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Auction: 19022 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 2022

Autographs
Charles I
1642 (28 June) LS to Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick as a "duplicate of our Revocacon of ye Eraunt of ye Office of Lord High Admirall of England", reiterating that Warwick is demanded to "give over and relinquish ye Command you have or pretend to have in any of our Ships of our Fleete, and forthwith to leave our Ship James, and our said Fleete to be commanded by such person as Wee have or shall appoint to take charge thereof … it is no less then high Treason for any person whatsoever to deteyne any of our Shippes contrary to our expresse Commands". Signed "Charles R". Complete with address panel and filing endorsement to the reverse, paper reinforced in some places. A highly significant document, written under a month before the outbreak of the Civil War. Photo

PROVENANCE:
Royal Commission on Historical Documents (1887)
Sotheby's 1947 (19 February) sold as part of the John Browne collection of parliamentary records.


Robert Rich (1587-1658), 2nd Earl of Warwick was Lord High Admiral of the Navy as appointed by parliament as of letters of 1 July 1642 and earlier that year, against the King's will. In this letter just days later, the King's fear of Warwick's control over the Navy is clear. Notably, in 1648, Warwick retook the 'Castles of the Downs' at Walmer, Sandown and Deal where he became the Castle's captain. Warwick held the position of Lord High Admiral under the Parliamentarian force until the abolition of the House of Lords in 1649.

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Sold for
£3,800