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

General Monck to Colonel Overton - 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 Colonel Overton

Sir,

lii. f. 48.Being through the good providence of God now att Yorke taking care for the affaires of the Parliament in these parts, and the condicion of the Garrison of Hull being somewhat doubtfully represented to mee, seeing I can yett meete with noe person that can assure mee that yow have yett declared for the Parliament now sitting att Westminster,1 I have thought itt meete to send these Messengers that soe I might receive satisfaction in that point, and soe all grounds of suspition and jealousie may be prevented, which will nott be avoyded otherwise than by a full and free declaracion of your adherence1 to the Parliament in their present constitution. In expectation of a satisfactory answer in this particular,

I remaine,
Sir,
Your very loving freind and servant,

G. M.

Yorke, 12 Jan.,
1659.

[1 ]Overton had been reinstated by the restored Long Parliament, and his imprisonment by the Protector declared unjust (Commons’ Journals, vii. 688, 738). He was made commander of a regiment of foot, eight companies of which were still in Scotland when Monck declared against the Parliament (Baker, pp. 685, 687; MSS. of Mr. Leyborne-Popham, pp. 122, 127; Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1659-60, p. 45). Overton and the officers at Hull refused to support the representation and petition of the army, of October 5. Their answer, dated October 11, is printed in Redmayne’s True Narrative, p. 16, and was now forwarded by Overton to Monck (Clarke MSS. xxxii. 46). On October 11, 1659, Parliament appointed Overton one of the seven commissioners for the government of the army and he thus became Monck’s colleague. Consequently Monck, when he declared against Fleetwood and Lambert, wrote to Overton for support, at the same time that he wrote to Ludlow (Clarke MSS. xxxii. 44; cf. Ludlow, Memoirs, ed. 1894, ii. 449). To this Overton seems to have returned no answer, remaining ostentatiously neutral, and criticising the action of both parties to the quarrel. He published, about November 1659, a tract called The humble and healing Advice of Col. Robert Overton to Charles Lord Fleetwood and General Monk. Addressing Monck and the Scottish officers, he says, ‘I am very much afraid that in this matter you are under a bad influence, though you have a plausible pretence; and although I wish and shall press after a right understanding betwixt you and the army in England, yet in this your undertaking I cannot bid you good speed.’

[1 ]The printed version of this pamphlet reads ‘obedience.’ King’s Pamphlets, E. 1013, 21.