One of the most important documents of the English Civil War – His Majesties Instructions to his Commissioners of Array for the severall Counties of England and the Principality of Wales ad to be observed by all Sheriffs, Majors, Justices of the Peace, Bayliffs, Headboroughs, Constables and all other His Majesties loving Subjects whatsoever. Yorke, Printed by Ropbert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: and now reprinted for R Best. September 16th 1642. Sm 4to, 8pp, paper a little browned and some edge fraying but otherwise in good condition. The measure which signified the outbreak of the Civil War, and as such one of the most important documents in British History. Charles had raised his standard at Nottingham on August 22nd and this edict encapsulated the very moments of the outbreak of the Civil War. The King denounces the Parliamentary forces under the Earl of Essex which had taken up arms against the Crown, and by this measure calls upon the people of England and Wales to ‘raise all possible power for the apprehension of the said Earl of Essex and his confederates and that with such forces of horse and goot you shall fight with, kill, and slay all such as by force oppose you in the execution of these out commands...’ Thus, the King set himself on the course which was to lead to his beheading in 1649 and the establishment of the only time in this country’s long history that it became a Republic.