The extracts are reprinted from the two volumes edited by his sons. There was not the same reason to go direct to his manuscript as to Clarendon's: see notes p. 231, l. 26; p. 252, l. 10; and p. 255, l. 6. 64. Burnet's History of His Own Time. Vol. i. (pp. 611-3.) Burnet's two characters of Charles II are in striking agreement with the more elaborate study by Halifax. Page 221, ll. 1 ff. Compare Halifax, p. 216, ll. 10 ff. l. 14. _his Chancellor_, Clarendon. Page 222, l. 16. _he became cruel_. This statement was attacked by Roger North, _Lives of the Norths_, ed. 1890, vol. i, p. 330: 'whereas some of our barbarous writers call this awaking of the king's genius to a sedulity in his affairs, a growing cruel, because some suffered for notorious treasons, I must interpret their meaning; which is a distaste, because his majesty was not pleased to be undone as his father was; and accordingly, since they failed to wound his person and authority, they fell to wounding his honour.' Buckingham says, 'He was an Illustrious Exception to all the Common Rules of _Phisiognomy_; for with a most _Saturnine_ harsh sort of Countenance, he was both of a _Merry_ and a _Merciful_ Disposition' (ed. 1705, p. 159); with which compare Welwood, ed. 1700, p. 149. The judicial verdict had already been pronounced by Halifax: see p. 216, ll. 23 ff. ll. 21-3. See Burnet, ed. Osmund Airy, vol. i, p. 539, for the particular reference. The scandal was widespread, but groundless. Page 223, l. 9. _the war of Paris_, the Fronde. See Clarendon, vol. v, pp. 243-5. ll. 11 ff. Compare Buckingham, ed. 1705, p. 157: 'Witty in all sorts of Conversation; and telling a Story so well, that, not out of Flattery, but the Pleasure of hearing it, we seem'd Ignorant of what he had repeated to us Ten Times before; as a good _Comedy_ will bear the being often seen.' Also Halifax, p. 208, ll. 7-14.