British naval administrator (1633–1703) best remembered as the author of a nine-year, multi-volume diary, one of the essential documents of 17th century British history and literature. Manuscript DS, signed “Pepys,” one page, 7.25 x 11.75, August 16, 1677. An order to the commander of the Royal Yacht Katharine. In full: “This comes by his Maj[esty's] Special Command to signfie his Pleasure to you, that after you are Discharged from your Attendance on his Royale Person at Southampton, You Repaire to Portsmo[uth] and there receive on Board you two Companyes of Foot of the R[igh]t H[onorabl]e the Early of Bathe his Regiment, consisting of fifty Men in each Company, besides their Officers, and the same transport to ye Island of Guernsey; where having discharged your Selfe of them, you are to take on Board two other Companyes (consisting of the like Numbers of Men and Officers) belonging to the R[ight]t hon[ora]ble Earle of Lichfield's Regim[en]t and the same Transport (with ye first opportunity of Wind and Weather) into ye River of Thames and having putt them on shoare, to Expect his Ma[jes]ty further Orders. You are to cause the said Four Companys to be Victualled in their Passage to kept on Guernsey in ye same manner of the Seamen of yo[u]r Company.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds with several repaired separations, tears and repaired paper loss to upper edges, and silked on the reverse. King Charles II had commissioned the Katharine in 1674, naming it for his wife. Like all Royal Yachts, it doubled as a warship and was under the command of the Royal Navy, thus the military content of this letter. Interesting content from one of the most well-known figures of this period. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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