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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.

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Newsletters

June 9.—

xxxi. f. 140b.Yesterday Colonel Hacker’s regiment accepted of the Commissions from the Parliament.1 In the evening of Tuesday severall, att a Councell of feild officers att Majour-Generall Disbrowe’s house, declared their dissatisfactions in receiving commissions from them, so as many feares and jealousies arose theirupon; and the rather because the Lord Fleetwood went not yesterday to the House to receive his commission, though sent for by them to that purpose, his Lordshipp desireing to be excused in that it was a day sett a part by himselfe and others to seeke the Lord. But, to cleare up all, his Lordshipp went this day to the Parliament, and accepted of his commission from them, so did Lieutenant-Generall Ludlow, and most of his officers, and it’s hop’t the rest of the officers will doe so likwise. Vice-Admirall Lawson yesterday received his commission from the House also, and some Captains of shipps that are to serve under him. A letter from the Lord Generall Monck was this day read in favour of the Scotch officers.1

G. M.

June 9.—

xxxi. f. 141.This day the Lord Fleetwood received his commission (an act of Parliament), wherby they have made him Lieutenant-Generall and Commander-in-Chief of the land forces in England and Scotland. The Speaker told him they thought fitt and were pleased to putt him into a great trust, and desired him to have a care of the Commonwealth, or words to that effect, and soe hee receiving itt att the table (or Barre) hee returned to his place (or seate) in the House.2 This is generally satisfactory, butt hardly soe universallie, for some officers, and they some of them are of our cheif, could have wished itt had bin taken on another account, that hee might have bin setled att a greater certainty, and have comissioned officers himself; butt such a thinge, though desired and much by some wished for, butt [was] nott sought, and soe nott granted. They will as much as is possible bee carefull to keepe the power in their owne hands, and yett say they love, and make use of us,1 as the best instruments they can have to preserve them and the nations in peace.

T. S.

June 11, 1659.—

xxxi. f. 142.Yesterday the House ordered that Colonel Fitch bee appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London, and that the Councill of State do prepare him a commission. They voted that the sentence against Colonel Alured was and is unjust, and that it be vacated and cancelled, and that it be referr’d to the Commissioners for officers to take care that he have a regiment of horse.2 They likewise voted that Colonel Rich should have his owne late regiment, and Colonel Okey Colonel Bridge’s, and referr’d it to the Commissioners of the army to nominate Major Generall Overton to such a preferment in the army as becomes his merit (which is thought will be Major Generall of foot in Ireland). The officers of Ireland (here) have sign’d a peticion that Lieutenant Generall Ludlow may comand in cheife the forces in Ireland. Colonel Berry and many of his officers this day received their commissions, and so did the Lord Lambert commissions for two regiments, and also so many of his officers as were in Towne. Major Campfeild received a commission for Lieutenant Colonel to the Lord Lambert’s regiment of foot, and that Lieutenant Colonel hath accepted of a Captain’s commission in the same regiment.3 Colonel Thomlinson was ordered one of the commissioners for Ireland and Mr. Miles Corbet another, for 3 monthes, and after that time to come and give an account of the affaires of that nation. A list of the officers of the regiments of Colonel Hewson, Colonel Sydenham’s, and Colonel Biscoe’s were this day reported, and ordered to be considered Monday next.

G. M.

[1 ]See Ludlow, Memoirs, ii. 90. The form of the commission given to colonels is printed in Commons’ Journals, vii. 674.

[1 ]The letter referred to is that printed on the previous page from a copy amongst the Tanner MSS. (li. 72). The House took Monck’s intervention on behalf of the officers under his command extremely ill, and ordered Sir Arthur Haslerig to prepare an answer to be signed by the Speaker. The answer, which was approved on June 10, ran as follows: ‘Your letter was read in Parliament. It is true the Parliament have under their consideration the officers of the armies; it being of high concernment for the settlement of the nations to trust such as they are assured will be truly and really faithful to the Parliament and Commonwealth. There hath been, in these late changes, great discoveries of men; and peradventure such things are known to the Parliament that are not to yourself. The Parliament hath commanded me to acquaint you that they look upon yourself as their faithful servant, and shall not forget your fidelity’ (Commons’ Journals, vii. 677, 680). According to Phillips, ‘Pearson and Mason, two Anabaptist lieutenant-colonels under General Monck,’ were the persons upon whose information the Commissioners for the Nomination of Officers principally acted. Phillips, after mentioning Monck’s letter, goes on to say that, ‘to give him some satisfaction, they sent him back word, they would be very careful in the placing or displacing of his officers, and that in his own regiments of horse and foot there should be no alteration till such time as he were consulted in it.’ Baker, p. 670; cf. Gumble, p. 101.

[2 ]Commons’ Journals, vii. 677. The Act commissioning Fleetwood is printed at length in Thurloe (vii. 679).

[1 ]The Army, of which the writer was evidently a member.

[2 ]See Commons’ Journals, vii. 678; and also The Case of Colonel Matthew Alured, 1659, 4to. Alured, finally, was appointed colonel of the regiment of horse lately commanded by Colonel Whalley. See Ludlow’s Memoirs, ii. 95, note, ed. 1894.

[3 ]The officer referred to was Richard Elton. On June 9 the House voted that the Committee of Safety should enquire whether Lieutenant-Colonel Elton ‘be a person within the qualifications declared by Parliament.’ Apparently he was, for on June 11 he received a commission as captain in place of William Brockett (Commons’ Journals, vii. 677, 681). The reason for his degradation from the rank of lieutenant-colonel to captain was probably the desire to replace some officers who had lost their places under the late Government. Elton was the author of the Complete Body of the Art Military, published in 1650, one of the most popular drill-books of the period.