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

Newsletters - 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.

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.


Newsletters

May 5.—

xxxi. f. 103.Yesterday severall officers of the councill att Wallingford House mett with Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Scott, Major Salway, and Sir Arthur Haslerigge, and treated with them concerning severall particulars agreed upon by their councell.1 This day a Generall Councell mett att Wallingford House, and debated severall particulars agreed upon by the councell of officers to be offered to the consideration of the Longe Parliament when convened, for ascertaineing the religious and civill rights of the people; the settleing upon his Highness 10,000li. per annum dureing his life; 10,000li. per annum more upon him and his heires for ever; 8000li. per annum uppon her Highness Dowager; Somerset House for his and her habitation, and a title to be conferr’d upon him; liberty of conscience to be provided for; an act of indempnitie to passe; maintainance for a pious ministry and schooles of learning; the law to be regulated; the tyme of sitting of the Parliament to be ascertained; a Commonwealth government to be established; and severall of these things are this day agreed upon, and the Generall Councell meet againe to morrow to debate the rest. The Parliament, ’tis said, will meet the next weeke.

G. M.

May 5.—

xxxi. f. 104.There are very many godly men, both ministers and others, who doe account the dissolucion of the Parliament a mercifull as well as an extraordinarie providence of God at the time it was done.2 The Councell of officers have written letters to Ireland and Scotland, as also to the absent regiments in England, of the grounds and reasons of it, with motives for union against false representations, their ends being onely for reviveing the prosperity of that good Cause so long contended for, in all its essentialls, wherein the liberty, peace, and settlement of these 3 nations is naturally founded. Also they have prepared a declaration both of their principles as to God, and desire of good thinges to be done in the Commonwealth. They have likewise propounded a noble provision for his Highnesse, all which will be in print shortly. It’s not doubted but they will give all (except blinded men) satisfaction. In the accomplishment of which wee shall enjoy the worke and effect of righteousnesse, which is peace, quietnes, and assurance for ever.

R. H[atter].

May 5.—

xxxi. f. 105.Through mercy wee are all in peace (after this great change) and the army very unanimous, having as one man resolved uppon a Commonwealth constitucion, and have appointed 8 persens, vizte. Lord Fleetwood, Lord Lambert, Generall Disbrowe, Colonel Sydenham, Sir Henry Vane, Sir Arthur Heslerigge, Lieutenant-General Ludlowe, and Major Salway, to agree uppon a modell, which is to bee debated by the feild officers of the army.

E. R.

May 7.—

xxxi. f. 108.This day, after the inclosed Declaration1 came out, my Lord Lambert and the feild officers of the army went to the Painted Chamber, where wee found betweene 50 and 60 Members of the old Parliament,2 and attended the old Speaker and them to the Parliament House, where they being satt awhile resolved to draw uppe a Declaration, and chose their officers, and retired into the Speaker’s Chamber, where they had a dinner brought to them, intending afterwards to spend the rest of the day in preparing their worke for the next weeke. There is a very good understanding betweene these Parliament men and the army, they aiming both att one and the same thinges, and those that are freinds to the Good old Cause are generally satisfied both in citty and country that the late Parliament was dissolved, and the old Parliament restored to sitt againe. Divers Members of the Longe Parliament that are out of Towne are sent for, and will bee heere speedily, soe that heere is great hopes of a good settlement both for religious and civill liberties, and [to see] trading revived againe which is exceedingly decayed.

T. F.

[1 ]For an account of these conferences see Ludlow, ii. 74. According to Phillips the officers had debated ‘the election of a Council which should have a negative upon the remnant Parliament, when it should be restored. But after much debate that was thought fitter for the debate of the Parliament than them.’ This proposed senate was, according to Ludlow, one of the chief points of difference between the representatives of the officers and those of the Parliament. Ludlow summarises the demands of the army, and they were subsequently embodied in the address presented to the House on May 13, which is dated May 12. It is reprinted in the Old Parliamentary History, xxi. 400.

[2 ]See, for instance, ‘An Invitation to the Lord’s People throughout the Three Nations, to provoke them to a holy Rejoicing for His late Salvation begun,’ printed in the Public Intelligencer for May, pp. 9-16.

[1 ]‘The Declaration of the Officers of the Army of May 6, 1659.’ Old Parliamentary History, xxi. 367; Baker, p. 661.

[2 ]‘Their numbers were 50, about 80 more are capable of sitting,’ says a newsletter dated May 10. For a list see the Old Parliamentary History, xxi. 372.