visible as a Republican to the last; is appointed to raise a regiment' for the expiring Cause in 1659,-in which, what a little concerns us, this same Hubbert' here in question is to be his Major.1

To the Honourable Colonel Hacker, at Peebles or else

SIR,

where: These.

'Edinburgh,' 25th December, 1650.

I have 'used' the best consideration I can, for the present, in this business; and although I believe Captain Hubbert is a worthy man, and hear so much, yet, as the case stands, I cannot, with satisfaction to myself and some others, revoke the Commission I had given to Captain Empson, without offence to them, and reflection upon my own judgment.

6

I pray let Captain Hubbert know I shall not be unmindful of him, and that no disrespect is intended to him. But indeed I was not satisfied with your last speech to me about Empson, That he was a better preacher than fighter or soldier, or words to that effect. Truly I think he that prays and preaches best will fight best. I know nothing that' will give like courage and confidence as the knowledge of God in Christ will; and I bless God to see any in this Army able and willing to impart the knowledge they have, for the good of others. And I expect it be encouraged, by all the Chief Officers in this Army especially ; and I hope you will do so. I pray receive Captain

1 Commons Journals, vii, 669, 675, 824.

Empson lovingly; I dare assure you he is a good man and a good officer; I would we had no worse.

I rest,

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

Your loving friend,

LETTER CLXIII.

LETTER Hundred-and-sixty-third relates to the exchange of three Prisoners whom we saw taken in Dunbar Drove, and have had an occasional glimpse of since. Before reading it, let us read another Letter, which is quite unconnected with this; but which lies, as we may see, on the Lord General's table in Moray House in the Canongate while he writes this;—and indeed is a unique of its kind: A Letter from the Lord General's Wife.

'My Lord Chief Justice' is Oliver St. John, known to us this long while; President' is Bradshaw; 'Speaker' is Lenthall: high official persons; to whom it were better if the Lord General took his Wife's advice, and wrote occasionally.

"The Lady Elizabeth Cromwell to her Husband the Lord General at Edinburgh.

"Cockpit, London,' 27th December, 1650. "MY DEAREST, -I wonder you should blame me for "writing no oftener, when I have sent three for one I can"not but think they are miscarried. Truly if I know my own

*Harris, p. 516; Lansdowne мss., 1236, fol. 99, contains the address, which Harris has omitted.

heart, I should as soon neglect myself as to 'omit' the least thought towards you, who in doing it, I must do it to my"self. But when I do write, my Dear, I seldom have any 'satisfactory answer; which makes me think my writing is slighted; as well it may: but I cannot but think your love weakness and infirmities.

covers my

"I should rejoice to hear your desire in seeing me; but "I desire to submit to the Providence of God; hoping the "Lord, who hath separated us, and hath often brought us "together again, will in His good time bring us again, to the "praise of His name. Truly my life is but half a life in your absence, did not the Lord make it up in Himself, which I "must acknowledge to the praise of His grace.

66

"I would you would think to write sometimes to your "dear friend, my Lord Chief Justice, of whom I have often "put you in mind. And truly, my Dear, if you would think "of what I put you in mind of some, it might be to as much purpose as others ;2 writing sometimes a Letter to the Pre"sident, and sometimes to the Speaker. Indeed, my Dear, 'you cannot think the wrong you do yourself in the want of a Letter, though it were but seldom. I pray think on ;3 and "so rest,-yours in all faithfulness,

66

"ELIZABETH CROMWELL."4

This Letter, in the original, is frightfully spelt; but otherwise exactly as here: the only Letter extant of this Heroine; and not unworthy of a glance from us. It is given in Harris too, and in Noble very incorrectly.

1 Word torn out.

2 The grammar bad; the meaning evident or discoverable, and the bad grammar a part of that!

3think of' is the Lady's old phrase.

4 Milton State-Papers, p. 40.

And now for the Letter concerning Provost Jaffray and his two fellow prisoners from Dunbar Drove.

For the Right Honourable Lieutenant-General David

SIR,

Lesley: These.

Edinburgh, 17th January, 1650.

I perceive by your last Letter you had not met with Mr. Carstairs1 and Mr. Waugh, who were to apply themselves to you about Provost Jaffray's and their release, 'in exchange' for the Seamen and Officers. But I understood, by a Paper since shewn me by them under your hand, that you were contented to release the said Seamen and Officers for those three Persons,who have had their discharges accordingly.

I am contented also to discharge the Lieutenant, in exchange' for the Four Troopers at Stirling, who hath solicited me to that purpose.

I have, here enclosed, sent you a Letter,2 which I desire you to cause to be conveyed to the Committee of Estates; and that such return shall be sent back to me as they shall please to give.

I remain, Sir,

Your humble servant,

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

Here is a notice from Balfour :3 At Perth, '22d November, 1650 (Rege præsente,' the King being present, as usually after that Flight to the Grampian Hills he is allowed to be), 'the

1 Custaires.

2 The next Letter.

* Thurloe, i. 172. Laigh Parliament House.

3 iv. 168.

• Committee of Estates remits to the Committee of Quarterings 'the exchange of Prisoners anent Mr. Alexander Jaffray and Mr. John Carstairs, Minister, with some English Prisoners in the Castle of Dunbarton.' Nevertheless at this date, six or seven weeks after, the business is not yet perfected.

Alexander Jaffray, as we know already, is Provost of Aberdeen; a leading man for the Covenant from of old; and generally the Member for his Burgh in the Scotch Parliaments of these years. In particular, he sits as Commissioner for Aber`deen in the Parliament that met 4th January, 1649;1 under which this disastrous Quarrel with the English began. He was famed afterwards (infamous it then meant) as among the first of the Scotch Quakers; he, with Barclay of Urie, and other lesser Fallen-Stars. Personal intercourse with Cromwell, the Sectary and Blasphemer, had much altered the notions of Mr. Alexander Jaffray. Baillie informed us, three months ago, he and Carstairs, then Prisoners-on-parole, were sent Westward by Cromwell to agent the Remonstrance,'to guide towards some good issue the Ker-and-Strahan Negotiation; which, alas, could only be guided headlong into the ditches at Hamilton before daybreak, as we saw !-Jaffray sat afterwards in the Little Parliament; was an official person in Scotland,2 and one of Cromwell's leading men there.

Carstairs, we have to say or repeat, is one of the Ministers of Glasgow deep in the confused Remonstrant-Resolutioner Controversies of that day; though on which side precisely one does not altogether know, perhaps he himself hardly altogether knew. From Baillie, who has frequent notices of him, it is clear he tends strongly towards the Cromwell view in many

Balfour, iii. 382.

2 Ousted our friend Scotstarvet,-most unjustly, thinks he of the Staggering State (p. 181). There wanted only that to make the Homily on Life's Nothingness complete!