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

Secretary Thurloe to General Monck - Sir William Clarke, The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 3 [1899]

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 (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899). 4 vols.

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

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Secretary Thurloe to General Monck

Sir,—

f. 160.The Cantons of Switzerland are engaged in a warre one against the other, vizte., the popish against protestants for matters meerly concerning their religion. The popish party have a designe, and itt hath bin longe hatching, to extirpate and roote out the protestant religion and the professors therof in those parts, and corresponded therein with the Pope, Emperour, Spaine, Savoy, &c. To begin this, they putt to death some, and confiscated the estates of others of their inhabitants, meerly for turning protestants, and held itt in their publique debates as a capitall crime to turne protestant. Endeavours were used by calling together generall assemblies of all the 13 Cantons to moderate them, butt all in vaine, soe that now itt is come to armes. The Cantons of Berne and Zurick have neere 40,000 in the feild, have taken 3 or 4 walled townes and besieged others. Their want is monie which they pray a supply of from his Highnesse, who will strayne himself uppon this occasion, although itt can ill bee spared. All that concernes the profession of religion is att stake in this warre in t[h]ese parts, and according as itt falls out there the face of all Christendome is like to bee in that matter.

Our fleete will I hope bee ready a month hence. They are preparing in Spaine about 60 shippes, 26 wherof will I heare bee stout shippes.

J. T.1

Westminster, February 26, 165⅚.—

The beares in the bearegarden were by order of Major Generall Barkestead kill’d, and the heads of the game cocks in the severall pitts runge off by a company of foote soulders. The frigott of 42 guns riding in Portsmouth Harbour was by the boateswaines sealing of a lettre fired and quite consumed. Some hundred of women are committed to the Tower, not being able to give an satisfactory account of themselves. The great Craine on Tower Hill burnt by accident this weeke, and unhappily fired some gunns that lay charged thereby, which did some execucion. The Councill have order’d this weeke that Mr. Shepard doe prepaire some thing to bee offered about the lawe: that Mr. Phillipp Meadowe bee sent agent to Portugall: that it bee offered to his Highnesse as the advice of his Councill to speake with the Judges to take notice of the great abuses in Martialls at Assises in calling of causes at their pleasure to the great prejudice of the people. A Committee is appointed to consider of what is most fit to bee done for redresse of the abuse of allowing great costes where the damage by the jury is found to bee small. The establishment of the lifeguard passed, vizt. one Captain (Captain Beke),f. 167b. Lieutenant, Cornet, and Quartermaster, 6 Corporalls (of the old lifeguard 20 made pentioners) 4 Trumpeters, 160 souldyers. They also ordered that an embargo bee laid upon all shipps for 21 daies. Some augmentacions were approved of. They order’d that the extent out of the Exchequer against Alderman Titchborne and Alderman Hildesly about the busines of the customes bee forborne. Vice-Admirall Bodilo thankefully received his commission. The fleete goes away speedily. A reducement of severall forces of the army is much spoken of, and it’s thought will speedily be putt in execucion.

[1 ]This is undated in the MS. but follows a letter of Jan. 22, 165⅚. There can be little doubt that it was written by Secretary Thurloe, and the heading has therefore been added.