keteers as they could; upon which, and to draw nearer to the rest of our horse, I have a rendezvous this morning at Sougrave.1 Sir, not having more to trouble you, I rest, Your humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. I doubt the drawing away of your troop may occasion the Aylesbury troops to long to be going also.* GENTLEMEN, 9 (AFTER LETTER XXIII) To the Sequestrators of the Isle of Ely London, January 17, 1644[-5]. If I have found any respect or favour from you, or may any ways seem to deserve any, I entreat you most earnestly and as for myself that you will pay to Dr. Wells and to Mr. William Sedgwick the money which the Earl of Manchester hath given them a warrant to receive. I am informed that moneys are not very plentiful with you; howbeit I entreat you to do this for my sake and for their sakes that should have it; for let me speak freely, whatsoever the world may judge, they do fully deserve what I desire for them. I have not been often troublesome to you. I have studied to deserve the good opinion of honest men, amongst which number as I have cause to account you, so I hope I have the like esteem with you, which I desire you to testify by fulfilling this my request; giving you the assurance of his unfeigned friendship who is, Your very loving friend, OLIVER CROMWELL. † Dr. Sam. Welles was in the first instance attached to Col. Charles Essex's regiment; then to Col. Bulstrode's; and, some time before July 1644, was appointed to Lord Essex's regiment of horse. Sedgwick, at the beginning of the war, was chaplain to Constable's regiment. Mr. Firth thinks that later he was chaplain to the governor of Ely (see Raising of the Ironsides, p. 40). He became a note-worthy man in the New Model Army, and was intimately connected with William Dell, who was Cromwell's chaplain in, at any rate some part of 1644. 1 Sulgrave, in Northamptonshire. 2 See Letter I. # Luke's letter book. Stowe MSS., vol. 190, f. 57. 10 In the spring of 1645, the officers were busy with the reducing of Essex's and Manchester's forces, prior to their incorporation in the New Modelled army. Captain Griffin's troop was in the Earl of Manchester's own regiment of horse. SIR, For his noble friend, Major General Skippon 1645, May 3, Abington. These are to certify you that Captain Griffin's troop was reduced this 2nd of May. Sir, I desire you be pleased to show this bearer, his lieutenant, such favour and accommodation as other officers receive who are at this time reduced. Sir, I shall ever remain your assured friend and Your most humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.* Underwritten, is Skippon's order to the Treasurers for a fortnight's pay to be given to the above-mentioned lieutenant, Andrew Caldwell, and to two other officers of the troop; and overleaf, Caldwell's receipt for the money. 11 (WITH LETTER XXIV) ON March 3, Cromwell received directions from Parliament to join his regiment, then under orders to march to the west under Waller, and much disinclined to obey them. Cromwell's presence restored order, and they started on the expedition. On April 9, which is the evident date of the next letter, they were still in the West, but Waller's army was on the eve of being disbanded, and ten days later Cromwell returned to London to lay down his commission, in accordance with the plan for the New Modelled army. To Col. Edward Whalley Sarum, Wednesday night [April 9, 1645], at 12 o'clock. Desiring him to be at a rendezvous at Wilton, with all his [Cromwell's] and Col. Fiennes' troops at break of day next morning, as it is said that the enemy has a design upon their quarters. + * Commonwealth Exchequer Papers. This letter has got accidentally misplaced. It should be No. 12. +Original said to be at Melbury, Dorset. Printed in Neal's Seats, etc., 2nd series, vol. iv., and in Sanford's Studies and Illustrations, p. 623. Compare Letter XXIV, to Fairfax. 12 (AFTER LETTER XXVII) WRITTEN just after the unsuccessful attempt to storm Farringdon, and when Cromwell was about to retire, "leaving Burgess," as Carlyle says, "to crow over him." The gentleness of its tone compared with Letters XXVI. and XXVII. is very noticeable, but he evidently thought that the Governor exaggerated the importance of his prisoners. SIR, To Lieut.-Col. Burgess April 30, [1645]). There shall be no interruption of your viewing and gathering together the dead bodies, and I do acknowledge it as a favour, your willingness to let me dispose of them. Captain Cannon is but a captain; his major is Smith, so far as I know, but he is a stranger to me. I am confident he is but a captain; Master Elmes but an Ancient [Ensign]. I thank you for your civility to them; you may credit me in this. I rest, your servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. If you accept of equal exchange, I shall perform my part.* 13 To the Honourable William Lenthall May 9th, 1645. States that upon information that his Majesty has marched out of Oxford, he and Major-General Browne have drawn towards Hinton, and are resolved to follow the enemy, who, it is thought, will advance to Worcester, and so for the relief of Chester. Desires some money for the better encouragement of the soldiers, and a proportionable measure of ammunition for the pursuing of the enemy. + " The King left Oxford on May 7, with Rupert and Goring. Cromwell soon gave up the pursuit, whether in consequence of a positive prohibition or for want of the "proportionable measure of money and ammunition, we do not know. On May 28, he was sent back to the Eastern counties, then threatened by the King, who, having heard on *Mercurius Aulicus, April 30, 1645 (E. 285 (14)). Printed in the English Historical Review, January, 1887. + The Weekly Account, May 7-14, 1645. Reprinted by Sanford, p. 623. his way north that the siege of Chester was raised, had turned aside and taken Leicester. At the beginning of June, Cromwell was made Lieutenant-General. 14 (AFTER LETTER XXIX) Written the day after the battle of Naseby. SIR, To Sir Samuel Luke, Governor of Newport Pagnell June 15, 1645. I doubt not but you hear before this time of the great goodness of God to this poor nation, for which we have all cause to rejoice. The General commanded me to desire you to convoy the treasure to Northampton, where Col. Cox will receive it and discharge yours. This is desired may speedily be done. Sir I am your humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.* 15 THIS letter is dated on the very day that the battle of Langport was fought. Circular Letter to the Members at Westminster GENTLEMEN, [Langport], July 10, 1645. Being at this distance from Lon[don], I am forced to trouble you in a business which I would have done myself, had I been there. It is for Lieut. Col. Lilburne,' who hath done both you and the Kingdom good service, otherwise I should not have made use of such friends as you are. He hath a long time attended the House of Com[mons] with a petition that he might have reparation, according to their votes, for his former sufferings and losses and some satisfaction for his arrears for his service of the State, which hath been a long time due unto him. To this day he cannot get his petition read: his attendance hath * Luke's letter book, Egerton MSS., vol. 786, f. 54. Printed by Ellis, Original Letters, series iii., vol. iv. p. 257. This is John Lilburne. し proved very expensive, and hath kept him from other employment; and I believe that his former losses and late services (which have been very chargeable) considered, he doth find it a hard thing, in these times, for himself and his family to subsist. Truly, it is a grief to see men ruin themselves through their affection and faithfulness to the public, and so few lay it to heart. It would be an honour to the Parliament] and an encouragement to those that faithfully serve them, if provisions were made for the comfortable subsistence of those who have lost all for them. And, I can assure you, that this neglect of those that sincerely serve you hath made some already quit their commands in this army, who have observed oftentimes their wives and children have begged, who have lost their lives and limbs in the kingdom's service. I wish it were looked to betimes. That which I have to request of you is, that you give him your best assistance to get his petition read in the House, and that you will do him all lawful favour and justice in it. I know he will not be unthankful, but adventure himself as freely in the service of the kingdom as hitherto he hath done. Hereby you shall lay a special obligation upon your servant, 16 (AFTER LETTER XXXV) LETTER written the day after Bridget Cromwell's wedding, and a few days before the surrender of Oxford, to John Holles, the second Earl of Clare, of whom Hyde wrote: "He was a man of honour and of courage, and would have been an excellent person, if his heart had not been too much set upon keeping and improving his estate". He had left the Parliament in 1643 and gone to the King at Oxford, with Bedford and Holland, but was very coldly received, and had now rejoined his former friends. To the Right Honourable the Earl of Clare: These MY LORD, [Oxford], June 16, 1646. No command from your Lordship will find me disobedient to observe you. In that which I last received, I had a double obligation. I do admire your Lordship's character of Major *Lilburne's Letter to a Friend, King's Pamphlets (E. 296, no. 5). Printed by Sanford, p. 629. Partly also in Godwin's Commonwealth. |