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

Dr. John Owen 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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Dr. John Owen to General Monck

My Lord,

xxxii. f. 139b.I had made bold to have written unto you att the beginning of the late differences that have falne out betweene you and your freinds heere in England, but that I feared least prejudices and mistaikes might have rendred my soe doing only troublesome unto your Lordshipp and uselesse in its selfe; for though I knew my selfe to bee an utter strainger to that which was the occasion of the breach betweene you, yett the misrepresentations of things that I found prevaileing amongst ous would not suffer me to be confident that I should escaipe from a share in itt. But now, finding the infinitely wise and gratious providence of God working things towards a closure betweene yow, I could not withhold from contributeing my mite also unto soe good a worke, haveing already laboured unto my utmost in this place for the furtherance of a mutuall condescension, which must bee the meanes of a freindly composure and end of this bussinesse, their being then a resolucion on all hands of fixing on a free Commonwealth; and in such a way, as that whatever wee have yet attained hath bin but a shaddow of what is now aimed att, and care to bee taken theirin for the true interest of Christ, and that of men sober and godly. I cannott apprehend that any just and warrantable cause of difference can remaine amongst yow. Their are, my Lord, two evills that wee have cause to feare: the one is the prevailing of the Comon Enemy over ous; the other the prevailencie of fanaticall selfe seeking persons amongst ous. By your union both of these, through the mercy of God, wilbee prevented. By a continuance in your breaches, I cannott say both (because they are inconsistant), but one of them, that is one or the other, will certainely ensue: either the Comon Enemy will devoure ous all, which is the most likely, or another sort of men will have opportunity to lay hould on that power which will not easily be wrested from them. However, this is vissable to the whole world, freinds and enemies, nor can it be gainesayed by any with the least couler of reason; if the armies ingage in blood, their is a grave maid for our whole cause and interest, and a doore of ruine opened to all the sober godly in both Nations; which the old enemy is soe sencable and assured of, that his hopes and feares goe upp and downe, according as the differences of the army seemes to widen or to close, noe otherwise then if that difference were an army for Charles Stuart, and these men are wise in their generation. It is certaine, my Lord, that God hath putt an opportunity into your hands to be eminently servicable to the interest of good men in these Nations, for your cordiall closing with your freinds heere, carrying on things of common advice and consent, will exceedingly strenghten their hands in opposeing things distructive to the liberty of the Commonwealth and true interest of the saints, which are attempted to bee imposed on them by multitudes of men, and a continuance at this distance wilbee certainely ruinous, both to the armies and their freinds; nether are they able to prevent itt, who desire most to see yow both ingaged in blood, while they intend to warme themselves by the fires that [you] kindle. Finding then by the Declaration and letters, and some conference with the Commissioners sent by yow hither, that your principalls and those of your freinds here are universally the same, I cannott conjecture what cause of difference should remaine; but because the sitting againe of the last Parliament is by some spoaken of as a sufficient cause of itt, I shall offer my thoughts to your Lordshipp on that particular. Most of the persons of that number are my old freinds and acquantance. I may say freely that I ventered somwhat for their sitting. I know nothing at all of their dissolution, being for about five weakes before absent from this place; nor shall I take off from their esteeme by a reveiw of their actings during their session. Yet this I shall say, that it were better that both they, and I, and hundreds of better men then my selfe were in the ends of the earth, then that this [cause] should be ruined by the armies contest about them. For my owne part I am satisfied with these two things: first, that without there restauration a free state or Comonwealth may be setled, the Common Enemy defeated, the ministry preserved, reformation carryed on, and all the ends of our ingagements satisfied, if your Lordshipp and those with you concurre in the worke; and, secondly, that their reinvestiture cannott be effected without the blood of them whose ruine I am perswaded you seeke not, as on other accounts soe because I find them cordially assert and honour yow, as also the enslaveing of these Nations forever to the will of the major part of that small number. For that they should sitt downe againe, with thoughts of passing by what is past, looking onely forwards future settlement, and issuing their power theirin, cannott fall on the imagination of any wise man, but only those who are distant from this place, nor doe any amonge themselves pretend to such resolutions. I have spoaken my heart plainely and honestly unto your Lordshipp in these things, as in the presence of God, without respect to persons or parties. And much more I would willingly add, were it not for feare of being esteemed importunate to presse on you in your weighty affaires. Yea, out of that sincere honour I have long borne you, [I] would willingly waite on yow in person, should yow comand it, for the assurance of the assured setlement of love betweene yow and your freinds in this Nation. My Lord, yow shall on all occasions find me a true lover of my countryes liberties, an enemy to all usurpations upon itt, and one resolved to live and dye with the sober godly interest; and, finding your Lordshipp on the same principles, I have bin free with yow beyond the rules of that cautiousnesse which the difficulties of the season seemes to call for; but I walke by noe such rule. The manie things of all lawfull difference betweene yow and your freinds heere being secured by the agreement of your Commissioners, let me in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and on the account of his interest in the whole earth, in the name of all the trembling saints in these Nations, begg of you to bee instrumentall in putting a perfect issue and perpetuall oblivion to the late breach and division, as the only visable medicin, under the providence of God, to prevent the utter ruine of all that is deare unto you and ous. I have only to add my desire that yow would beleive mee to be what in sincerity I am,

My Lord,
Your Lordshipp’s most humble, faithfull
and affectionate servant,

Jno. Owen.

Westminster,
November 19, 1659.