31

(BEFORE LETTER LXIII)

AFTER settling South Wales, Cromwell turned northward with his forces to aid Lambert in repelling the Scottish invasion under the Duke of Hamilton. While crossing the hills between Yorkshire and Lancashire, a complaint was brought to him which produced the following order, written either at Skipton or somewhere on the road between Knaresborough and that place.

1648, August 14.-Order-upon information that Lieutenant Swayne of Captain Cooke's troop, has taken two horses of great value from Captain William Harrison-that the horses be instantly delivered to the bearer, and that Captain Cooke "see this order duly observed."

Certified as a true copy of the original "which Captain Cooke read over," by Abraham Burton, Tho. Staveley, and Timothy Hurst, Leeds, Aug. 15, 1648.*

32

(BEFORE LETTER LXIX)

ON Cromwell's march to Scotland after Preston fight he stopped for a day or two at Durham (see Declaration after Letter LXVIII) and there wrote the following letter, which may perhaps have relation to the case of Mrs. Cowell and her children, mentioned in Letter LXIX.

SIR,

[No address]

Duresme, September 7, 1648.

The enclosed petition coming to my hands, I could not but recommend it to you, as being the fittest instrument to do them right, being near to information which will lead you to what will be most fit to be done. I desire therefore you would please to give them their desires in the petition, as being in my opinion very just.

* From the Collection of Sir Richard Tangye.

+Signed by Cromwell. From the Collection of Sir Richard Tangye.

33

(AFTER LETTER LXXIX)

CROMWELL'S expedition to Scotland having successfully resulted in the restoration of the garrisons of Berwick and Carlisle (see Letter LXXVII) he was now on his way to the siege of Pontefract. He visited Carlisle on October 14 to take formal possession of the Castle.

To Colonel Thomas Barwis

1648, October 25, Bernard Castle.-Ordering him to repair to Carlisle and take command of the regiment of horse lately raised in Westmorland, employing the said regiment for the service of the garrison of Carlisle, and the security of those parts, and for the quelling of all insurrections in Westmorland and Cumberland; and acting under the orders of Sir Arthur Hesilrige.*

SIR,

34

(BEFORE LETTER LXXX)

[To Col. Charles Fairfax]

Byron, Nov. 2, at 8 at night.

Being informed by Sir Edward Rodes this evening that there is a party of the enemy's horse gone out of Pontefract Castle, and having some apprehension that they will attempt somewhat upon the horse-guard in the park by coming upon their rear, I desire you that you would send to their assistance five files of musketeers, who will give them time to mount their horses if the enemy shall attempt upon them with horse and foot. I desire you to send the commander of the guard there this enclosed note. Not having more, I rest Your affectionate servant,

35

O. CROMWELL. †

THE following letter was first printed by Mr. Firth in the Clarke Papers. His note upon it is as follows:—

76 A copy of this letter is contained in vol. xvi. of the Clarke Papers at Worcester College, where it is signed 'Heron brother,' and no in

* Signed. Seal of arms. From the original in the possession of Captain Charles Lindsay. Mentioned in Waylen's House of Cromwell, 1st edition, p. 274. +From the original, signed, in the Collection of Sir Richard Tangye.

dication is given of the person to whom it was sent. I concluded it from internal evidence to be written by Cromwell to Robert Hammond. Some letters from Cromwell to Hammond were mentioned in the First Report of the Historical MSS. Commission, p. 116, as being in the possession of the Marquis of Lothian. Mr. Gardiner, at my request, examined these letters last summer, and has kindly supplied me with copies. . . . Dear Robin' is the term by which Cromwell, Ireton and other intimate friends usually address Hammond. In this letter, Cromwell also makes use of the names which he sometimes employed in his correspondence with Vane and one or two others. 'Brother Heron' is the younger Vane. 'Brother Fountayne' is Cromwell himself (see Nickoll's Original Letters and Papers addressed to Oliver Cromwell, 1743, pp. 78, 84). 'Sir Roger' seems to have been one of Cromwell's companions in Scotland, possibly Lambert or Hesilrige. Hesilrige and Cromwell had just been entertained at Edinburgh by the Argyle party (see Whitelocke, Memorials, ed. 1853, II. 422, 432). Cromwell defends himself against the charge of granting too favourable terms to the Scots, or as he puts it, 'turning Presbyterian.' The 'wise friend' is probably Pierrepoint, as Mr. Gardiner suggests. Pierrepoint and Vane were both now at Newport, as two of the Commissioners sent by Parliament to negotiate with the King. Both were probably in daily intercourse with Hammond. It appears from this letter,' writes Mr. Gardiner, that Cromwell had heard that a party amongst the Independents, including Vane, Pierrepoint and Hammond, in their alarm at the thoroughgoing reforms demanded by the Levellers, were anxious to come to an understanding with the King on the basis of moderate Episcopacy and toleration. It was to this state of opinion that he now addressed himself.' (Great Civil War, iv. 248.)”

To Col. Hammond

Knottingley, Nov. 6th, 1648.

DEAR ROBIN, I trust the same spirit that guided thee heretofore is still with thee; look to thy heart, thou art where temptations multiply. I fear lest our friends should burn their fingers, as some others did not long since,' whose hearts have ached since for it. How easy is it to find arguments for what we would have; how easy to take offence at things called Levellers, and run into an extremity on the other hand, meddling with an accursed thing. Peace is only good when we receive it out of our Father's hand, it's dangerous to snatch it, most dangerous to go against the will of God to attain it. War is good when led to by our Father, most evil when it comes from the

1

2

Probably alluding to his own and Ireton's efforts to win the King in 1647." (Note by Dr. Gardiner.)

2 Cf. Letter of November 25 (LXXXV).

lusts that are in our members. We wait upon the Lord, who will teach us and lead us whether to doing or suffering.1

Tell my brother Herne I smiled at his expression concerning my wise friend's opinion, who thinks that the enthroning the King with presbytery brings spiritual slavery, but with a moderate Episcopacy works a good peace. Both are a hard choice. I trust there's no necessity of either, except our base unbelief and fleshly wisdom make it so; but if I have any logic it will be easier to tyrannise having that he likes and serves his turn, than what you know and all believe he so much dislikes.

2

But as to my brother himself, tell him indeed I think some of my friends have advanced too far, and need make an honourable retreat, Scots treaties having wrought some perplexities; and hindering matters from going so glib as otherwise was hoped, especially taking in some doubts that Sir Roger and brother Fountayne are also turned Presbyterians. Dear Robin, tell brother Herne that we have the witness of our consciences that we have walked in this thing (whatsoever surmises are to the contrary) in plainness and godly simplicity, according to our weak measure, and we trust our daily business is to approve our consciences to Godward, and not to shift and shark, which were exceeding baseness in us to do, having had such favour from the Lord, and such manifestations of His presence, and I hope the same experience will keep their hearts and hands from him, against whom God hath so witnessed, though reason should suggest things never so plausible.

3

I pray thee tell my brother Herne thus much from me; and if a mistake concerning our compliance with presbytery perplex an evil business (for so I account it), and make the wheels of such a chariot go heavy, I can be passive and let it go, knowing that innocency and integrity loses nothing by a patient waiting upon the Lord. Our papers are public; let us be judged by them. Answers do not involve us. I profess to thee I desire from my heart, I have prayed for it, I

1 Cf. Letter II.

2i.e., the King.

3 Mr. Firth suggests "shirk" as an emendation. The spelling of the seventeenth century points to the conclusion that "e" (and the "i" here is equivalent to "e") before "r" was almost universally pronounced like "a," as it still is in " Derby," &c. The King. Cf. Letter LXXXV. This man against whom the Lord hath witnessed."

bi.e., We are bound by our own words, not by the answers made by the Scots. Dr. Gardiner suggests that Cromwell perhaps refers to the answer made by the Committee of Estates on October 6, in which they speak of "these covenanted kingdoms" (E. 468, 19).

have waited for the day to see union and right understanding between the godly people (Scots, English, Jews, Gentiles, Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaptists, and all). Our brothers of Scotland (really Presbyterians) were our greatest enemies. God hath justified us in their sight, caused us to requite good for evil, caused them to acknowledge it publicly by acts of state, and privately, and the thing is true in the sight of the sun. It is an high conviction upon them. Was it not fit to be civil, to profess love, to deal with clearness with them for removing of prejudice, to ask them what they had against us, and to give them an honest answer? This we have done, and not more. And herein is a more glorious work in our eyes than if we had gotten the sacking and plunder of Edinburgh, the strong castles into our hands, and made conquest from Tweed to the Orcades; and we can say, through God we have left by the grace of God such a witness amongst them, as if it work not yet there is that conviction upon them that will undoubtedly bear its fruit in due time.

Tell my brother Herne, I believe my wise friend would have had a conquest, or if not, things put in a balance; the first was not very unfeasible, but I think not Christian, and I was commanded the contrary by the two Houses; as for the latter, by the providence of God it is perfectly come to pass, not by our wisdom, for I durst not design it, I durst not admit of so mixed, so low a consideration; we were led out (to the praise of our God be it spoken) to more sincere, more spiritual considerations; but I said before the Lord hath brought it to a balance; if there be any dangerous disproportion it is that the honest party (if I may without offence so call them) in my apprehension are the weaker, and have manifold difficulties to conflict withal. I wish our unworthiness here cast not the scale both there and here the wrong way. I have but one word more to say. Thy friends, dear Robin, are in heart and in profession what they were, have not dissembled their principles at all. Are they not a little justified in this, that a lesser party of a Parliament hath made it lawful to declare the greater part a faction, and made the Parliament null, and call a new one, and to do this by force, and this by the same mouths that condemned it in others.

Think of the example and of the consequence, and let others think

1" By reason the poor souls are so wedded to their government." In the copy amongst the Clarke MSS.

2.e., A mixed government established in which the Argyle and Hamilton parties would counterbalance each other." (Note by Mr. Firth.)