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

Generall Councill. - 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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Generall Councill.

Debate concerning the setting a period to this Parliament by the last of Aprill.a

Arguments.

Com̃. Generall.

That itt will bee a greater securitie in case the Army should bee forced to remove, when the ill-affected partie may come in againe.

Itt will give much satisfaction to the people, in regard of their expressing their desires nott to sett uppe themselves butt their resolves for a future Representative.

Lieut. Generall.

That itt will bee more honourable and convenient for them to putt a period to themselves.b

Commissary Generall.

If the Parliament should vote a day for their dissolution without the Agreement, all the indeavours will bee used for Parliaments to come in the old way; butt if men finde there is noe avoidance of this Parliament butt by this Agreement, there is nothing soe much likely to keepe men’s hands off from opposing the Agreement. The people may think if they oppose this Agreement they oppose the ending of this Parliament.a

Lieut. Generall.

Then you are afraid they will doe [so]?b

Com̃ Generall.

If the generality of people could see the end of this Parliament, [they] would bee for the opposing of any thinge of this kinde; or would waite for the expiring of that to looke for a succession of new Parliaments in the old way and old forme of a Kinge agen. Nothing of more advantage to this Parliament then to end itt by the Agreement with safetie [to itself], without prejudice to future Parliaments.

Att Whitehall.

[a ]The first article of the original Agreement was:

“That to prevent the many inconveniences apparently among from the long continuance of the same persons in authority, this present Parliament be dissolved upon, or before, the last day of April in the year of our Lord 1649.” Lilburne, Foundations of Freedom, p. 4. In the agreement as presented on Jan. 20, 1649, this article was adopted with merely a couple of verbal alterations; viz. “supreme authority,” “end and dissolve.” In the third article the first Thursday in May, 1649, was fixed as the date for the election of the new Parliament. In Oct. 1647, the army demanded a dissolution by Sept. 1, 1648. See vol. i., p. 364.

[b ]“Them,” i.e. the Parliament. Cromwell says on 12 Sept. 1654: “I pressed the Parliament, as a member, to period themselves;—once and again, and again, and ten nay twenty times over” (Carlyle, Speech III.). “So willing were we, even very tender and desirous if possible, that these men might quit their places with honour.” (Speech I.).

[a ]This last sentence is added below as a separate speech of Ireton’s, but seems clearly to be part of this.

[b ]i.e. Oppose the Agreement.