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

Major Richardson 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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Major Richardson to General Monck1

My Lord,

Understanding there is to be a second treatie and att Newcastle by some comitiond from your Lordshipp and some from the Lord Lambert, I have taken the bouldnes to give your Lordshipp the trouble of this peruseall. My Lord, when we first took up Arms it was to assert the privilidges of Parliament, the lawes and liberties of the free born people of England, which for manie yeares we have been intrusted with by the people’s representitiues in Parliament, which trust, my Lord, we have too often forfeited by our acquiessence with, though not active in, such great and straing undertakings as disolveing of Parliaments, by and from whom we can onelye hope for a just and lawfull settlment of our lawes and rights, now as I humblie conceiue unjustlie invaded: And now, my Lord, it haveing pleased the wise disposer of all thinges to putt it into your hart to stand up for our nation’s dearest concernments, religion, lawes, and libberties, which your Lordshipp is stild the faithfull assertor of, and the eyes of the Commons of England under God being towards your Lordshipp for theyr deliuerance from slauerie or a sword gouernment, lett us not by this treatie giue that sadd occation for our children after us, for whom wee ingag’d to make them free, to saye there fathers was intrusted with the defence, as I have said before, of our dearest concernments, and while they acted faithfuly and according to theyr intrustment the Lord was pleased for manie yeares to prosper that work in there hands; butt now, by theyr condiscensions to the disquieters of our peace, they have given us up to the wills of men, whereby our consciences are inslau’d, our lives are geoberded, our liberties are lost, and the small patrimonie that they have left us we can noe longer call our owne then he shall please that wears the longest sword. My Lord, our cause is just, and but thee same wee first ingaged for. Tyronie is tyronie whether it be in one person or in nine or tenn—I know noe difference. And therfor, as your Lordshipp has declar’d for the Parliament, none that knows your constancie haith cause to think in this treatie yow will in the least receed from that just and warrantable resolution. And your Lordshipp need not dowbt butt your faithfull endeauors for our nation’s interest will soe happilie move upon the winges of the people’s prayers therein, as your Lordshipp’s true integritie for them wilbe crownd with happie success in this soe just a cause, which that it maye be shalbe the prayers of,

Right honorable,
Your Lordshipp’s most humble servant,

Th: Richardson.1

December 8,
1659.

[Endorsed] Major Richardson, incuragement to the worke.

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

[1 ]Should probably be signed Mi[chael] Richardson. Richardson was Major of Colonel Mitchell’s regiment, and Governor of Aberdeen in 1657 (Thurloe, vi. 145, 162). In the summer of 1659 the command of the regiment was transferred to Overton, and Richardson and other officers dismissed (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1659-60, p. 177).