Add MS 18980

This is the first volume in a chronological sequence of royalist correspondence, largely to Rupert, Prince and Count Palatine of the Rhine (1619-1682), covering the period 1642-1643. On the spine the manuscript is called 'Rupert Correspondence. 1642. 1643'. Other volumes in the same sequence are Add MSS 18981 and 18982. There are also a number of Civil War letters to Rupert in Add MS 30305, ironically in a volume with letters of the Parliamentarian Fairfaxes (both archives came to the British Museum via the Victorian publisher Richard Bentley who had bought them and published from them).

Together with a few copies or letters to other recipients which may well have been forwarded to Rupert then or later, the letters are the original letters sent to the Prince, with the author's signatures and usually in their own hand (the catalogue below errs in caution in identifying where the whole letter is in the author's hand). These volumes give a vivid sense of the news reaching Rupert and the royalist capital at Oxford from the different theatres of the war (if at times skewed: for 1642-1643 the war in the North and Lincolnshire is badly under-represented). Together they convey how the war appeared to different commanders; to Rupert; and to the King and his Secretary of State, Sir Edward Nicholas, at Oxford.

Contents:

[f. i recto]: Account by Sir Frederic Madden of the acquisition of Add MS 18980-18982 by the British Museum.

f. 1r: Oath of allegiance to King Charles I, n.d. [but from content 1642 or after].

f. 2r: Warrant of King Charles I to Prince Rupert to send before him acts of hostility committed by named individuals (headed by Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex) in their march through Warwickshire. probably Sep, 1642]. With King's signature.

ff. 3r-4v: Letter of George Digby, Baron Digby, to Prince Rupert, 10 Sep [1642]. In Digby's own hand.

ff. 5r-v: Letter of Sir Lewis Dyve to Prince Rupert, Abingdon, 21 Feb 1643. In Dyve's own hand.

ff. 6r-7v: Letter of George Digby, Baron Digby, to Prince Rupert (at Abingdon), Wantage, 7 p.m., this Thursday. A 19th-century hand suggests 24 Nov 1642. In Digby's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 8r-9v: A paper of news, Oxford, 26 Nov 1642. Author not given; addressee, from 9v: his Lordship.

ff. 10r-11v: Letter of Charles Cocks to 'his very loving father-in-law' Timothy Gate (at Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire), Oxford, 29 Nov 1642. In Cocks' hand. with address and pencil calculations on 11v.

ff. 12r-v: Letter of Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton, to Prince Rupert, Deddington, noon, 22 Dec 1642.

ff. 13r-14v: Letter of Thomas Robinson to Prince Rupert, The Savoy [London], 15 Jan 1643. With address.

ff. 15r-v: Letter of William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Newcastle, to Prince Rupert, Pontefract, 21 Jan 1643.

ff. 16r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 24 Jan 1643. In Nicholas's hand throughout.

ff. 17r-v: Order for the attack on Cirencester, [1?] Feb 1643. Rupert's name (if not his actual signature) is written in confirmation of these orders, apparently in the same hand as the rest of the orders.

ff. 18r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 3 Feb 1643. In Nicolas's hand throughout.

ff. 19r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, 4 Feb 1643. In Nicholas's hand throughout.

ff. 20r-21v: A brief of commissions to raise Horse and Foot which have passed under the Great Seal and sign manual since 10 Dec 642. Latest date is 7 Feb 1643.

ff. 22r-v: Letter of Sir Arthur Aston to Prince Rupert, Reading, 28 Feb 1643. In Aston's hand throughout.

ff. 23r-24v: Letter of Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton, to Sir Edward Nicholas, Secretary of State, Banbury, 1 Mar 1643. With address and seal.

ff. 25r-26v: A design for taking of a castle. Unsigned and n.d. [?Feb 1643]. Reference to the 'forest' possibly means the Forest of Dean. The castle may, however, be Windsor Castle (the letter refers to 'Egom', with an abbreviation mark, possibly Egham).

ff. 27r-v: Letter of Patrick Ruthven, Earl of Forth, to Prince Rupert, 'Brile' [?Brill], 19 Mar 1643.

ff. 28r-v: Letter of James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton, to Prince Rupert, n.d,, but from internal evidence shortly after the death of Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton on 19 Mar 1643.

ff. 29r-v: Letter of John Fines to Prince Rupert, Cirencester, 11 p.m., 24 Mar 1643.

ff. 30r-v; Letter of officers at Worcester (11 signatories, headed by Sir William Russell) to Prince Rupert, 25 Mar 1643.

ff. 31r-v: Letter of Arthur Trevor to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 27 Mar 1643.

ff. 32r-v: The difficulties which obstruct the advance of monies in these parts, with answers and remedies, n.d. A later note suggests after Mar 1643.

ff. 33r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 4 Apr 1643. in Nicholas's own hand. Partially in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 34r-35v: Letter of Sir Nicholas Byron to Arthur Capel, Baron Capel of Hadham, Chester, 5 Apr 1643. With address and seal. The address is to Capel as Lieutenant-General to the Prince. There is also a note of Ellesmere, 5 Apr at 7 a.m. Though the handwriting is ambiguous, perhaps when Capel received or forwarded it.

ff. 36r-v; Letter of Lord Henry Hastings to Prince Rupert, Dalby [?]. 9 p.m., 5 [April 1643]. With address and partial seal.

f. 37r: Letter of Arthur Capel, 1st Baron Capel of Hadham, to Prince Rupert, Shrewsbury, 6 Apr 1643.

ff. 38r-39v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 6 Apr 1643. In Nicholas's hand. Partly in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 40r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, n.d. In Nicholas's own hand. Partially in cipher, deciphered. From internal evidence, probably Apr 1643.

ff. 41r-v: Lord Henry Hastings to Prince Rupert, Bosworth, 8 [Apr 1643?], in the morning. With address and fragment of seal.

ff. 42r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert. Oxford, 10 Apr 1643. In Nicholas's own hand. Partly in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 43r-v: Letter of Sir Arthur Aston to Prince Rupert, Reading, 6 a.m., 12 Apr 1643. In Aston's hand.

ff. 44r-v: Letter of Arthur Capel, 1st Baron Capel of Hadham, to Prince Rupert, Whitchurch, 13 Apr 1643.

ff. 45r-v: Letter of George Goring, Baron Goring, to Prince Rupert, York, 18 Apr 1643. In Goring's own hand.

ff. 46r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 21 Apr 1643. In Nicholas's own hand. Partly in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 47r-v: Letter of George Goring, Baron Goring, to Prince Rupert, York, 'very late', 18 Apr 1643. In Goring's own hand.

ff. 48r-49v: Letter of George Goring, Baron Goring, to Mr Henry Percy, 'late', York, 22 Apr 1643. With address. In Goring's own hand. He addresses Percy as 'My partner' and the address is to Percy as 'my dear Partner'.

ff. 50r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 23 Apr 1643. In Nicholas's own hand. Partly in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 51r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 24 Apr 1643. In Nicholas's own hand.

ff. 52r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to King Charles I, Oxford, 26 Apr 1643. In Nicolas's own hand.

ff. 53r-54v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to King Charles I, Oxford, 28 Apr 1643. In Nicolas's own hand. With address and seal.

ff. 55r-v: Letter of Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford, to Prince Rupert, Faringdon, 5 May 1643.

ff. 56r-v: Letter of Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford, to Prince Rupert, 7 May 1643.

ff. 57r-v: Letter of Philip Willughby to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 7 a.m., 7 May 1643.

ff. 58r-v: Letter of James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton, to Prince Rupert, Banbury, 8 May 1643. Probably in Northampton's hand throughout.

ff. 59r-60v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 11 May 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 61r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 12 May 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 62r-v: Letter of Thomas Blagge [Blague] to Prince Rupert, 12 May 1643.

ff. 63r-v: Letter of Thomas Blagge [Blague] to Prince Rupert, 10 p.m., this present Tuesday night. A 19th-century note dates this as 12 May 1643.

ff. 64r-65v: Letter of Christopher Smith to Spencer Lucy, Cherrington, 15 May [1643]. With address to Lucy as his 'most honorable friend'.

ff. 66r-v: Letter of Thomas Wentworth, 5th Baron Wentworth to Prince Rupert, Buckingham, 4 p.m., 15 May 1643. In Wentworth's own hand.

ff. 67r-68v: Letter of Thomas Wentworth, 5th Baron Wentworth to Prince Rupert, Buckingham, 16 May 1643. In Wentworth's own hand. With address and seal.

ff. 69r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 17 May 1643. In Nicholas's own hand.

ff. 70r-v: Letter of Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford, to Prince Rupert, Faringdon, 19 May 1643.

ff. 71r-v: Letter of John Fines to Prince Rupert, Faringdon, 7 p.m., 25 May 1643.

ff. 72r-v: Letter of Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford, to Prince Rupert, Faringdon,, 26 May [1643].

ff. 73r-v: Letter of John Fines to Prince Rupert, Lechlade, 30 May 1643.

ff. 74r-v: Letter of Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford, to Prince Rupert, 'Haywoth' [?Highworth], 1 Jun 1643.

ff. 75r-v: Letter of Thomas Blagge [Blague] to Prince Rupert, Wallingford, 1 Jun 1643.

ff. 76r-v: Letter of Henry Wilmot to Prince Rupert, Bletchingdon, 18 Jun 1643. the letter is evidently in Wilmot's own hand throughout.

ff. 77r-78r: Letter of Elizabeth, Countess of Berkshire (wife of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire to Prince Rupert), Ewelme, 21 Jun 1643.

ff. 79r-v; Letter of Sir Lewis Dyve to Prince Rupert, Abingdon, 8 p.m., 23 Jun 1643.

ff. 80r-v: Letter of Sir John Byron to Prince Rupert, Brackley, 4 Jul 1643. In Byron's own hand.

ff. 81v-82v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 8 Jul 1643. With note in the margin in the hand of, and initialled 'C.R.', by King Charles I.

ff. 83r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 11 Jul 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 84r-v: Letter of Arthur Capel, 1st Baron Capel of Hadham, to Prince Rupert, 12 Jul 1643.In Capel's own hand.

ff. 85r-v: Letter of William Villiers, 2nd Viscount Grandison, to Prince Rupert, Faringdon, 17 Jul 1643. In Grandison's own hand throughout.

ff. 86r-v: Letter of Sir William Russell to Prince Rupert, Alcester, 19 Jul 1643.

ff. 87r-v: Letter of Robert Tracy to Prince Rupert, Toddington, 20 Jul 1643.

ff. 88r-89v: Letter of Sir John Berkeley to [?Prince Rupert], Topsham, 21 Jul 1643.

ff. 90r-v: Letter of Richard Herbert to Prince Rupert, Worcester, 21 Jul 1643.

ff. 91r-92v: Letter of John[?] Slaughter to Prince Rupert, Worcester, 21 Jul 1643. In Slaughter's own hand. With address and seal. There is in pencil what looks to be a draft reply.

ff. 93r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 23 Jul 1643. In Nicholas's own hand.

ff. 94r-v: Letter of Edward Herbert to Prince Rupert, Raglan Castle, after 10 a.m., 25 Jul 1643.

ff. 95r-v: Letter of Sir William Vavasour to Prince Rupert, Presteigne, 26 Jul 1643

ff. 96r-v: Letter of Sir John Byron to Prince Rupert, 27 Jul 1643. In Byron's own hand.

ff. 97r-v: Letter of Sir William Vavasour to Prince Rupert, Hereford, 30 Jul 1643.

ff. 98r-v: Letter of Sir Ferdinando Gorges [or Arthur Gorges] to Prince Rupert, n.s. A later cataloguer suggests Jul 1643. The signature could be either; the endorsement says 'A' rather than 'F'.

ff. 99r-v: Letter of Sir William Vavasour to Prince Rupert, Monmouth, 4 Aug 1643.

ff. 100r-v: Letter of William Morton to [unnamed], Winchcombe, 4 Aug 1643. Morton addresses the recipient as 'good Lord'.

ff. 101r-v: Letter of Sir William Vavasour to Prince Rupert, Brampton Castle, 6 Aug 1643.

ff. 102r-v: Letter of William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle to Prince Rupert, Lincoln, 7 Aug 1643. In Newcastle's own hand.

ff. 103r-v: Letter of Sir William Russell to Prince Rupert, Tewkesbury, 8 Aug 1643.

ff. 104r-105v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 8 Aug 1643. In Nicholas's own hand.

ff. 106r-v: Letter of Sir Baynham Throckmorton to Prince Rupert, Newent, 10 Aug 1643 93 o'clock).

ff. 107r-108v: Letter of Nathaniel Fiennes to Sir Ralph Hopton, or in his absence the Commander-in-Chief at Bristol, London, 13 Aug 1643. Noted, f. 108v, as a copy.

ff. 109r-v: Letter of Sir Ralph Hopton to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 21 Aug 1643. In Hopton's own hand.

ff. 110r-111v: Articles of Prince Maurice for the surrender of Barnstaple, addressed to the Mayor and Corporation, 27 Aug 1643.

ff. 112r-v: Letter of Sir Ralph Hopton to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 1 Sep 1643. In Hopton's own hand.

ff. 113r-v: Letter of Sir Ralph Hopton to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 4 Sep 1643. In Hopton's own hand.

ff. 114r-v: Letter of Sir Ralph Hopton to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 6 Sep 1643. In Hopton's own hand.

ff. 115r-116v: Letter of Sir Ralph Hopton to Prince Rupert, n.d. [July 1643]. In Hopton's own hand. The letter announces that Colonel Moyle is this day dead: according to Peter R. Newman, Royalist Offices in England and Wales, 1642-1660: A Biographical Dictionary (New York & London: Garland Publishing, 1981) p. 267, this was 26 Jul 1643.

ff. 117r-v: Letter of George Maxwell to Prince Rupert, Berkeley Castle, 8 Sep 1643.

ff. 118r-v: Spy's report, signed R.W., Windsor Castle, 12 Sep 1643.

ff. 119r-v: Letter of Sir Ralph Hopton to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 17 Sep 1643.

ff. 120r-v: Account of the 1st Battle of Newbury, [20 Sep 1643].

ff. 122r-v: Letter of Sir Ralph Hopton to Prince Rupert, Sodbury, 3 Oct 1643. In Hopton's own hand.

ff. 123r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 15 Oct 1643. In Nicholas's own hand.

ff. 124r-v: Letter of Theobald Taaffe, 2nd Viscount Taaffe to Prince Rupert, Dublin, 16 Oct 1643.

ff. 125r-126v: Letter of William Harvey, Robert Vilvain, Edmund Smith and John King to Prince Rupert, with a further note by Sir Richard Cave, Milton, 17 Oct 1643. Much of the letter is about Prince Maurice's illness (William Harvey is the doctor). With address.

ff. 127r-v: Letter of W. Graunt to Prince Rupert, Pendennis, 21 Oct 1643. In Graunt's hand.

ff. 128r-v: Letter of Henry Hastings to Prince Rupert, Ashby, 22 [Oct 1643], 11 p.m. The letter is dated the 22nd; the endorsement gives the date as 28 Oct 1643. With address and seal.

ff. 129r-130v: Letter of Edward Landisdale to James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton, Banbury, 11 a.m., 24 Oct 1643. With address to Nortmapton as 'my most honoured Lord and Master'.

ff. 131r-v: Letter of Sir Ralph Hopton to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 25 Oct 1643. In Hopton's hand.

ff. 132r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 27 Oct 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 133r-v: Letter of Sir Lewis Dyve to Prince Rupert (at Buckingham), Stony Stratford, 3 a.m., 28 Oct 1643. With address and seal.

ff. 134r-v: Letter of Sir Lewis Dyve to Prince Rupert, Stony Stratford, 7 a.m., 28 Oct 1643. The time is from the letter, the date from the endorsement.

ff. 135r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, past 5 at night, 28 Oct 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 136r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 1 p.m., 30 Oct 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 137r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 31 Oct 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 138r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 1 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand. Partially in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 139r-v: Letter of Henry Wilmot to Prince Rupert, Brackley, 1 Nov 1643. Probably in Wilmot's hand.

ff. 140r-v: Letter of Thomas Wentworth, 5th Baron Wentworth to Prince Rupert, Brackley [?], 2 Nov 1643. The placee of writing is either 'Braclay' or 'Braday', but Wentworth is Wilmot, so Brackley is probably the location.

ff 141r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 3 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 142r-v: Letter of Sir Richard Cave to Prince Rupert, Dartmouth, 4 Nov 1643.

ff. 143r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 5 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 144r-v: Letter of John Byron, 1st Baron Byron, to Prince Rupert, Brackley, 6 Nov 1643. In Byron's hand. The letter says 6 November, the endorsement 9 Nov.

ff. 145r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, 6 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 146r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, 7 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand. Partially in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 147r-v: Letter of John Byron, 1st Baron Byron, to Prince Rupert, Brackley, 7 Nov 1643. In Byron's hand.

ff. 148r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, 9 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand. Partially in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 149r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, 10 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 150r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, 12 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand. Partially in cipher, deciphered.

ff. 151r-v: Letter of King Charles I to Prince Rupert, Oxford, 13 Nov 1643. The body of the letter is in the hand of Sir Edward Nicholas. The King signs at the head and has added notes in his own hand in the margin and at the foot, the latter initialled.

ff. 152r-v: Letter of Sir Edward Nicholas to Prince Rupert, 16 Nov 1643. In Nicholas's hand.

ff. 153r-v: Letter of Sir Lewis Dyve to Prince Rupert, 'Polesbury', 28 Nov 1643.

ff. 154r-v: Letter of Gilbert Gerard to Prince Rupert, 'Tositer' [Towcester?], 20 Nov 1643. In Gerard's hand.

ff. 155r-v: Letter of Sir William Vavasour to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 4 Dec 1643. In Vavasour's hand.

ff. 156r-v: Letter of Sir William Morton to Prince Rupert, 7 Dec 1643. With note by J. Culpeper. In Morton's and Culpeper's hands.

ff. 157r-v: Letter of Sir William Vavasour to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 9 Dec 1643. In Vavasour's hand.

ff. 158r-v: Letter of William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle to Prince Rupert, Chesterfield, 10 Dec 1643. In Newcastle's hand.

ff. 159r-v: Letter of J. Cockeran to Prince Rupert, 'Tosseter' [?Towcester], 11 Dec 1643.

ff. 160r-v: Letter of Ralph Hopton, Baron Hopton to Prince Rupert, Alresford, 12 Dec 1643. In Hopton's hand.

ff. 161r-v: Letter of Sir Nicholas Byron to Prince Rupert, Chester, 12 Dec 1643. In Byron's own hand.

ff. 162r-v: Letter of Gilbert Gerard to Prince Rupert, 'Esome' [?Evesham, ?Icomb], 13 Dec 1643. In Gerard's own hand.

ff. 163r-v: Letter of J. Cockeran to Prince Rupert, 'Tosseter' [?Towcester], 16 Dec 1643.

ff. 164r-v: Letter of George Porter to Prince Rupert, York, 20 Dec 1642. In Porter's hand.

ff. 165r-v: Letter of Gilbert Gerard to Prince Rupert, Worcester [?], 21 Dec 1643. In Gerard's hand. the place has been slightly damaged.

ff. 166r-v: Letter of John Russell to Prince Rupert, Bristol, 22 Dec 1643. In Russell's hand.

ff. 167r-v: Letter of Henry Wilmot, Baron Wilmot to Prince Rupert, Winchester, 24 Dec 1643. In Wilmot's own hand.

ff. 168r-v: Letter of J. Cockeran to Prince Rupert, 'Tosseter' [?Towcester], 3 a.m., 30 Dec 1643. In Cockeran's own hand.

ff. 169r-v: Letter of Thomas Sandford to Prince Rupert, Beeston Castle (Cheshire), 30 Dec 1643. In Sandford's own hand. Sandford writes from 'my Garrison in Beiston Castle'.

ff. 170r-v: Letter of Gilbert Gerard to Prince Rupert, Worcester, 30 Dec 1643. In Gerard's hand.