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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: History
Topic: The English Revolution

A letter to the Agitators. - Sir William Clarke, The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 1 [1901]

Edition used:

The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, Secretary to the Council of the Army, 1647-1649, and to General Monck and the Commanders of the Army in Scotland, 1651-1660, ed. C.H. Firth (Camden Society, 1901). 4 vols.

Part of: The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, 4 vols.

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A letter to the Agitators.

Sir,

I kindly salute you, I have noe newes but this, That the House did order those that brought Ensign Nicholls prisenour 10h. a peece for their good service.a Thus you may see their proceedings. And lett mee tell you, this is in hand to divide us; they intend to pay the private Souldiers all their Arreares and to abuse the Officers, and soe to divide the Souldiers from their Officers. This is the way they intend to doe as their last designe; and therefore Gent.[lemen] you must use your dilligence to the severall Regiments, Troopes, and Companies to sett them right in this bussinesse, and to try them whether they will stick to their Officers, though they should be paid their Arreares and have securietie by an Ordinance to see whether they will have Justice done to. Their Officers have stuck to them, and it is expected in Honour and Justice they will stand to us. Therefore use your dilligence. I neede not say more to you. I have sent to you some of the Cittizen’s Petitions, and they doe much rejoyce in our unanimity. Therefore knowe I am

Your assured freind,

*a

[a ]Lieutenant Frances Nicholls, of Lilburne’s regiment, was committed by the House of Commons on April 27, having been sent up from the army in custody on account of his opposition to the enlistment for Ireland (Lords’ Journals, ix. 154; Commons’ Journals, v. 155). The vote mentioned in the letter took place on May 14 (Commons’ Journals, v. 175) and is thus referred to in a newsletter of 17 May, amongst the Clarke Papers:—

“The House of Commons voted those that brought upp Ensigne Nicholls 10l. and debated very much about discharging the Ensigne, and giveing him 10l towards his charges, but going by voices foure carried it in the Negative, the Ensigne was informed by the Sargeant, that if he pleased to Petition the House they would give him his release and a gratuitie besides perhaps of 20l. The reason why it was carried in the negative was because then it would be said they repented them of what they had done.”

[a ]This letter is headed in the MS. “Letter from Lt. Cn.” It is perhaps also from Sexby, who was undoubtedly the leading spirit amongst the agitators. In that case the heading may have been added by the copyist in 1662, and may mean Lieutenant-Colonel Sexby, giving him his later title. On the other hand, the expression “it is expected they will stand to us,” seems to show that the author was an officer. Perhaps “Lt. Cn” signifies Lieutenant Edmund Chillenden of Whalley’s regiment of horse, one of the two officers elected in June, 1647, to act as “agitator” for the officers of his regiment.