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

Letter from the officers in England to General Monck and the officers in Scotland 1 - Sir William Clarke, The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 4 [1901]

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., 1901). 4 vols.

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

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Letter from the officers in England to General Monck and the officers in Scotland1

xxxi. f. 99.Wee shall nott neede att present to enumerate the various dispensations of the providences of God towards us in the management of that great interest of his which hee hath soe signallie owned and carried on through all difficulties and against all opposition in these three nations, and how hee hath made bare his mighty arme and led us on by signes and wonders, affording to us the visible tokens of his presence above our faith, and beyond our hope, imprinting the stampe of his owne presence uppon these transaccions, when wee have beene at the greatest stand, that wee may with admiration and astonishment say, ‘this hath God wrought’: soe that wee may set upp stones of rememberance, and write uppon them, ‘hitherto the Lord hath helped.’

And haveing been deepely sensible of the greate danger the good old Cause, and interest of the people of God was in, in these three nations, not onely for our old common enimy, who were growne to soe great a height of insolency and confidence that they were ready to tryumph, and were in conjunctions in their councills in severall parts in the nation, and especially in and about London, but alsoe from many of those who should have beene the asserters and maintainers of the Cause and interest which is soe deare unto us, who insteade of taking an effectuall course for the greate and pressing necessitye of the army, or comeing to any consistency among themselves for the setling of the nations, nourished jealousies of us, and gave greate advantages of encouragement to our former mentioned enimies, wherby our feares were increased, and our danger made more visible.

Uppon consideration whereof wee thought it a duty incumbent uppon us (being in some measure sensible of the greate decayings of that good Spiritt in us, and the backsliding frame of our owne harts), after serious searching of heart and solemne addresses to the Lord, to meet together and advise what was our duty in such a day as to the security of the Cause; and being convinced that it was our duty to appeare for the preservation thereof, wee met in generall councill, which produced a petition and representation to his Highnes, a coppie whereof wee have heere inclosed; which said petition and representation being presented by his Highnes to the Parliament,1 produced effects much contrary to the hopes and expectacions of the army, for insteade of considering of waies and meanes for applieing remedies to our just desires, it brought forth a vote for a dissolution of our meetings and disperceing of our officers (though nothing was done effectually for the breaking of the councills of the common enimies by sending away the Cavaleers out of Towne), as alsoe another vote requiring an engagement from us, as though wee were not to bee trusted as friends.

The consideration whereof produced a stable and fixed resolucion in us once againe to put our lives into our hands, and to trust this greate undertaking in the hands of our good God, who wee have formerly trusted, and in whose hands alone are all the issues of councills and actions, wee well knowing these greate concernements of his cause, interest, and people to bee farr dearer to him, then any of ours can bee to us. It was thought fit to randezvouse that part of the army in and neere the citty, whereuppon the Parliament was dissolved.

And in further prosecution of our duty, wee resolved uppon some heads (att a generall councill of officers), in order to the better setling of the discipline and continuing the union of the army (which wee have likewise heere inclosed sent to you), which were unanimously agreed on, wee thinke itt our farther duty earnestly to presse you, that these thinges may bee seriously laid uppon your hearts, and that you will nott bee startled or divided from us by any misrepresentacions that may bee brought unto you, butt that the good old Cause and interest may bee deare unto you, and that both you and wee lie lowe in the sence of our great provocacions, and earnestlie implore the Throne of Grace, that the former presence may returne to you and us, and that as our resolutions are to act in the promoting of the same Cause, soe wee may doe itt with the same spiritt of faith and prayer, which in these our dayes and former ages hath bin soe successefull, and wherin alone cur strength lies, our consciences witnessing unto us that wee have noe designe in our hearts, butt the reviving and prosperity of that Good Cause in all itt’s essentialls, wherin the interest, liberties, peace and settlement of these 3 nations is naturally founded, wee are

Your affeccionate freinds and
fellow souldiers

WILLIAM DANIELL.CHARLES FLEETWOOD.
HE: HAYNES.JAMES BERRY.
J. BISCOE.JOHN OKEY.
JOHN MILLERRO. SAWRY.
FRANCIS HACKER.JOHN DABERON.
HENRY PRITTIEJO: PEARSON.
WILLIAM GOUGH.JER: CAMFEILD.
RICHARD ASHFEILD.JO: MASON.
THO: KELSEY.

Wallingford House,
3 May 1659.

[1 ]A letter to Monck from Lieut.-Colonels Mason and Sawrey, dated May 3, is amongst the papers of Mr. Leyborne-Popham. They assure him that ‘the army here in England is very unanimous in this late action.’ Report, p. 116.

[1 ]‘The humble Representation and Petition of the General Council of the Officers of the Armies,’ forwarded by Richard to Parliament on April 8, 1659. Old Parliamentary History, xxi. 339.