Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow [ News-letter from London. ] - The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 2

Return to Title Page for The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 2

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

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

[ News-letter from London. ] - 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.

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.


[News-letter from London.]

12 May, 1648.

To observe the strange alteration the defeating of the Welsh hath made in all sorts is admirable.a The disaffected to the army of the religious Presbyterians now fawne uppon them, partly for feare of you, and partly in that they thinke you will keepe downe the Royall partie, which threatened them att their doores in the streetes to their faces with destruction, and putt noe difference betweene Presbyter and Independant. The Parliament men that went alonge with you because they supposed you would prevaile, and they should bee most secure in you, how doe they flagge, [they that] fawne[d] uppon the Citty, and whisper’d against you, beginning to say you had done thus and thus amisse, [are] now cordiall to you. When the lettres were read in the House of the defeate, how many Royalists hunge downe their heads, and went out, nott staying the conclusion; from all which you may see clearly how necessary itt is to bee alway in action with your army, and if nott heere, yett elsewhere. I finde the people have alway bin content to nott onely parte with mony, soe itt was fairely carried in raising and faithfully disposed of,a butt to bee taken with successes, and the noyse of victorie running in a ballad is matter for them to prate of; the more wise are putt into feare and conformity. This went alonge with all our victories and warres in France, though they exhausted never soe much. The Citty talke as if they would alsoe joyne with you against the Royall partie, butt trust them nott; for all that are nott fooles, unlesse your frends, are for Kinge and Byshopps. Our new Statesmen in the House of Commons are att a losse, nott knowing how to goe farther, either in setling the Kingdome, or in contenting the Scotts. The 2 chief Sco[tts] Officers came to some of our’s for advice, who told them they lik’t nott their foundation, and soe itt were indiscretion for them to give advice in the building. The Lords I doe verily thinke will nott parte with the Tower, nor give way to the Militia altering; for one of their selves told mee, if itt bee a truth, that the present state of itt hinders trade. ’Tis best to putt the Tower into such an hand as you may confide in and they bee pleas’d with, and soe now itt is, were they nott soe bent to basenesse. The Scotts honest partie declaring against the other very much stuns them heere, and putts them to their witts end. Now to declare never to receive the Kinge nor any of his, unlesse hee give satisfaction to the 4 Bills and what was soe presented:b that the Parliament shall sitt butt 3 monthes in the yeare, and confined to making lawes, giving mony, and righting those wronged in inferior courts: that then thea excise shall cease and soe much uppon the pound rent paid instead thereof: that noe man shall bee punished for discourse in any point of Religion, the same disturbing nott the civill peace: that none shall bee barr’d from trust for not taking the Covenant: and a way taken uppe for raising mony in this Kingdome to pay 10,000 Horse and 30,000 Foote for ever without tax: which may bee done, and to which all the Kingdome, a few excepted, will concurre in. I am confident you might nominate alsoe 21 for a Councill of State, and they would bee yielded unto.

[a ]Cf. Gardiner, Great Civil War, iv., 126.

[a ]Position of clause altered.

[b ]By the letter of intelligence of May 8, Clarendon MS., 2778, it appears that the Independent leaders were even then reviving the negotiations.

[a ]MS. “these.”