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

[ A Letter from Dr. Dorislaus. ] - 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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[A Letter from Dr. Dorislaus.]

My Lord

Uppon Tuesday night all the bloud-royall being att a play together about ten a clock att night, a boatswaine came with Sir John Minch,a and brought good newes from the Navy; being asked what good newes, hee said, Warwick was come with 20 shippes into Goree. The Prince of Wales asking agen, how hee could make this good newes, replyed, ‘Because Warwick is come in to your Highnes, and to joyne his shippes with yours.’ Itt caused a mighty discomposure in their merriment, and the rest of the night was spent in councill. Divers of their shippes are in the dock, or ashoare careening and the ordinance ashoare. The men in a mutinous disposition, disperst through all the neighbouring townes as farre as Roterdam riotting and drinking. In the morning itt was ordered, that the Prince of Wales’ coach should bee ready by 6 a clock to goe for Helvoyett sluice, yett itt was one of the clock in the afternoone before hee went; with him went all that belonge to the partie, leaving a man scarce behinde in the Hague; and for to appease the wrath of the mariners which was especially fierce against Culpepper, for keeping from them (as they say) the money proceeding from their prizes, 4 small barrells of monie were carried alonge in their waggons. Some 3 or 4 houres after his Highnesse departure, the Prince of Orange and the Princesse Dowager came to the Hague. In the evening I spake with some of the States of Holland, to desire the same civilities towards the Lord Admirall of England which were showne to the Prince of Wales. They answer’d, they would keepe the neutrality, and afford equall respect to both parties, butt withall expect peacefull behaviour on all sides within their harbour.

In the morning Sir William Boswell gave in the paper in the Assembly of the States Generall, and the resolution was taken by the States to send commissioners for to declare unto both parties the old resolution of neutrality taken Ao 1643, and to charge them to keepe the peace within the States dominions; somewhat was afterward proposed about communicating with the Earle of Warwick the States inclination to mediate for peace in England att the time of the Treaty. I finde the partie itt self, and all their adherents in this nation full of despaire, giving this Navy utterly for lost, although for the present they may gett the mariners quiett againe by distributing of mony &c., and which concerneth the publique most, the reputation of England is fully secured in this Nation by their powerfull appearing att sea, and keeping now under a lock those haughty men which would brave the Kingdome butt a few dayes before. Since the Royall partie hath nott any other hope butt uppon the Treatie, uppon which they build great vast projects againe, and that soe the Kinge come butt in once they shall doe well enough, and since the Dutch adheering to that partie have soe great a desire to bee lett in agen into that mediatourshippe, your Lordshippes will doubtlesse [take] that course that the old censure of Philipp de Comines may nott bee laid to this age, ‘That what was gott in a dozen yeares fighting was lost in 6 dayes treating.’

Your Lordshippes, &c.,

Dorislaus.

Hague
21 September, 1648.

[a ]i.e. “Mennes.”