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(c.) A Couple of very small Letters, which have now (May, March, 1846) accidentally turned up, too late for insertion in the Text, may find their corner here.

1. The First, which is fully dated (just eight days before the Battle of Naseby), but has lost its specific Address, may without much doubt be referred to Ely and the "Fortifications" going on there.*

'To Captain Underwood, at Ely: These.' CAPTAIN UNDERwood,

Huntingdon, 6th June 1645.

I desire the guards may be very well strengthened and looked unto. Let a new breastwork be made about the gravel, ** and a new work half-musket-shot behind the old work; all storm-ground ** stuff. Tell Colonel Fothergill to take care of keeping strong guards. —Not having more, I rest,

Yours,

OLIVER CROMWELL. §

2. "Sir Dudley North," Baronet, of Catlidge Hall near Newmarket, is Member for Cambridgeshire; sits too, there is small doubt, in the Ely Committee at London; - is wanted now for a small County business.

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The 30th of March," as we know, is but the fifth day of the then New Year: Oliver, I find after some staggering, for his date will not suit with other things, takes the cipher of the Old Year, as one is apt to do, and for 1647 still writes "1646." As this Entry, abridged from the Commons Journals,*** will irrefragably prove, to readers of his Letter: "John Hobart Esq. "dismissed from being Sheriff of Cambridge and Huntingdon "Shires, and Tristram Dyamond Esq, appointed in his place, 1st "January 1646," which, for us, and for Cromwell too on the 30th of March following, means 1647.

SIR,

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For the Honourable Sir Dudley North: These

'London,' 30th March 1646 [error for 1647.] It being desired to have the Commission of the Peace renewed in the Isle of Ely, -with some addition, as you may perceive; none left out; only Mr. Diamond, now High * Commons Journals, iv. 161, 5; Cromwelliana, p. 16.

* Word uncertain to the Copyist.

$ Original now (May 1846) in the Baptist College, Bristol. *** v. 36 (1st Jan. 1646-7).

Sheriff of the County, and my Brother Desborow, added, there
being great want of one in that part of the Isle where I live, -
I desire you to join with me in a Certificate; and rest,
Your humble servant,

No. 8.

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

LANGFORT BATTLE (10th July 1645). SUMMONS TO WINCHESTER. [Vol. i. p. 233.]

HERE is Oliver's own account of the Battle of Langport, mentioned in our Text;

Το

'Langport, July 1645.'

And

DEAR SIR, I have now a double advantage upon you, through the goodness of God, who still appears for us. as for us, we have seen good things in this last mercy, not inferior to any we have had; as followeth.

it is

We were advanced to Long-Sutton, near a very strong place of the Enemy's, called Langport; far from our Garrisons, without much ammunition, in a place extremely wanting in provisions, - the Malignant Clubmen interposing, who are ready to take all advantages against our parties, and would undoubtedly take them against our Army, if they had opportunity. - Goring stood upon the advantage of strong passes, staying until the rest of his recruits came up to his Army, with a resolution not to engage until Grenvile and Prince Charles his men were come up to him. We could not well have necessitated him to an Engagement, nor have stayed one day longer without retreating to our ammunition and to conveniency of victual.

In the morning, word was brought us, That the Enemy drew out. He did so, with a resolution to send most of his cannon and baggage to Bridgewater, which he effected, but with a resolution not to fight, but, trusting to his ground, thinking he could make away at pleasure.

The pass was strait between him and us; he brought two

§ Original in the possession of the Rev. W. S. Spring Casborne, of Pakenham, Suffolk; a descendant of the North Family..

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cannons to secure his, and laid his Musketeers strongly in the hedges. We beat-off his cannon, fell down upon his Musketeers, beat them off from their strength, and, where our Horse could scarcely pass two abreast, I commanded Major Bethel to charge them with two Troops of about one-hundred-andtwenty Horse. Which he performed with the greatest gallantry imaginable; beat back two bodies of the Enemy's Horse, being Goring's own Brigade; brake them at sword'spoint. The Enemy charged him with near 400 fresh Horse; set them all going, - until, oppressed with multitudes, he brake through them, with the loss not of above three or four men. Major Desborow seconded him, with some other of those Troops, which were about three. Bethel faced about; and they both routed, at sword's-point, a great body of the Enemy's Horse. Which gave such an unexpected terror to the Enemy's Army, that it set them all a-running. Our Foot, in the mean time, coming on bravely, and beating the Enemy from their strength, we presently had the chase to Langport and Bridgewater. We took and killed about 2000, brake all his Foot. We have taken very many Horses, and considerable Prisoners. What are slain we know not. We have the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance; Colonel Preston, Colonel Heveningham, Colonel Slingsby, we know of, besides very many other Officers of quality. All Major-General Massey's party was with him, seven or eight miles from us, and about twelve-hundred of our Foot, and three Regiments of our Horse. So that we had but Seven Regiments with us.

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Thus you see what the Lord hath wrought for us. Can any creature ascribe anything to itself? Now can we give the glory to God, and desire all may do so, for it is all due unto Him! Thus you have Long-Sutton mercy added to Naseby mercy. And to see this, is it not to see the face of God! You have heard of Naseby: it was a happy victory. As in this, so in that God was pleased to use His servants; and if men will be malicious, and swell with envy, we know Who hath said, If they will not see, yet they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at His people. I can say this of Naseby, That when I saw

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the Enemy draw up and march in gallant order towards us, and we a company of poor ignorant men, to seek how to order our battle, the General having commanded me to order all the Horse, I could not, riding alone about my business, but smile out to God in praises, in assurance of victory, because God would, by things that are not, bring to naught things that are. Of which I had great assurance; and God did it. O that men would therefore praise the Lord, and declare the wonders that He doth for the children of men!

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I cannot write more particulars now. I am going to the rendezvous of all our Horse, three miles from Bridgewater; we march that way. It is a seasonable mercy. I cannot better tell you than write, That God will go on! We have taken two guns, three carriages of ammunition. In the chase, the Enemy quitted Langport; when they ran out of one end of the Town, we entered the other. They fired that at which we should chase; which hindered our pursuit: but we overtook many of them. I believe we got near Fifteen-hundred Horse. Sir, I beg your prayers. Believe, and you shall be

established. I rest,

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A couple of months after this battle, Oliver is before Winchester, and makes this Summons:"

SIR,

To the Mayor of the City of Winchester.

'Before Winchester,' 28th September 1645, 5 o'clock at night.

I come not to this City but with a full resolution to save it, and the Inhabitants thereof, from ruin.

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I have commanded the soldiers, upon pain of death, That no wrong be done: which I shall strictly observe; only I expect you give me Entrance into the City, without necessitating me to force my way; which if I do, then it will not be Pamphlet in Lincoln College, Oxford, no. 10: "Battles of Sieges.' Letter entitled "The Copy of Lieutenant-General Cromwell's Letter to a. worthy Member of the House of Commons, published by Authority, London,

in my power to save you or it. I expect your Answer within

half an hour; and rest

Your humble servant,

OLIVER CROMWELL. §

No. 9.

ARMY TROUBLES IN 1647.

[Vol. i. p. 274.]

was

THE Vote "that Field-Marshal Skippon, Lieutenant-General Cromwell, Commissary-General Ireton and Colonel Fleetwood," all Members of this House, "shall proceed to their charges in the Army," and endeavour to quiet all distempers there, passed on the 30th of April: day of the Three Troopers and Army-Letter, and directly on the back of that occurrence.* They went accordingly, perhaps on the morrow, and proceeded to business; but as nothing specific came of them, or could come, till the 8th of May, that day is taken as the date of the Deputation. Here are Three Letters from them: one prior and one posterior, which, copied from the Tanner Mss., have got into print, but cannot throw much light on the affair.

1. ** Da vie dowenbie William Lønthië, Espære, Speaker of the Commons

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