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ENGLISH HISTORY]. CROMWELL, Oliver (1599-1658). English General . Autograph letter signed ("Oliver P.") to the Commander of the Admiralty, Whitehall, 27 January 1654. 1 p., folio, partial integral blank . A year after declaring himself Lord Protector, Cromwell seeks assurance from his naval chief that his fleet will be prepared to protect English trade: "Whereas it is necessary...[to send forth] a...number of ships for the next summers guard, these are to will & require you to prepare...a list of such ships (to the number of Fortie) with the number of their men & guns as you shall judge fittest and most proper for this aforesayd service, And you are to use all diligence and expeditious herein." -- CHARLES II (1630-1685), King of England . Autograph note signed ("Charles R") to Walker, n.p., n.d. [circa 1657]. 1 p., folio, the three lines neatly penned in the top left corner, docketed on verso, fine. CHARLES II - MILITARY PREPARATIONS IN EXILE. A brief note during the period of the King's exile in Scotland. The English Civil War culminated in the establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell and the execution of Charles I. From his base in Scotland, Charles sought support against the Commonwealth to regain the throne. This included a failed invasion in 1651 and an attempt to unite with France and Spain against Cromwell's armies in 1659. In a brief, cryptic note, Charles rather peremptorily requests armaments; "Walker bringe me two hundered and fifty pistols and twenty more." Cromwell's death in 1658 offered a long-sought opportunity for Charles; with the aid of a portion of the military which had turned against the Cromwellians, Charles II returned to London and assumed the throne in 1660. Together two items. (2)