Colonial America
1709 Printed Broadside ACT "By the Queen, A PROCLAMATION" for the Speedy and Effectual Recruiting Our Land-forces and Marines for the Service
June 9, 1709-Dated, Large Printed Broadside from the Reign of British Queen Anne, for the Speedy and Effectual Recruiting Our Land-forces and Marines for the Service, London, Choice Very Fine.
According to this original Printed Broadside 1709 Proclamation, an Act passed in Parliament, "Begun and holden at Westminster on the Sixteenth of November last, for the Speedy and Effectual Recruiting Our Land-forces and Marines for the Service." This Broadside is from the reign of Queen Anne, 1 page, measuring 13" x 17", having its uneven original untrimmed margin edges, "Our Court at St. James's, June 9, 1709." Headed with the British Coat of Arms and titled, "By the Queen, - A Proclamation. - Anne R." Printed across the bottom, above the words "God Save the Queen," is "London, Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceas'd; Printers to the Queens most Excellent Majesty. 1709. (Price One Peny.)" Minor tone and 1.5" splits at blank portion of the left edge margin at mid-horizontal fold. Folds and light creases do not materially affect its bold and highly impressive appearance. This Proclamation is completely legible and in nice overall condition for display. It being ordered that, in part:
"... such Able-bodied Men as do not follow or exercise any Lawful Calling or Employment, or have not some other Lawful and Sufficient Support and Maintenance, to serve as Soldiers."
It also stated that, "there is a proviso, That when We shall be Satisfied by the Returns of the Commissioners or otherwise, That a sufficient Number of Recruits in the Whole shall be Raised for Our present Service, We may, by Our Royal Proclamation Issued forth for this purpose, Suspend and Stop the further Execution of the said Act; Any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. And whereas by the Informations We have Received from Our Secretary at War, into Whole Office the Returns from the said Commissioners have been Certified, We are Satisfied that a sufficient Number of Recruits in the Whole have been Raised for Our Present Service, and that there will be no further Occasion for Pressing Men pursuant to the Directions of the said Act, We have therefore thought fit, for the Saving further Charge to the Publick, and for the Case of Our Loving Subjects (by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council) to Issue forth this Our Royal Proclamation, hereby Notifying and Declaring Our Royal Will and Pleasure is, That all further Execution of the said Act, as to the Impressing any more Soldiers into our Service, be Stopt and Suspended." An impressive historic printed Broadside that is very nice for display.
In 1701, King Charles II of Spain died without leaving any children. The eldest grandson of King Louis XIV of France, Philippe, was also a grandson of a sister of Charles II, and he succeeded to the Spanish throne as King Philip V. In 1702, war began between France and Spain and an alliance of England, Holland, Portugal and other countries who feared France and Spain eventually being united under one ruler. This was the beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession. In the English colonies, it became known as Queen Anne's War. The war ended by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.