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

Newsletters 1 - 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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Newsletters1

Westminster, March 11, 1655-6.—

xxviii. f. 5.His Highnesse on Wednesday last was neere 2 houres in delivering a speech att Whitehall to the Lord Mayor’s Court of Aldermen and common Councill of London, wherin hee told them, that since faire meanes would not indulge, foule should inforce the Royall partie to a peaceable deportment; and seeing they were the cause (by theire late erupcion) of raising the Militia troopes to preserve the peace of the Nacion, it was thought but reasonable that theire estate should bee only charged therewith, that soe they might bee in the nature of a standing Militia, and yet not to warfare att theire owne charge, being att all tymes to bee drawne forth vpon occasion; that the souldiers aswell as the officers were so many inhabitants of each associacion vnder theire respective Majour Generalls, and would thereby fitly serve to bee so many watchmen or spies to give notice of or apprehend such as were of desolute lives and conversacion, who lived like gentlemen and yet had noe visible way for the same, being cheatours and the like, who were more fitt to bee sent beyond the seas then to remaine here. That God Almightie hath given us many blessinges and deliverances, and now seemingly brought us into a probability of enjoying peace, which called upon us to make some retornes thereof, by endeavoring that after all our expence of bloud and treasure the same might reape some fruits thereof. And this way the Lord hath owned by making more effectuall then was expected, and by receiving a good acceptacion with those who of late stood att some distance with us, soe that the sole end of this way of proceedure was the security of the peace of the Nacion, the suppressing of vice, and encourragement of vertue, the very end of Magistracie. That there was a remisnes in some of the Justices of peace, by many of whome company keeping &c. was countenanced, but now that noblemen, gentlemen, and all rancks and quallityes must give security for theire peaceable and civill deportment, or goe to prison. That wee had indeed many and good lawes, yet that wee have lived rather under the name and nocion of law then under the thing, so that ’tis resolved to regulate the same (God assisting) oppose who will. That now the Majour Generalls had gone through all the Counties of England and Wales, and where the Majour Generalls were present in accion these loose and vagarant persons did fly from thence to other Counties, the Majour Generalls’ occasions not permitting them to bee in accion att one tyme. And for that this Citty was a place that gave shelter to many such idle loose persons, who had and have theire recourse thereto, the same practice is intended to bee sett on foote in the Citty by theire Majour Generall Skippon, the Lieutenant of the Tower, and others commissioned with him; and therefore his Highnes thought fitt to acquaint the Lord Maiour and those Gentlemen present with the same, to the end no misunderstanding may bee had thereof, for that thereby the good Goverment of the Citty is intended, and not att all to superceede them or att least to diminish any of theire rightes, priviledges, or liberties: which was all his Highnes had to say to them, and soe dismist them.1 . .

Westminster, April 5, 1656.—

f. 15b.Mr. Peter is now againe growne soe distracted that hee had severall persons watching with him night and day, who are sometimes necessitated to use all the strength they have to keepe him in bed; hee raves much of the devill, his lookes are very wild, and his discourse ends many times with half sentences. The Councill have appointed Commissioners to putt in execution the instruccions for securing the peace of this Citty, past a proclamation against wearing of daggers and pockett pistolls, order’d 4000l. for pay of the wives and assignees of the forces in Jamaica. The Commissioners of the Customes required to present the officers now in being to be approved of by his Highness. A large debate about the Swedish treaty as to contraband goods. They assign’d 200l. for the funerall of the Bishop of Armagh. A Commission was granted to examine fraudulent debentures in the sale of all lands belonging to the State. Another Commission granted to examine about concealed estates. A list of the shippes to guard the seas approved of. The Revenues of the Excise and Customes to bee applyed for the use of the navy and for maymed souldiours. The monies collected for the protestants in Piedmont in Savoy to bee returned to Geneva by Bills of Exchange.

G. M.

London, June 17.—

f. 45b.Major Generall Worsley was honourablie interr’d Thursday last in the Chappell of Henry the 7, Westminster, his herse being attended by the rest of Major Generalls, 20 coaches, 4 regiments of foote, and 10 troopes of horse with his Highnes Lifeguards. . . .

His Highnes haveing advised with the Major Generalls uppon manie weighty affaires of State, they are now returning to their severall Commandes.1 The Commissioners for regulateing excise and customes are by common order under the Greate Seale made Commissioners for granting wine licences.

G. M.

London, July 1, 1656.—

f. 49b.The Earle Marshall of Scotland hath 3 monthes longer time given him uppon his former baile. Major Wildman 3 months liberty uppon 10000l. baile. Noe wool, wollen cloth, or Fuller’s earth ordered to be transported, and that lettres be writte to the Councells of Ireland and Scotland to this purpose. The Oath of Secresy concerning the debate of a Parliament taken [off], and a Parliament to be called against the 17 of September. A Declaraccion for that purpose daily expected.

G. M.

London, August 2, 1656.—

f. 58.This weeke orders are gone forth for Generall Disbrowes and Colonel Hacker’s regiments to march about the end of the summer for the releif of Colonel Winthrop’s and Colonel Ingoldesbyes regiments from Scotland.

Elections have bin made in divers places; Abington, Mr. Hoult a lawier.1 Yesterday, the Lord Bradshaw, Lieutenant Generall Ludlowe, and Colonel Rich were before his Highnesse and Councill, the later refused to come uppon summons untill messengers were sent for him. I heare alsoe that Sir Henry Vane and Major Salway are sent for: itt is said they have bin tampering with those people that would if possible involve the nation into bloud againe, and that they have indeavoured where they have interest to disswade the people from electing swordmen, Major Generalls, and Decimators.

J. S.

London, August 5.—

f. 59b.A scandalous printed pamphlett was on the last Lord’s day throwne into severall streetes and houses of this citty and suburbes, vilifying his Highnesse, and perswading the people to make choice of such Members to serve for them in Parliament as may involve the nation in a new warre.2 Itt’s reported that thousands of them are dispers’t into the severall counties. The Lord Bradshaw, Sir Henry Vane, Colonel Birch of Hereford, Mr. Scott, and severall other discontented old Members are already elected. The Lord Bradshaw Friday last refused to accept of a commission from his Highnesse for the Lord Chancellorshippe of the Dutchie, and to forbeare acting by his other Commission from Parliament, wherby (itt’s said) his Circuite will bee stopt. Lieutenant Generall Ludlowe was then likewise before his Highnesse and Councill, and 5000l. security demanded of him for his peaceable and good behaviour; itts said hee will nott give itt.1 Colonel Rich was alsoe that day attending, butt nott call’d in. This day his Highnesse and Council referr’d him to the examinacion of a Committee.

The Swedish Ambassadour was Saturday last nobly treated by the Lord Lambert att Wimbleton. Our frigatts lie soe neere Dunkirke and Ostend that nott one of those pirates doe stirre out.

G. M.

London, August 9, 1656.—

f. 61b.The Commission of the Lord Bradshaw is taken from him. Lieutenant General Ludlowe and Colonel Rich are secured. Sir Henry Vane, Colonel Okey, and Sir Arthur Haselrig are sent for to attend his Highnesse. Sir Gilbert Pickering is made Lord High Steward of Westminster, and Mr. Cary of Haberdasher’s Hall is his Deputy.

G. M.

London, August 16, 1656.—

f. 63.Uppon a petition of the Society of Lincolnes Inne, complayning of the great abuses of erecting lately some thousands of new buildinges in the liberties of Covent Garden and Westminster, contrary to the statute in that behalf, itt was ordered by his Highnesse and Councill Thursday last that all the new toundations of the said houses nott yett compleately finished shall bee restrayned till further order, and the builders indicted uppon the statute.2 A Committee of officers were appointed to receive the lists from the severall Major Generalls of such persons as are fitt to bee sent to Jamaica. Colonel Alured was Thursday last committed to the Isle of Man, and Colonel Rich to the Castle of Windsor. It is generally reported heere, that Mr. Recorder Longe shall bee suddainly made Lord Cheif Baron of the Exchequer. His Highnesse hath referr’d itt to the Major Generalls of the severall counties to take care that all Electors shall bee qualified according to the Instrument of Governement. Severall persons were added to the Commissioners in the severall counties for rejecting of scandalous and ignorant Ministers. Yesterday his Highnesse and Councill observed as a day of Humiliacion, and are this day gone to Hampton Court.

G. M.

Westminster, August 19, 1656.—

f. 64b.On Friday last his Highnesse and Councill kept a fast in the old Councill Chamber, where Mr. Caryll, Mr. Sterry [?], and Mr. Griffith preached before them. Colonel Rich is sent in custody to Windsor Castle. Colonel Alured was ordered to bee going towards the like confinement in the Isle of Man on Munday, butt itt is suspended for a day or two. Sir Henry Vane should have bin with the Councill to day, butt was nott, nor Vice-Admirall Lawson, who was fetch’t from the Wells.

W. R.

Westminster, August 23, 1656.—

f. 65b.Heere hath bin great striving about eleccions, especially for Middlesex att which meeting neere 20 were wounded, the quarrell being betweene the parties of Mr. Chute the lawier, who is said to bee as fairly chosen as his father, and Mr. Giffin1 the Anabaptist, who was proclaymed one of the Members with Major Generall Barkestead and Sir William Roberts. For London is chosen Alderman Foote, Aldm. Pack, Major Generall Browne, Captain J. Jones, and Mr. Bidolph a silkeman. For Westminster Colonel Grosvenor and Mr. Cary who had above 4000 hands apeece for their eleccions. His Highnesse yesterday presented 4 noble horses with very rich sadles and bridles to the Swedish Ambassadour, who went away yesterday. Sir Henry Vane is ordered to give 5000l. security by Thursday next to act nothing prejudiciall to his Highnesse and present Governement, or else to be secured.

G. M.

Westminster, August 30, 1656.—

f. 68.His Highnesse hath taken away Lieutenant Colonel Fenwick his regiment, and given itt to Lieutenant Colonel Wilks, and likewise his Governourshippe of Leith and Edinburgh Castle, and conferred them uppon Generall Monck. A field officer is sent for out of every regiment to advise about military affaires, which occasions a flying report that the regimentes are to bee recruited to their former number. Stables are preparing in Scotland yard for the horse of the Lifeguard in order to the better security of his Highnesse person, which (through the malice of dissafected persons) is too much in danger. Sir Henry Vane hath given such satisfaccion to his Highnesse that his person is yett att liberty. The Lord Maior yesterday bestowed a very noble treatement uppon the Lord Lambert, Lord Fleetwood, Secretary Thurloe, and severall others of the Councill which his Lordshippe invited. The list of the Members names will nott bee perfected till next weeke.

G. M.

[1 ]The letters which follow are taken from vol. xxviii. of the Clarke MSS.

[1 ]This speech was made on March 5. An abridged report of it is given in the Publick Intelligencer for March 3-10, 165⅚, p. 385. The next number of the same paper, p. 401, contains a ‘Declaration of his Highness inviting the people of England and Wales to a day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation,’ fixed for March 28. It is of some interest from its remarks on foreign and domestic politics.

[1 ]On this meeting see the Venetian despatches quoted by Ranke, History of England, iii. 166, and Thurloe, v. 122.

[1 ]On the elections of 1656 see Ludlow’s Memoirs, ed. 1894, ii. 17, and the authorities mentioned in the note. Some account of the contested elections is given in Mercurius Politicus, pp. 7174, 7181, 7191, and the Publick Intelligeneer, pp. 754, 770.

[2 ]England’s Remembrancers, or a Word in Season to all Englishmen about their Election of Members for the approaching Parliament. It is reprinted in Thurloe’s Papers, v. 268.

[1 ]See Ludlow’s Memoirs, ii. 10-14, ed. 1894.

[2 ]Mercurius Politicus, p. 7181, August 14-21, 1656.

[1 ]William Kyffin. See Heath’s Chronicle, ed. 1663, p. 705, and Thurloe, v. 349.