ENGLISH CIVIL WAR - CHARLES I AND CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES Letter signed ('Charles R') at head to the Dean and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral ('Trusty and Welbeloved'), noting a '...voyd place...' at the death of Archdeacon Helliar and requesting Prebendary Richard Mervin be elected in that position and that he should '...provide himself of a convenient House, wherein to keepe Hospitality and reside...' and '...expecting your ready obedience...', one page on a bifolium, dust-staining and marks, creased at folds, slits for ties, folio (305 x 200mm.), 'Our Court att Matson [House]', 18 August 1643 Letter signed ('Charles P') to Mr Richard Mervin, 'Batchelor in Divinity at Okehampton or elsewhere', summoning him to '...give your attendance upon us for some tyme, after which we shall dismisse you to yr other orrasions...', countersigned by Richard Fanshawe, Secretary of War to the Prince of Wales, docketed on reverse, one page, dust-staining, marks, edges frayed, small tears, creased at folds, stamped seal with remains of red wax, staining and loss, folio (315 x 200mm.), 'Our Court of Launceston', 1 February 1645 Both letters tipped into a copy of William Richard Drake, 'Fasciculus Mervinensis; Being Notes Historical, Genealogical, and Heraldic of the family of Mervyn', AUTHOR'S COPY, brown morocco gilt, title in gilt on spine, raised bands, folio, worn, privately printed, London, 1873, including photographic portrait of the author, signed, and two overpainted portrait engravings of members of the family Footnotes: 'GIVE YOUR ATTENDANCE UPON US FOR SOME TYME': A PRINTED HISTORY OF THE MERVYN FAMILY, INCLUDING TWO ROYAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE DEVON BRANCH. Published in 1873, Fasciculus Mervinensis relates the history of several branches of the Mervyn (or Mervin) family from the fifteenth-century. Our copy would appear to be the author's own copy and includes documents hitherto retained in the family signed by Charles I and Charles II, then Prince of Wales. Both relate to the career of the Rev. Richard Mervyn (1600-1669), the first member of the family to settle in Devon. In 1639 Mervyn held the Crown living of Throwleigh and, as our documents show, through the same patronage he was elected Residentiary Canon of Exeter Cathedral on the death of Archdeacon Helliar in 1643 and by 1645, when he is summoned to attend Charles, Prince of Wales, at Launceston, he was Vicar of Okehampton. He became Chancellor of the Cathedral in 1660 and is buried there. As well as residing at his living at Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, he retained family estates at East Knoyle, Wiltshire. The documents are tipped into the book opposite the text of page 62, where the second document is transcribed in full. The first is a document unusually written from Matson House, Charles I's headquarters whilst his troops laid siege to Gloucester for a few weeks between 10 August and 5 September 1643. The second is countersigned by Richard Fanshawe (1608-1666), then Secretary of War to the Prince of Wales, and who was to enjoy a successful diplomatic career after the Restoration. Provenance: 'Bought by J W ff Sheppard 26 April 1934 from Walford Brothers Booksellers London' (pencil note on front free endpaper); J.W. ff Sheppard, a descendent of the Mervyn family of Cabra, (according to typed family tree included in the lot); thence by descent. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing