but endeavouring not to be discouraged. We hope we much terrified the Scots at Stirling; but the hail-reservoirs proved friendly to them. LETTER CLXVII THE Oxford Convocation has received the foregoing Letter, 'canting Letter sent thereunto,' as crabbed Anthony designates it, 'dated at Edinburgh on the 4th of February,' and now at length made public in print; they have 'read it in Convocation,' continues Anthony, 'whereat the Members made the House re'sound with their cheerful acclamations; '1—and the Lord General is and continues their Chancellor; encouraging and helping_forward them and their work, in many ways, amid his weighty affairs, in a really faithful manner. As begins to be credible without much proof of ours, and might still be abundantly proved if needful. Here however, in the first blush of the business, comes Mr. Waterhouse, with a small recommendation from the Lord General; 'John Waterhouse of Great Greenford in Middlesex, son of Francis 'Waterhouse by Bridget his wife,' if anybody want to know him better; a student heretofore for eighteen years in Trinity College, Cambridge,' a meritorious Man and Healer since; whom one may well decorate with a Degree, or decorate a Degree with, by the next opportunity. To my very worthy Friend Dr. Greenwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford SIR, Edinburgh, 14th February 1650. This gentleman, Mr. Waterhouse, went over into Ireland as physician to the army there; of whose diligence, fidelity and abilities I had much experience. Whilst I was there, 1 Fasti, ii. 159. 2 Ibid. 163: created Doctor of Physic by virtue of the Letters of Oliver Cromwell, General (12th March 1650-1). [There are two or three notices of him, as Dr. Joseph (sic) Waterhouse, in the State Papers of this year. He was perhaps related to the Nathaniel Waterhouse who is spoken of as Cromwell's "Steward" about this time.] he constantly attended the army: and having, to my own knowledge, done very much good to the officers and soldiers, by his skill and industry; and being upon urgent occasion lately come into England, 'he' hath desired me to recommend him for the obtaining of the degree of Doctor in that science. Wherefore I earnestly desire you that, when he shall repair to you, you will give him your best assistance for the obtaining of the said degree; he being shortly to return back to his charge in Ireland. By doing whereof, as you will encourage one who is willing and ready to serve the public, so you will also lay a very great obligation upon, Sir, your affectionate servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.* LETTER CLXVIII COLONEL ROBERT LILBURN, a stout impetuous soldier, as both his Brothers were, and steady to his side as neither of them was, had the honour, at a critical time, in the Summer of 1648, while Duke Hamilton and his Scots were about invading us, to do the State good service, as we transiently saw; 2-to beat down, namely, and quite suppress, in Lancashire 3 a certain Sir Richard Tempest and his hot levyings of 1000 horse,' and indeed thereby to suppress all such levyings on behalf of the said Duke, in those Northern parts. An important, and at the time most welcome service. Letter of thanks, in consequence; reward of 1000l. in consequence,-reward voted, never yet paid, nor, as would seem, likely soon to be. Colonel Robert will take Delinquents' lands for his 1000l.; will buy Bear Park, with it and with other debentures or moneys: Bear Park, once Beaurepaire, a pleasant manor near native Durham, belongs to the Cathedral land; and might answer both parties, would the Committee of Obstructions move. 1'that you' in the hasty original. [The repetition was very usual.] Antea, vol. i. p. 318. [See his life in the Dictionary of National Biography.] [In Northumberland. See Rushworth, vii., 1177.] * From the Archives of Oxford University; communicated by Rev. Dr. Bliss. To the Right Honourable William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England: These SIR, Edinburgh, 8th March 1650. I am informed that Colonel Robert Lilburn is like to be damnified very much, in relation to his purchase of the manor of Beare Park in the county of Durham, by being employed in the service of the Commonwealth in 1 Scotland :— which business (as I understand), upon his petition to the Parliament, was referred to the Committee of Obstructions, and a report thereof hath lain ready in the hands of Mr. John Corbet,2 a long time, unreported. I do therefore humbly desire that the House may be moved to take the said report into speedy consideration, that so Colonel Lilburn may have redress therein, according as you shall think fit; and that his readiness and willingness to return to his charge here, and leave his own affairs to serve the public, may not turn to his disadvantage. I doubt not but those services he hath done in England and here will be a sufficient motive to gratify him herein; which shall be acknowledged by, Sir, Your most humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.* Committee of Obstructions, a Committee for removing Obstructions to the Sale of Dean-and-Chapter Lands,' does accordingly bestir itself; and on Tuesday 18th March, the due order is given.3 To which, we doubt not, as the matter then drops, effect was given, till the Restoration came, and ousted Colonel Robert and some others. Whether the Colonel personally ever lived at Bear Park, or has left any trace of his presence there, the County Histories and other accessible records do not say. 1'of' in orig. [Chairman of the Committee of Petitions.] 3 Commons Journals, vi. 492 (7th November 1650), his 'Petition,' referred to in this Letter; ib. 549 (18th March 1650), due redress' to him. *Baker MSS. (Cambridge), xxxv. 79. is at Welbeck. Signed and sealed.] [Now collated with the original, which LETTER CLXIX HERE next, from another quarter, is a new University matter, -Project of a College at Durham; emerging incidentally like a green fruitful islet from amid the dim storms of War; agreeably arresting the eye for a moment. Concerning which read in the Commons Journals of May last: 'A Letter from the Sheriff and Gentlemen of the County of 'Duresme, dated 24th April 1650; with a Paper' or Petition of the same date, ""delivered-in by the Grand Jury at the Sessions 'of the Peace holden at Duresme the 24th of April 1650, To be 'presented to the Honourable Parliament of this Nation,"—were 'this day read. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee 'of Obstructions for Sale of Dean-and-Chapter Lands, to consider 'these Desires of the Gentlemen and others of that County, 'touching the converting some of the Buildings at Duresme 'called the "College," which were the Houses of the late Dean 'and Chapter, into some College or School of Literature; to state 'the business, to'-in short, to get on with it if possible. This was some ten months ago, but still there is no visible way made; and now in the wild Spring weather here has been, I suppose, some Deputation of the Northern Gentry riding through the wild mountains, with humane intent, to represent the matter to the Lord General at Edinburgh; from whom, if he pleased to help it forward, a word might be very furthersome. The Lord General is prompt with his word;-writes this Letter, as I find, this and the foregoing, in some interval of a painful fit of sickness he has been labouring under.2 1Commons Journals, vi. 410 (8th May 1650). 2[There are many allusions to Cromwell's health in the news-letters about this time. A letter written on the 4th says that since his sickness he had been to Leith, but "came back not well again," but God be blessed, pretty cheerful though loath to venture abroad until he is stronger for fear of taking cold. Several Proceedings (E. 784 (23)). The General's wife appears to have been kept informed of her husband's state of health by a gentlenian in attendance upon him. Writing "by an extraordinary post," on March 7, he says, "Truly, Madam, my lord took his rest very well on Tuesday night last, and so (blessed be God) he hath done every night since, and sometimes in the daytime also, so that he is better sensible both in Dr. Goddard's opinion and also in his own; hath a better stomach, and grows stronger." The writer ends by promising to send a further account on the morrow by the post, which also took up Cromwell's letter above. Perfect Passages (E. 784 (25)).] For the Right Honourable William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England: These SIR, Edinburgh, 11th March 1650. Having received information from the Mayor and citizens of Durham, and some Gentlemen of the Northern Counties, That upon their Petition to the Parliament, that the Houses of the late Dean and Chapter of the City of Durham might be converted into a College or School of Literature, the Parliament was pleased in May last to refer the same to the Committee for removing Obstructions in the sale of Dean-andChapter Lands, to consider thereof, and to report their opinion therein to the House:1 Which said Committee (as I am also informed) have so far approved thereof as that they are of an opinion That the said Houses will be a fit place to erect a College or School for all the Sciences and Literature, and that it will be a pious and laudable work and of great use to the Northern parts, and have ordered Sir Arthur Haselrig to make report thereof to the House accordingly: And the said Citizens and Gentlemen having made some address to me to contribute my assistance to them therein to which, in so good and pious a work, I could not but willingly and heartily concur; and not knowing wherein I might better serve them, or answer their desires, than by recommending of the same to the Parliament by, Sir, yourself their Speaker, I do make it my humble and earnest request that the House may be moved, as speedily as conveniently may be, To hear the Report of the said Committee concerning the said Business, from Sir Arthur Haselrig; that so the House, taking the same into consideration, may do therein what shall seem meet for the good of those poor Countries. Truly it seems to me a matter of great concernment and importance, as that which, by the blessing of God, may much conduce to the promoting of learning and piety in those poor rude and ignorant parts; there being also many concurring 1 Commons Journals, ubi supra. |