Both Kingdoms, of the Committee of Sequestrations in Goldsmiths' Hall, and many other Committees and officialities of the Period. By the long labour of Mr. Lemon, these waste Documents, now gathered into volumes, classed, indexed, methodised, have become singularly accessible. Well read, the thousandth or perhaps ten-thousandth part of them well excerpted, and the nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine parts well forgotten, much light for what is really English History might still be gathered there. Alas, if the Half million of money, or but the twentieth part of it, wasted in mere stupidities upon the old-parchment Record Commission, had been expended upon wise labours here! - But to our "Order." Sir Oliver Fleming, a most gaseous but indisputable historical Figure, of uncertain genesis, uncertain habitat, glides through the old Books as "Master of the Ceremonies," master of one knows not well what. In the end of 1643 he clearly is nominated "Master of the Ceremonies" by Parliament itself; * and glides out and in ever after, presiding over “Dutch Ambassadors," "Swedish Ambassadors” and such like, to the very end of the Protectorate. A Blessed Restoration, of course, relieved him from his labours. He, for the present, wants to see some Books in the late Royal Library of St. James's. This scrap of paper still lies in the British Mu seum. To the Keeper of the Library of St. James's. THESE are to will and require you, upon sight hereof, to deliver unto Sir Oliver Fleming, or to whom he shall appoint, two or three such Books as he shall choose, of which there is a double copy in the Library: to be by him disposed of' as there shall be direction given him by the Council. Of which you are not to fail, and for which this shall be your warrant. * 2d November 1643, Commons Journals, iii. 299. Carlyle, Cromwell. II. 8 Given at the Council of State, this 22d day of February 1648. In the name, and signed by Order of, the of Parliament, OLIVER CROMWELL, There is already question of selling the late King's goods, crown-jewels, plate, and 'hangings,' under which latter title, we suppose, are included his Pictures, much regretted by the British connoisseur at present. They did not come actually to market till July next. * LETTER LXXXIX. REVEREND Mr. Stapylton, of whom we heard once before in Edinburgh, has been down at Hursley with Mr. Richard; Miss Dorothy received them with her blushes, with her smiles; the elder Mayors with "many civilities:" and the Marriage-treaty, as Mr. Stapylton reports, promises well. For my very worthy Friend Richard Mayor, Esquire: These. SIR, 'London,' 26th February 1648. I received yours by Mr. Stapylton; together with an account of the kind reception and the many civilities afforded 'to' them, ** especially to my Son, in the liberty given him to wait upon your worthy Daughter. The report of whose virtue and godliness has so great a place in my heart, that I think fit not to neglect anything, on my part, which may consummate a close of the business, if God please to dispose the young ones' hearts thereunto, and other suitable ordering ‘of' § Additional Ayscough мss. 12,098. * Scobell, Part ii. 46, the immense Act of Parliament for sale of them. **To Richard Cromwell and him, affairs towards mutual satisfaction appear in the dispensation of Providence. For which purpose, and to the end matters may be brought to as near an issue as they are capable of, not being at liberty, by reason of public occasions, to wait upon you, nor your health, 'as I understand, permitting it, I thought fit to send this Gentleman, Mr. Stapylton, instructed with my mind, to see how near we may come to an understanding one of another therein. And although I could have wished the consideration of things had been between us two, it being of so near concernment, yet Providence for the present not allowing, I desire you to give him credence on my behalf. Sir, all things which yourself and I had in conference, at Farnham, do not occur to my memory, through multiplicity of business intervening. I hope I shall with a very free heart testify my readiness to that which may be expected from me. I have no more at present: but desiring the Lord to order this affair to His glory and the comfort of His servants, I rest, Sir, Your humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. § LETTER XC. THIS Thursday 8th March 1648-9, they are voting and debating in a thin House, hardly above 60 there, Whether Duke Hamilton, Earl Holland, Lords Capel, Goring, and Sir John Owen, our old friend "Colonel Owen" of Nottingham § Harris, p. 505; one of the Pusey seventeen: Signature only is in Cromwell's hand. Castle, Jenner and Ashe's old friend, * live? are to die or to They have been tried in a new High Court of Justice, and all found guilty of treason, of levying war against the Supreme Authority of this Nation. Shall they be executed; shall they be respited? The House by small Majorities decides against the first three: decides in favour of the last; and as to Goring, the votes are equal, the balance-tongue trembles, "Life or Death!" Speaker Lenthall says, Life. ** For my very worthy Friend Richard Mayor, Esquire: These. 'London,' 8th March 1648. SIR, Yours I have received; and have given further instructions to this Bearer, Mr. Stapylton, to treat with you about the business in agitation between your Daughter and my Son. I am engaged *** to you for all your civilities and respects already manifested. I trust there will be a right understanding between us, and a good conclusion: and though I cannot particularly remember the things spoken of at Farnham, to which your Letter seems to refer me, yet I doubt not but I have sent the offer of such things now as will give mutual satisfaction to us both. My attendance upon public affairs will not give me leave to come down unto you myself; I have sent unto you this Gentleman with my mind. I salute Mrs. Mayor, though unknown, with the rest of your Family. I commit you, with the progress of the Business, to the Lord; and rest, Sir, Your assured friend to serve you, OLIVER CROMWELL. § * Letter LXXXII. vol. ii. p. 83. ** Commons Journals, vi. 159. *** obliged. § Harris, p. 506; one of the seventeen. On the morrow morning, poor versatile Hamilton, poor versatile Holland, with the Lord Capel who the first of all in this Parliament rose to complain of Grievances, meet their death in Palace-yard. The High Court was still sitting in Westminster Hall as they passed through "from Sir Robert Cotton's house." Hamilton lingered a little, or seemed to linger, in the Hall; still hopeful of reprieve and fine of 100,000l.: but the Earl of Denbigh, his brother-in-law, а Member of the Council of State, stept up to him; whispered in his ear; - the poor Duke walked on. That is the end of all his diplomacies; his Scotch Army of Forty-thousand, his painful ridings to Uttoxeter, and to many other places, have all issued here. The Earl of Lanark will now be Duke of Hamilton in Scotland: may a better fate await him! The once gay Earl of Holland has been "converted" some days ago, as it were for the nonce, poor Earl! With regard to my Lord Capel again, who followed last in order, he behaved, says Bulstrode, "much after the manner of a stout "Roman. He had no Minister with him, nor showed any "sense of death approaching; but carried himself all the time "he was upon the scaffold with that boldness and resolution as was to be admired. He wore a sad-coloured suit, his hat "cocked up, and his cloak thrown under one arm; he looked "towards the people at his first coming up, and put off his hat "in manner of a salute; he had a little discourse with some “gentlemen, and passed up and down in a careless posture." * Thus died Lord Capel, the first who complained of Grievances: in seven years time there are such changes for a man; and the first acts of his Drama little know what the last will be! This new High Court of Justice is one of some Seven or Eight that sat in those years, and were greatly complained of by Constitutional persons. Nobody ever said that they decided contrary to evidence; but they were not the regular Judges. They took the Parliament's law as good, without consulting Fleta and Bracton about it. They consisted of * Whitlocke, p. 380 (the first of the two pages 380 which there are). |