Peerage & Baronetage.- Patents Granted

Peerage & Baronetage.- Patents Granted for Creations of Honour from Dukes to Baronets since the Restauration of King Charles the Second by the Docquet Books in the Signet Office... Pardons... Privy Seals for payment of Monys at the Exchequer and other places,manuscript, 257pp. excluding blanks, ruled in red, some waterstaining, 2 small wormholes in ff., browned, original reversed panelled calf, rubbed, corners and edges worn, label on spine: "Privy Seals Patents &c", folio, 1660-68.

***A fascinating sourcebook of information in the aftermath of the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Numerous famous names recorded under the various headings can be traced through this volume. For instance Anthony Ashley Cooper, later first Earl of Shaftesbury, and one of the political architects of the Restoration is recorded as being advanced to the peerage as "Baron Ashley of Wimborne St. Giles". However in another section he also felt it prudent to seek and be granted a pardon in case his past support for the Protector's regime should be resurrected in the future. Likewise listed is Sir Thomas Fairfax, Lord Cameron, Commander-in-Chief of the parliamentary army during the civil war and George Monck who effected the Restoration, though he is already listed as Duke of Albermarle. People listed in 1661 include Barbara Palmer, Charles II's mistress under the euphemism of her husband Roger Palmer who is created "Baron Palmer of Limerick" with a special note: "And Earl of Castemain in Ireland to him & his heirs male on the body of Barbara his wife to be begotten." Others included references to the Secretary of the Navy (Pepys), the Duke of York, the Duke of Monmouth, Duke of Newcastle etc..