AN HISTORICAL document signed by King Charles l is on display at a Worcester library.
The Hive’s Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service have recently acquired the ‘Commission of Array’ for Worcester, dated from September 14, 1642.
The significant piece of history was donated to the library by the Victoria and Albert Museum, Friends of the National Libraries and Worcester City Council.
The Commission of Array is a summon to arms from King Charles I, calling men to join his army at the start of the English Civil War and is signed by the King himself, with his seal at the bottom.
Worcester has strong Civil War links and the document is especially significant because it was written at a crucial time when battle lines were being drawn across the county.
A few days after being written, one of the first skirmishes of the war took place at Powick Bridge.
The document will be held in state of the art strongrooms in The Hive for safekeeping and will be stored alongside other letters by Charles I, documents relating to the siege of Worcester and Henry Townshend’s diary, describing life in the city during the wars.
Adrian Gregson, archive collections manager at The Hive said: “It’s great to bring this document back into the public domain so people can see it and use it.
“It’s also exciting for us to hold a document relating to a significant moment in the country’s history.”
Coun Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member responsible for heritage on both the city and county councils said: “This is an excellent piece of news that shows the councils are committed to preserving Worcester’s civil war heritage.
“The city council is setting up a fund to help acquire other important historical assets in the future too.”
