Mary A E Green finds a new 'Protectress' Letter

The Victorian archivist Mary Anne Everett Green writes to the Society of Antiquaries about the discovery of a new document in the hand of Oliver Cromwell's wife Elizabeth Cromwell as 'I understand that the society of Antiquaries pleases itself somewhat upon being possessor of what has been supposed to be the only known autograph of Elizabeth Cromwell, the protectress.' Writing on three sides of a bifolium in May 1859 from the 'State Paper Office' where she was then working, Green describes the discovery among 'an immense mass of petitions' and appends a copy of the document (not present) with her inferences about the handwriting as well as a second copy of a document by Henry Cromwell and further explanation of her discovery. Green signs off with a hint of gloating: 'I think these papers will possess some interest for the Society' and signs her name in full. The letter was heavily revised during writing; there is a stain to the first page and a note above the address in another hand: 'read 9. June '59' . Green helped oversee the establishment of the Public Record Office as well as writing extensively on British history.