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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1009

Sir Francis Godolphin - Garrison of the Isle of Scilly
1638 document signed "Fra[ncis] Cottingham" addressed to "my very loving friend Richard Kins making his Maties Audit of the said Committee" reading "After my harty Comenacons with held and affecsonot Sir Francis Godolphon Knt of his Maties Receivor Generall of the Commiiee of Devon and Cornwall hath informed me that formally he had sums of seven hundred pounds for and towards the payment of himself and his support and contentment of the garrison of the Isle of Scilly". Fine and interesting

Notes: Sir Francis Godolphin (1605-67) enjoyed plaudits in both Royalist and Parliamentarian camps having represented Helston in Parliament in 1625-26 and again in 1638; but also having served the King by securing the Isles of Scilly as a place of refuge. He was then disbarred from sitting in Parliament in 1644, but on the capture of the King he negotiated the surrender of the Scillies to Parliament affording him a favourable vote in the House of Commons the "he should enjoy his estate and be free from arrest for any acts of war".

In March 1646 the Prince Charles, future King Charles II stayed on the island for some weeks before fleeing further to Jersey. The fortifications had been built on the island in Godolphin's father's tenure and under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I in anticipation of a war with the Spanish."

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Estimate
£300 to £400

Starting price
£240