fore make it my humble and earnest request that the House may be moved, as speedily as conveniently may be, To hear the Report of the said Committee concerning the said Business, from Sir Arthur Haselrig; that so the House, taking the same into consideration, may do therein what shall seem meet for the good of those poor Countries. Truly it seems to me a matter of great concernment and importance; as that which, by the blessing of God, may much conduce to the promoting of learning and piety in those poor rude and ignorant parts; there being also many concurring advantages to this Place, as pleasantness and aptness of situation, healthful air, and plenty of provisions, which seem to favour and plead for their desires therein. And besides the good, so obvious to us, 'which' those Northern Counties may reap thereby, who knows but the setting on foot this work at this time may suit with God's present dispensations; and may, if due care and circumspection be used in the right constituting and carrying on the same, tend to, and by the blessing of God produce, such happy and glorious fruits as are scarce thought on or foreseen! Sir, not doubting of your readiness and zeal to promote so good and public a work, I crave pardon for this boldness; and rest, Your most humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. § Whereupon the Committee for removing Obstructions does bestir itself; manages, in three months hence (for we do nothing rashly), to report by "Sir Arthur Haselrig, touching * § Baker MSS. xxviii. 455: printed also in Hutchinson's History of Durham; and elsewhere. * Commons Journals (vi. 589), 18th June 1651. "Duresme College-Buildings to be converted to a College or "School for all the Sciences of Literature: That". that And, in brief, History itself has to report that the pious Project, thanks mainly to furtherance by the Lord General, whose power to further it increased by and by, did actually, some seven years hence, take effect;* actually began giving Lessons of human Grammar, human Geography, Geometry, and other divine Knowledge, to the vacant human mind, in those once sleepy Edifices, dark heretofore, or illuminated mainly by Dr. Cosins's Papistical waxlights or the like: and so continued, in spite of opposition, till the Blessed Restoration put a stop to it, and to some other things. In late years there is again some kind of Durham College giving Lessons, I hope, with good success. - - LETTER CLXX. By that tempestuous sleety expedition in the beginning of February, my Lord General caught a dangerous illness, which hung about him, reappearing in three successive relapses, till June next; and greatly alarmed the Commonwealth and the Authorities. As this to Bradshaw, and various other Letters still indicate. To the Right Honourable the Lord President of the Council of State: These. MY LORD, Edinburgh, 24th March 1650. I do with all humble thankfulness acknowledge your high favour, and tender respect of me, expressed in your Letter, and the Express sent therewith to inquire after one so unworthy as myself. Indeed, my Lord, your service needs not me: I am a poor creature; and have been a dry bone; and am *Protector's Letters-Palent of 15th May 1657, following up his Ordinance in Council of the previous Year: Hutchinson's History of the County Palatine of Durham (Newcastle, 1785), i. 514-30. See Cooper's Annals of Cambridge, iii. 473 (Cambridge Petition against it: 18th April 1659). "Throve apace," says Hutchinson, "till" &c. still an unprofitable servant to my Master and you. I thought I should have died of this fit of sickness; but the Lord seemeth to dispose otherwise. But truly, my Lord, I desire not to live, unless I may obtain mercy from the Lord to approve my heart and life to Him in more faithfulness and thankfulness, and 'to' those I serve in more profitableness and diligence. And I pray God, your Lordship, and all in public trust, may improve all those unparalleled experiences of the Lord's wonderful Workings in your sight, with singleness of heart to His glory, and the refreshment of His People; who are to Him as the apple of His eye; and upon whom your enemies, both former and latter, who have fallen before you, did split themselves. This shall be the unfeigned prayer of, My Lord, your most humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. § From Edinburgh, of date 18th March, by special Express we have this comfortable intelligence: "The Lord General is "now well recovered: he was in his dining-room today with "his Officers, and was very cheerful and pleasant." And the symptoms, we see, continue good and better on the 24th. "So that there is not any fear, by the blessing of God, but our "General will be enabled to take the field when the Provisions "arrive." "Dr. Goddard" is attending him.* Before the end of the month he is on foot again; sieging Blackness, sieging the Island of Inchgarvie, or giving Colonel Monk directions to that end. § Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 101) LETTER CLXXI. THE following Letter brings its own commentary: For my beloved Wife Elizabeth Cromwell, at the Cockpit: These. MY DEAREST, 'Edinburgh,' 12th April 1651. I praise the Lord I am increased in strength in my outward man: But that will not satisfy me except I get a heart to love and serve my heavenly Father better; and get more of the light of His countenance, which is better than life, and more power over my corruptions: in these hopes I wait, and am not without expectation of a gracious return. Pray for me; truly I do daily for thee, and the dear Family; and God Almighty bless you all with His spiritual blessings. Mind poor Betty of the Lord's great mercy. Oh, I desire her not only to seek the Lord in her necessity, but in deed and in truth to turn to the Lord; and to keep close to Him; and to take heed of a departing heart, and of being cozened with worldly vanities and worldly company, which I doubt she is too subject to. I earnestly and frequently pray for her and for him. Truly they are dear to me, very dear; and I am in fear lest Satan should deceive them, knowing how weak our hearts are, and how subtle the Adversary is, and what way the deceitfulness of our hearts and the vain world make for his temptations. The Lord give them truth of heart to Him. Let them seek Him in truth, and they shall find Him. My love to the dear little ones; I pray for grace for them, I thank them for their Letters; let me have them often. Beware of my Lord Herbert's resort to your house. If he do so, it may occasion scandal, as if I were bargaining with him. Indeed, be wise, you know my meaning. Mind Sir Henry Vane of the business of my Estate. Mr. Floyd knows my whole mind in that matter, If Dick Cromwell and his Wife be with you, my dear love to them. I pray for them: they shall, God willing, hear from me. I love them very dearly. Truly I am not able as yet to write much. I am weary; and rest, Thine, OLIVER CROMWELL.§ "Betty" and "he" are Elizabeth Claypole and her Husband; of whom, for the curious, there is a longwinded intricate account by Noble, but very little discoverable in it. They lived at Norborough, which is near Market Deeping, but in Northamptonshire; where, as already intimated, the Lady Protectress, Widow Elizabeth Cromwell, after the Restoration, found a retreat. "They had at least three sons and daughters." Claypole became "Master of the Horse" to Oliver; sat in Parliament; made an elegant appearance in the world: but dwindled sadly after his widowership; his second marriage ending in "separation," in a third quasimarriage, and other confusions, poor man! But as yet the Lady Claypole lives; bright and brave. "Truly they are dear to me, very dear.” -- "Dick Cromwell and his Wife" seem to be up in Town on a visit; living much at their ease in the Cockpit, they. Brother Henry, in these same days, is out "in the King's County" in Ireland; doing hard duty at "Ballybawn," and elsewhere, ** - the distinguished Colonel Cromwell. And Deputy Ireton, with his labours, is wearing himself to death. In the same house, one works, another goes idle. "The Lord Herbert" is Henry Somerset, eldest son of the § Cole MSS. xxxviii. 37: a Copy; Copies are frequent. * ii. 375, &c. ** Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 102). |
