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

[ Lieut-Col. Saunders to Lord Fairfax. ] - 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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[Lieut-Col. Saunders to Lord Fairfax.]

My Lord,

Our God hath done our worke for us, all things are quiet in the Island, the King went without any opposition to Hurst Castle, and is there; your worke now is before you, to putt such a number of confiding men to guard him as therin you may rest, for the old souldiers are rotten. I have sent a party of horse to Capt. Pretty; there will be need of more horse and foote to ly there abouts; the Castle is allsoe much unprovided of victuall. This is all that I can informe your Excellencie, who am, Sir, your humble servant,

Ro: Saunders.a

[a ]The Moderate for Nov. 28-Dec. 5 contains the following letter, dated Newport, Dec. 2:

“This morning about six of the clock, five of us came to his Majesties chamber, and desired one of his attendants to aquaint his Majesty with our intentions (according to our orders, to secure his person, which we rather did because he might not be affrighted; which done we secured the town with 40 horse and two companies of foot which we got over last night from Portsmouth, and once in half an hour his Majesty was coached, and soon after secured in Hurst Castle, of which our dear friend and true patriot, Col. Ayers of Wiltshire is governor, whose fidelity can never be poysoned as H. was.”

A second letter from the same person, dated Hurst Castle, Dec. 14, adds:

“When the governour of this Castle, Col. Eyres, came down, and came into his presence, his Majesty saluted him with a kind of a jeer, telling him, he hoped he would not take it ill that he came to visit his wife in his absence; but withall that he was sorry to put him up in so narrow a room (meaning, himself and his attendants would take up the greatest part of that little castle, the governour not having one room left for the entertainment of a friend). The governour answered his Majesty, that the place afforded not that accommodation as might be desired, but he should be well satisfied with his present condition, especially now that his Majesty was there in safety (which I believe was more than his Majesty could cordially say himselfe). Upon Sunday last his Majesty was speaking to Lieu.-Col. Cobbet to shew him by what order he was brought to that castle (which till that time he had not seen); the Lieu.-Col. shews him the order, upon the perusall of which he seemed to be well satisfied, after some debate about it, but told us, that as he had no desire to stay long in this place, yet he should be unwilling to be removed hence without the sight of an order beforehand; to which was answered, that necessity was above order; he replyed, that it was true, but necessity was many times pretended, when there was none.” The Moderate, Dec. 12-19.