Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1028

King Charles I - The Protection of Queen Henrietta Maria
1643 (7 July) letter signed "Given att our Court att Oxford", signed "Charles R" at top to Henry Jermyn, "Collonel of the Guards of our dearest Consort the Queen" [Henrietta Maria] informing that he has directed "our Deere nephew Prince Rupert to repair with a part of our forces for ye me more secure coveying of our dearest Consort the Queen in he passage to us" ... "ordering that you and all officers under you obey our said nephew as commander in chief".

Very fine with some reinforcement along the long folded edge as is often found. A superb and important letter - letters as opposed to documents signed by royals being scarcer.

Notes: The Queen, Henrietta Maria had, in the year previous to this letter, ventured to the continent with the aim of raising funds for her Husband's cause. It is estimated that on her return she had raised c.£1,000,000 - 2,000,000. She landed back in England at Bridlington in February 1643 and rode with Jermyn from there to Stratford, where she met with Prince Rupert and stayed with Judith Hall (daughter of William Shakespeare), and arrived outside Oxford on 13 July where she was reunited with Charles.

Henry Jermyn 1st Earl of St. Albans (1605-84) has been credited with a forward thinking approach to foreign affairs, in particular the involvement of friendly powers on the Continent in support of Charles I's campaign. In 1643 Jermyn became very close with the Queen and was appointed Colonel of the Queen's Regiment of Horse - effectively her personal bodyguard. Henrietta Maria implored Charles to make him a peer and Jermyn is rumoured to have married her after Charles' death.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£1,500 to £2,000

Starting price
£1200