Description:

Lord Lucas' Handwritten Speech In Opposition to The Treaty of Dover

4pp of a bifolium, measuring 7.5" x 12", [London], Ca. 1670. A handwritten copy of a speech given by John Lucas, 1st Baron Lucas of Shenfield, on February 22, 1670 in the House of Peers. With flattened folds and creasing. Small tears at the edges. Toning, staining, and spots of soiling throughout. A small area of paper loss at the spine does not affect the text.

In his speech, Lord Lucas spoke in opposition to a Subsidy Bill in Parliament. The bill, known as the Treaty of Dover, was signed on June 1, 1670 and struck a deal between Charles II of England and Louis XIV of France. It required Charles II to convert to the Roman Catholic Church and to promise support of France's war against the Dutch Republic. In exchange, Charles would secretly receive a yearly pension of £230,000, along with the promise of 6,000 French troops to be sent, should a rebellion against Charles occur. The specifics of the Treaty of Dover were kept secret, while a more public treaty (without the religious elements) between the two kings was negotiated as a smokescreen. The consequences of the treaty resulted in the Third Anglo-Dutch War, which lasted from April 1672 to February 1674.

Reading in part:

"…In the Times of the late Usurping Powers, although great Taxes were exacted from us we had then means to pay them, we could sell our Lands, our Corn and Cattle, and there was plenty of Money throughout the Nation; now there is nothing of this; Brick is re∣quired of us, and no Straw allowed to make it with. For that our Lands are thrown up, and Corn and Cattle are of little value, is notorious to all the World. And it is evident that there is scarcity of Money; for all the Parliament money called Breeches, (a fit stamp for the Coyn of the Rump) is wholly vanished, the Kings Proclamation and the Dutch, have swept it all away, and of his own Majesties Coyn, there appears but very little, so that in effect we have not left for Common use, but a little old Lean Coyned Money, of the late three former Princes, and what Supply is preparing for it my Lords? I hear of none, unless it be of Copper Farthings, and this is the Mettal that is to Vindicate (ac∣cording to the Inscription on it,) The Dominion of the four Seas…

But suppose all the Money given were imployed for the Use of his Majesty, and his Majesty were not Couzened (as without doubt he is) is there no bound to, or Moderation in giving? Will you say that if we shall not plentifully Supply his Majesty, he will not be able to defend us, or maintain the Triple League? And we shall thereby run the Hazzard of being Conquered. 'Tis true, My Lords that this may be a Reason for giving some∣thing, But 'tis so far from being an Argument for giving so much, that it may be clearly made out to your Lordships, that it is the direct and ready way to be Conquered by a Forreigner, And it may be the Policy of the King of France, by those often Alarms of Armies and Fleets to induce us to consume our Treasure in vain Preparations against him; And after he has by this means made us poor and Weak enough, he may then come upon us, and Destroy us…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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