parts, is undated, but is placed in the Archives with the letter of June 9-19 (Appendix 27). It was probably written early in July. An intercepted letter from Paris, of July 13-23, mentions a letter from Cromwell to Mazarin, which was only an answer to one that the Cardinal had sent to him.1 This is pretty certainly the letter of June 9. In another French letter, dated three days later than the other, the writer speaks of having seen two letters from the Lord General to Mazarin, both very kind and civil. Probably the second of these was the letter here given.

To his Eminence, Cardinal Mazarin

PLAISE À VOSTRE EMINENCE,

Quelques marchans anglois m'ayans presenté la requeste cy enclose, et trouvant que ce que demandent les supplians est juste en soy et agréable à la pratique des nations qui sont en amitié, et sachant bien la grandeur du poste que vous tenez au service de sa Majesté, comme aussy l'amour que vous avez pour la justice, et la faveur que vous portez aux Anglois, j'ay bien voulu presenter à vostre Eminence l'affaire des supplians, afin que par vostre faveur ils puissent avoir justice, en quoy vous honorerez et obligerez extremement celuy qui est

De vostre Eminence,
Le tres humble serviteur,

O. CROMWELL.*

80

(AFTER SPEECH I)

In the first days of July the fleet appeared off the English coast, but it seems to have returned only to re-victual, and possibly because Blake was ill. The ships rendezvoused in Sole Bay, and Blake was sent ashore.

1 Thurloe, i. 347.

2 Ibid., i. 357..

3 In the margin, the translator has written: "J'ay suivy la phrase Angloise pour exprimer terme de grand respect".

Archives des Affaires Etrangères, Paris. The editor is indebted for this letter to M. Jean Lemoine, Bibliothécaire au Ministère de la Guerre (who also kindly furnished the information to be found in the notes on pp. 288, 290, 291 above). This letter, like that of June 9-19, is a contemporary translation from an English original. The translator has evidently imitated Cromwell's signature.

See Monck's letters of July 5, 8 and 10 (Cal. S. P. Dom., 1653, pp. 7, 15, 18). They set sail again on the 11th (ibid. p. 20).

SIR,

For my Honoured Friend, Vice-Admiral Penn: These

July the 9th, 1653.

It is not a little murmured in this place that the fleet came off from the enemy's coast at this time. Some who neither love you nor us, nor this cause, are apt to make their own constructions of it, yet I believe you satisfied your judgments in it. Indeed that which I apprehend is that the Dutch Commissioners may be a little high upon it, but that, I trust, will return upon their own heads in the end. I often think of our great loss in your dear General Deane, my most true1 friend.

I wish that the honest interest he carried on may still be maintained amongst you. Do that, and all will do well; in that I shall desire to serve you to the uttermost as in all things else. I shall be glad to hear from you how your affairs go.

I hope the Lord has brought into the present Parliament men of approved godliness for the generality of them; and very few (if any) liable to just exception. Be not shy to let me know wherein I may express my love, for you shall find me your very true friend,

O. CROMWELL.*

Cromwell would hardly have feared the Dutch being too "high" if he could have heard the report made by the Dutch admirals on their return home after the battle of June 2nd-that victory so saddened for the victors by General Deane's death-"I must speak out," said de Witt, "The English are our masters, and consequently masters of the sea" (quoted by Dr. Gardiner, Commonwealth and Protectorate, ii. 340).

81

(BEFORE LETTER CLXXXIX)

On August 10, it was resolved in the Council of State that some person should be sent as ambassador extraordinary to the Queen of

1 Misprinted "near" in Hist. MSS. Com. Report on the Portland MSS.

*Holograph.

Seal of arms. Original in Portland MSS. Printed in Hist. MSS. Commissioners' Report on the Portland MSS., ii. 86.

Sweden with speed; his nomination to be considered next morning at an extraordinary meeting of the Council at 7 A.M. was no doubt the result of the consultation.

Cromwell's letter

To Richard Salway, Esquire

August 11th, 1653.

SIR,

I send not thus suddenly to beg thanks for my late present, but to provoke your anger by being the messenger of the Council-desire of your pains in an embassy with Mr. Strickland for Swethesland, a thing too long neglected by us already, and may be of greater importance than any design we have of that kind anywhere else. Your friends here will not be wanting to you or yours in your absence (if God dispose your heart to accept the service). All accommodations will be suddenly ready, and indeed we think your stay there need not be long. I commit you to the Lord, and rest, Your affectionate servant,

O. CROMWELL.

Van Trumpe was killed with a musket shot on his breast, the day of the fight.*

On the back of Cromwell's letter, Salway wrote the draft of his reply, excusing himself from undertaking the embassy on account of his unfitness through want of freedom of spirit and bodily health." Strickland declined it also, and on September 14, Whitelocke was appointed.

The annexed letter of Sir Thomas Bendishe bespeaks the son of Mr. Gallilee to be a valiant man though now a captive, yet true and courageous to his trust. Such a man may do his country

*Holograph. Original amongst the MSS. of Alfred Salway, Esq. Printed in the Tenth Report of the Historical MSS. Commissioners, Appendix iv. p. 410.

1 Lawrence was English agent at Constantinople.

good service. His father assures me that two lines from my hand to you will procure his release. An act of so much charity to a man of valour and fidelity to his trust I cannot refuse to the father of such a son. Do your best for his speedy release and return, which cannot but be acceptable to this State, as it will be also unto, Sir, your affectionate friend,

Endorsed "Thomas Galilee."

O. CROMWELL. *

The first notice of Galilee's imprisonment is in a letter from the Levant Company to Sir Thomas Bendish, of Jan. 24, 1652-3. In May he and his father petitioned the Lord General and Council and on June 4 an order was made in his favour. Laurence's endeavours do not seem to have been crowned with success, for in April 1654,1 he and his father were still praying for his release. The business had to be conducted through the Venetian agent, as Galilee was in the Venetian service at the time of his capture.

83

(AFTER LETTER CXCI)

MANY of the Ulster Scots, who had supported Parliament in the early days of the Civil War, being indignant at the execution of the King, and strong supporters of the Solemn League and Covenant, had joined Ormond in 1649. After the defeat at Lisnegarvy, they tried to make their peace with the Commonwealth, but refusing to take the Engagement, a certain number of them were ordered to be transplanted into Munster. Amongst these was Lord Claneboye (ie., the Earl of Clanbrassil), who at once appealed to the Committee for Relief on Articles of War; stating that from the beginning of the Rebellion he had adhered to the Parliament; that he had raised, and for eight years supported, a regiment of foot and troop of horse for the service, and that, although for a short time he had joined Ormond in 1649, he speedily laid down his arms and was included in the Articles granted by Cromwell to Ormond's Protestant Officers at Fethard (see p. 425 above). On receiving a statement from Cromwell that Sir Chas. Coote had certified that Claneboye rendered himself within the time limited, the Court of Articles on Aug. 22, 1653, issued an order that proceedings in relation to his Lordship's transplantation should be stayed, in spite of which, the Irish Commissioners went on with the business. On this, Lord Claneboye's wife (Lady Anne Carey, daughter of Henry, Earl of Monmouth), appealed to the Lord General, who thereupon wrote to Fleetwood as follows.

* Vera Copia. S. P. Dom. Interregnum, xli. 16.
1 See State Papers of these dates.

To Lieutenant-General Fleetwood

December 12, 1653.

SIR,

Upon the President of Connaught's and Colonel Venables' account of the Lord Claneboye, and of his sufferings for a long time in the service and cause of the Parliament, and of his early return and submission, after his having joined with the Earl of Ormond: I did write back unto the President for his lawful favour to him, and to his mother, of whom I had a good report, of which I have formerly acquainted you; and being informed that there were some thoughts of his being transplanted from his habitation and land, I did also by the same letter to yourself in July last desire a stop thereof. Since which time, I perceive upon the Lord Claneboye's petition to the Commissioners here for relief of persons upon Articles, they have adjudged that his transplantation is in diminution of his Articles, and that stay be had therein till their further order.

I have also had such perfect information, and from such hands which I dare trust, concerning the person of the Lord Claneboye, and of the worth of his mother, and in a special manner of his lady, and of the interest and relations which are like to prevail with him and his family, that for my own part I have good cause to believe that his not transplanting is not like to be hazardous or prejudicial to the public peace; and therefore I do purposely write these to you, that they may prevail with you to use some effectual course that the general rule of transplanting may not be extended as to him; his case in many things varying so much from most in that nation, that what is done in his behalf cannot be drawn into precedent for very few, if any. And therefore, upon the whole matter, I do seriously commend him therein unto your particular care, and intreat you to manage it the best way you can, both for success and expedition, because till his condition in this respect be settled he will be disenabled any way to deal with his tenants, for raising money to pay his composition. Your loving father, O. CROMWELL.*

Endorsed, A Copy of the Lord Protector's letter to LieutenantGeneral Fleetwood.

* Carte MS. 228, f. 6. Printed in 3and Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Appendix i. p. 137; where also will be found an account of the further difficulties met with by Lord Claneboye, in regard to his composition.