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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

August 5, 1659.—

xxxi. f. 184b.Major Generall Massie is retaken. Hee made an escape, but was retaken goeing over a ferry neere Bristoll. A souldjer comeing the last night to London out of Hampshire informed the Councill that about 60 horse weere together in a body, which by a troope of the army and the county troope weere pursued upp and downe the country. On Monday night some officers that weere laid aside weere secured: Quartermaster Generall Gravenour, Captain Elsmore, Lieutenant Barrie, Quartermaster Spicer, and one of the life guard, and a souldjer of Collonel Swallowe’s regiment, and that Ingoldsby and Babington weere looked for, but could not bee found.

P. J.

August 6.—

xxxi. f. 186b.This day the grand committee had some debate on the Act of Union, but referred itt to Wednesday next, and passed an order in these words: That itt bee referred to the Councill of State to take care to prepare something concerning the setling of the administracion of justice and leavying of the Assessmente in Scotland, and present itt to this House for their consideracion. For ought I apprehend the Act of Union will bee a worke of some time.

R. W.

August 6, 1659.—

xxxi. f. 181b.Yesterday the House order’d the Lord Lambert to march out and command the army; drawing forth, the traine marched after them. Monday last the Lancashire Erupters proclaimed Charles Stewart. Wednesday last at Warrington Bridge, Sir George Booth hearing of it, said it would bee their ruine; they declare onely for a full and free Parliament, takeing of the taxes, liberty of conscience, and paying the souldyers.1 The gentry and ministry of Cheshire and Lancashire appeare much in this insurrecion, which makes their number much encreased. Lieutenant-Generall Whalley was ordered by the committee to commande Generall Montague’s regiment, but it was carryed in the House by 7 voyces for Collonel Alured. The bill for uniteinge England and Scotland tooke up the dayes debate. Sir Henry Littleton hath possest Cherke Castle in Denbighsheire with two troopes. The Lord Falkeland was yesterday secured at his owne house, and soe are the Lord Falconbridge and Collonel Rossiter by this time. Major-Generall Browne is att his house. Sir George Booth is marcht into Lancashire, where 2 regiments of our horse will visit him to-morrow. Three of our regiments are sent for out of Flanders. This night the Lord Lambert is march’t away.2

G. M.

[August 8].—

xxxi. f. 185.Colonel Gravenor upon suspition is committed to the Tower. Saturday, the 6 August, came intelligence, and Sonday, the 7, that the Earle of Manchester, the Lord Willoby of Parham, and Sir William Waller, were joyned with the Earle of Darby, the Earle of Stafford, and Sir George Booth in Lancashire, and that in the towne of Manchester they had raised 3 or 4 troopes of horse, and that three counties did rise with them, vizt. Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire, that they had raised 7 or 8 thousand horse and foote and published a declaration they were for calling a free Parliament; but it’s said they had theire comission from Charles Stewart, and that they have chosen the Earl of Manchester their Generall, and Sir William Waller their Lieutenant Generall,1 and appointed other officers. That they have taken Wiggan and West Chester, and that some ministers in Lancashire, whose names I omitt, are joyned with them. 6 regiments out of Yorkshire and other counties are goeing to oppose them. It’s said that they are goeing towards Wales. The issue of this busines wee waite for. Massey since his last escape is retaken, as it is certified for certaine.

[1 ]Booth and his friends asserted that ‘they had taken arms in vindication of the freedom of Parliament, of the known laws, liberty and property, and of the good people of this kingdom groaning under uncomfortable taxes.’ See ‘A Declaration of Sir G. Booth at the last rendezvous on Tuesday last near the city of Chester;’ Sir George Booth’s letter of August 2, 1659, showing the reasons of his present engagement.

[2 ]Lambert took with him, according to Mercurius Politicus (p. 650), three regiments of horse and one regiment of dragoons, three regiments of foot and a train of artillery. Their names are not given. In his letter of August 20 he says that on Sunday, August 14, ‘the two regiments of foot which marched from London with the horse under the command of Colonel Swallow and Major Creed, being in all nineteen troops, united at Drayton, in the county of Salop.’ He sent back, however, the militia troop of Staffordshire and Derbyshire, and Captain Sabberton’s troop of Swallow’s, marching with the rest to Nantwich, where he stayed two days and was joined by four companies of Colonel Biscoe’s foot and two of Colonel Ashfield’s, and also by one troop of his own regiment and three of Colonel Lilburne’s. In the battle, therefore, he had about twenty troops of horse, and two regiments and six companies of foot, or perhaps three regiments, twelve hundred or fifteen hundred horse, and at most about 3,000 foot. The foot regiments were Hewson’s, his own, and parts of others; and the horse regiments, Swallow’s, his own, part of Lilburne’s, and some miscellaneous troops belonging to various regiments.

[1 ]Manchester was not there, and Waller was a prisoner.