287. The king Newcastle thought fit. The greater part of the House of Lords consented, but the House of Commons would not agree unless they might have the nomination of commanders. There is likewise a difference between the two houses about settling this kingdom into a posture of defense, both by land and sea. The House of Commons would have new lieutenants, new commanders, and men of their own election in every fortified place, and a new privy council about the king's person, and new officers. The higher house will leave that to the king, and that's the difference. The Roundhead apprentices flock in troops to the parliament house with the protestation on the top of their swords, and their long ears cannot endure to hear the name of a bishop. The king is now at Windsor, and 't is not known when he intends to return here to London. Thus with my best wishes and prayers for you, I end, desiring to be remembered unto my brother Willoughby and his wife, my uncle William, and to all the rest. Your ever loving son-in-law whiles I am, JOHN TURBERVILL. This is to tell you that this rebellion is growen to that height, to the earl of that I must not looke what opinion men are who at this tyme (Shrewsbury, ar willing and able to serve me. Therfore I doe not only perSeptember mit, but command you, to make use of all my loving subjects' 23, 1642) services, without examining their contienses, more than there loyalty to me, as you shall fynde most to conduce to the uphoulding of my just regall power. So I rest. Your most asseured faithfull frend, III. THE PERIOD OF THE WAR CHARLES R. The outbreak of the civil war left parliament in entire control of the religious as well as the political government of the country. The eloquent essay of Milton, which he called Areopagitica, from which the following extracts are taken, was an appeal to parliament for moderation and religious liberty, and for allowing each man to think out religious problems for himself. ton's Areo Lords and Commons of England, consider what nation it is 288. Extracts whereof ye are, and whereof ye are the governments: a nation from Milnot slow and dull, but of a quick, ingenious, and piercing pagitica spirit, acute to invent, suttle and sinewy to discours, not published November, beneath the reach of any point the highest that human capacity 1644) can soar to. Therefore the studies of learning in her deepest sciences have bin so ancient and so eminent among us, that writers of good antiquity and ablest judgment have bin perswaded that ev'n the school of Pythagoras and the Persian wisdom took beginning from the old philosophy of this island. And that wise and civill Roman, Julius Agricola, who govern'd once here for Cæsar, preferr'd the naturall wits of Britain before the labour'd studies of the French. reformation Nor is it for nothing that the grave and frugal Transylvanian sends out yearly from as farre as the mountainous borders of Russia, and beyond the Hercynian wilderness, not their youth, but their stay'd men, to learn our language and our theologic arts. Yet that which is above all this, the favour and the love of heav'n we have great argument to think in a peculiar manner propitious and propending towards us. Why else was this The atnation chos'n before any other, that out of her, as out of Sion, tempted should be proclaim'd and sounded forth the first tidings and of Wycliffe trumpet of reformation to all Europ? And had it not bin the obstinat perverseness of our prelats against the divine and admirable spirit of Wicklef, to suppresse him as a schismatic and innovator, perhaps neither the Bohemian Husse and Jerom, no nor the name of Luther or of Calvin had bin ever known : the glory of reforming all our neighbors had bin compleatly ours. But now, as our obdurate clergy have with violence demean'd the matter, we are become hitherto the latest and the backwardest schollers, of whom God offer'd to have made us the teachers. Now once again by all concurrence of signs, and by the generall instinct of holy and devout men, as they daily and solemnly expresse their thoughts, God is decreeing to begin London, a city Different varieties of religious belief desirable some new and great period in his church ev'n to the reforming of reformation itself: what does he then but reveal himself to his servants, and as his manner is, first to his Englishmen; I say as his manner is, first to us, though we mark not the method of his counsels and are unworthy. Behold now this vast city, a city of refuge, the mansion house of liberty, encompast and surrounded with his protection. The shop of warre hath not there more anvils and hammers waking, to fashion out the plates and instruments of armed justice in defence of beleagur'd truth, then there be pens and heads there, sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, revolving new notions and ideas wherewith to present, as with their homage and their fealty, the approaching reformation: others as fast reading, trying all things, assenting to the force of reason and convincement. What could a man require more from a nation so repliant and so prone to seek after knowledge? What wants there to such a towardly and pregnant soile but wise and faithfull labourers to make a knowing people a nation of prophets, of sages, and of worthies. We reck'n more than five months yet to harvest; there need not be five weeks; had we but eyes to lift up, the fields are white already. Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making. Under these fantastic terrors of sect and schism, we wrong the earnest and zealous thirst after knowledge and understanding which God hath stirred up in this city. What some lament of we rather should rejoice at, should rather praise this pious forwardness among men to reassume the ill-deputed care of their religion into their own hands again. A little generous prudence, a little forbearance of one another, and som grain of charity, might win all these diligences to joyn and unite into one generall and brotherly search after truth; could we but foregoe this prelaticall tradition of crowding free consciences and Christian liberties into canons and precepts of men. The two following letters of Cromwell were written, the first just after the battle of Marston Moor, the second just after the battle of Naseby. The first, in addition to the news of the battle, tells Colonel Walton of the death of his son; the second makes an appeal to parliament similar to that of Milton given above, in favor of the Independents, who were in danger of suffering from persecution by the Presbyterian parliament. Deere Sir: 289. Oliver Colonel It's our duty to sympathize in all mercyes; that wee praise Cromwell to the Lord together in chastisements or tryalls, that soe wee may Valentine sorrowe together. Truly England and the Church of God hath Walton had a great favor from the Lord in this great victorie given (July 5, 1644) unto us, such as the like never was since this War begunn. It had all the evidences of an absolute Victorie obtained by the Lord's blessing upon the godly partye principally. Wee never charged but wee routed the enimie. The lefte Winge, which I commanded, being our owne forse saving a few Scottes in our reere, beat all the Prince's horse. God made them as stubble to our swords. Wee charged their Regiments of foote with our horse and routed all wee charged. The particulars I cannot relate now; but I believe of twenty thousand, the Prince hath not four thousand left. Give glory, all the glory, to God. Sir, God hath taken away your eldest sonn by a cannon shott. Itt brake his legge. Wee were necessitated to have itt cutt off, whereof hee died. Sir, you know my tryalls this way, but the Lord supported mee with this, that the Lord tooke him into the happinesse wee all pant after and live for. There is your precious child, full of glory, to know sinn nor sorrow any more. Hee was a gallant younge man, exceedinge gracious. God give you his comfort. Sir: Your truly faythfull and lovinge brother, Beinge commanded by you to this service, I thinke myselfe bound to acquaint you with the good hand of God towards you and us. Wee marched yesterday after the Kinge, 290. Oliver whoe went before us from Daventree to Haverbrowe, and Cromwell to quartered about six miles from him. This day wee marched William Lenthall, speaker of the House of Commons (June 14, 1645) Lord Fair towards him. Hee drew out to meete us. Both Armies engaged. Wee, after three howers fight, very doubtfull, att last routed his Armie, killed and tooke about five thousand, very many officers, but of what quallitye wee yet know not. Wee tooke alsoe about two hundred carrages, all hee had, and all his gunnes, being twelve in number, whereof two were demiecannon, two demie-culveringes, and, I thinke, the rest sacers. Wee persued the enimie from three miles short of Haverbrowe to nine beyond, even to sight of Leicester, whither the Kinge fled. Sir, this is non other but the hand of God, and to him alone fax's services belongs the glorie wher in none are to share with him. The Generall has served you with all faythfullness and honor, and the best commendations I can give him is that I dare say hee attributes all to God and would rather perish than assume to himselfe ; which is an honest and a thrivinge way, and yett as much for bravery may bee given to him in this action as to a man. Honest men served you faythfully in this action. Sir, they are trusty. I beseech you in the name of God not to discourage them. I wish this action may begett thankfulnesse and humilitye in all that are concerned in itt. Hee that venters his life for the libertye of his countrie, I wish hee trust God for the libertye of his conscience and you for the liberty hee fights for. In this hee rests, whoe is your most humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. During the whole of the war the king wrote constantly to the queen, who was in France. Some of his letters of the year 1646, when his fortunes were at almost their lowest ebb, are here given. Dear Heart: Because I desire to insist upon that which I conceive most necessary for our preservation, I refer thee to Sir Edw. Nicholas concerning the late unhappy accident in Ireland, and my last |