Page images
PDF
EPUB

of the Duke and the Nobility of Scotland with him; who will,
I doubt not, have the blessing of God with him in the busi-
ness. But indeed his horse are exceeding weak and weary.
I have sent to Yorkshire and to my Lord Grey to alarm all
parts to a prosecution: and if they be not wanting to the
work, I see not how many can escape. I am marched myself
back to Preston; and so on towards Monro or otherwise, as
God shall direct.

As things fall out, I shall represent them to you; and rest,
My Lords and Gentlemen,

Your most humble 'servant,'

OLIVER CROMWELL. §

No. 12.

LETTER TO THE DERBY-HOUSE COMMITTEE IN 1648.

(Vol. ii. p. 64.].

RECAPITULATING what is already known in the Text; finds its place here.

the Right Honourable the Committe of Lords and Commons at Derby

House.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

Norham, 20th Sept. 1648.

I did, from Alnwick, write to Sir William Armyn* an account of our condition; and recommended to him divers particular considerations about your affairs here in the North,

with a desire of particular things to be done by your Lordships' appointment, in order to the carrying-on of your affairs. I send you here a copy of the Summons that was sent to Berwick** when I was come as far as Alnwick; as also of a Letter written to the Committee of Estates of Scotland: *** I mean those who we did presume were convened as Estates, and were the men that managed the business of the War. But there being, as I learned since, none such; the Earl of Roxburgh and some others having deserted, so that they are not

6 Tanner мss. lvii. (1.) 229. Original signed inside and out by Cromwell: much injured by mildew and moths.

* Original Member for Grantham; one of the Committee, and from of old busy in those International concerns. M** Letter LXX. (vol. ii. p. 51.)

*** Letter LXXII. (vol. ii. p. 59.)

-

able to make a Committee; I believe the said Letter is suppressed, and retained in the hands of Colonel Bright and Mr. William Rowe. For whom we "had" obtained a safe Convoy to go to the Estates of that Kingdom with our said Letter; the Governor of Berwick's Answer to our Summons leading us thereunto. By advantage whereof we did instruct them to give all assurances to the Marquis of Argyle and the Honest Party in Scotland, - who we heard were gathered together in a considerable Body about Edinburgh, to make opposition to the Earl of Lanark, Monro, and their Armies, of our good affection to them. Wherewith they went the 16th of this month.

Upon the 17th of this month Sir Andrew Ker and Major Strahan, with divers other Scots Gentlemen, brought me this enclosed Letter, signed by the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, as your Lordships will see. They also showed me their Instructions, and a Paper containing the matter of their Treaty with Lanark and Monro; as also an Expostulation upon Lanark's breach with them, in falling upon Argyle and his men, contrary to agreement, wherein the Marquis hardly escaped, they having hold of him, but Seven-hundred of his men were killed and taken. ** These Papers I also send here enclosed to your Lordships.

So soon as those Gentlemen came to me, I called a Council of War; the result whereof was the Letter directed to the Lord Chancellor; *** a Copy whereof your Lordships have here enclosed. Which I delivered to Sir Andrew Ker and Major Strahan; with which they returned upon the 18th, being the next day.

Upon private discourse with these Gentlemen, I do find the condition of their Affairs and their Army to be thus: The Earl of Lanark, the Earl of Crawford and Lindsay, Monro, and their Army, hearing of our advance, and understanding the condition and endeavours of their Adversaries, — marched with all speed to get possession of Stirling-Bridge; that so *Not "suppressed," though it cannot be received except unofficially (vol. ii. p. 54).

**Bishop Guthry's Memoirs.`` ***Letter LXXIII. (vol. ii. p. 56.)

they might have three parts in four of Scotland at their backs, to raise men, and to enable themselves to carry on their designs. They were about 5,000 Foot, and 2,500 Horse. The Earl of Leven, who is chosen General; the Marquis of Argyle, with the Honest Lords and Gentlemen, David Lesley being the Lieutenant-General: "these," having about 7,000 Foot, but very weak in Horse, — lie about six miles this side the Enemy. I hear that their Infantry consists of men who come to them out of conscience; and are generally of the Godly People of that Nation, which they express by their piety and devotion in their quarters; and indeed I hear they are a very goldly and honest body of men.

I think it is not unknown to your Lordships what directions I have received from you for the prosecution of our late Victory. Whereof I shall be bold to remember a clause of your Letter; which was, "That I should prosecute the re"maining Party in the North, and not leave any of them, "wheresoever they go, to be a beginning of a new Army; nor "cease to pursue the Victory till I finish and fully complete it "with the rendition of those Towns of Berwick and Carlisle, "which most unjustly, and against all obligations, and the "Treaties then in force, they surprised and garrisoned "against us."

In order whereunto, I marched to the Borders of Scotland: where I found the whole Country so harassed and impoverished by Monro and the Forces with him, that the Country. was no way able to bear us on the English side; but we must necessarily have ruined both your Army and the Subjects of this Kingdom, who would not have had bread for a day if we had continued among them. In prosecution of your Orders, and in answer to the necessities of your friends in Scotland, and their desires; and considering the necessity of marching into Scotland, to prevent the Governor of Berwick from putting of provisions into his Garrisons on the Scots side, whereof he is at present in some want, as we are informed, I marched a good part of the Army over Tweed yesterday about noon, the residue being to come after as conveniently as we may.

Thus have I given your Lordships an account of our present condition and engagement. And having done so, I must discharge my duty in remembering to your Lordships the Desires formerly expressed in my Letters to Sir William Armyn and Sir John Evelyn, for supplies; and in particular for that of Shipping to be upon these Coasts, who may furnish us with Ammunition or other necessaries wheresoever God shall lead us; there being extreme difficulty to supply us by land, without great and strong convoys, which will weary-out and destroy our Horse, and cannot well come to us if the Tweed be up, without going very far about.

Having laid these things before you, I rest,

Your Lordships' most humble servant,
OLIVER CROMWELL.

P.S. Whilst we are here, I wish there be no neglect of the Business in Cumberland and Westmoreland. I have sent Orders both into Lancashire and to the Horse before Pontefract. I should be glad your Lordships would second them, and those other considerations expressed in 'my Desires to Sir William Armyn thereabouts. §

No. 13.

LETTER ON BEHALF OF YOUNG CHOLMELY.
[Vol. i. p. 329.]

WRITTEN on the march from Carlisle to Pontefract.

o the Honourable William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons: Ehese.

SIR,

Boroughbridge, 28th October 1648. I do not often trouble you in particular businesses; but I shall be bold now, upon the desire of a worthy Gentleman,' Lieutenant-Colonel Cholmely, to entreat your favour in his

behalf.

The case stands thus. His son Major Cholmely, who was bold in the Fight against the Scots at Berwick,* was Custom

§ Old Pamphlet: in Parliamentary History, xvii. 481.

Against Munro, I suppose, when he ended his maraudings in that' quarter (vol. i. p. 304).

master at Carlisle; the Gentleman "had" merited well from you. Since his death, his aged Father, having lost this his Eldest Son in your service, did resolve to use his endeavours to procure the place for a Younger Son, who had likewise been in your service. And resolving to obtain my Letter to some friends about it, did acquaint an undertenant of the place for his Son with this his purpose To come to me to the borders of Scotland to obtain the said Letter; which the said servant "or undertenant" did say, Was very well.

And when the said Lieutenant-Colonel was come for my Letter, this tenant immediately hastens away to London; where he, in a very circumventing and deceitful way, prefers a Petition to the House of Commons; gets a reference to the Committee of the Navy; who approve of the said man, “the undertenant," by the mediation of some gentlemen: but I hear there is a stop of it in the House.

-

My humble suit to you is, That if Colonel Morgan do wait upon you about this business, I having given you this true information of the state of it, as I have received it, — you would be pleased to further his desire concerning LieutenantColonel Cholmely's youngest Son, that he may have the place conferred upon him; and that you would acquaint some of my friends herewith.

By which you will very much oblige,

Your most humble servant,

OLIVER CROMWELL. §

No. 14.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE MAYOR OF WATERFORD.

[Vol. ii. p. 894]

PRESERVED in the anonymous Fragment of a Narrative, more than once referred to, are these Letters and Replies:

LETTER 1. Eo the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Waterford. GENTLEMEN, Kilbarry, near Waterford, 21st November 1649. I have received information that you hitherto refuse a Garrison of the Enemy to be imposed upon you; as also that some § Tanner Mss. (in Cary, ii. 46.)

« PreviousContinue »