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

General Monck to Sir Hardress Waller [?] - 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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General Monck to Sir Hardress Waller [?]

lii. f. 44.

Sir,

I must confesse uppon receipt of the former letter from Ireland, under which I found your hand subscribed, I was a little troubled that there should bee any to whome the interest of the Commonwealth should bee soe much in the darke as that they should not bee able to discerne how much the late force putt uppon the Parliament was destructive to itt, and I was fearefull least by some unworthines of mine I might have occasioned in my good friends there (of whome I recon your selfe alwaise the cheifest) some strange misapprehention and distrust of my sinceere intentions and cleare and upright actions; yet I was resolved that noe discurragement should make my heart faint or slacken my hand from upholding and promoteing to the utmost of my power that good cause for which wee had alwaise contended, and it hath pleased God soe farr to prosper my weake endeavoures that a good progresse is now made in restoreing the Parliament, and the people begin now to bee very sensible where theire interest lies. I hope this noble act of yours, and of the officers with yow, may bee a meanes fully and speedily to putt an end to this businesse, and that, according to your and my desire, without bloud; for though my continued desires and endeavoures for peace have hitherto found little successe with the authors of the late force, either because of the strong confidence they had of carryeing on and accomplishing theire designes, or else of the concenciousnesse of theire demerritts, which might make them fearefull to trust any more that Parliament which they had in soe high a measure provoked, yet I have good reason to beleeve that either the reputation of your assistance will strongly induce them to heare reason, or the example of your souldjers may move those that are with them to attempt something like it; and to the end that this might be the more effectuated I make it my request to yow to send us over into Scotland what assistance yow can, and that with all convenient speede. One regiment of Horse, I think, would bee sufficient, and soe many I conceive yow may weell spare out of those yow have, in regard it will bee easily for yow to raise soe many new ones for the defence of the Country, and not chargeable, because those yow shall send to us shall enter into pay heere as soone as they come to us.1 The gentleman yow sent hither will bee able to give you a particular accompt of our condition, and informe yow how little ground there is for any to feare that either the Scotts or Cavaleers should gaine any advantage by our late transactions; to him therefore I referr yow for a farther accompt, and that in regard to the desire I have to dispatche him as speedily as may bee. I shall trouble yow noe farther at present, but with my thankes for the good oppinion yow retaine of mee, and with a reall expression that I am

Your faithfull friend and humble servant,

George Monck.

Coldstreame, 28 of Dec., 1659.

Wee expect that the Parliaments friends in London will rise every day. They will not suffer a souldjer to come into the Citty, and severall other places will declare, soe I hope that our busines wilbee carried with out bloud shed. The Lord Lambert’s army are in greate destractions, and hee cannot advance towards us for feare of the mutinies of his souldjers. This honnest gentleman, Captaine Campbell, stuck to mee in Ireland when most of the forces left mee, and I shall intreate your favoure and incurragement to him.

[1 ]According to Gumble six troops under Colonel Theophilus Jones were accordingly drawn down into Ulster for embarkation, but not actually sent. Campbell arrived soon after Monck reached Coldstream (on his mission, see Gumble,p. 182; Baker, p. 699). Monck also sent Sir Joseph Douglas to engage Sir Charles Coote to declare for a free Parliament (Price, p. 751), and about the same time Captain Cuffe was sent by Lord Broghil to Monck (Baker, p. 703). Monck distrusted Waller in spite of his protestations, and let Lord Broghil know it (Warner, Epistolary Curiosities, i. 53).