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

To Mr. William Clarke [?] - 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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To Mr. William Clarke [?]

London, the 3d of November, 1659.

Loving Friend,

xxxii. f. 86.I have constantly written twice a weeke since these troubles began. It is impossible for any honnest man to beleeve how most shamefully these A[na] B[aptists] doe reproch my Lord Generall Monck, saying that hee intends to bring in the King of Scotts, and that he hath put out all the godly. I have spent and doe spend my whole time in undeceveing the people. The Militia of this Citty mett last night, and were hott in debate about sending a Declaration to Scotland in answer to Generall Monck’s Declaration, and have chosen a Committee of 5 to draw upp somthing to offer the Militia this afternoone to bee sent into Scotland. They are divided; 33 weere for a Declaration to bee sent to this effect, that they would not have his Lordshipp trust to the Militia of London for any assistance, but to desire him to release these godly officers that hee hath imprisoned, and then they would endeavoure a good understanding betweene the Parliament and Army; and there were 25 against this vote; but somthing is drawing upp to offer to the Militia, but wee shall not know what is done till it bee very late. The Militia are very symple, unworthy fellowes generally, and hated by the Citty, and doe give credit to every report; and there were 40 letters read at the Militia from Edinburgh and Leith, some from those in prison, and some from others, vilifieing Generall Monck and his officers very much, that the Militia thinkes that they are driveing the King’s interest; but I have been and still am active in informeing them the contrary. Heere is a long letter which I am confident was written by W. W., for it is his style, and was read at the Militia, and from H. and K. and others. It were well if C. W. and C. K. and C. N. of Sterling would not write unto Jacob White concerneing the sincerity of their hearts in this cause to set upp the A[na] B[aptists] and put downe the M[inistry], to sell colledge lands and destroy the universities, and this they will doe if they should prosper. It is advised by all that it is safest to keepe Scotland this Winter, and to quarter about the Borders; theire army will have oppertunity to fall from them, and the countryes and citty will not hould long quiet, and it is safer to doe soe then to hazard all by too suddaine a march into England. Lambert went this morneing out of the citty towards the North, and what forces they could spare marched hence yesterday. I mett with many of them with their knapsacks on their backs, and 6 or 8 in a company. I said aloud, ‘These honnest souldjours does not looke as if they would hurt Generall Monck.’ They stood still, and laughed, and answered, ‘Noe, Sir, you may sweare it.’ They will never bee got to fight, I am confident. However, I am against your comeing to England as yet; your cause wilbee understoode every day better and better. Mr. H. is still heere, L[ord] F[leetwood] stayes him till hee have an answer from G[eneral] M[onck] of his former letters.1 The Committee of Safety have not acted much more then theire Proclamation. They are very sorry and troubled, and never yet of 23 above 9 or 10 have mett. S[alway] and S[ir] H. V[ane] signe nothing yet more met to consult with them. C. L. is gone for Leith. The Cittizens wilbee stirring shortly when the army is away to the North, and others will declare; bee not too ready to ingage. Hacker’s regiment and Berrye’s and others will not declare for the Army, and most of the officers in Hacker’s regiment are turned out; one of his Captains vowes that both horse and foot are for Generall Monck, and its thought will come over unto him. Col. Twisleton, whose regiment is [in] Scot[land], is dismist from his regiment; soe hee cannot act. Capt. Dutton, Capt. Hacoridge, and others have deserted the army and are dismist, and wofull divisions increase daily. The country will not bee long at peace, nor this Citty, and every day your cause gets ground; feare not, bee not daunted. You have a righteouse cause, and a righteouse God; the good Lord strengthen your hands, and farewell Parliaments and all our libertyes if you should desert this cause. L[ieut.] G[en.] L[udlow] is come from I[reland], and hath declared his dissent, for hee is alsoe dismist, and F[leetwood] made Generall of all the forces there. If your army doth march for England the best way is Lancashire and Staffordshire—the counties will rise with yow; the Lord direct you in all things. I am just now come from the Militia, who sat this night till 10 of the clock, and there was a letter brought in by the Committee of 5, which was alsoe chose the last night for that purpose, which have taken upp the debate all this afternoone. And at last, being put to the question whether the saide letter should bee sent to Gen. Monck or noe, was carried in the affirmative by 3 or 4 voyces; but those that were against the said letter did desire their discent might bee entered in the Clerke’s booke, for that the said letter was of ill consequence, and would rather cause a division betweene the Parliament and the army then to seement their difference, in regard that the said letter did rather incline to the army then to the Parliament. But when the said letter was carried for to bee sign’d it could not bee found; at which the armies party was not a little troubled; and soe the Court desolved, and appointed to debate it againe to morrow, at the hower of 2 of the clock. The Lord Mayor, and all other persons of quality and sober minds, are clearely for Generall Monck’s Declaration, and its thought it very much divides the Citty.

[1 ]Mr. Houlcupp, Monck’s messenger. See a letter from Capt. Griffith Lloyd to Monck, printed in the Report on Mr. Leybourne Popham’s MSS., p. 125.