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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1024

King Charles I - Sir Arthur Aston - Prince Rupert - Siege of Reading
1642 (21 Nov.) ALS "Arth:[ur] Ashton" in Reading with integral address panel reading "To his Highness Prince Rupert these I Humbly Present".

Letter reads "May it please your highness this morning his Majesty having received intelligences that the enemy is marching towards us upon both sides of the water did command me to write unto your highness to request your highness that you would be pleased instantly to send orders unto all your troops of horse who have this day orders to march that they stir not from the place where this night they lodge until they receive further directions. In the mean time his Majesty will strive to obtain certain intelligence and upon you advertisement where you this night lodges his majesty will inform your highness of all they passeth, this presumption I beseech your highness to pardon".

With autograph postscript in King's hand reading "I desire you to com hither than we may advise what to do CR".

And additional contemporary filing endorsement in summary of contents.

Professional reinforcement along long edge, some overall foxing commensurate with age, and a hugely significant document replete with urgency and drama as the Royalists are surrounded on all sides.

Notes: One the day this letter was written Charles in fact left Reading where he had been residing for the past three days in the hope of a resolution with Parliament leaving Aston as General of Reading. By this point Charles had receded from Edgehill, which had been indecisive, to Oxford, then attempted to travel to London via Reading, but returned to Reading having been turned away in London

In April of the following year Reading would be besieged by the Parliamentary forces which Aston was able to repel on three occassions though sustaining injury in the process.

Sir Arthur Aston (1590-1649) noted for his support of the Royalist cause and as Colonel General of the Dragoons, famed for his aggression in battle and feared as one of the Royalists great generals. He died in 1649 during the Parliamentary Siege of Drogheda and it is much reported that he was killed with the use of his own wooden leg which was hit upon his head, it was thought that his leg contained gold coins.


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Estimate
£2,500 to £3,000

Starting price
£2000