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

Captain Newman to General Monck 2 - 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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Captain Newman to General Monck2

May it please your Lordship,

In all humilitie I am bold to tender these few lines to your Lordshipp in behalfe of myselfe. Truly it is a thing I should not have done, nor have I been used to, but the perswassion of frends puts me upon it. I understand our late Collonel hath layd downe,1 and truly, my Lord, I look for noe better from him then to doe that which would cause him to be layd assid: I sent him word by an Ensigne that was his Clarke, that if he forsooke that for which we had ingaged he should be to me noe more then one I never saw in my life: nay, had he stayed, my honourable Lady, your Noble Consort, knowes 14 dayes agoe that I sayd I would serue [as] a trouper rather then under him that had betrayed his trust; but he being off, as I heare, and our honest-hearted Major made Collonel, for which I rejoyce, and shall doe my best to make all others doe the like, as I am sure they have noe cause to the contrarie, and I find they are well content with it, soe I heare Capt. Clifton is made by your Lordshipp Major; whatever your Lordshipp hath done I am well pleased with, but I doe understand Capt. Clifton refusses it, being in a better and more profitable place,2 and he doth it upon this account. As [to] Capt. Collinson, who is at Inverlethen being the eldest Captain, it is true he is soe; but Capt. Clifton, I suppose, would not have refused your Lordship’s favour, but that he is better and hath lese trouble then if a Major: however, my Lord, if your Lordshipp will but inquire into the datte of his and my Commission, you will find mine senior, only Collonel Fenwick had a great respect to him, and he raising his Company nearer then I did mine, got to Barwicke before me, and alsoe Collonel Fenwicke kept him in his favour with intent (as he did after) to bestow his neece one him, soe by favour he got elder Coulers then I, soe that I was put by;3 but for preferment for my selfe I dare not be soe bold as to presse your Lordshipp, but only statte the buisnesse as it is in truth, and humbly leave it with your Lordshipp ether for the Major’s place or the Castle; and if your Lordship say noe to ether, I am content and submit my selfe to your Lordshipp’s pleasure. Since the begining of 1643 I have been in Comission in the horse seruice as quarter-master, Coronet, and Lievtenant to 1650, and from that time Captain here in this Regiment, and alway when the Major was absent officated as Major, sometimes 14 monthes together; and for my actings in this cause, if ever your Lordship come to London, as I beleeue you will er long, some of the most eminent in the Cittie can certifie what wayes I have taken to give them intelegance both by sea and land, and what I have done heare to promotte this cause I can leaue to the testymoney of the Regiment in which I am, and for my resolution for time coming let this be kept against me to fly in my face if I desert it: though I was but my selfe alone I shall never betray my posteritie, but seale with my bloud, if called to it, that I now say; if I would give my reasson I should be tedious and soe trouble your Lordshipp. I hope your Lordshipp will think of these few broken lines, and remember him that is and shall ever continew,

My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most faithfull and obedient seruant,

Will: Newman.1

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

[1 ]Wilkes, cf. p. 197.

[2 ]Captain Richard Clifton, to whom Monck now offered a majority, was Governor of Edinburgh Castle.

[3 ]Colonel George Fenwick was colonel of the regiment when it was first raised, and was succeeded by Wilkes about 1656.

[1 ]Undated, but doubtless written December 16, 1659. In 1644 Newman was a lieutenant in Captain Berry’s troop in Cromwell’s regiment of horse. In February 1662 he was a prisoner in the Gatehouse, and his wife Susanna petitioned for his release (Somers’s Tracts, vii. 530).