Beschreibung:

Restoration—George Monck
Letter signed ("George Monck"), addressed to the Magistrates of Nairn, 
announcing his plan to march into England in defence of Parliament and requesting their support, ordering them to maintain order in his absence and to hold no correspondence with "Charles Stewarts party", with a postscript asking them to reply to him in Berwick explaining "how farr yow will comply with my desires", 1 page, folio, Edinburgh, 15 November 1659, integral address leaf ("For My Loving friend the Magistrates of the Burgh of Nairne"), remains of red wax seal impression, old tears, creased, dust staining
"...Having a Call from God and his people to March into England to affect and maintaine the Liberty and being of Parliament our antient Constitution, and therein the freedome and Rights of the People of these three Nations from Arbitrary and Tyranicall Usurpations..." 
MONCK MAKES HIS MOVE, SETTING IN CHAIN THE SERIES OF EVENTS THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE RESTORATION. The death of Cromwell had left a power vacuum that his son Richard Cromwell had failed to fill (see lot ***). General Monck, commander of the Army in Scotland, was called to England to restore Parliament, which had been suppressed by other factions of the Army in England over the previous months. On his departure from Scotland he was keen to ensure the continued support of the authorities north of the border. Monck marched into England on 1 January 1660. His disorganised and demoralised enemies put up no serious resistance and he was soon able to call fresh Parliamentary elections and to begin secret negotiations with the exiled King, leading within months to the Declaration of Breda (see lot 19) and the Restoration of the monarchy. 
Provenance: Sotheby's, London, 20 July 1989, lot 264