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Document 51612

CHARLES II
Fourteen years after he annexed New Netherland as a British province, renaming it New York, the King empowers Lord Finch to conclude a defense treaty with the Netherlands.
Manuscript DS: "Charles R" as King of England, 1p, 7¼x11½. Our Court at Whitehall, 1677/8 March 2. Countersigned: "J. Williamson" as Secretary of State. The document is addressed: "To Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Counsellor Heneage Lord Finch Our Chancellor of England". In full: "Our will and pleasure is that you forthwith cause Our Great Seal of England to be put & affixed to a certain Instrument bearing date with these Presents empowering Yourself & others whom we have appointed Our Commissioners in that behalf, to conclude & treat with the Ambassadour Extraordinary of the States Generall of the United Provinces about a League of mutual Defense between Us & the said States. And for so doing this shall be your Warrant." Paper seal affixed with wax, 1½-inch diameter, at upper left. In 1660, after the death of Cromwell, CHARLES II returned from exile to succeed his father, who had been executed in 1649. As evidenced by the text of this document, Charles II regarded himself as King of England not from 1660 but from the moment of his father's death, signing in 1678 "in the 30th year of Our Reigne". In 1664, King Charles II took from the Dutch, New Netherland, which included the settlement of New Amsterdam. He renamed both "New York" in honor of his brother, the Duke of York, who succeeded him in 1685 as James II. The assembly of the United Provinces of the Netherlands was the States-General, which had the power of making peace and war and all foreign alliances and of raising and coining of monies. SIR JOSEPH WILLIAMSON was also founder and first Editor of the "London Gazette". HENEAGE LORD FINCH (1621-1682), first Earl of Nottingham (1621-1682) was appointed Attorney-General (1670), Lord Keeper of the Seals (1673), Baron Finch and Lord Chancellor (1674) and Earl of Nottingham (1681). Shaded at upper right corner of affixed seal. Fine condition.

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