Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Newsletters from London - The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 4

Return to Title Page for The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 4

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

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

Newsletters from London - 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.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


Newsletters from London

13 December.—

xxxii. f. 164.Wee are heere in great disorder, and expect to bee in bloud every houre. The Citty resolve to have the Militia in their hands, lett itt cost what itt will. They att Whitehall keepe us in delayes with treaties, and the Committee of Safetie for the Citty, consisting of 6 Aldermen and 15 Common Councill [men], have had severall meetinges with the Committee of Safety att Whitehall, butt nothing satisfactory. The citizens are arming and providing themselves, and are all fix’t for my L. G. M. his Declaration. Lord Disbrow tooke possession of the Tower yesterday, and Salmon is made Lieutenant therof and Col. Fitch is secured.1 Portesmouth is in a good condition; there are 10 or 12 good frigotts have declar’d for the Parliament and are all secured, &c. Sir A. H., Col. M., and Col. Walton are still there, seeking to make a diversion and doing what they can. They are arming and raysing all the Anabaptists and other sectaries in all places. They have bin searching to secure Mr. Weaver, Mr. Scott, and Sir Ant. Ashley Cooper and the rest of the Councill of State, as alsoe Col. Okey, butt have nott yett found them. The seamen and watermen [are] all ready to rise and assist the cittizens, and itt’s feared this weeke will bee a bloody weeke heere in all appearance; the Lord divert his judgements. They are resolved uppon 2 Houses of [Parliament], and will make such restrictions that the Parliament shall signify nothing, the other House to bee chosen by themselves, and have voted a Parliament [to meet] the 12th of January, butt this gives noe satisfaction, and divisions grow worse and worse. Itt’s like to bee a perfect [cypher].

J. B.

Col. Atkins and Col. Markham are still in prison, butt goe out, as I heare, with their messenger.

13 December.—

xxxii. f. 165b.The Citty lies under the highest discontents that ever I knew itt, shoppes shutt uppe, trade gone, feares and jealousies multiply. Nothing will serve the rude multitude butt to have a free Parliament, and the exercise of the Militia in their owne hands. They will nott believe that Monck’s forces are soe weake, and his cause soe bad as itt’s said [?]. Lett thinges goe how they will for [the] present, wee shall have a Parliament next month.

Benkeshall.

London, December 13th, 1659.—

xxxii. f. 183.The face of affaires never looke worse in this place then at this time, for the generallity of the Citty expects daily to bee in eares with the souldjery. I suppose yow have had an account of the tumult that was suppressed by Col. Hewson, but the little bloud that was spilt that day, and with the Councill of some to put hand granadoes in Pauls and other places to fire the Citty if they should stir, have exceedingly exasperated and disobliged the Citty in generall, soe they want but an oppertunity to [blank].

The proposalls of the Citty to the Committee of Safety and Councill of officers are very high, and many thinkes will not bee granted, so that the misunderstanding is like to continue. They desire to have theire Militia at theire owne choise, and to call a free Parliament, and to remove the souldjers out of the Citty; the Tower should have been taken and declared for the Parliament but was prevented. Col. Fitch was to consent for it, which hath occasioned a gentle confinement to him in Wallingford Howse, which is like to continue till things is a little setled. There is one Col. Fagg with him, who was to raise forces in Sussex, which, if hee had not bin prevented, would have had a greater body together ere this,1 but itts thought there are and wilbee diverse riseings for the Parliament. They say Hacker in Lestershire is busy. Many doe think that the old Parliament must bee called, though the Councells in power heere have determined otherwise; that a Parliament shalbee called [is declared], but what qualifications [is not determined], and till this bee perfected, which I think will not bee done without either the agreement or conquest of Generall Monck, there are 12 appointed to vote in cheife whose names I cannot give you yet. It is credibly reported that Sir Arthur, Coll. Morley, and Col. Whetham is gone from Portsmouth by sea to Generall Monck. Divers have absented themselves about the surpriseing of the Tower, as Sir Antho: Ashley Cooper, Mr. Scott, Mr. Weaver, and Col. Okey,2 but your friends place is still firme in the Tower because of his faithfull behaviour.3 It is beleeved Col. Fitche wilbee restored by order of Parliament; it is put out of question hee will if the Long Parliament bee called againe; but all things and setlement in this place depends uppon the good agrement or successe in the North; this is true indeede, but greate are the distempers in all places and persons; there were many of the Generall Councill of officers that were for the restoring the old Parliament.

[1 ]There was a plot to surprise the Tower on December 12, in which Colonel Fitch, the Lieutenant of the Tower, Captain Spooner, and others were concerned. An account of it is given in Mercurius Politicus, December 8-15, 1659, p. 954.

[1 ]Colonel John Fagg was arrested in his own house by Lieut.-Colonel Lagoe. He was raising forces to march to Portsmouth. Mercurius Politicus, December 8-15, p. 946.

[2 ]Thurloe, vii. 797.

[3 ]Lieut.-Colonel Miller?