c.1651 Entire letter written and signed by Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, addressed to his son-in-law "For Sr right honble the Earle of Manchester". Warwick advises his son to try and get a marriage arranged between Robert (son of the Earl of Manchester and grandson of Warwick) and Mrs Massingberd who has a fortune of å£10,000. Warwick founded several colonies in North America, became Lord High Admiral in 1647 and organised a new Parliamentarian fleet in 1648 after most of the existing naval ships had revolted to Charles I; his grandson Robert married the daughter of Oliver Cromwell. An interesting letter, ex Robson Lowe Collection.

Oliver Cromwell. 1654 (June 9) Letter to the Commissioners of the Admiralty, signed "Oliver P" at the top and headed "By his highnesse the Lord Protector", "Whereas we have sent orders to the respective Governors of the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey & Scilly to transport severall companies of ffoote from those islands into England, viz. from Scilly three companies to be landed at Plimouth, from Guernsey one company & from Jersey two companies to be landed at Portsmouth or Weymouth. These are so authorised & require you forthwith to appoint such shipps or vessells as you shall think fitt to goe to the said severall islands & to transport the said companies from there to the respective places before mentioned, and you are to give direction to that vessell that shall be appointed to goe to Guernsey to call at Weymouth as she goes, & there to take on board Lieutenant Wynn with the money ye lords have ready for the payment of the fforces in Guernsey. Given at White Hall the 9th of June 1654". A fine letter signed by Cromwell, concerning forces in the Channel Islands and Scilly. Photo on Page 26. (Image1)

1657 (April 22) Entire letter from St. Malo, written and signed by Sir George Carteret, addressed to "Monsieur le Chevallier Baron Browne Residente pour le Roy de la Grande Bretaigne en la Maison Jorgnant ly Jacobiers au Fauborg St. Germain, a Paris". The letter includes "I hope all this may prove advantageous to our master for now the quarell will be betwene an usurper and a lawful king. Pray it is true that the Duke of Orleans hath refused to signe the treaty made with Cromwell for so it is reported here". Carteret was previously Governor of Jersey and Controller of the Navy; he surrendered Jersey to Commonwealth forces in December 1651 and went into exile with Charles II. At the time of writing he was a Vice-Admiral in the French navy, but was imprisoned in August 1657 and banished from France in December. In 1660 he became Treasurer to the Navy and Vice-Chamberlain of the Household of Charles II. An interesting letter, referring to Cromwell having installed himself as Protector for the second time.