Beschreibung:

CHARLES I, King of England (1625 - 1649). Autograph letter signed ('your friend Charles R') to Sir William Boswell, York, 8 June 1642, 3 lines written on one page, 4to , addressed on verso 'for your Selfe', and endorsed by the recipient (splitting in centre fold, repaired on verso, patches of discolouration); Letter signed to Lord Napier, Whitehall, 20 May 1641, one page, 4to , address leaf (trimmed at margins, light spotting, address panel darkened); Document signed to the Earl of Lindsay, Newport, 18 October 1648, 6 lines written on one page, 8vo (integral leaf cut away, small tears in centre fold and blank lower margin, neatly repaired and strengthened). Sir William Boswell was the King's representative at the Hague. Charles's brief letter acknowledging his 'account of all myne until Slingsby's aryvall' instructs him to deliver an enclosure (not present), evidently intended for Queen Henrietta Maria who had left England earlier in the year to seek supplies for the King in Holland. Boswell's note confirms receipt of 'Mr. Sec[reta]rie Nicholas pacquet 8/18 June 1642' and that he 'delivered with my owne hand to her Majesty th'enclosed'. The letter to Lord Napier concerns Charles's intention of attending Parliament in Scotland on July 15th, 'so haveing of late writen unto our Councell there, to meett and attend at Edinburgh to receave our further directiones, wee have likewise...thought fitt to require you, to stay constantly there, for giveing such directiones as you shall find necessary for our receiption and entertainment and to attend our further pleasure as it shall from tyme to tyme be imparted unto you'. Charles was at Edinburgh in August and, by making lavish concessions to the Scots, expected to win them over to his side but was instead discredited by a plot among his courtiers to murder the Scottish leaders. The document for Lord Lindsay, dated three months before the King's execution, promises to transfer from Lindsay to Lady Briget Norris a pension 'which I shall passe over to her in form of law when it may bee done'. John, 1st Earl of Lindsay, took part in the attempt to rescue the King in 1648. Imprisoned by Cromwell, he was only released at the Restoration. (3)