CROMWELL, Oliver (1599-1658). Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Letter Signed ('O. Cromwell'), signed also by John Lambert (1619-1683, parliamentary general) to Sir John Wollaston, 1 page folio, 5 November 1651. Ordering the payment to Major-General Lambert of £82 for 82 days as Major-General of the Army, with a note at foot acknowledging receipt of the sum signed by John Lambert ('J Lambert').
 Lambert was one of the most distinguished and powerful of the parliamentary generals; for a long period he was Cromwell's most trusted lieutenant and vice-regent, some said his alter ego, and was on more than one occasion expected to become Lord Protector in succession to him. Lambert and the Council of Officers were responsible for the Instrument of Government under which Cromwell became Lord Protector in 1653 and with Ireton he had drawn up the 'Declaration of the Army' and the 'Heads of the Proposals'.
 Manuscripts bearing the signatures of both Cromwell and Lambert are extremely rare.
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