The last Catholic monarch (1633–1701) to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, crowned in 1685. Some of his subjects distrusted his religious policies and alleged despotism, leading a group of them to depose him in the Glorious Revolution. ALS written as Duke of York, signed “James,” one page both sides, 6.75 x 9, February 22, [1681]. Letter to a minister of state. In full (spelling and grammar retained): “I have severall letters of yours to answer but have been so very busi, what with being at the house, (where Ld. Shaftsburys petitions have made us eat late diners this weeke,) and our being to prepare for a war, that till now, I have not had so much tyme to my self to answer any of them, as to the first of them, you know already that his Ma: is very well satisfied with you; and I am sure an older minister then your self, might easily have run into the same accident you did, as for yours by Godolphin he has not yet sayd any thing of it to me, so that I do not know what it is, but you may be sure, I shall always be very glad, to further any of your concerns, and lett you see I shall always be very kind to you, for newse you will have it from others, by the next post you will heare what will become of the E. of Shaftsbury, he being brought to the bar of our house on Monday next.” Professionally inlaid into a larger off-white sheet, and beautifully bound within a vintage limp brown Morocco leather 9 x 12.5 presentation folder. An engraved portrait of James is inlaid into another sheet within the folder. In fine condition.
Convinced that the Roman Catholic heir presumptive Duke of York would transform England into an absolute monarchy upon his brother, King Charles II’s death, Anthony Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, actively attempted to thwart the Duke’s ascent in the early 1670s. Although he endorsed a variety of proposals—including Charles II remarrying a Protestant princess to produce an heir, or legitimizing Charles’s illegitimate Protestant son the Duke of Monmouth—he became best known for his outspoken support of the Exclusion Bill, which would prevent James’s crowning strictly on the basis of his religion. (A crucial piece of British history, the bill led to a major division in the entire political system, with its supporters becoming the Whig party, and its opponents developing into the Tories.) When it was finally defeated in the House of Lords at the start 1681, Shaftesbury was arrested for high treason: “By the next post you will heare what will become of the E. of Shaftsbury, he being brought to the bar of our house on Monday next.” The charge was dropped months later, and Shaftesbury, fearing a second prosecution that would mean certain death under the now Tory-filled Parliament, fled to Holland. A fascinating letter from the future king, fully consumed with the controversy over his claim to the throne. RR Auction COA.
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