English soldier and statesman (1599–1658) who led Parliamentary forces in the English Civil War, waged war against Scotland and Ireland and, in 1653, following the execution of Charles I, became Lord Protector of Great Britain, a position he held until his death in 1658. After a yearlong reign by his son, Richard, the British throne was restored (to Charles II) and Cromwell’s body was exhumed and posthumously “executed.” Scarce manuscript DS, signed “O. Cromwell,” one page, 9 x 13, May 1629. A warrant related to a John Plowman, addressed to Francis Phillips, one of His Highness’s [i.e., Charles I’s] auditors. Cromwell had been elected to Parliament a year earlier as a representative of the constituency of Huntingdon. On March 10, 1629, two months before Cromwell signed the present document, Charles I took the drastic measure of dissolving Parliament in the wake of that body’s increasing opposition to taxation, the war with Spain, and toleration of Catholics. Charles ruled without Parliament for the next 11 years. He called it back into session in 1640—with Cromwell serving again as an MP, this time from Cambridge—only to dissolve it three weeks later in response to this “Short Parliament”’s demands for reform. When Parliament reconvened later in the same year—largely because of the nation’s desperate need for money during its conflict with Scotland—this “Long Parliament” imposed considerable influence over Charles, including a law prohibiting its dissolution without its consent. It was as a member of the Long Parliament that Cromwell sided with the anti-royalist Parliamentarians during the English Civil War, and, in 1649, was among the first signers of the king’s death warrant. The document is countersigned by Tho. Murray, Ja. Fullerton, Ric. Smythe, and others; the adjacent leaf bears a clerical docket. In good condition, with allover toning, soiling, and faint foxing, a few small holes (some from ink erosion, not affecting signature), intersecting folds (partial separations), countersignature very lightly touching Cromwell’s, and small marginal chips and tears. The signature, which is a lesser-seen form for Cromwell, is otherwise bold, clear, and unaffected by any faults. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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