WILLIAM II: (1626-1650) Sovereign Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders ...

WILLIAM II: (1626-1650) Sovereign Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, Overijssel and Groningen in the United Provinces of the Netherlands 1647-50. His only child, William III, reigned as King of England, Ireland & Scotland 1689-1702. An extremely rare D.S., Pr. d'Orange, one page (vellum), large square folio, given at The Hague, 9th June 1649. The attractively penned manuscript document commences with six lines of text listing the Prince of Orange's titles ('William Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau, Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Dietz, Lingen, Moers, Brieren and Leerdam, Marquis of Veere and Flushing, Lord and Baron of Breda, the city of Grave, the lands of Cuijk, Diest, Grimbergen, Herstal, Cranendonck , Warneston, Arlay, Nozeroy, Sankt Vith , Daesburg, Polanen , Willemstad , Niervaart , Ijsselstein , Sint-Maartensdijk , Geertruidenberg , Chateau Regnard de Hooge en Lage, Zwaluwe and Naaldwijk ……….') and is a commission addressed to Jan Herlet, appointing him as a mutter (i.e. toll, custom or tax-gatherer), of the counties of Moers, Heerlychheydes, Krefeld and Frijmorsheym, to succeed Daniel Knouth, at a remuneration of 500 guilders a year. The document further specifies records to be maintained and the rates of toll and duty. Docketed and witnessed to the verso by C [?] Buysen. With the faint impression of a large seal, most likely in a metal skippet, now wanting. Autographs of William II, Prince of Orange, are extremely rare in any form as a result of his death from smallpox at the age of 24. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a few very small holes at the intersections of some folds. VG