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

Lieutenant Colonel Hughes 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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Lieutenant Colonel Hughes to General Monck

November 4, 1657.—

f. 123b.Marshall Turene is this weeke to disencampe and to lodge his army in their refreshing quarters about Bollogny, for indeed they have endur’d aboundance of hardshippe. All the pallisadoes for Bourbourgh, and for 4 new forts which we built to secure the passages to Mardike, were carried by the horsmen about 7 mile through an extraordinary deepe way, and likewise they goe 7 and 8 miles for forrage, which hath much impoverished these quarters. Our Embassadour was this weeke with Thurin to urge the keeping of Mardike wholy on the French, or at least the government to a French man, and neither was assented unto; yet their was a commission signed and sent to Sir John Renolds (who is in the forte) to keepe the same for the King of France, which he will hardly accept of, unlesse he receives private instructions from his Highnesse theirunto.2 Our soldiers have gained their old courage, and stand stoutly to their worke, for the enimie approached towards our workes about 10 at night, and lodged themselves very neare the same for 6 houres, but were very gallantly repulsed, and forced to withdraw before day, leaving their faggots, spades, and pick-axes, with some hand granadoes behinde them. Marshall Thurinn receiving the alarum was by day breake with his whole army at Bourbourgh, having marched with incredeble speed;3 his stay thus longe in the feild is to see the works at Mardike and Bourbourgh finished, the last is already tenable. This is a very sickly season, few of either officers or soldiers escapeing, we bury 7 and 8 every day out of this towne out of 4 battalions, we have 3 Collonells very sick, with aboundance of officers and above 1000 soldiers; the Lord support and enable us to wade through these difficulties, it being his Highnesse’ service and the interest of our country, which I trust will be compleated in 6 or 7 moneths tyme. The Majour Generall (who takes a great deale of paines) is this day sent for to Mardike, I suppose to releive the Generall who will come here for a tyme. The Courte is come to Paris where the Embassadour is repaired; had the French beene at first as zealous for our service as now they seme to be, they might have fulfilled the treaty without this intollerable toyle, which hath ruined neare halfe their gallant army.

R. H.

Given 4 leages from Callis November 4th 1657. Old stile.

Graveline is in a manner blocked up.

[2 ]See Thurloe, vi. 605, 614, 618.

[3 ]Ibid., vi. 578.