Rare 17th century documents up for auction

A number of the documents feature legislation put hastily together in the aftermath of the execution of Charles I and in the immediate months after the Restoration.

A number of rare and important 17th century documents go under the hammer this Thursday.

Mostly printed Acts of Parliament, they include folios proposing support for soldiers maimed during the English Civil War, the establishment of the Post Office in 1660 and a paper (probably) secretly printed by the controversial Royalist Roger L'Estrange ...

Auctioneers Mullock's are holding the sale of historical documents, autographs and ephemera at Ludlow Racecourse on 28 June 2012. The lots include:

• Two Parliamentary Acts from 1649. The first restricting travel abroad, the second preventing any Member of Parliament who supported the Royalist cause from sitting in Parliament again.
• An Act also from 1649 declaring what shall be adjudged High Treason against the Commonwealth. The catalogue notes that this "is an interesting document as it fails to condemn communication with the exiled King Charles II which no doubt it should have done and also that it is issued in the name of the ‘Keepers of the Liberty of England".
• The Engagement and Remonstrance of the City of London: a remarkable and excessively rare document, "almost certainly secretly printed and recent research has ascribed it to the mercurial Sir Roger L’Estrange ... This is in effect a desperate plea from the Citizens of London to have the excessive numbers of troops and militia companies apart from those that properly belonged to the guard removed from the City within 12 hours. It is estimated that this was issued in December 1659 at the very end of the brief rule of Richard Cromwell as Lord Protector when the country was in turmoil and in real danger of falling into marshal law. The troops had not been paid during the time of Richard’s rule and were understandably furious. In the political vacuum which hastened the end of Richard’s rule thousands of troops had converged on the City of London and their presence was badly affecting trade. The chances of a military coup were imminent and it was only the swift actions of George Monck who engineered the return of King Charles II that the crisis finally was stabilised."
• A 1660 Act for erecting and establishing a Post Office.
• The 1662 Act for the Relief of poor and maimed officers and soldiers who have faithfully served His Majesty and His Royal Father in the late Wars.
• An Act for the security of His Highness the Lord Protector His person and continuance of the nation in peace and safety (1656). An important Act following several plots to assassinate Cromwell. The text lists a considerable number of names of people who had been appointed to undertake the examination and judgement on those apprehended in connection with any plot against Cromwell.

The English Civil War/Restoration-related items are lots 185 - 217. Guide prices range from £50 - £700.

Earlier on this year the same auction house sold a Charles II 'wanted' poster for £33,000.

Mullock's - 28 June 2012 sales catalogue