Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow A Letter from Flanders - The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 3

Return to Title Page for The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 3

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

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

A Letter from Flanders - 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.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


A Letter from Flanders

September 10, 1657.—

f. 113.The French army is rampant, and might doe my Lord Protector service if they had butt zeale to itt. Since our coming into Flanders with 20,000 horse and 15,000 foot with an innumerable traine, the horses and mules belonging to it being nigh 40000, and the waggons 10000, we entered at Marvit1 into Flanders by three bridges made with boates over the Lis, and have taken Monteboy,2 and since we marched as far as Berghen, two leagues from Dunkirke, where Don [John] and Condé lay incamped, who gave a check to our forces, and caused us to withdraw and attempted the river at Watten Abbey (a monestery of English Jesuites), where we gained one forte, and are now before another, and then they promisse to beseige Mardike, but we thinke the season of the yeare will admitt of nothing else. However they are not idle for themselves, for they have settled contributions as far as Brussells on our coming into this countrey. They set up at Gaunt the Black Standart, which was not out in 17 yeares; it betokens a generall summons of all betweene 16 and 60. The Spaniards are not only low, but also cowd. Don Jon is gon into Dunkirke with 3000, Condie is at Berghen with 5000 horse and 2000 foote, Graveling hath 4000 foote in it, and Mardike as full as it can hold, soe that their is little good to be expected.3

Sept. 22.—

f. 115.2000 souldiers out of the severall foote regiments in and neere this citty (under command of Col. Gibbons and Major Keame as Lieutenant Colonell) fell downe this day to Gravesend in order to their speedy voyage to Dunkirke.

Sept. 29.—

f. 116.The Lord Lambert’s services are referred to the consideration of a committee of the Councell, who are to prepare the draught of an act to bee offered to the Parliament for settling a considerable estate upon him. For the interim his Highness is pleased for his Lordshipp’s present support to continue the pay upon his late commission. . . .

[1 ]Marville, upon the Lys.

[2 ]Montauboy, according to Mercurius Politicus.

[3 ]On these movements see Thurloe, vi. 523; Mercurius Politicus, pp. 1632, 1637; and Bourelly, p. 37.