James Heath (historian)

James Heath (fl. 1660-1663) was an English royalist historian and biographer, primarily known for his historical and biographical works written during and after the English Interregnum.

Heath is best remembered for his A Chronicle of the Late Intestine War in the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland (1661, 1663), often referred to simply as Chronicle of the Late War. This work, although popular in its time and influential in shaping public perception of the Civil War, is now generally regarded by modern historians as strongly biased in favour of the Royalist cause and unreliable in its factual accuracy. It presents a highly partisan account of the events leading up to and including the English Civil War, the execution of Charles I, and the subsequent Interregnum.

Heath also authored Flagellum: or the Life and Death, Birth and Burial, of Oliver Cromwell, the Late Usurper (1663). This biography of Oliver Cromwell is a highly critical and hostile portrayal, reflecting the strong animosity felt by Royalists towards Cromwell after the Restoration. It presents Cromwell as a ruthless and ambitious tyrant, responsible for the death of the king and the suppression of legitimate authority. Like his Chronicle, Flagellum is considered by modern scholars to be a highly polemical work rather than an objective historical account.

Despite their acknowledged biases, Heath's works remain significant primary sources for understanding Royalist perspectives on the English Civil War and the Interregnum. Historians often consult them, albeit with considerable caution and alongside other contemporary accounts to gain a more balanced understanding of the period.