£2,125
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs | 589
Auction: 19 February 2020 at 10:00 GMT
Edinburgh, 9th November 1542, to Cardinal Alexandro Farnese, in Latin. Beaton writes to his correspondent as a result of the incursions by King Henry VIII into Scotland, 'Quia de incursionibus Ab Anglorum rege, contra sereniss[imum] et ill[ustrissi]mu[m]. Regum, Do[min]um meu[m], eiusq[u]e regnu[m], illatis ad S[anctissimum] D[ominum] N[ostrum] in p[raese]ntia scribo; ex eisdemq[ue] literis D[etermi]nationem V[estram] R[everendissimam] omnia ad plenu[m] intellecturam esse confido, nihil hoc tempore ad illa[m] scribed[m] esse putavi. Tantu[m] illud eam sibi p[er]suadere cupio, omen meam operam, curam, studium, et diligentiam ad inserviendu[m] illius Amplitudini esse paratissima id quod ita esse toties illa experietur, quoties in suis suoru[mq]ue reb[us]q[ue] Uti voluerit. Interim me D[omi]nationi v[est]rae humil[lime] co[m]mendo.', with detached integral address leaf bearing a good affixed blind embossed paper seal, some extremely minor light foxing and a slight area of water staining to the right edge, only very slightly affecting the text and signature which remain perfectly legible
Note: An extremely rare letter, written shortly before the Battle of Solway Moss, by the Cardinal whose brutal murder led to Religious warfare in the mid-Sixteenth century. The battle took place at Solway Moss on the Anglo-Scottish border on 24th November 1542. When King Henry VIII of England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, he asked King James V of Scotland, his nephew, to do the same. James rejected his uncle's request and further insulted him by refusing to meet at York. As a result, King Henry VIII displayed his anger by sending troops against Scotland. In retaliation for the massive English raid into Scotland King James responded by assigning Robert, Lord Maxwell, with the task of raising an army and on 24th November 1542 an army of 15,000 - 18,000 Scots advanced into England and were met near Solway Moss by Thomas Wharton and his 3000 men. The ensuing battle was uncoordinated and has been described as a rout.
Alessandro Farnese (1520-1589), Italian Cardinal and Diplomat.
Letters signed by Cardinal Beaton are extremely rare. American Book Prices Current have no records of any autograph material by Beaton appearing at auction.