ALTHOUGH in the earlier part of the last century it was included in the permanent exhibition of manuscripts, the Department of Manuscripts has in more recent times been rather reluctant to publicize what is (or at any rate may be) one of the most dramatic items in the whole of its collections, the 'Carte Blanche' reputed to have been given by Charles, Prince of Wales, the future Charles II, 'to save his father's head' on the eve of his execution on 30 January 1648/9 (Harley MS. 6988, fol. 222).