Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Major-General Lambert to General Monck - 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

Major-General Lambert 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.

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.


Major-General Lambert to General Monck

Sir,

lii. f. 4bI have received yours from Edinburgh of the 20th instant, wherein I perceive yow are informed that part of the army have put a force upon the Parliament, and that yow judge yourselfe obliged to assert their authority. I am very confident, from the former knowledge I have had of yow, that your intentions are honnest and honourable both to your friends heere, and alsoe [to] the faithfull, honnest interest in these nations, and yet must needs say that these your resolutions cannot tend to that end, and therefore must needs conclude they are grounded uppon misinformations. I doe confes I doe in some measure take blame to my selfe that I have not from time to time given yow an account of proceedings heere, which was not out of my want of respect, but a hope that the unreasonable proceedings of some persons would the more clearely have vindicated the proceedings of the army. But finding the truth of things soe farr hid from yow as yow are perswaded into a good likeing of their wayes, I have thought [it] my duty uppon the accompt of old friendship to endeavoure to give yow a true state of all transaccions heere, and for that purpose shall cheifly referr yow to the bearer, who hath been an eyewitnesse of the whole, and shall with earnestnes begg of yow to consider those dangers and mischeifes must fall uppon this Common wealth, [if] that the armies thereof [be] devided and come to blowes amongst themselves. May wee not conclude that Scotland (which cost England (as none knowes better then yourselfe) a deare price) will fall into the hands of the late King’s party there? And will [they] not have a certaine oppertunity to doe some [mischief] heere? And what good can wee reasonably propose to the Common wealth by or from an ingagement of the army of this nature, which way soever providence determinate it? And therefore out of respect to England, to the army, to your friends, to your selfe and posterity, endeavoure to restore that love and unity which hath hitherto preserved it and the peace of the nations. It is in your hands to doe this without the least prejudice to your selfe or any other with yow; but if you consider your friends heere yow will not finde it soe with them. I shall say noe more at present, but referr to the bearer, who has a true respect for yow, to whome yow give all creditt in what hee shall say unto yow, and to assure you that if yow please to make use of mee I shalbee ready to express my selfe,

Sir,
Your assured loveing friend and very
humble servant,

John Lambert.

White Hall,
October 25th,
1659.