CHARLES II (1630-1685). King of England.
Autograph Note Signed ('Charles R'), ordering two hundred and seventy pistols, twelve words on 1 page folio, Jersey, 13 February [1650]. A most evocative relic of the exile of the future King Charles II, a small and hurried command on a large and otherwise blank page.

'Walker bringe me two hundered and fifte pistols and twenty more / Charles R'

We have not identified Walker.
 Charles and his retinue had set up court in Jersey after landing at St Helier on 17 September 1649. Their circumstances were extremely straitened, and it was obvious that sooner or later Charles would have to go to Scotland to try to commence the re-possession of his realms and ultimately the crown. He departed hastily from Jersey on the day this note was written (or at any rate docketed on the reverse), and went first to Breda, where he made his highly unpopular accomodation with he Covenanters, prior to sailing for Scotland.
The endorsement to the document reads as follows:

'His Ma^ties note / for 270 pist[ols] / Jersey 13 Feb: / at night'.

[No: 19951]