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

Colonel Robson to General Monck 1 - 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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Colonel Robson to General Monck1

Right Honorable,

I receiued yours per Ensigne Moore, and have accordinge to your Lordship’s order putt these six Companies and garrison into such a secure and settled posture as I doubt not, but per the assistance of God, wee shalbe able to give your Lordship a good accompt of that trust reposed in us, beinge resolued to keepe it for the interrest of the Parliament.2 I was forced to dismiss 24 priuate souldiers and six corporalls who shewed their unwillingness to act in this good and honest cause, twenty three of which did belonge to my Colonell’s and Capt. Spencer’s Companies, maney of them beinge of most violent, turbulent, and dangerous spirritt, and could not with safity be continued; they weare all of Capt. Spencer’s people, of that church. I have presumed to give them there discharges, and what monies could possible spare them; they are goane for Carlyle, where at present Colonell Sawrey is. Those comission officers which your Lordship wrott to are also resolued not to act; I have therefoir dismissed them from there seauerall imployments, and what they intende to doe as yet I knowe not, but their carriages are excedinge high, and make it here there only buissness to discourrage and discountinance the priuate souldiers. My Colonell’s family, with the rest of the desentinge officers, are at present in the Cittadell. I desire to knowe your Lordship’s pleasure concerninge them. We are in greate want of monies, to carry on our Locality, for coales and candle, all the six Companies beinge draune into the Cittadell. I have noe more at present, but shall desire the Lord to direct, councill, and assist your Lordship in all your undertakings which may tende to the settlement of these poore distracted nations, and the good and liberty of the people of God therein. I shall euer remaine

Your Lordship’s verey humble seruant,

Yaxley Robson.

Cittadell at Ayre this
1st Decemb., 1659.

[1 ]Phillips MSS. in the Advocates’ Library.

[2 ]Yaxley Robson was a captain in Col. Sawrey’s regiment of foot, which was quartered at Ayr. When Monck declared for the Parliament against the Army he commissioned Robson to secure the citadel at Ayr. Robson set deliberately to work, and carried out his orders without any recourse to force. ‘He dealt so with the officers that most of them, except the colonel and lieutenant-colonel, agreed to comply with the General.’ Lieut.-Col. Holmes ‘privately got away to Carlisle, and secured that garrison for the army in England.’ (This was the Holmes who fought under Monmouth at Sedgmoor.) Col. Sawrey temporised for a time, but finally he also fled into England. Peter Crispe, the major, seems also to have left. An earlier letter from Robson is printed in the Report on the MSS. of Mr. Leyborne-Popham (p. 127), and there is one from Daniel Jackson, the regimental chaplain, to Speaker Lenthall, in Grey’s Examination of Neal’s Puritans, iv., appendix, p. 135. Monck finally made Robson colonel of the regiment.