May 2015 Auction Ends Thursday, May 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2015
Exceptional Queen Elizabeth I document signed, concerning the need for additional troops during the Nine Years War in Ireland in 1599. Fought from 1594-1603, the Nine Years' War (also called Tyrone's Rebellion), was the largest English conflict in the Elizabethan era, with England committing 18,000 troops to combat Gaelic Irish chieftains opposed to English rule. In this document, dated 4 June 1599, Queen Elizabeth writes to Lord Roger North, referring to him as the ''Treasurer of our Household and Lord Lieutenant of Oure Countie of Cambridge''. The Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire served as the Monarch's personal representative for the counties of the United Kingdom, which in this case included all of Ireland. Document reads in part, "Right trusty and wellbeloved Counsellor wee greet yow well...our present Service in Irland requireth that there should be a speedy supply made of a certen nomber of men to be sent thither for the reinforcement and filling up of ye bands already gone [the Earl of Essex had taken a large contingent to Ireland earlier the same year] which upon occasion may from tyme to tyme grow weake and be diminished through sicknes or otherwise: for which purpose wee have resolved to have the nomber of two thousand men to be taken out of some speciall Counties of this our Realme, and put in readines for our Service aforesayd: wee therefore will and require yow with all expedition to Cause the nomber of fifty hable men within that our County of Cambridge, to be levyed, mustered, furnished with apparell or sorted with armour or weapons in such sort as yow shalbe directed by our Counsell. And for ye tyme of delading them on to such Captens and leaders, as they shall name unto yow to have the Charge to Conduct them to ye place of their imbarquing, As also for their Coate and Conduct and other necessaries, yow shall likewise follow such farther directions as yow shall receive them from our sayd Counsell. And these...shalbe your sufficient warrant and discharge...Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Greenwich the fourth day of June 1599..." Document features large, ornate ''Elizabeth R'' signature at top, along with seal from the Queen. Docketing by recipient and integral address leaf to verso. Folds and toning, but in otherwise exceptional condition for a document of its age. Very good to near fine.
Queen Elizabeth I Document Signed From 1599 -- Concerning the Need for More Troops During the Nine Years War -- With Very Large ''Elizabeth R'' Signature
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