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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1082

William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons
1659-80, two signed commissions on vellum:

1659 (11 Aug.) "Signed in the name of the Parliament of the Commonwealth and of England. Wmn Lenthall Speaker" to Captaine Robert Pelham appointing him Captain of a troop of Horse in Dorset where the Parliamentarians had a militia. Some paper loss.

1659/60 (20 Jan.) signed in the same manner to Edward Roberts appointing him Lieutenant of Captain John Toome's troop of horse in Colonel Nathaniel Rich's regiment.

A rare duo.


Notes: William Lenthall (1591-1662) known for serving the role of Speaker of the House of Commons and the Long Parliament from 1640. By 1659, Lenthall had become a figurative constitutional head of state during which time Generals George Monck and Richard Lambert tussled for power over Parliament. Lenthall's position of authority over Parliament became such that he was appointed the authority to sign military and naval commissions, making him the only Speaker to be granted such authority.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480