VIII. The following is dated the same day, apparently at a subsequent hour, and to the same person. 'To Auditor Squire.' November 11th day, 1642. Take Three Troops, and go to Downham; I care not which they be. OLIVER CROMWELL. IX. "Stanground" is in the Peterborough region; "Alister your Music" means "Alister your Trumpeter," of whom there will be other mention. Oliver finds himself at a terrible pinch for money; there are curious glimpses into that old House by Ely Cathedral too, and the "Mother" and the "Dame" there! To Mr. Samuel Squire, at his Quarters at Stanground. I have not at this moment Five Pieces by me; loan I can get none; and without money a man is as naught. Pray now open thy pocket, and lend me 150 Pieces until my rent-day, when I will repay, or say 100 Pieces until then. Pray send me them by Alister your Music; he is a cautious man. Tell W. I will not have his men cut folk's grass without proper compensation. If you pass mine, say to my Dame I have gone into Essex: my house is open to you; make no scruple; do as at your house at Oundle, or I shall be cross. If you please ride over to Chatteris, and order the quartering of those [that] Suffolk Troop,—I hear they have been very bad; and let no more such doings be. Bid R. horse* any who offend; say it is my order, and show him this. Pray do not forget the 100 Pieces; and bid Alister ride haste. I shall be at Biggleswade at H. Sent me the accounts of the week, if possible by the Trumpet; if not, send them on by one of the Troopers. It were well he rode to Bury, and wait [waited] my coming. I hope you have forwarded my Mother the silks you got for me in London; also those else for my Dame. If not, pray do not fail. Your Friend, From OLIVER CROMWELL. * That is, wooden-horse (used as a verb.) "Do military men of these "times understand the wooden horse? He is a mere triangular ridge or 1 "W." I suppose means Wildman, "R." Rainsborough. My Correspondent annotates here: "The Journal often mentioned trouble they" (the officers generally) "got into from the men taking, without leave, hay and corn from Malignants, whom Oliver never allowed to be robbed,— but paid for all justly to friend and foe." X. To Cornet Squire, at his Quarters, Tansor: These. SIR Huntingdon, 22d January 1642. News has come in, and I want you. Tell my Son to ride over his men to me, as I want to see him. Tell White and Wildman also I want them. Be sure you come too: do not delay. I have ill news of the men under my Son: tell him from me I must not have it. Bring me over those Papers you know of. Desborow has come in with good spoil,—some 3,0007.I reckon. Your Friend, ¡O. ["C." rotted off] Dated on the morrow after this, is the celebrated Letter to Robert Barnard, Esquire, now in the possession of Lord Gosford: "subtlety may deceive you, integrity never will!" XI. Refers to the Lowestoff exploit;** and must bear date 12th March 1642-3,- apparently from Swaffham, Downham, or some such place on the western side of Norfolk. For Captain Berry, at his Quarters, Oundle. Haste. DEAR FRIEND, [Date gone by moths] '12th March 1642. We have secret and sure hints that a meeting of the Malignants takes place at Lowestoff on Tuesday. Now I want your aid; so come with all speed on getting this, with your Troop; and tell no one your route, but let me see you ere sup> down. From Your Friend and Commandant, OLIVER CROMWELL. Auditor Squire had written in his Journal, now burnt: "He' (Oliver) "got his first information of this business from the man "roof of wood, set on four sticks, with absurd head and tail superadded; "and you ride him bare-backed, in face of the world, frequently with "muskets tied to your feet, -in a very uneasy manner!" Cromwell's Letters and Speeches (this present edition), ii. 17. ** Ibid. antea, p. 108. *Letters and Speeches, antea, p. 102. that sold fish to the Colleges" (at Cambridge), "who being searched, a Letter was found on him to the King, and he getting rough usage told all he knew." XII. Date and address have vanished; eaten by moths; but can in part be restored. Of the date, it would appear, there remains dimly "the last figure, which looks like a 5:" that will probably mean "March 15," which otherwise one finds to be about the time. The scene is still the Fen-country; much harassed by Malignants, necessitating searches for arms, spyjourneys, and other still stronger measures! "Montague," we can dimly gather, is the future Earl of Sandwich; at present "Captain of the St. Neot's Troop," a zealous young Gentleman of eighteen; who, some six months hence, gets a commission to raise a regiment of his own; of whom there is other mention by and by. DEAR FRIEND, 'To Cornet Squire.' 15th March 1642.' I have no great mind to take Montague's word about that Farm. I learn, behind the oven is the place they hide them [the arms]; so watch well, and take what the man leaves; and hang the fellow out of hand [out-a-hand], and I am your warrant. For he shot a boy at Pilton-bee by the Spinney, Widow's son, her only support: so God and man must rejoice at his punishment. the I want you to go over to Stamford: they do not well know you; ride through, and learn all; and go round by Spalding, and so home by Wisbee [Wisbeach]. See 15, 8, 92; and bring me word. Wildman is gone by way of Lincoln: you may meet; but do not know him; he will not you. I would you could get into Lynn; for I hear they are building a nest there we must rifle, I sadly fear. You will hear of me at Downham: if not, seek me at Ely; my Son will say my Quarters to you. - From Your Friend, O. C. XIII. No date, no address; the Letter itself a ruined fragment "in Oliver's hand." For the rest see Letters and Speeches, antea, p. 111. "Russell," I suppose, is Russell of Chippenham, the same whose daughter Henry Cromwell subsequently married. SIR To Cornet Squire." [No date] Cambridge, (23d?) March 1642.' Send me by Alister a list of the Troop, and the condition of men and horses; also condition of the arms. Ride over to St. Neot's, and see Montague his Troop, and my Son's Troop; and call on your way back at Huntingdon, and see to Russell's (I hear his men are ill provided in boots); and bit them heed a sudden call: I expect a long ride. I shall want 200 Pieces: bring me them, or else send them by a sure hand. You mentioned to my Wife of certain velvets you had in London, come over in your Father's ship from Italy: now, as far as Twenty Pieces go, buy th[torn off, signature and all]. "OLIVER CROMWELL. SIR XIV. To Mr. Squire, at his Quarters, Godmanchester. Since we came back, I learn no men have got the money I ordered. Let me hear no more of this; but pay as I direct, as we are about hard work, I think. Yours to mind, OLIVER CROMWELL. much as The "hard work" of this Letter, and "long ride" of last refer to the same matter; which did not take effect after all, Golonel Hampden urged it. XV. "Direction gone; Letter generally much wasted." Refers, seemingly, to those "Plunderers" or "Camdeners" from the Stamford side, concerning whom, about the beginning of this April, there is much talk and terror, and one other Letter by Cromwell, already printed.* "Berry" is the future MajorGeneral; once "Clerk in the Ironworks," Richard Baxter's friend; of whom there was already mention in the Lowestoff affair. To Cornet Squire.' Ely, this 30th day [rest rotted off], 'March 1643.' hope you to bring me that I want in due time, we shall, if it please God, be at Swaffham;-and hear of me at 11 [name in cipher], who will say to you all needful. * Letters and Speeches, antea. n. 113. Mind and come on in strength, as they are out to mischief, and some -[guess at their number, illegible] — - Troops, but ill-armed. Tell Berry to ride in, also Montague; and cut home, as no mercy ought to be shown those rovers, who are only robbers and not honourable soldiers. -Call at Cosey: I learn he has got a case of arms down; fetch them off; also his harness, - it lies in the wall by his bedhead: fetch it off; but move not his old weapons of his Father's, or his family trophies. Be tender of this, as you respect my wishes of one Gentleman to another. - Being me two pair Boothose, from the Fleming's who lives in London Lane; also a new Cravat: I shall be much thankful. I rest Your Friend, OLIVER CROMWELL. "London Lane," I understand, is in Norwich. Let us hope "the Fleming" has a good fleecy-hosiery article there, and can furnish one's Cornet; for the weather is still cold!— From Norwich and the Fleming, by faint reflex, we perceive further that "Cosey" must be Costessey, vernacularly "Cossy," Park; seat of the old Roman-Catholic Jerninghams (now Lords Stafford), who are much concerned in these broils, to their heavier cost in time coming. Cossy is some four miles east of Norwich; will lie quite handy for Squire and his Troop as they ride hitherward, being on the very road to Swaffham.* XVI. Mr. Samuel Squire, at his Quarters, Peterborough, in Bridge-street there: Haste. DEAR SIR, St. Neot's, 3d April 1643. I am required by the Speaker to send up those Prisoners we got in Suffolk [at Lowestoff &c.]; pray send me the Date we got them, also their Names in full, and quality. I expect I may have to go up to Town also. I send them up by Whalley's Troop and the Slepe Troop; my Son goes with them. You had best go also, to answer any questions needed. I shall require a new Pot [kind of Helmet]; mine is ill set. Buy me one in Tower Street; a Fleming sells them, I think his name is Vandeleur: get one fluted, and good barrets; and let *This Paragraph is due to a Correspondent (Jan, 1848), after Fraser, where "Cosey" was printed with a quaere, 66 Cosey (?)" (Note to the Reprint, 1850.) |