Add MS 35029

FIVE HOLOGRAPH LETTERS of Charles I., viz:-

1. Charles I. to "Ned Hyde" [cr. Earl of Clarendon, 1661 Oatlands, 19 Aug. 1647. Hyde's letter from Jersey, 27 July, to which this is an answer, is in the Clarendon State Papers, vol. ii. p. 371, and his reply to the King's, 15 Sept., ib. p. 375. f. 2.

2. Two letters in the King's ordinary hand, unsigned, written from Carisbrooke in response to offers of service. The person addressed (who is not named) was perhaps Henry Firebrace (see Hillier's Narrative of the Attempted Escapes of Charles I, 1852, and the original letters in Egerton MS. 1788). The date is probably before the attempt made about 30 Mar . 1648. The second letter is dated "Saterday night." ff. 3, 4.

3. Letter [to the same?] also in the King's natural hand, unsigned, written apparently after the escape of the Duke of York [21 Apr. 1648], of which the King professes ignorance. f. 5.

4. Letter signed "J," in the feigned hand used by Charles at this time [cf. Egerton MSS. 1533, 1788], and addressed to "L" [Richard Osborne]; Tuesday, 18 July, 1648. It is mentioned as an enclosure in a letter to "D" [H. Firebrace] of the same date (Eg. MS. 1788, f. 32). f. 6. Included also is:-

5. Letter from an anonymous Cavalier to Charles II,, on the state of affairs in England; 13 Mar. [16 59/60]. Written. (perhaps in sympathetic ink) on white silk. It represents the Parliamentarians as planning "a presbiterian commonwealth; if a single person, Richard or Monk, you in the last place, if the currant of the nations loyaltie beare them downe." f. 7. The history of the letters is given in a note (f. 1) dated 4 Oct. 1764, by R. Bourk, who says, "They were given to my mother by Mr. George Fairfax, who had them from my Lord Clarendon's family. The letter on white Persian [sc. art. 5] was wrote to his Majesty during the siege of Exeter [this is a mistake: see above]. Given to me, by my ever honour'd mother, Jane Fitzgerald." Paper and silk; ff. 7. Enclosed in a purple velvet with embroidery and silver braid.