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

General Monck to Lieut.-General Fleetwood - 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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General Monck to Lieut.-General Fleetwood

My Lord,

lii. f. 5b.I had the favoure yesterday to receive your Lordshippe’s of the 25th of October by Collonel Talbott and [Dr.] Clarges, and am obliged to your Lordshipp for the great respect manifested to me in itt, of which the sending of two such freinds in this occation is not the least. I have very seriously considered all your Lordshipp writt, and have discoursed with Collonel Talbott about the whole matter, but am sorrey to find your Lordshipp soe much mistaken in the apprehentions of things. As to what Sir Arthur Hezlerigge, Collonel Walton, and Collonel Morley acted in drawing regiments to Westminster Hall, itt was but thare duty, they being trusted by the Parliament (in whom the militia was asserted by the blood of many pretius saints) to manage all their forces in defence thereof, and those souldiers that were induced to oppose them were the proper deviders of the army. But truely (my Lord) I was much distracted at my first heareing of the practices of our bretheren at London, who did not onely, to the great scandall of the army, interrupt the Parliament, but begun imediately to forme themselves into such a posture as denounced a warr to all that condescended not to them. As first they assembled some officers together that called themselves a Generall Councill, and these chose a Commander in Cheife, a Major Generall, and Comissary Generall, in direct opposition to the Parliament’s authoritie, who had not onely declared against such officers, but setled the governement of the army in seaven commissioners. And since that (if our ordenary letters are true) they have done little lesse then constituted legislative authoritie over these nations, and appointed comittees or councills for the raiseing moneyes and makeing warr and peace, which at once divests the people of such essentiall and undoubted rights as the greatest tyrants amongst ous never openly pretended to, and against which even themselves and your Lordshipp have often solemnlye witnessed. I beseech your Lordshipp, what does this signifie but a devideing the army, and [to] make the most glorious cause that ever men ingaged in a personall contest? And if your Lordshipp and those with yow oppose the Parliament’s army (which the Lord hath soe often and soe eminently owned), lett the Lord judge betweene yow and ous where the guilt will rest. And although your Lordshipp is soe confident of the justice of the actings as to tell me, yow beleive not two of the Churches approve of my faithfulnesse to the cause I prosecute, I must tell your Lordshipp without vanitie, I beleive that there is not any truely godly professor, unprejudiced, that denies us his prayers and best wishes; and in the distinction of godly persons, I desire your Lordshippe to conclude them godly that say they are soe, except they are righteouslie; wherefor, to use your Lordshippe’s owne wordes, I begg yow to refuse and decline every thing which may cause further differences and divisions amongst ous. Certainely, if we sought ourselves we have as good a title as our bretheren at London to impose uppon the people, and sett upp Generall Councills and Councills of State, if we affected arbitrary exercise of government; which notwithstanding that your Lordshippe sayes [it] is not in the[ir] intentions all unbiassed men may runn and read the contrary in those actions. As to what your Lordshipp mentions of blameing the authority I exercise in this army as a comissioner of Parliament I may say thus much, that since by the force upon the Parliament the comissioners are hindered from the execution of thair trust, I may make use of such of their forces as are under my chardge to restore them. And when the Lord pleases to returne the Parliament to their trust, I will submitt my actinges theirin to their judgement.

Thus I have hastily given your Lordshippe an account of things, and to testefie unto you how unwilling I am [to] decline any overtures of meditation, I doe freely accept of your Lordshippe’s invitation therunto; and if your Lordshipp please to appoint three of those with yow to treate with the like number from hence in the behalfe of this army, I shall not dispaire of an happy issue from thair indeavours. I must not omitt to acquaint your Lordshippe that Collonel Lilburne as it were manages an open warr against ous heare, by procureing subscriptions of engagements, and drawing horse and foote in more then ordenary or usuall numbers towards our borders, and guarding all our armies, and stopping and scearching all our letters; soe that if I send some men to prevent a surpriz upon ous, I hope your Lordshippe will put noe ill interpretation upon my duety in itt, being confident your Lordshipp does not intend by the offer of this meditation to insnare ous. I am,

My Lord,
Your Lordshippe’s [very humble servant,

George Monck.]

Edenburgh,
3. November,
1659.