Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow [ Letter to a Commander in the North of England. ] - The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 1

Return to Title Page for The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 1

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

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

[ Letter to a Commander in the North of England. ] - 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.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


[Letter to a Commander in the North of England.]

Sir,

I just now receiv’d information, that his Majesty is gone from Hampton Court, hee went about nine of the clock this night, and was mist within half an hower after his departure. Whither hee should bee gone I cannott as yett understand, butt supposing itt nott improbable that hee may intend towards the North, I thought good to give you this advertisement, and shall desire you to use all possible care and diligence by setting guards uppon all passages, and by making what inquiry you can that if possible you may discover and stay his Majesty. If itt shall soe happen I desire you with all speede to advertise the Parliament and myself therof, and remayne,

[T. Fairfax.]

I shall desire your utmost care and diligence imediately to send to all the Port Townes in England.b

Humblie sheweth,

That whereas theire are many misrepresentationes of thinges in the world by men of corrupte minds, who would make the end of all your noble and your armie’s valiante atcheivements (under the power of God) fruitelesse, and would destroye iustice and righteousnesse from amongst men, and make a common good and equall distribucion of iustice to become a particuler personall selfish interest; and for to accomplish this unholy, this unwarrantable selfish end, they have blazed abroade that one should say itt was lawfull to murther the Kinge, and the person that reported itt was one Leiutenant Collonell Henry Lilburne; therefore seing itt is a derogateinge from the power of a true established representative of Commons, and seinge allsoe itt is most abominable in our eys and contrarie to our principles, Wee therefore desire that the said Leiut. Coll. Lilburne may bee speedily sent for to testifie upon oath (as in the presence of God,) whoe used those words, where these words were used, and when, and what in particuler the words were; that soe such a person may come under a publique cognizance, and your Excellencye’s faithfull servants and souldiers may free themselves and others from such aspersions, and your peticioners shall ever pray, &c.

a A copy of this petition printed in England’s Freedom Soldiers Rights, 1647, p. 10, adds the name of Will Everard.
JOHN WOOD.WILL: PRYOR.
WILL: BRAY.WILL: EYRE.
WILL: THOMSON.GEORGE HASSALL.
JOHN CROSMAN.THO: BEVERLEY.a

[b ]November 11, 1647, probably addressed to Lambert, who was in command at York.