A curious and rare anonymous English Civil War pamphlet published in Paris by Michel Mettaier (sometimes spelt Mettayer) in 1648 following the capture of Charles I by parliamentarian forces the previous year.

The first part of the work consists of three large folding plates depicting the House of Lords, the House of Commons and the Convocation of Canterbury, with explicatory notes explaining the history and function of these bodies in the English parliamentary system. The latter part of the book contains an original address to Henrietta Maria, Queen of England illustrated with facing engraved portraits of the Queen and the Prince of Wales, and signed simply 'le bon et loyal svbiet'. It introduces a short statement in both English and French, allegedly translated from an original Latin version, which purports to be the words of Liudolf (c.930-957), an Ottonian Duke of Swabia and grandson of the German king, Henry the Fowler (919-936). The text claims that Liudolf did not die in 957, but rather feigned his death to take exile in Mantua in the hope that his descendants would one day regain his power and prestige. The tale was likely intended by the royalist author to offer hope to the exiled queen and her son, who were soon to become widow and orphan to the executed king.


First edition; 4to (22 x 17.5cm); 3 folding plates (each approx. 35 x 26 cm), 2 engraved portraits, woodcut initials and decorations throughout the text, engraved armorial book-stamp to last leaf verso displaying motto 'light in darKines lumiere dans les tenebres'; one integral blank leaf, title page stained and browned, some marginal staining and browning throughout, creasing to corners, one small wormhole affecting 4 leaves; side-stitched contemporary marbled wrappers, worn and soiled with extensive loss to upper wrapper; [16], 39, [1]pp.