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

Letter 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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Letter to Mr. William Clarke

London, December 6, 1659.—

xxxii. f. 159.Yesterday the prentices delivered a petition to the Lord Mayor, &c., for the priviledges of Parliament and preservation of Magistracy and Ministry. And the Committee of Safety ordered Col. Hewson and all the forces they could make to goe into London and suppresse it, which caused the cittizens to feare they came to plunder them, soe all shopps were shutt and differences grew betweene the prentices and souldjers. At last the souldjers fell in uppon severall naked boyes, and killed 3 or 4, and cutt and slashed 20 or 30, which hath caused a greate heart burneing in the Citty. Yesterday came certaine newse that Col. Whetham hath delivered upp the Government of Portsmouth to Sir Arthur Heslerigg, Col. Morley, and Col. Walton, who have declared for the Parliament, and the navye there hath done the like. They intend to make orders about the army, and Col. Morleye’s interest in those parts is very considerable. This busines puts them into a greate stand, and they know not what to doe. Wee are glad to heare you are soe unanimouse in Scotland. The Councill of State have satt privately till the expiration of theire commission, and now are gone to theire severall homes. They have sent severall letters to Generall Monck to incurrage him, and those noble officers and souldjers with him, and are resolved that those officers and souldjers as shall faithfully adhere to Generall Monck in this righteouse cause shall not onely have theire arreares paid soe soone as they have restored the Parliament, but shall have medalls given them as a marke of the Parliament’s favoure towards them for their faithfullnes, &c. The souldjers heere are soe vilified, scorn’d, and hist, that they are asham’d to march; and many officers when they goe into the Citty dare not weare their swords for feare of affronts; and thus God hath blasted them, and they are become vile in the eyes of the people. And many souldjers wish themselves with my Lord Generall Monck, for they say they will bee sure to bee paid and have theire arreares; but now they fight for they doe not know what nor who, and are esteemed rogues and traters. You cannot beleeve the confusion that is amongst us. Some say they have noe way to save them selves but to call a Parliament and proclaime R[ichard] againe. The Lady Dowager sent one of her Gentlemen to my Lord Fleetwood yesterday before hee was upp, and tould him hee came from her Highnesse, who wish’t him to call to minde the saying of her Husband to him before his death, that hee would never leave his whimsies till hee had put the Nation in bloud, and wish’t him seriously to consider of it, and call it to mind, and how neere hee was in effecting it, and bid him consider what wrong hee had done to her sonne R[ichard], whether as affaires stoode they had any better way to preserve themselves and the Nation then to restore him. Hee lay in bed all the tyme like a stock, and answered not a word.

Remember my humble service to my Lord Generall. Had I as many lives as haires of my heade, I should venter them all with him and for him in this righteouse cause, which God, I am confident, will owne and prosper in his hands. If you can but keepe Scotland your worke will bee done to your hands, for your cause getts ground daily; but take heede of too soone engagements to hazard all. And if his Lordshipp wants assistance, noe prince but will make use of private souldjers of any Nation, and they may doe well mixt; but for that his Lordshipp is wiser then wee heere to know the conveniency or inconveniency of such things. Col. Markham and Col. Atkins are still in prison for delivering a lettre from G. M. to the Lord Mayer. I have noe more, beeing willing to the utmost to improve my selfe for you and this cause. Not a penny will bee paid after this month, nor will the people pay a penny tax without consent of Parliament.