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

The Officers at Derby to General Monck - 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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The Officers at Derby to General Monck

My Lord,

xxxi. f. 223.The inclosed is a paper of proposalls, unanimusly agreed on by the officers of the army that were lately ingaged in the suppression of the insurrections in Cheshire, Lancashire, &c., to be tendered to the Generall Councill of officers at London; we have taken the freedome to present them to your Lordshipp[’s] consideration to prevent future surprisalls. We cannott dowbt of your Honour’s countenance, haveing had soe many yeares’ experience of your Honour’s fidelity to the publique, and readinesse in the pursuite and prosecution of those ends and principles which we have formerly contended for. Your Lordshipp will pardon the libertye we assume upon this occasion, and if your Lordshipp thincke fitt to make any returne, ’tis thought meet that you doe itt with all expedicion, and to direct to Lieutenant Colonel Duckenfeild or Majour Creed at London, wether they are goeing to the Generall Councill of officers, by appointment from the Councill of officers mett together in this towne.1 This paper is to be presented very suddanly to the Parliament. This is all the trouble we have to give your Lordshipp, more then to begg your pardon, and doe subscribe our selves

Your Lordshipp[’s] humble servants,

1 With this letter was sent a copy of the petition referred to in the last letter, which is not reproduced here, as it is already in print. Another paper (Clarke MSS. xxxi. 2176) gives the following account of its genesis: ‘Upon my Lord Lambert’s returne through Darbyshire out of Cheshire there was a meeting of about 50 officers at Darby, though his Lordshippe was not informed of their desires drawne upp and subscribed. Colonel Sankey, Colonel Michell, Major Creede, and others were appointed to modell a draught of a peticion and addresse, which was affected in 5 heades.’ This is evidently extracted from Colonel Michell’s letter to William Clarke of September 24, 1659, printed in the Report on Mr. Leyborne-Popham’s MSS. p. 128. Phillips says that after the petition was drawn up, Colonel Duckenfield was sent to London to acquaint the General Council of Officers with the proceedings at Derby. The petition itself, directed to Ashfield, Cobbet, and Lieut.-Col. Duckenfield, followed later. ‘And at the same time, when this was sent to London, an officer was despatched with a duplicate of it to General Monck, and a letter with it, to desire his concurrence and that the officers of his army might join with them. Which letter was subscribed by fourteen of the chief officers employed under Lambert’ (Baker, p. 676). A summary of this letter is given in Mr. Leyborne-Popham’s MSS., but without the names appended (p. 123). It was probably written on September 25, or thereabouts.
RICH. ELTON.WILL. MITCHELL.
RIC. CREED.THO: DIGGELYE.
HEN. DAVIS.HEN: BRIGHTMAN.
HIERO. SANCKEY.THO: WRIGHT.
ROBERT BROWNE.WILL. REVELL.
JOSIA SABBARTON.GA: WAYNE.
JOS. STRAINGWAYES.JAS. WRIGHT.
RICH: FRANCKE.1

[1 ]Derby.