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Auction: 17020 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 802

Autographs
King Henry IV
1403 (27 November) letter written in French on vellum to John Bonnington, auditor of the northern parts (north of the Trent) of the Duchy of Lancaster. He is being sent the tenors of letters of proclamation in certain counties of England with fees, wages and annuities, including those in his audit.


The document concludes with, "Given under seal of Duchy of Lancaster, at the Palace of Westminster; 27 Nov. 5. Henry IV, 1403" with the final, "per litteram ipsius Regis de signete". There is no seal or tag remaining. There is some light ageing on the reverse but the letter side is quite fresh. Folded and with slits for the closing seal. A fine early document relating to the Duchy of Lancaster. Photo

In 1351, Edward III conferred the title of Duke of Lancaster on the celebrated diplomat and soldier, Henry Grosmont, son of Henry 3rd Earl of Lancaster. When Henry Grosmont died in 1361, the inheritance became part of his daughter, Blanche’s dowry. Two years earlier in 1359, Blanche had married one of Edward III’s sons, John of Gaunt. As only a male heir could inherit the Dukedom, John became the second Duke of Lancaster in 1362.

When John died in 1399, his nephew King Richard II confiscated the Lancaster inheritance and banished John’s son, Henry Bolingbroke, from England for life. Within the year, Henry Bolingbroke returned from exile, raised an army and forced Richard to abdicate. He ascended to the throne as Henry IV in October 1399.

One of Henry’s first acts as King was to stipulate the conditions in which the Lancaster inheritance should be held, specifying that it should be held separately from all other Crown possessions, and should descend through the Monarchy as a private estate.


John Bonnington (died 1421) was auditor of the norther parts of the Duchy. He had a grant for life of £10 per annum from the Exchequer as a king's servant

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