DELIGHTFUL SMALL DOCUMENT SIGNED BY THE KING CHARLES II (1630-1685, King of Great Britain)

Charming small Document signed “Charles R” at the head by the King in exile, a military commission appointing Edward Wood to be Colonel of a Regiment of Foot, “Giving you hereby full power & authority to leavy the full number of one thousand Men... And with the same to fight, kill & destroy all who are in armes against Us...”, he also orders him “to seize on any Fort, Castle, Towne or Citty in Rebelion against Us; And the same to keepe & defend for Us & in Our Name: And all Officers & Souldiers of the said Regiment are to obey & observe you in all things as their Colonel, as you are to obey all your superiour Officers” 7¾” x 3½” on vellum, entirely manuscript, with an unusually fine complete example of the King’s paper wafer seal, “Given at Our Court at Bruges”, 26th November

In 1656, the exiled King Charles II, despite low resources, was encouraged by indications of support for his cause by Spain, and began the levy of four English regiments. Although the Act passed in Parliament in November 1656 appeared to extinguish for ever the royal cause by denying to any sons of Charles I a title to the crown, Charles lived in hope of a rising in his favour in the south of England. This spirited attempt to raise English regiments in Europe dates from this period when it seemed quite feasible to the King that an invasion could be carried out successfully.

Item Date:  1656

Stock No:  42259      £2250

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