Book #67534
Item #67534 A Declaration Published by Sir Thomas Middleton Knight, Serjeant. Sir Thomas Middleton, Sir Thomas Myddelton.
A Declaration Published by Sir Thomas Middleton Knight, Serjeant...
A Declaration Published by Sir Thomas Middleton Knight, Serjeant...

A Declaration Published by Sir Thomas Middleton Knight, Serjeant...

A Statement of Parliamentary Principles to the People of North Wales Middleton (Myddelton), Sir Thomas [1586-1666]. A Declaration Published by Sir Thomas Middleton Knight, Serjeant-Major-Generall, And Vice-Admirall for the Sixe Counties of North-Wales. Setting Forth the Illegality and Incongruity of a Pernicious Oath and Protestation, Imposed upon Many Peaceable Subjects Within the Said Counties (Who to Avoid Plundering or Imprisonment) Were Inforced to Take the Same, Whereby the Imposers of the Said Oath Endeavour Under the Paine of Perjury, To Make the People to Renounce Their Owne Just Liberties, And the Benefit and Protection of the Knowne Lawes, and to Submit to a Tyranicall, Arbitrary, And Slavish Government, Excerised by the Commissioners of Array. And Likewise, Setting Forth the Use and Intentions of the Forces Raised for the Service of the King and Parliament, Under the Command of the Said Sir Thomas Middleton, The Benefit that the Country Shall Receive by Their Protection: And What They are to Expect that Contemne Their Power. London: Printed for Io: Thomas, 1644. [ii], 6 pp. Woodcut portrait of Middleton on horseback to verso of title page, later lithograph portrait of Middleton inserted before title page. Quarto (7-1/2" x 5-3/4"). Stab-stitched pamphlet bound into nineteenth-century pebbled cloth, gilt title to center of front board. A few tiny stains to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities with some wear to spine ends and corners. Title printed within typographical border, title and text ruled in red ink. Moderate toning and light foxing, faint inkstains to margins. A rare title. $1,750. * Only edition. Middleton was a politician and general in the Parliamentary army during the Civil War. He was given command of troops in North Wales, where he encountered fierce opposition from Royalist forces for several years. Distributed among local civilians in the region, Middleton's Declaration was intended to win loyalty to the Parliamentary cause. It contrasts Parliament's defense of "just liberties and the benefit and protection of the knowne lawes" with the "Tyranicall, Arbitrary, And Slavish Government" of Charles I. OCLC locates 3 copies, 2 in North America (Harvard University, McGill). The ESTC locates 12 copies, adding 4 more locations in North America (Folger Library, Huntington Library, Newberry Librar.

Price: $1,750.00

Book number 67534