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

[ News-letter from London. ] b - Sir William Clarke, The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 2 [1894]

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, 1894). 4 vols.

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

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[News-letter from London.]b

Queenstreete, 10 Apr. 1648.

To give you first the newes from Scotland: the Parliament hath yett return’d noe answer to the desires of the Commissioners of the Kirke of Scotland, butt seeme to be very angry that the Ministers still persist to crosse them in their designes, and they seeme to bee farre from agreement. The Parliament are resolved to proceede against them; a new modell of their army is agreed on, and great store of armes lately come thither from Holland. Sir Phil. Musgrave hath ingeniously confest uppon discourse with his freinds in Scotland, that the Cavaleers would nott joyne in a body with or under the command of the Scotts, if they come into England, butt are confident to have opportunity and assistance to make a body of their owne partie to carry on their owne designe, and manage their owne interest.

And itt seemes their freinds in London had some intimation of this their intention, though they began to act something too soone, and engaged before the other could assist.a For, on Sunday last, there mett in Moorefeilds London some thousands of apprentices and others to sport, which being contrary to the ordinance of Parliament the Lord Major indeavoured to prevent, and sent one of the Trained bands to disperse them; butt such was the greatnesse of their number and their resolutenesse, that they pelted the Trained bands with stones and att last fell in upon them, and disarm’d divers of them, and tooke away their colours. This done, they thought their designe was now ripe, and that they were fitt for any enterprize; wheruppon they gave a generall shoute, and cryed, “Now for King Charles,” and soe went shouting alonge; their numbers increased downe towards Whitehall, crying out “For King Charles”, and [at] Whitehall intending to beate Col. Barkestead’s men out from thence. In this manner they passed through Fleetstreete and the Strand, where they were animated and incouraged by divers Malignants, and their number made them about 3000, some with musketts, others with swords and clubbs. Butt notice therof coming to the Generall, and the Lieutennant Generall, and Commissary Generall, who were very neere surprizing by the multitude, having noe notice of itt till they were almost att the Mewes; butt before they could gett thither the Generall went to the Mewes, and the Lieut. Generall drew forth a partie of horse, fell uppon them, kill’d him who carried the colours, and one or two more were slaine, and divers of them cutt and hack’t by the troopers, wheruppon they soone fled and were dissipated. This was about 8 att night. The troopers followed them and clear’d the streetes, and the Generall went in person to Ludgate, and soe into Smythfeild, giving charge to all to keepe within their houses. After this (though it thundred, lightned, and rained), all thinges appear’d quiett and serene, and noe appearance was found of any company. Butt the Generall had nott bin longe come in and in bed, butt about two in the morning, there came newes, that the rude rabble were againe mett, and had secur’d Ludgate and Newgate, and afterwards went to the Lord Mayor’s house, and fell uppon some of the Trained bands there, kill’d 2 or 3, and tooke 2 drakes which hee had for the security of his house. These they drew downe towards the Gates. They alsoe went into Milkestreete, and broke open the Armorie there, and furnished divers of themselves with armes. Thus they continued till about 7 or 8 in the morning, their numbers nott much increasing, nor any of the Citty Trained bands appearing to oppose them. Att last the greatest parte of Col. Barkesteads regiment of foote and 4 or 5 troopes of horse being sent against them, they refused to lett them enter the Gates; wheruppon they went about to Mooregate, where they were lett in, and overtooke a great parte of the rabble as they were going to seize uppon some magazine in Leadenhall, fell uppon them in Gracious streete, charg’d them; they received the first charge butt were repulsed with the losse of 8 men, and divers wounded, none of the souldiers kill’d, butt only Capt. Merriman shott in the shoulder butt curable. After this they were driven like sheepe into Leadenhall, the cheif of them prisoners. Afterwards the horse and foote clear’d the streetes of them. The Generall continued all the morning att Whitehall.

This was the abortive issue of the designe of the Malignant partie. To prevent the like tumults, and that the Army may bee in a fitt posture, there is a randezvous of 5 Regiments of horse and 5 of foote (besides those already in the Citty) to bee shortly held within 10 miles of London, when something will bee done in order to a settlement of thinges.

[b ]Headings enclosed in square brackets are added by the editor.

[a ]Cf. Old Parliamentary History, xvii., 93; Rushworth, vii., 1051, 1055; Walker, Independency, pt. i., pp. 84, 90; Gardiner, Great Civil War, iv., 97; Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 4th series, vii., 140.