Description

(Prince and Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Cumberland, royalist army and naval officer, 1619-82) 2 Commissions signed "Rupert" to Sir Henry Bard appointing him Captain of a Troop of Horse and Cuirassiers and Governor of Campden House in Gloucestershire, Ds.s., manuscripts on vellum, remains of wax seals, first mentioned a few small holes and some staining, both folds, slightly yellowed, first mentioned 320 x 420mm., and 385 x 500mm., 10th February 1644 & 1st January 1645. 'with more youthful courage than soldier-like discretion' (Adair, 140), he impetuously charged the roundhead cavalry and his whole regiment was either killed or captured, Bard himself losing the use of an arm. Early in 1645 Bard was governor of Campden House, Gloucestershire; according to Clarendon he 'exercised an illimited tyranny over the whole country' (Porter, 30), ordering the constable of Kineton to be thrown into a pond. When the garrison was withdrawn in May he burnt the house to the ground to prevent its occupation by the enemy. Frances, his eldest daughter (1646?-1708), was (c. 1664-7) the mistress of Prince Rupert." - Oxford DNB.

***Sir Henry Bard, first Viscount Bellomont [Bellamont] (1615/16 - 56), royalist army officer and diplomat. "His restless and roving disposition led him to travel extensively, mainly on foot, in western Europe, Turkey, PalestineArabia, and Egypt. Bard returned to England about 1642, and on the outbreak of the civil war his reputation as a traveller and linguist secured him a colonel's commission. Having gained the confidence of Prince Rupert, he was sent to Ireland, where he raised two regiments of foot. At Cheriton, Hampshire, on 29 March 1644, against orders, and.