CROMWELL (OLIVER)
Commission signed as Lord Protector ('Oliver P.' at head), appointing John Pollen to the position of Quartermaster '...of that Troope of Horse whereof Captain Thomas Monins is Captain...' in the county of Kent; docketed on reverse 'Oliver Lord Protector/ giveth the Commission/ of/ Quarter Master/ to John Pollen/ under/ Captain Monins', on vellum, dust-staining, some fading and spotting, creased at folds, pin holes to left and right edges, 265 x 352mm., 'Given att White Hall the 28th day of May 1655'
Footnotes:
The Monins family can trace their roots in the county of Kent to the time of the Conquest and became substantial landowners. The family rose in importance and office, providing several mayors of Dover and Lieutenants of Dover Castle as well as three MP's.

Captain Thomas Monins of Dover, to whom this commission is addressed, had, from 1644 to 1649 held the appointment of Treasurer-General, with responsibility of overseeing the revenues sequested by Parliament from the Deans and Chapters of England's cathedrals. However, despite acting for the iconoclasts, he is widely credited with saving Canterbury cathedral and its treasures from destruction, although at the Restoration it required the sum of 12,000l to restore it to full usage: '...it is certainly owing to him, who appears to have been a royalist in his heart, that this venerable building was preserved from destruction, for he caused it to be maintained and repaired constantly... on his being removed from that office, was made a captain of a troop of horse, which he held till the restoration, when he petitioned the King, in regard to his having ever favoured the royalists, and prevented much ill usage to them from time to time; for his having preserved this cathedral from ruin... and for his having secreted the church muniments and plate, and restored them at the restoration, that he might be permitted to keep his troop of horse, but for reasons, best known at that time he was not permitted to do it...' (Edward Hasted, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, 1799, Vol. IV, p.518-519, v.)

Provenance: Captain Thomas Monins; thence by descent.
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