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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1039

Civil War 'Pass'
1645 (20 Nov.) document issued at Newport Pagnell and headed "Colonell Charles D'oilie Governor of Newport P".

Document reads: "These as who will, and require all officers and soldiers belonging to this Garrison and to desire all others whom it may concern to permit and suffer this bearer lieut coll Osborne and Mr. Charles Wheeler to passe from here to London without any molestation ... given under my hands and seal" (the red wax seal still well intact at the top of the document).

Signed "Charles D'oilie", with postscript reading: "The Poste M'st [Masters] and Constables of the Stage from here to London and desired to furnish the above named Gentlemen with horses (their occasions being of speedy government".

Filing endorsement on reverse reads "1645 November 21 Coll. Doileie's Pass for Sir. Henry Osborne and Coll. Wheeler to go to London".

A most unusual form of document in fine condition. Mention of the horses to be provided by the Post Masters is of interest, and it is possible that Osborne and Wheeler were acting as messengers of important information.

Notes: Newport Pagnell, sitting on one of the main supply routes in and out of London and near to Oxford, represented an important stronghold for the Parliamentarians. It was known the conditions for soldiers at this Garrison were particularly poor and resulted in a mutiny later in 1645. It is not beyond the realms of imagination that Osborne and Wheeler carried a petition to Cromwell for fresh supplies and provision of funds.

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Estimate
£300 to £400

Starting price
£240