Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Newsletter - The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 4

Return to Title Page for The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 4

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

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

Newsletter - 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.


Newsletter

October 15.—

xxxii. f. 19.Sithence my last of the 13th instant the doore of the Parliament was lockt up, and 3 companies attend there to keepe any from attempting to gett into the House. Yesterday and this day the Councill of State sate, and soe did the Councill of Officers, passed this vote, vizt.: Ordered, That the person that excersises the chiefe powre and command in the army bee ordered to withdrawe the guards at the Parliament House and parts adjacent, to the end the Speaker and members of Parliament may return to the free exercize of the Legislative power and their duety; but the Councill of Officers refuse to give obedience thereunto. The said Councill yesterday declared unanimously that they owned the Lord Fleetewood to be the Lieut.-Generall and comander in cheife of the army, and such of the army as obey any other comand to bee proceeded against as muteneers. They suspended the commissions of Coll. Morley, and his Lieut. Coll., and Major Evelyn who the Lord Lambert dismounted at the head of his Troope. Coll. Saunders, and his Major, and Coll. Alured withdrew [from] their Councill by order. They have sent to the Militia to put themselves to a posture of defence, and are preparing a declaration. The Councill of State this day gave 200l. a peace to Sir Aurther Haslerig and Coll. Morley for the great paynes and charge they have bin at Thursday last, and 2 months’ pay to 28 souldiers of Coll. Sidenham’s regiment that run to Coll. Morley’s. When I sent you a pretty large narrative of matters in May last, I did therein intimate the grand dissatisfaction that was taken by displaceing of officers without heareing of them, or laying anything to theire charge; and though the then humers gave way to it, yet I ever thought it would rise upp in judgement against the Parliament; for that way of proceeding and discontents that have risen thereuppon hath been a greate cause of the alteracion of the present power, and the locking upp the Parliament’s doores, and the turneing back the Speaker and Members on Thursday last, not permitting them to sitt. Some votes the Parliament passed the day before, which ripeneth the discontent, which put the army in a suddain posture to give an interruption to the Parliament, which the army calls an absolute dissolution; and I doe beleeve there is not any likelyhood of their sitting againe, the discontents of the army are soe very greate to the Parliament’s high proceedings against many of them. The army, at the Generall Councill of Officers (which was much promoted by my Lord Lambert), chose my Lord Fleetwood to bee Commander in Cheife, who is now to issue out commissions as hee cause [choose?]; and Coll. Hacker and severall other Collonells are suspended from theire commands. The perticular circumstances are soe many concerning the last transaction as it will take upp more time to write then at present I can afford, yet I shall register them in writeing for the good of posterity. I pray you, present my humble service to Generall Monck, of whom I have a high esteeme. I wish it were in my power to serve him, and especially for preserveing of disciplin in the army against agitateing and subscriptions without his consent or consent of the Generall Officers.