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

Account of the Fall of the Protector Richard 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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Account of the Fall of the Protector Richard1

June 14, 1659.—

xxxi. f. 144.As soone as the army had obtayned his last Highnesse’ consent that noe officer should bee putt out of his command butt by a councill of warre, they then fell uppon matter of agitation, a Parliament sitting, which in few dayes after produced a representacion from the army to his Highnesse subscribed by many that never read itt and others that [cypher]. Itt was communicated to the Parliament, and did hold forth to the world [cypher] phrase practically knowne in the army by pulling of members formally out, soe that from that time the Parliament concluded the army will bee att the old trade againe.2 Butt to wipe the shame off themselves they pressed one night till 3 of the clock in the morning soe hard uppon the Protector, that att last hee was constrayned to signe a commission to dissolve the Parliament, much against his minde, for that hee as well as the nation knew they were a Parliament of as gallant spiritts to preserve the rights, liberties, and properties of the people, as ever satt in Parliament; yett the House of Commons, hearing the commission was come to dissolve them, and troopes of horse brought before both Houses, which they looked uppon as a force uppon them, as had bin that night before uppon the Protector, and being exceedingly dissatisfied with some grand Lords of the other House, members of the army, who procured that commission to dissolve the Parliament, they did scorne to owne their Lordshippe, though sent for, butt in a great fury adjourned till Munday following; on which day the Commons came againe, butt a company of red-coates [cypher] were placed att the Parliament doore, and would nott lett the Members goe in, and now the word was given through the army by the grandees of the army beforemencioned, that they should stand to the Good old Cause, and the good Peticion and Advice, which had setled 1,500,000li. per annum to maintaine the army, and to limitt a single person in nature of a Duke of Venice. Butt these army Grandees who had thus forced the Protector and dissolved a gallant Parliament were trapanned, and that deservedly, by the inferiour officers of the army, who kept their councill apart att S. James’s,1 with whom the Churches did att that time confederate, and soe cryed downe the designe of those Grandees, and cryed uppe the setting up of a governement in nature of an oligarchy of 70 wise good men, which was backed by Colonel Titchborne (now nott soe famous as then), and from divers of the congregated Churches; butt the cry was great against itt, as a thinge the people of England would nott bee bound by, soe att last the Churches were wrought over [cypher] to restore the Longe Parliament, which tooke effect, and they mett accordingly [cypher] 2,400,000li. [cypher]. Desperate bookes and other thinges are writt and published [cypher] who have stated another Good old Cause as hee calls it [cypher], and these thinges are suffered to goe abroad without question. Itt is nott fitt for a private pen to reprove a Parliament, otherwise one might with submission say, they suffer by such permission [cypher]. About 160 officers, Colonells, Lieutenant Colonells, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Cornetts, Ensignes, and Quartermasters are putt out of their commands without hearing, without charge, without tryall [cypher]. The Parliament have setled commissioners for the management of the businesse of the navy [cypher]. Noe newes from Ireland, butt that commissioners are going thither to command that nation, and a lettre is to bee sent on purpose for the Lord Harry to come over [cypher]. Wee take itt for granted that the peace is concluded betweene Spaine and France [cypher].1

14 June 1659,
London.

[1 ]This letter, which is unsigned, was probably sent some time after the incidents it records.

[2 ]In the Army’s petition they speak of ‘plucking the wicked out of their places.’—Old Parliamentary History, xxi. 338.

[1 ]See Clarke Papers, iii. 288, and Baker’s Chronicle, p. 659.

[1 ]The passages described as in ‘cypher’ should rather be described as in orthand of some kind.