[CLARENDON (Edward Hyde, 1609-1674, Lord Chancellor of England, from 1661 1st Earl), his son CLARENDON (Henry, 1638-1709, from 1661 Viscount Cornbury, from 1674 2nd Earl), ARLINGTON (Sir Henry Bennet, c. 1618-1685, from 1663 1st Baron, from 1672 1st Earl, Principal Secretary of State), Philip HOWARD (1629-1694, 3rd son of the 15th Earl ofArundel, Chaplain & Almoner to Queen Catherine of Braganza, Cardinal, 1675), Sir Richard BELLINGS (b. c. 1632, Secretary to Queen Catherine, elder son of Richard Bellings, Secretary to the Irish Confederation), the Hon. Benjamin WESTON, (son of Richard, 1st Duke of Portland and Frances Waldegrave) and William ERSKINE (d. 1685, youngest son of the 2nd or 18th Earl of Mar and grandson of Esmé Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox, Master of Charterhouse, Cupbearer to Charles II)]

Draft Document in a neat clerk's hand with their 'signatures' in the same hand as Executors of the property in England of Ludovic STUART, 1619-1665, born in London but brought up in France, from 1642 10th Seigneur d'Aubigny), of which they have already obtained probate, appointing Edward BURDETT of Gray's Inn their Attorney to sell his "Plate, household stuff and goods" for the best prices that can be obtained, to call in all debts due to the deceased, if necessary through the courts, not least the arrears of the £1000 a year allowed him by the Duke of Richmond out of the Aulnage, giving Burdett himself power to appoint one or more Attorneys for the same purpose, and requiring him to report back from time to time, 1 side 14¼" x 19", no place, 17th September original corrections, a few tiny tears at blank ends of folds, original ink smudge in blank portion

A fascinating set of Executors, some Protestant, some Roman Catholic, all notable for their ties in one way or another to the King, Queen or Court.
Ludovic Stuart d'Aubigny was the 5th son of Esmé Stuart, 3rd Duke of Lennox. The family descended in a female line from James II of Scots and from Sir John Stuart of Darnley (d. 1429). The latter was granted lands at Aubigny-sur-Nère (in Berry, now in Cher) for his services to the Crown of France against the English. In 1495 James IV of Scots created the 5th Seigneur d'Aubigny Earl of Lennox, and the Earls and then Dukes of Lennox became very active in Scottish affairs. Thereafter the Aubigny title was held by some younger son. (And of course, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, was Charles II's grandfather).
Ludovic d'Aubigny was a Dominican Monk, then in priest's orders. When Charles II met Catherine of Braganza at Portsmouth in 1662, the Pope had not yet recognised Portugal's independence from Spain. In a public Roman Catholic ceremony, the Queen would have appeared only as the daughter of a Duke. So Ludovic d'Aubigny married Charles II and Catherine of Braganza in secret. Archbishop Sheldon married them the same day in a public Anglican ceremony.
The Aulnage was a tax on woollen cloth, payable at the time of its inspection by the Aulnager for quality and width. Here the Duke of Richmond is Charles Stuart, 1639-1672, Ludovic's nephew, from 1660 3rd Duke of Richmond and 6th Earl of Lennox.

Item Date:  1666

Stock No:  56779      £750

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