Charles II
Warrant signed ("Charles II" at head), appointing Thomas Preston Ensign to the Holland Regiment under Sir Walter Vane Whitehall, counter-signed [Lord] Arlington, 24th September 1669, one sheet folded, paper with blind stamped seal in upper left corner affixed with wax.
Sir Walter Vane originally entered the service of the Netherlands United Provinces and fought against the Spanish during the 80 Years War. When these regiments were disbanded he, along with most of the officers and men, refused to swear the oath of allegiance to the Dutch States and returned to England. When Colonel Robert Sidney died suddenly in 1668 Sir Walter was appointed Colonel of the Holland Regiment (The Buffs), serving mostly on ships engaged against the Dutch. It is into this Regiment that Preston is being commissioned. Interestingly, he would later die in Dutch service, having rejoined their forces. During the Third Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch negotiated to allow the English to enlist in their service and Sir Walter was given permission to do so. He died fighting the French at the battle of Seneffe in 1674.