Quarto. [2], 6pp. Modern vellum- backed boards (reusing an old document fragment), titled to spine. Interleaved with later paper, neat glassine reinforcement to gutter margins, some spotting to text. Several manuscript dates and shorthand annotations to the margins of title and text proper, in the manner of, and likely made by, John Rushworth. With the bookplate of Fairfax of Cameron to FEP.

A rare Royalist news-book account of late developments at the Scilly Isles, Scotland and Scarborough, and growing Independent misgivings on the harsh treatment meted out to the rebels, during the autumn of 1648, in the final throes of the Second English Civil War.

Following the surrender of the Colchester Royalists to Fairfax - and the defeat of the Scottish army at Preston - in late August 1648 Royalist causes for celebration were become rare occurrences. This pamphlet recounts three of the last gasps of military Royalism around Britain whilst King Charles I was himself attempting to negotiate with increasingly exasperated Parliamentary commissioners at Newport. Opening with an account of a letter from the King to Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1587-1658), dated October 19, purporting:

'His Majesty earnestly desires to put a speedy period to the unhappy differences of his bleeding Kingdomes; requiring all true subjects to lay their hands upon their hearts, and to endeavour the propagating of this blessed Treaty, desiring his Lordship to be instrumentall therein, and sheath the sword at Sea'

before recounting that in the Scilly Isles 'the Souldiery in that Island have declared for the King, secured the Castle and Fort, and seized upon all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition, but not without losse' due to a combination of efforts of 'Islanders' and 'the Governour' which resulted in the Islanders being persued 'to the very clifs of the sea', killing 'ten of them' and taking 'above 50 prisoers (sic)' before 'the rest escaped away in long Boats'. Similarly, two closing accounts, the first dated October 18 and the second undated, relate the events of a sallying forth from the besieged Scarborough Castle by its Royalist occupants and that 'it is further advertized from the Kingdome of Scotland, that the Earl of Lanerick is gone to the Prince to advise with his Highnesse, touching the disposall of the fleet' and that 'Agents are sent from France, and other places, to treat with the States of Holland, for a conjunction between Vantrump....and the Prince of Wales'.

As is often the case with these breathlessly related news-book accounts which were swiftly compiled and struck off the press in the hours after news of developments was received, the work is poorly printed with several glaring typographical errors of spelling. Whilst the tone of the title seeks to glorify these actions, perhaps in blatant salesmanship on the account of the printer, the text itself surely reflects the increasingly desperate position that the Royalist cause, and the King himself, were in. The appeal to Warwick's better nature in the opening letter, for example, is surely revealing of expectation that his own loyalty to the monarch might help secure a treaty and avoid actions like Prides Purge, and the eventual regicide of 1649. Similarly, the fully two page discussion of 'propositions from the undaunted Independents' was surely intended to highlight that even in defeat, many still found 'the affections of Parliament alienated from them'.

Provenance: The bookplate in this copy suggests it was part of the dispersals of the 1993/4 Fairfax of Cameron sales; the annotations in this copy further suggest it was previously part the dispersed collections of secretary to the Parliamentary Army John Rushworth (c. 1612-1690).

Rare; ESTC locates just two copies worldwide (BL and Oxford - Worcester College).