any other of his ships which you shall understand to be bound for the West Indies with provisions of war, for the aid and assistance of his subjects there; carrying yourself towards other of his ships and people as you are directed by your general Instructions.

'I rest,

'Your loving friend,

'OLIVER P.'*

The Sea-Armament was for the West Indies, then: good news of it were welcome!

Here is a short Letter of Blake's to the Protector, dated just the day before; in cipher;-which the reader, having never perhaps seen another Letter of Blake's, will not be displeased with. Unimportant; but bringing the old Seas, with their Puritan Sea-kings, with their Plate Fleets,' and vanished populations and traffics, bodily before us for moments.

"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HIGHNESS,-The secret Instructions sent "by your Highness, referring me to a former Instruction, touch"ing the Silver Fleet of Spain coming from America, I have "received; and shall carefully observe the same. We had in"formation at Cadiz that the Fleet was expected about a month "or five weeks hence. We are now off Cape Mary's, intending "to spread with our Fleet what we can, and to range this sea, according to the wind and the information we can get; plying "over likewise towards Cape Sprat, it being their most likely and "usual course. They of Cadiz are very distrustful of us; and "there being four galeons designed for the Mediterranean, and "six for New Spain, it is doubtful how they may be employed.

66

"We shall use our best endeavours to put the Instructions in "execution, as God shall afford us an opportunity; desiring your "Highness to rest assured of our diligence, and of the integrity "of,—your most humble and faithful servant,

"ROBERT BLAKE."1

'Thurloe, iii. 547. [The answer to this letter is in the same volume (p. 611). Same day, letter to Poet Waller, Appendix, No. 28, 7.]

1 Ibid., iii. 541.

June 13th is Wednesday. On the morrow is universal FastDay, Humiliation and Prayer, and public Collection of Money for the Protestants of Piedmont. A day of much pious emotion in England; and of liberal contribution, which continued on the following days. 'Clerks come to every man's house,' says a disaffected witness; 'come with their papers, and you are forced to contribute.' The exact amount realised I never could very authentically learn.' The Dutch Ambassador says 100,000l. The disaffected witness says, 'London City itself gave half-a-million,' —or seemed as it would give. 'The Ministers played their part to the full,'—the Ministers and the People and their Ruler. No French Treaty signed or signable till this thing be managed. At length the French were obliged to manage it; 9th September of this same year the thing was got managed; 2-and by and by was got improved and still better managed, the Protector continuing all his days to watch over it, and over other similar things as they occurred, and to insist on seeing justice done respecting them.3

LETTER CXCIX

THE Scheme of Major-Generals for England is not yet come to maturity; but it is coming: new occasional arrests and barbadoesings continue, as the threads of old Plots are traced farther and farther. Monk keeps Scotland quiet; the hydra is for the present well under foot.

Meanwhile Henry Cromwell is despatched for Ireland, to see with his own eyes how matters stand there. A reverend godly

1 [The amount subscribed was 38,232/. After expending all that seemed necessary, 17,872/. remained, which was put out at interest to provide pensions or meet any other like demands. (See Dr. W. A. Shaw's article in the English Historical Review, Oct. 1894, p. 662.)]

2 See Thurloe, iii. 549, 623, 745, &c.

3[But "though Oliver had to some extent got his way, he was far from satisfied either with the extent of the concessions or with the way in which they had been made. On September 10, he ordered Downing (whom he had sent to support Morland) to return home to give an account of the situation, resolving at the same time to hold back from the negotiation with Bordeaux till this matter had been cleared up. A little further consideration, however, convinced him that it was useless to protest further against a settlement which had been accepted by the Vaudois themselves," and on September 19, a hint was given to Bordeaux that if he demanded it, the discussion on the treaty would be resumed. Commonwealth and Protectorate, iii. 421.]

Mr. Brewster, hardly known to us otherwise, is also proceeding thither; with whom the Lord Protector thinks good to salute his Son-in-law, Fleetwood, the Lord Deputy, Ireton's successor in Ireland. Henry Cromwell was there once before, on a somewhat similar mission, and acquitted himself well. His title, this second time, is Major-General of the Army in Ireland. He is to command the forces in Ireland; one easily believes farther, he is to observe well and report faithfully how affairs are; and do his best to assist in rectifying them. Lord Deputy Fleetwood is by some thought to be of too lax temper for his place: he, with his Ludlows, Axtels and discontented Republicans, not to speak of other businesses, would need energy, if he have it not. Rumour has even arisen that Henry Cromwell is now sent to supersede him; which, however, the Protector expressly contradicts.2

The rumour nevertheless proved, if not true, yet prophetic of the truth. Henry Cromwell acquitted himself well this second time also; being, as we judge, a man of real insight, veracity and resolution; very fit for such a service. Many of his Letters, all creditable to him, are in Thurloe: 'Petitions' from certain Irish parties come likewise to view there, That he might be appointed Deputy; which Petitions are, for the present, carefully 'suppressed,' yet have in the end to be complied with ;—they and the nature of the case, we suppose, require compliance. Some fifteen months hence, Henry is appointed Lord Deputy; Fleetwood, in some handsome way, recalled. In which situation Henry continues till the end of the Protectorate, making really an honourable figure; and then, the scene having altogether changed, retires from it into total obscurity, still in a very manful, simple and noble way.1

'My dear Biddy,' in this Letter, is Bridget Fleetwood, whom

1 March 1653-54 (Thurloe, ii. 149).

2[It was probably understood pretty well that it was to be so, although not by Cromwell's wishes; or yet definitely stated. But Fleetwood, writing to Thurloe on July 11, after Henry Cromwell's arrival, speaks of certain things to be settled before he leaves, as if he did not expect to return. From this letter, it would appear that Oliver's injunction to his daughter to "be cheerful" is partly in allusion to the state of her health. (See Thurloe, iii. 632.) Dr. Gardiner says that this letter testified to the Protector's embarrassment. 'Though he had no wish to deprive his son-in-law of his high dignity as Lord Deputy, he would be glad if he would voluntarily abandon the personal fulfilment of its duties." Commonwealth and Protectorate, iii. 338.]

321st November 1657 (Thurloe, vi. 632).

44

His Letter to Clarendon, in Thurloe, i. 763; see also Tanner MSS., li. 71, a prior Letter to Speaker Lenthall,

VOL. II.-29

we once saw as Bridget Ireton; who, for her religious and other worth, is a joy to my heart.' Of 'Mr. Brewster,' and the other reverend persons, Spiritual Fathers, held in such regard by the Lord Protector as is due to Spiritual Fatherhood, and pious nobleness of Intellect under whatever guise, I can say nothing; they are Spiritual Great-grand-fathers of ours, and we have had to forget them! Some slight notices of Brewster, who I think was a Norfolk man, and more of Cradock, who was Welsh,-zealous Preachers both,-are in the Milton State-Papers: 2 they prove the fervent zeal, faith and fearlessness of these worthies;-not necessary to extract in this place. Cradock writes to Cromwell in 1652 that his heart overflows with prayers and praise to God for sending such a man; that he has often stept aside to pray for him, in some thicket or ditch by the wayside, while travelling along, and thinking of him ;—which Dryasdust Nicols, the Editor of these Milton State-Papers, considers a very ludicrous proceeding. Godly 'Mr. Tillinghurst,' so noble a phenomenon to Oliver and Fleetwood, is to us fallen altogether silent :-seemingly some godly Preacher, of very modest nature; who, in his old days, being brought once before the Lord Protector, cried it was a 'shame' to trouble any Lord Protector, or Sovereign Person, with the like of him! The venerable hoary man. And godly Mr. Troughton or 'Throughton,' too, was there. O Tillinghurst, O Troughton, how much lies buried!

3

1 Vol. i. p.

2 pp. 85, 158, etc. [A letter from Brewster to Thurloe, dated Alby, June 18th, is in Thurloe (iii. 559). He asks if the recommendation be yet made to the Deputy of Ireland "which his Highness intended," as he means to " hasten after my Lord Henry" before he sails, and therefore the readiness of his " advance money" and the Protector's recommendation would be a great furtherence to him. "Our troops," he concludes, "are in great forwardness and like to be suddenly in a posture; the contributions for the Protestants have been cheerfully managed in these parts." In the orders of Council on June 6th there is mention of a paper received from Brewster and other " ministers going for Ireland," and also of their certificates. (Cal. S. P. Dom., 1655, p. 199.) On July 18th Brewster announces that he overtook the Lord Henry at Chester and has got safely with him to Dublin.]

[He does not say so.]

4[Mr. Troughton is perhaps the William Troughton, minister at Salisbury, mentioned in Dr. W. A. Shaw's History of the English Church, etc., 1640-1660, ii. 597.]

Buried but indisputable traces of this Tillinghurst, certain authentic, still legible entries concerning him, in one of which Brewster too is named, have been detected by a friendly eye in the Record-Book of the Independent Church at Great Yarmouth; where Tillinghurst, it clearly enough appears, was Minister from 1651 to 1654, and much followed and valued as a Preacher and Spiritual Guide in those parts. Brewster, likewise an Independent, was of Alby in the same neighbourhood. Ms. Excerpts penes me. (Note to the Third Edition).

To the Lord Fleetwood, Lord Deputy of Ireland'

DEAR CHARLES,

'Whitehall,' 22d June 1655.

I write not often: at once I desire thee to know I most dearly love thee, and indeed my heart is plain to thee as thy heart can well desire: let nothing shake thee in this. The wretched jealousies that are amongst us, and the spirit of calumny, turns all into gall and wormwood. My heart is for the people of God: that the Lord knows, and I trust will in due time manifest; yet thence are my wounds; which though it grieves me, yet through the grace of God doth not discourage me totally. Many good men are repining at everything; though indeed very many good 'are' well satisfied, and satisfying daily. The will of the Lord will bring forth good in due time.

It's reported that you are to be sent for, and Harry to be Deputy, which truly never entered into my heart. The Lord knows, my desire was for him and his brother to have lived private lives in the country: and Harry knows this very well, and how difficultly I was persuaded to give him his commission for his present place. This I say as from a simple and sincere heart. The noise of my being crowned &c. are like1 malicious figments.

Use this bearer, Mr. Brewster, kindly. Let him be near you : indeed he is a very able holy man; trust me you will find him So. He was a bosom-friend of Mr. Tillinghurst; ask him of him; you will thereby know Mr. Tillinghurst's spirit. This gentleman brought him to me a little before he died, and Mr. Cradock ;-Mr. Throughton, a godly minister being by, with 'Mr. Tillinghurst' himself, who cried "shame!"

Dear Charles, my dear love to thee; 'and' to my dear Biddy, who is a joy to my heart, for what I hear of the Lord in her. Bid her be cheerful, and rejoice in the Lord once and again : if

1[Carlyle altered this to "similar."]