or high estate, in riches nor poverty, but only in the Lord. No, nor can we fetch contentment from the securest, hopefullest condition we can choose for ourselves, nor is the comfort and peace of the spirit annexed to the greatest retirements, but the wind bloweth where it listeth, and if we be found with the Lord in His work, He will dispense what is needful and oftentimes exceed in bounty.

You hint somewhat of a willingness to be again engaged, but with this, that the work in Ireland goes smoother with you than this. You will forgive me if I wonder what makes the difference; is it not one common and complexed interest and cause acted in Ireland and Scotland?

You oppose a call to your being in a good and settled condition to your contentment. Truly if it be the Lord's work now in hand, let it be of choice to leave contentments for it.

1The Lord hath no need of you, yet He hath fitted you with abilities for the present dispensation; your friends here judge so, and will heartily welcome you, but indeed I do not think you fitted for the work until the Lord give you a heart to beg of Him that He will accept you into His service. Indeed I write not this but in dearness of love, truth of heart, and fear of the Lord, to you. The Lord may lay us in the dust when He pleaseth, yet we serve Him-He is our Master, this is our boasting-to receive and welcome you with comfort into the fellowship of His service is not more desired by any then by Your cousin and very affectionate friend to serve you,

O. CROMWELL.

My affection to my dear cousin and Aunt Hampden.*

66

(AFTER LETTER CLXXIV)

To the Honourable the Lord President of the Council of State

MY LORD,

Edinburgh, June 17, 1651.

At my march into Scotland, being destitute of general officers of horse, I commissioned Col. Fleetwood to be Lieut.

'The remainder is autograph.

* From the MSS. of the Marquis of Lothian. Printed in the Clarke Papers, ii., xxvi.

General of the Horse, and Col. Whalley to be Commissary-General; and now, understanding that the treasurers make some stop of their pay by reason they are not within the establishment, I thought fit humbly to recommend their case unto your Lordship, desiring they may be put into the establishment. I crave pardon for this trouble, and rest, my Lord,

Your most humble servant,

O. CROMWELL.*

Cromwell's request was at once granted, and the order passed the House the same day that this letter was read.

67

(AFTER LETTER CLXXV)

THE following note corrects Cromwell's letter of the previous day (No. CLXXV) concerning Lambert's victory at the North Ferry.

For the Right Honourable William Lenthall, Esq., Speaker of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England

Lithgow, 22 July, 1651.

SIR, I beg your pardon for that I writ by Paine the messenger that there were taken prisoners of the enemy in Fife five or six hundred, whereas, upon fuller information, I find that there were taken prisoners between fifteen and sixteen hundred.

I remain, Sir,

Your most humble servant,

O. CROMWELL. † .

68

(WITH LETTER CLXXX)

IMMEDIATELY after the surrender of Burntisland, Cromwell marched his army to Perth, which he knew that General Montgomery had quitted, but he did not know that Lord Sutherland had been appointed Governor, and had taken possession of the town, with 1,300 men, not

*Original amongst the Portland MSS. N. viii. 53. See Hist. MSS. Commissioners' Report on the Portland MSS., i. 607. Noted as read on June 26. And see Commons Journals, vi. 592.

+ Several Proceedings in Parliament, 24-31 July, 1651 (E. 786, 26). Printed in Eng. Hist. Review, 1887, p. 151.

VOL. III.-28

one hour before our forces sat down before it." The Lord General,
understanding it had no garrison, and was defended only by some few
countrymen, sent to have it delivered. To which the provost of the
town returned this answer: "My Lord, you directed a letter to us
"with a postscript, and we perceive as we [are] the magistrates of
"the town, and now not in a capacity to give you satisfaction-so we
"find your intelligence of our present condition is not good. His
"Majesty hath sent a very strong party, able to maintain this town,
"and for to overpower us with a Governor; although to observe
"civility with your lordship we have begged this likewise of our
"Governor, to excuse ourselves at your hands, as not being the men
"to have power to treat with you.
AN. GRANT."

The Lord General thereupon sent the following letter :-
:-
“To the Governor of St. Johnstons”

August 1, 1651.

SIR, To the end I may receive a positive answer to my summons, I thought fit to direct this to you, understanding by the preceding answer that you command in chief. If to avoid blood you shall come to such terms as be fit for you to have and me to give, I shall be glad to have your speedy answer, and rest

Your servant,

O. CROMWELL.*

There being no answer sent to this, the English ordnance began to play upon the town, and the men broke down the sluices and emptied the "graffes" of water. All things were ready for a storm, but at this point Lord Sutherland yielded, and the town was surrendered on Articles of War, which were signed by the Lord General the following day.

69

(AFTER LETTER CLXXXII)

In the spring of 1651, considerable anxiety was felt concerning the royalist doings in the Isle of Man, and warnings were sent to the commanders, both by sea and land, in North Wales and off its coast, to be on their guard. After Worcester, and the capture of the Earl of Derby, it was decided to reduce the island, and the affair was given into the Lord General's charge. He chose Col. Robert Lilburne to command, but it being presently decided that Lilburne should go to Scotland, he

* Weekly Intelligencer, No. 32 (E. 640 (4)).

appointed Col. Duckenfield, Governor of Chester, in his place. He had evidently written to Col. Thos. Birch "to be assisting" to Lilburne, and now sent fresh orders in favour of Duckenfield. Col. Birch not only assisted in the usual sense of the phrase, but went over and aided in reducing the island, of which Duckenfield was appointed governor. (See letters and proceedings of the Council of State, S. P. Interregnum I., vols. xxii., xxiii., xxvi.).

SIR,

To the Honourable Col. Birch at Liverpool

[London], September 30, 1651.

I do well assure you that before this, I sent you an order to be assisting in the expedition against the Isle of Man ; but having heard nothing from you, I doubt whether my orders came to you. But now I thought fit to send this desire, that (Col. Lilburne being employed another way) you would be assisting to Col. Duckenfield in this service, who is the commander-in-chief.

I rest, your very loving friend,

O. CROMWELL. *

70

(AFTER LETTER CLXXXIV)

THE Committee for Compounding (newly re-organised in April 1650) had taken over the functions of the late Committee for Advance of Money, and was now sitting at Haberdashers' Hall, though their Treasury remained at Goldsmiths' Hall.

For the Honourable the Commissioners for Compounding at
Haberdashers' Hall: These

1651, November 24. Cockpit.-Requesting them to show Mrs. Deborah Francklyn all the favour they can in giving her a speedy despatch of her business, whereby they will very much oblige himself. Signed.+

On November 19, Mistress Franklin petitioned Parliament, stating that her husband, John Franklin, M.P., of Marlborough, co. Wilts, had garrisoned Marlborough for the Parliament and held it till the

* Printed in the Appendix to the Sixth Report of the Historical MSS. Commissioners, p. 447, from the original in the possession of Miss ffarington; but dated by mistake, 1657, and said to be addressed to Col. Rich.

+ Original in S. P. Dom. Interregnum G., lxxxvi. 479.

enemy took it by force, and carried him prisoner to Oxford, "where he underwent much cruelty from them and plundering" and there died. Her son, Major Franklin, was slain at the storming of Lincoln, and she was deprived of "40l. a year in lands; 300l. a year by her husband's practice (sic), besides her son's arrears. She has been ordered 41. a week from delinquents' estates, but cannot get it because all the moneys are now sent up to Goldsmiths' Hall. On this petition, Parliament ordered the Committee for Compounding to pay her the money, with arrears, but as these orders were often long delayed in execution, the Lord General wrote on her behalf, and consequently her business was at once despatched. (See Cal. of Committee for Compounding, p. 1539.)

71

(BEFORE LETTER CLXXXV)

(1) To the Brethren of the Trinity House

1652, May 25, Rochester.-Desiring them to recommend to the Commissioners of the Navy an able, godly and well-affected mariner, to take charge, as master, of the State's ship Resolution, now being fitted for the sea and ready to fall down the river.

Signed by Cromwell and by Dennis Bond.*

One Severne was appointed on June 10. See Cal. S. P. Dom., 1652, p. 524.

(2) To the Commissioners for the Monthly Assessments for the Army in the City of Chester

1652, June 10, Whitehall.-Accompanying a declaration for the continuance of the assessments at the present rate for six months, and requiring the same to be collected with care and diligence,

72

(Signed) O. CROMWELL. †

DANIEL SEARLE, or Serle, merchant of London, had, as stated by his wife, suffered so much loss in 1642 and 1643 by his adherence to Parliament, that he was obliged to live beyond seas. He had been very

*MSS. of the Corporation of the Trinity House. Calendared in Appendix i. of the Eighth Report of the Hist. MSS. Commissioners, p. 248.

+ MSS. of the Corporation of Chester. Calendared in Appendix i. of the Eighth Report of the Hist. MSS. Commissioners, p. 385.