Civil War – Warwickshire 1653 a scarce document in the name of the ‘Keepers of the Liberty of England’ on a single large sheet of vellum dated April 20th 1653 issued under the name of the ‘Keepers of the Liberty of England’ being a common recovery for lands and property in Brawne, otherwise Brandon, Bregtford, Church Lawford and Stretton upon Dunsmore, between William Warner, Theodore Grene and George Benyon. With extensive calligraphic introduction, written in English, slight wear in original folds but otherwise in remarkably good condition considering age. Lacking seal as is usual in documents of this nature but it is quite possible that a seal was never actually affixed to this document. A document of considerable rarity which reflected the turmoil which beset the Commonwealth before Cromwell took power in December of the same year under the title of Lord Protector. At this time Charles I had been executed, Charles II, although King in name, was living penniless in exile on the continent, and the Parliamentary system of government which had been swept in under a wave of euphoria at the end of the Civil War had patently failed. There was no effective leadership, but the day to day legal business had to be conducted under someone – hence the establishment of an ad hoc Parliamentary body known as ‘The Keepers of the Liberty of England’. It was the ineffectiveness of Parliament to establish true government of the country that led to Cromwell dismissing Parliament altogether and establishing himself as the de facto dictator under the title of Lord Protector.