English Civil War | Three printed proclamations, 1649-1660

English Civil War

Three Proclamations relating to the Commonwealth, 1649-1660, comprising:

i) Resolves of the Commons assembled in Parliament, Concerning such Ministers as shall Preach or Pray against the present Government established by Parliament. London: for Edward Husband, Printer to the Parliament of England, July 10. 1649. Broadsheet (340 x 247mm.), browning, nicks at edges

ii) By the Protector: An Order and Declaration of His Highness, by the Advice of His Council, commanding All Persons who have been of the late Kings Party, or his Sons, to depart out of the Cities of London and Westminster [...] on or before Monday the Fifth day of November, 1655. London: by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers to His Highnes, 1655. Broadsheet (465 x 290mm), woodcut coat of arms of the Commonwealth, incomplete, lower half supplied in facsimile

iii) By the King. A Proclamation To summon the Persons therein named, who sate, gave Judgment, and assisted in that horrid and detestable Murder of His Majesties Royal Father of blessed memory, to appear and render themselves within Fourteen days, under pain of being excepted from Pardon. London: by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most excellent Majesty, 1660. Broadsheet (360 x 266mm), woodcut royal arms and initial capital, light browning

all three items taped to card borders and loose on mounts

A COLLECTION OF THREE BROADSIDE PROCLAMATIONS CHARTING ROYALIST SENTIMENT AND THE FORTUNE OF THE COMMONWEALTH, FROM THE MONTHS AFTER THE REGICIDE TO THE RESTORATION. The first proclamation, issued by the Commons in the months after the execution of Charles I, includes the resolution that no prayer should "make mention of Charls [sic] Stuart, or James Stuart, Sons of the late King, who by judgement of Parliament are Declared Enemies, and stand excepted from pardon, otherwise then as the Enemies to this Commonwealth". The second proclamation was issued in the name of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector. It banishes Royalists from London for the commemoration of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, when a plot to murder a Stuart king had been foiled, it was said, by divine intervention. The third proclamation was issued on 6 June 1660, just a week after Charles II entered London, and lists 44 regicides who had recently - and understandably - "fled and obscured themselves, whereby they cannot be apprehended and brought to a personal and legal Trial for their said Treasons".

LITERATURE

i) Wing E2723; ESTC R211235

ii) Wing C7121; ESTC R211670

iii) Wing C3584; ESTC R212408

PROVENANCE

Guildhall Library (duplicate stamps); H.V. Morton (1892-1979), journalist and travel writer