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

Johnston of Warriston 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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Johnston of Warriston to General Monck

Sir,

lii. f. 10.This comittee being acquainted with the letters to my Lord Fleetwood, wherein yow have expressed your dislike of some laite actions heare relaiteing to the Parliament, and have declared your selfe in such a way as gives an apprehention of some mischeifes which may arise thereby to this Comonwealth, unlesse tymely prevented, and may be laid by our comon enemy as a ground of a civill warre (which God divert) amongst ous, this comittee as they find the present posture of affaires, being trusted with the care of preserveing the publique peace and resisting the enemies theirof, are most unwilling to entertaine any thoughts of your haveing the least intentions of becomeing one of that number, as giveing a rise to those sad miseries which a new civill warr would bring uppon our native country at a time when it hath pleased the Lord [to bestow] full peace and quiet uppon us, which wee all beleeve will be esteemed worthy the preservation, and wee are not apt to think that a person of your honour, meritt, and affection to your country will bee the occasion of disturbance thereof. This comittee have therefore thought fitt heereby to desire yow to forbeare anything which may tend to the interruption of our present peace, and that yow keepe the forces under your command free from acting any thing which may cause disquiett in these nations, or the hazard of that country where you command by the enimies riseing there. The committee suppose your want of a right information of the peaceable and quiet posture of affaires heere, and of the greate unity among the officers and souldjers of the army, and of the present proceedings heere tending to the setlement of this Commonwealth (which your selfe and all good men soe much desire), did occasion the restraint by you put upon diverse officers of the army there, and the cashereing severall of them, with those extraordinary expressions in your letter; but upon this information from hence they desire and expect that yow forthwith give order for the release of those officers by yow committed, and the restoreing of them to their commands who have been lately putt out, and that yow observe the disciplin of the army, that none bee put out of his command but by a Court Martiall, and that yow give a full conformity to what they now desire; which being submitted unto by your selfe and those under your command, this committee doe hereby assure yow that both yow, and all those who have acted hitherto in this busines by your order, shalbee wholly freed and indemnified from any question or trouble for those past actions; but in case yow shall persist in your former mistakes, and breake the peace of this Common wealth, yow will bring the blood and miseries which may bee caused thereby to cry for vengeance against yow as the author of them, and this committee will not bee wanting through the assistance of the Lord to make use of such meanes as hee shall put into their hands for the prevention thereof. Wee beeing heere uppon the place, and haveing our owne concernes in the publicque welfare of the Common wealth as well as others, hope yow will have soe much charity of us as to think wee understand reasons for our actions, and shall bee as tender of the peace of our owne native countrye as your selfe or any others, and therefore desire yow would not bee too precipitant, least uppon better information your repentance may bee too late. Sir, wee leave these matters to your serious consideration, desireing your answer thereunto.

Signed in the name and by order
of the Committee of Safety.

Johnston, President.

White Hall,
29th October, 1659.