Item 23: Royal Decree from King Charles I (removed to Legal Box #1), 1646 June 8
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 23
Dates
- Created: 1646 June 8
Creator
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Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Royal Decree
Condition Note:
Poor: Vinegar smell. Red stain in center. Discoloration of pages. Tears in page creases. Hole in seal. Black stain on text. Official seal is illegible
Measurements:
(open) 13 ½ in. x 11 ¼ in.; (closed) 7 ⅛ in. x 11 ¼ in.
Description:
The following item is a royal decree written by King Charles I, King of England, Ireland, and Scotland, to all military officers and coxswains on June 8, 1646, from Newcastle (likely referring to Newcastle Gaol). The decree was created to prevent any military officers from obstructing the passage of Lieutenant Colonel Clarke (possibly in charge of nine companies of Foot in 1651), his two servants, and three horses. It is possible that Lieutenant Colonel Clarke participated in the English Civil War, carrying an important message of some variety. In 1642, Charles I and the Royalists began to fight the revolutionary Parliamentarians of England and Scotland. In 1645, he was defeated by the Parliamentarian New Model Army. He retreated from the battle and surrendered to a Scottish force and was taken by the Long Parliament. In April 1646 he escaped imprisonment, but was shortly recaptured by the Scottish Presbyterian Army, who sold him to the English Parliament in January 1647. This decree was issued during his captivity in Newcastle with the Scottish Presbyterian Army, and may have been the beginning of another escape attempt. It appears that at this period of the war, he still had some followers and power, as he was able to threaten the officers that if they didn’t let Clarke pass, they would be answerable to the highest perils. This document is signed by the Earl of Lanark, William Hamilton. The Earl of Lanark acted as the Secretary of State for Scotland and met with King Charles I at Newcastle in 1646 to negotiate the adoption of Presbyterianism. In 1649, a Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke was imprisoned at Newgate Prison for “being in arms against Parliament” and attempting war. He was later released for good behavior.
Location:
Newcastle; Newcastle Gaol (likely)
Transcription:
Charles R [Signature]
Charles By the grace of God Kinge [sic] [King] of greate [sic] [great] Brittaine [sic] [Britain] & France(?) and Iriland [sic] [Ireland] Defendir [sic] [Defender] of the Faith & c. [sic] [et cetera]. To all Admiralls [sic] [Admirals], Vice-Admiralls [sic] [Vice-Admirals], Govirno: [sic] [Governors] or Commandirs [sic] [Commanders] of Boats or Havins [sic] [Havens], Captanis [sic] [Captains], Masters of Shipps[sic] [ships] & all othir [other] officers or Commandirs [sic] [Commanders] by sea, who have Commission from Do [aforementioned] whatsoivir [sic] [whatsoever]. Whirias [sic] [Whereas] the bravir [sic] [braver] Liuitinint [sic] [Lieutenant] Colonill [sic] [Colonel] Clarke is for his lawfull[sic] [lawful] affayros[sic] [affairs] to go beyond Sea. Thisi [sic] [These] are thiri [sic] [there] for to will and Command yow [sic] [you] and iviry [sic] [every] one of yow [sic] [you], to suffir [sic] [suffer] and permitt [sic] [permit] the said Luit.[Lieutenant] Colonill [sic] [Colonel] Clarke with his two servants and thrii [sic] three horses freely to pass.- without any trouble search or mollestation [sic] [molestation] whatsoivir [sic] [whatsoever]. Whiriof [sic] [Whereof] yow [sic] [you] are not to faile [sic] [fail] as yow [sic] [you] and iviry [sic] [every] one of yow [sic] [you] willbou [sic] [will be] ansouirable [sic] [answerable] at yo [sic] [your] Highest perills [sic] [perils]. Giuin [sic] [Given] undir [sic] [under] Our hand and Signott [sic] [Signed] at Newcastle ye eight [sic] [eighth] day of June 1646. And of Our Raign [sic] [Reign] the 22.
By his Ma[jes]ties [sic] [Majesty’s] Comand [sic] [Command] Lanark [Signature]
Modern transcription: Charles R [Signature]
Charles, By the grace of God King of Great Britain & France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith etc. To all Admirals, Vice-Admirals, Governors or Commanders of Boats or Havens, Captains, Masters of ships & other officers or Commanders by sea, who have Commission from the aforementioned whatsoever. Whereas the braver Lieutenant Colonel Clarke is for his lawful affairs to go beyond Sea. These are there to will and Command you and every one of you, to suffer and permit the said Lieutenant Colonel Clarke with his two servants and three horses freely to pass.- without any trouble search or molestation whatsoever. Whereof you are not to fail] as you and every one of you will be answerable at your Highest perils. Given under Our hand and Signed at Newcastle the eighth day of June 1646. And of Our Reign the 22.
By his Majesty’s Command Lanark [Signature]
Charles By the grace of God Kinge [sic] [King] of greate [sic] [great] Brittaine [sic] [Britain] & France(?) and Iriland [sic] [Ireland] Defendir [sic] [Defender] of the Faith & c. [sic] [et cetera]. To all Admiralls [sic] [Admirals], Vice-Admiralls [sic] [Vice-Admirals], Govirno: [sic] [Governors] or Commandirs [sic] [Commanders] of Boats or Havins [sic] [Havens], Captanis [sic] [Captains], Masters of Shipps[sic] [ships] & all othir [other] officers or Commandirs [sic] [Commanders] by sea, who have Commission from Do [aforementioned] whatsoivir [sic] [whatsoever]. Whirias [sic] [Whereas] the bravir [sic] [braver] Liuitinint [sic] [Lieutenant] Colonill [sic] [Colonel] Clarke is for his lawfull[sic] [lawful] affayros[sic] [affairs] to go beyond Sea. Thisi [sic] [These] are thiri [sic] [there] for to will and Command yow [sic] [you] and iviry [sic] [every] one of yow [sic] [you], to suffir [sic] [suffer] and permitt [sic] [permit] the said Luit.[Lieutenant] Colonill [sic] [Colonel] Clarke with his two servants and thrii [sic] three horses freely to pass.- without any trouble search or mollestation [sic] [molestation] whatsoivir [sic] [whatsoever]. Whiriof [sic] [Whereof] yow [sic] [you] are not to faile [sic] [fail] as yow [sic] [you] and iviry [sic] [every] one of yow [sic] [you] willbou [sic] [will be] ansouirable [sic] [answerable] at yo [sic] [your] Highest perills [sic] [perils]. Giuin [sic] [Given] undir [sic] [under] Our hand and Signott [sic] [Signed] at Newcastle ye eight [sic] [eighth] day of June 1646. And of Our Raign [sic] [Reign] the 22.
By his Ma[jes]ties [sic] [Majesty’s] Comand [sic] [Command] Lanark [Signature]
Modern transcription: Charles R [Signature]
Charles, By the grace of God King of Great Britain & France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith etc. To all Admirals, Vice-Admirals, Governors or Commanders of Boats or Havens, Captains, Masters of ships & other officers or Commanders by sea, who have Commission from the aforementioned whatsoever. Whereas the braver Lieutenant Colonel Clarke is for his lawful affairs to go beyond Sea. These are there to will and Command you and every one of you, to suffer and permit the said Lieutenant Colonel Clarke with his two servants and three horses freely to pass.- without any trouble search or molestation whatsoever. Whereof you are not to fail] as you and every one of you will be answerable at your Highest perils. Given under Our hand and Signed at Newcastle the eighth day of June 1646. And of Our Reign the 22.
By his Majesty’s Command Lanark [Signature]
Creator
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
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84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu