The Council issued a declaration on May 18 following, recommending the inhabitants to the charity of all well-disposed persons and ordering a collection to be made for their relief, and for re-edifying the town. Aldermen Andrewes, Tichborne, Ireton (brother of Henry Ireton) and twenty-seven others were named as a committee to manage the affair. (S. P. Dom. Interregnum, I. 69, pp. 100-105.) But the subscriptions did not nearly meet the need and the Protector now appeals to his army.

Circular Letter to the Army

LOVING FRIENDS,

Whitehall, Nov. 20th, 1654.

Whereas it pleased the Lord to lay His afflicting hand upon the inhabitants of the town of Marlborough in the county of Wilts, on the 28th of April, 1653, by a sudden and terrible fire, which burnt and consumed (within the space of four hours) the church, market-house, and 250 dwelling-houses, besides divers barns, stables, and other out-houses, with most of their goods, to the loss of above £70,000, as hath been made appear by sufficient testimony, whereby many of the poor inhabitants were reduced to a low and miserable condition, even without hopes of a future subsistence, had not the Lord in mercy by His good hand of Providence enlarged the hearts of some good people to extend their charity towards the rebuilding the said town, and relieving of the necessities of the poor inhabitants thereof; and yet (as we are credibly informed by persons intrusted with the distribution of the monies collected for that purpose) the monies so collected do not amount to the sixth part of their said losses, so that many men's houses lie unbuilt, and divers who have begun building, are necessitated to give over in the midst thereof, being no way able to finish them, by reason of their yet extreme want:-We do therefore make it our earnest desire, that you, the officers and soldiers under our command in England and Scotland, would take the premises into your serious consideration, cheerfully to impart something to be deducted out of your next month's pay for the further relief of those poor distressed people, towards which our army in Ireland hath already unanimously manifested large bowels of compassion; which we hope will be a good example for you to follow. And the rather, for that the town was the first in the West of England that declared for and took up arms in the defence of that cause which the Lord hath so eminently appeared for, and hitherto carried on, by which means they then sustained exceeding great losses both by fire and plundering: of

which we need say no more, but shall conclude with that saying "He that giveth to the Poor, lendeth to the Lord," and rest

Report of a Speech to the Committee for retrenching the Forces

A POINT concerning which Parliament was very eager at this time was the slighting of some of the garrisons, as a part of the scheme for the reduction of the army. A committee was appointed to confer with the Protector, but did not find him very amenable. After their second conference, on Nov. 23, 1654, they reported that as to some of the garrisons he gave no answer at all.

As to Warwick, he said, it was of little importance and of no great use to be continued, and "for Chepstow, because it was his own house [part of Lord Worcester's estate] he would not have a garrison there at the Parliament's charge," but Chester was a place of strength and had cost much blood; Shrewsbury was a fortress "that if any enemy should get into it and possess it all the forces of England and Scotland could not be able to force them out;" Bristol Castle was of no great strength, yet convenient for a citadel; Bristol Fort" was very regular and might be kept with a small number;" also "it was the practice of all nations (and he mentioned that of France) that in all populous cities there used to be garrisons;" and "as to Hereford, it lay near unto, if not in the very centre of North and South Wales [i.e., between them] those mountainous countries which he feared had not forgot their mountainous qualities, and for religion and other things not so well qualified as might be desired. The countries and people there were not so well-affected as he could wish;" and therefore all these places were fit for further consideration.

"As to the field forces, he said he was willing to disband so many of them as could be disbanded with the public safety, and he conceived it was both his and our meaning to prefer safety before any manner of charge."

As to Ireland, he had lately received a packet from the Commanderin-Chief there, and when he had perused it the Parliament should receive an account of it.

* Printed in Clarke Papers, ii. xxxvii.

"As to Scotland, he said he did not know of any one man, meaning company, of horse or foot, that would [i.e., could] be disbanded there. He had received intelligence from the Commander-in-Chief there, and from the officers in the several parts of it. In general, the country was wholly very much disaffected to the present government. The Presbyterian and Cavalier interest were so complicated as he did not see how any forces there could be lessened with any safety until these two interests could be satisfied, and which way to do that he did not find; they being constantly blown up by the enemies beyond the seas, and the distempers there were so great as the Commanders there did call for more forces, so far it was from abating any; and some gentlemen of that nation who sat amongst us knew these things to be true, and could present them to us.

"As to the forces in England, the numbers were but few, the condition of the people such as the major part a great deal are persons disaffected and engaged against us.

"Notwithstanding all this, he would not say there could be no lessening, and therefore he would be willing to entertain a conference to that purpose, and to do therein whatsoever might stand with the public interest and safety."1

Whereupon it was resolved "that the said Committee be continued, and that they be further empowered from time to time, as occasion shall be offered, to confer with his Highness the Lord Protector." Commons Journals, vii. 388.

93

Speech to M. de Bordeaux, Ambassador from France

SCATTERED through the despatches of the various Ambassadors sent to the Court of the Protector are relations of audiences with his Highness, and of what he said thereat. By far the most important of these despatches are the letters sent by Bordeaux to M. De Brienne, the French Secretary of State, and to Cardinal Mazarin, which have been often quoted in the notes in these volumes. Bordeaux was a shrewd observer and seems to have got into touch with more than one influential Englishman, who supplied him with accurate information. One of the most interesting of the interviews with the Protector described by him was held on Nov. 28-Dec. 8, 1654, on the subject of the treaty

1 Goddard's Parliamentary Journal, in Burton, i. xci.-iii.

then being negotiated with France, and is here given as a specimen of

the rest.

The Ambassador began by complaining of the little return made to the King of France's advances, of the long delays and the apparent disinclination shown to conclude a peace; and stated that his master, in order to make an end, was willing to accept the English proposals. He demanded, however, that the power of the arbitrators to be appointed should be limited, and that deputies from the French rebels should not be admitted into England; and insisted-although assuring the Protector of his esteem and respect-on the pre-eminence of the title of king and the dignity of the Crown of France.

"M. le Protecteur commença sa response par des protestations générales de son inclination à l'accommodement. Elles furent suivies de quelques mauvoises raisons qui avoient causé tant de remises, et venant au particulier des difficultez qui restent, il tesmoigna sur le tiltre que sa consideration particulière ne feroit point d'obstacle pourveu que la nation conservast sa dignité, et quant à la limitation du pouvoir des arbitres, il la remist à un plus ample examen pas mes commissaires.

Mais il s'estendist fort sur la clause réciproque de l'article secret, pour prouver qu'elle n'estoit pas juste, en termes généraulx, puisque sa Majesté n'accordoit que l'esloignement de quelques particuliers dénommez, et ensuite entra en des considerations que les Religionnaires de France seroient exclus d'implorer l'assistance d'Angleterre s'ils estoient persécuttez, protestans néanmoings que bien loing de songer à les destacher de l'obéissance, comme on luy avoit imputé, qu'il s'armeroit contr'eulx s'ils vouloient mal à propos troubler le repos de la France. La fin de son discours fut que j'avois finy le mien bien brusquement, et que l'Angleterre seroit tousjours en estat de se defendre contre ses lennemis.'

Bordeaux replied-demurring especially to the fact that while they talked of arrangement, the Protector was reserving a pretext for war, in relation to those of the Religion in France-that it was against all usage of states to meddle in each other's domestic affairs (instancing his master's example in relation to the Catholics of England) and that it would open the door to all the "députations of rebels in France. The Protector seemed to acquiesce, but merely said that these differences could be arranged by the Commissioners whom he would send on the following day, when Bordeaux should certainly have a precise The Commissioners however failed to appear. On the 4-14 December they had still not come, and only said that they had not yet received his Highness's instructions, but were sure he would not depart

answer.

* Bordeaux to Brienne, Dec. 4-14, French Transcripts, Public Record Office.

from his first answer. Therefore, the Ambassador said, nothing now remained but "de recevoir la loy ou de rompre"; and, as the Protector's power seemed "à couvert de tout danger," he thought it might be wiser to give way.

94

PREPARATIONS were now in hand for the great expedition to the West Indies, for a full account of which, see the Narrative of General Venables, etc., published by Mr. Firth for the Royal Historical Society, and Memorials of Sir William Penn. Also Commonwealth and Protectorate, iii. 342 et seq. "My nephew Whitstone" was the son of Oliver's third, and, as it is said, his favourite sister, Catherine, whose first husband was Roger Whitstone of Whittlesea, in Cambridgeshire. To the Right Honourable General Penn at Portsmouth: These. Haste, post haste

Whitehall, November 27, 1654.

GENERAL PENN, I heard this day of the delivery of the Essex frigate, for which I bless God, and I am very glad to hear of the forwardness of your business. I hope after all these difficulties which we have passed through, the Lord will give you happy gales and prosperous success to the great enterprise you have in hand; indeed you shall not want my prayers. I sent for Mr. Greenhill and two of his members, who professed they will follow you with their prayers also, and did verily believe the same for the rest of his church. Your instructions will be suddenly with you, I trust.

I have committed my nephew Whitstone to you, and I desire you to mind him of good things and to do him good as you find he deserves. I must commend also to you young Smithsby, who hath been of my life-guard. I believe him very stout, and one that takes great affection to the sea, and has been very much there of late. I pray you own him for my sake. He is my kinsman, and if you have any employment that way, or which may fall, commend him to it, as you shall judge him fit, and after you have seen his behaviour. Let me assure you, I shall be as mindful of your business which you have left in trust with me as you can desire.' The Lord be with you. I rest, Your very loving friend,

OLIVER P.*

1 Probably referring to the grant lately made to Penn of lands in Ireland.

* Seal of Arms. In Thurloe's writing, signed by Cromwell. The original is at Welbeck. Printed in the Hist. MSS. Commissioners' Report on the Portland MSS., ii. 88.