An early manuscript copy of Lord Nottingham's 'Treatise of the King's Power of Granting Pardons in Cases of Impeachment'
Small octavo, 37 leaves bordered in red (unnumbered, most written rectos only), plus a total of 12 blank leaves at the beginning and end.
Contemporary gilt-tooled black crushed morocco; all edges gilt; covers a little worn; some early underlining in red; in very good condition overall.
Heneage Finch, Earl of Nottingham (1620-1682) was Lord Chancellor at the time of Charles II's controversial pardon of the Earl of Danby in 1679, and appears to have drafted this defence of the royal prerogative of granting pardons in the case of impeachment by Parliament around that time. The treatise is known to have circulated in manuscript, but was not published until 1791 (in the context of the impeachment of Warren Hastings). The present manuscript - written in a neat and legible hand on sturdy laid paper (watermarked with the arms of the city of Amsterdam) - is an early pre-publication copy. The orthography suggests a date from the late seventeenth century, and the hand strongly resembles that of several members of the Finch family. '1. The King is the Fountayn of Mercy, as well as of Justice, and more so of Mercy then of Justice, for his Justice is tyed to Rules, and runns in known and certayn Channels, his Mercy hath no other Bounds or Limits but those of this good pleasure.... 77. Hee that is not movd by these Considerations will never be converted untill he live to need ye Kings pardon, and then it were but iust that hee should find the want of it at the time of his greatest Need. Finis'.
Item #145315
Price (AUD):
$2,500.00