the history of the period, 1640–4, was printed in 1692, after the author's death, and the fourth and last part, covering the years 1645–8, in 1701. A second edition, in eight volumes folio, appeared in 1721, and an abridgment in six volumes 8vo in 1703.
Rushworth's collection was vehemently attacked by royalist writers for partiality and inaccuracy. John Nalson [q. v.], who published his ‘Impartial Collection of the Great Affairs of State,’ &c., as a counterblast, undertook to make it appear ‘that Mr. Rushworth hath concealed truth, endeavoured to vindicate the prevailing detractions of the late times, as well as their barbarous actions, and with a kind of rebound libelled the government at second hand’ (Introduction, p. 5). The authors of the ‘Old Parliamentary History of England’ (24 vols. 8vo, 1751–61) point out a number of errors and omissions made in the documents printed by Rushworth (cf. vol. xxiii. p. 216). These criticisms are summarised in a note to the life of Rushworth in ‘Biographia Britannica’ (ed. 1760, v. 3533). It is evident, however, that most of these mistakes are due to careless editing or to the adoption of inferior versions of the documents printed. The editor's partiality reveals itself mainly in the selection of the documents chosen for republication. Rushworth is defended by Roger Coke (Detection of the Court and State of England, 1694, Apology to the Reader), and by Rapin (History of England, ed. 1743, ii. 347).
Except in compiling the earlier part of his collections, Rushworth had not the free access to official documents enjoyed by Nalson, and was obliged to rely on printed sources. In part two he made free use of Burnet's ‘Lives of the Dukes of Hamilton,’ and consulted also the contemporary histories of Sanderson and L'Estrange, and the Duchess of Newcastle's life of her husband. The speeches delivered in the Long parliament, and its declarations and ordinances, are simply reprinted from copies published at the time. In Rushworth's narrative of the civil war, he compiles from the newspapers and pamphlets of the period, and sometimes abridges Sprigg's ‘Anglia Rediviva.’ In his account of the events of 1647–8, he reprints almost verbatim about eighteen months of the ‘Perfect Diurnal.’ The most valuable part of the eight volumes consists of the shorthand notes taken by Rushworth himself. For contemporaries, the ‘Historical Collections’ had a value which they do not possess now that so many other materials for the history of the reign of Charles I have been published, but as a convenient work for reference they still retain their usefulness.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, iv. 280; Biographia Britannica, ed. 1760, v. 3531; Notes communicated by G. McN. Rushworth, esq.]
RUSHWORTH, JOHN (1669–1736), surgeon, born in 1669, was son of Thomas Rushworth, vicar of St. Sepulchre, Northampton, during 1666, and afterwards vicar of Guilsborough in Northamptonshire. John qualified as a surgeon, and lived in Northampton, where he attained to considerable practice. He is eminent for the discovery of the efficacy of cinchona bark in cases of gangrene, a discovery which was utilised by John Ranby (1703–1773) [q. v.] some years later. This discovery Rushworth first made known to Sir Hans Sloane in 1721, but he subsequently communicated it to the master and wardens of the Company of Barber-Surgeons for the use of the profession at large.
Rushworth shares with Garth the honour of being one of the first to suggest the foundation of infirmaries and dispensaries in the centre of every county and town, and he was especially earnest in endeavouring to carry this project into effect in Northamptonshire. But the infirmary for that county was not established till 1743, some six years after his death. Rushworth was especially desirous of advancing the surgical art, which he called the ‘ancientest and certainest part of physic.’ He died on 6 Dec. 1736, and is buried in the church of All Saints, Northampton, where there is a tablet to his memory, and to that of his wife Jane, heiress of Daniel Danvers of Northampton, doctor of medicine, and sister of Knightly Danvers, recorder of Northampton. She predeceased Rushworth on 3 July 1725.
The names of the ten children of the family are recorded on the tablet to the memory of the mother.
Rushworth published: 1. ‘The Case of the late James Keill [q. v.], Dr. of Physic, represented by J. R.,’ Oxford, 8vo, 1719; reprinted in Beckett's ‘Tracts,’ p. 62. 2. ‘A Letter to the Mrs. or Governors of the Mystery and Commonalty of Barber-Surgeons,’ Northampton? 1731, 8vo. 3. ‘A Proposal for the Improvement of Surgery; offered to the Masters of the Mystery of Barbers and Surgeons at London,’ London, 1732, 8vo. 4. ‘Two Letters showing the great advantage of the Bark in Mortifications,’ London, 1732, 12mo.
