XXII.—Petitions to Charles II. from Elizabeth Cromwell, Widow of the Protector, and from Henry Cromwell: communicated by Mrs. M. A. Everett Green: in a Letter to John Bruce, Esq. V.P.S.A.

Abstract

I understand that the Society of Antiquaries plumes itself somewhat upon being possessor of what has been supposed to be the only known autograph of Elizabeth Cromwell, the Protectress. However, amongst an immense mass of petitions, which poured in, torrent-like, on the Restoration of Charles II., I have discovered one from this lady, signed by herself, though not written with her own hand. I inclose you a copy of the petition; the date is not given, but it can be proximately determined by the circumstance that the endorsement, a very characteristic one, is in the handwriting of Sir Edward Nicholas, whose period of secretaryship terminated in October, 1662. I doubt whether the prayer of the petition was ever granted, for I find no reference upon it, and in a large index to the warrants and other documents of the period, which exists in the State Paper Office, no notice occurs of a warrant for the solicited protection.