to the country, and to use your best endeavors to cause bread, butter, cheese and flesh to be brought in, and to be in readiness there against our coming; for which the country shall receive ready money. Not doubting of your care herein, I rest, "Your very loving friend, "OLIVER CROMWELL." 1 No. 22. AFTER WORCESTER BATTLE: LETTERS TO THE SPEAKER. [Vol. xviii. p. 254.] [To the Right Honorable William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament of England: These.] "EVESHAM, 8th September, 1651. “SIR, The late most remarkable, seasonable, and signal Victory, which our good God (to whom alone be ascribed all the glory) was pleased to vouchsafe your servants against the Scottish Army at Worcester, doth, as I conceive, justly engage me humbly to present in reference thereunto this consideration: That as the Lord appeared so wonderfully in His mercies towards you, so it will be very just to extend mercy to His people, our Friends that suffered in these parts upon this occasion; and that some reparation may be made them out of the Sequestration or Estates of such as abetted this Engagement against you. The town being entered by storm, some honest men, promiscuously and without distinction, suffered by your Soldier; which could not at that time possibly be prevented, in the fury and heat of the battle. "I also humbly present to your charity the poor distressed Wife and Children of one William Guise, of the City of Worcester, who was barbarously put to death by the Enemy for his faithfulness to the Parliament. The man (as I am credibly informed) feared the Lord; and upon that account likewise deserveth more consideration. Really, Sir, I am abundantly satisfied, that divers honest men, both in city and country, suffered exceedingly (even to the ruin of their families), by these parts being the seat of the War: and it will be an encouragement 1 Original in the possession of Pudsey Dawson, Esq., Hornby Castle, Lancashire (communicated, 19th October, 1850). to honest men, when they are not given over to be swallowed up in the same destruction with enemies. "I hope the Commissioners of the Militia will be very careful and discerning in the distribution of your charity. I cannot but double my desires, that some speedy course may be taken herein. "I have sent the Mayor and Sheriff of Worcester to Warwick Castle, there to attend the pleasure of Parliament concerning their Trial; I having not opportunity to try them by Court Martail. I have also taken security of the other Aldermen who remained in the city, to be forthcoming when I shall require them. "It may be well worthy your consideration, That some severity be shown to some of those of this Country, as well of quality as meaner ones, who, having been engaged in the former War, did now again appear in arins against you. I rest, Sir, "Your most humble servant, "OLIVER CROMWELL." 1 [To the Right Honorable William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament of England: These.] "SIR, "CHIPPING NORTON, 8th September, 1651. I have sent this Bearer, Captain Orpyn, with the Colors taken in the late Fight; at least as many of them as came to my hands, for I think very many of them have miscarried. I believe the number of these sent will be about an Hundred; the remainder also being Forty or Fifty, which were taken at the Engagement in Fife. I ask pardon for troubling you herewith; and rest, Sir, "Your most humble servant, "OLIVER CROMWELL." 8 No. 23. LETTER TO SISTER ELIZABETH. [Vol. xvii. p. 21 note: xviii. 274.] By accident, another curious glimpse into the Cromwell family. "Sister Elizabeth," of whom, except the date of her birth and that she died 1 Tanner MSS. (in Cary, ii. 378). 2 Inverkeithing Fight in July: see Letter CLXXV. 8 Tanner MSS. (in Cary, ii. 380). "liv unmarried,1 almost nothing is known, comes visibly to light here; ing at Ely," in very truth (as Noble had guessed she did); quietly boarded at some friendly Doctor's there, in the scene and among the people always familiar to her. She is six years older than Oliver; now and then hears from him, we are glad to see, and receives "small tokens of his love" of a substantial kind. For the rest, sad news in this Letter! Son Ireton is dead of fever in Ireland; the tidings reached London just a week ago. "For my dear Sister Mrs. Elizabeth Cromwell, at Doctor Richard Stand his house at Ely: These. "[COCKPIT,] 15th December, 1651. "DEAR SISTER, — I have received divers Letters from you; I must desire you to excuse my not writing so often as you expect: my burden is not ordinary, nor are my weaknesses a few to go through therewith; but I have hope in a better Strength. I have herewith sent you Twenty Pounds as a small token of my love. I hope I shall be mindful of you. I wish you and I may have our rest and satisfaction where all saints have theirs. What is of this world will be found transitory; a clear evidence whereof is my Son Ireton's death. I rest, dear Sister, "Your affectionate Brother, "OLIVER CROMWELL. "[P.S.] My Mother, Wife, and your friends here remember their loves." No. 24. LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE FOR SEQUESTRATIONS, IN BEHALF OF MR. AND MRS. FINCHAM. [Vol. xviii. p. 278.] THOMAS FINCHAM, Esquire, of Oatwell, Isle of Ely, is on the List of Delinquents: Oliver, as an old friend or at least neighbor, will do what he can for him. 1 Vol. xvii. p. 21. 2 Query, not Hand? 3 Original shown me, and copied for me (26th October, 1853), by Mr. Puttick, Auctioneer, 191 Piccadilly, who sold it, with another (Letter to Dick, 2d April, 1650, Carrick, our Letter CLXXXII.), next day, " for 9 guineas, to Mr. Holloway, Bedford Street: the Dick, a long letter, in very good keeping, went "for 26 guineas, to Mr. John Young, 6 Size Lane, Bucklersbury." On the margin. "To the Commissioners for Sequestration, at Goldsmiths' Hall: These. "COCKPIT,- December, 1651. "GENTLEMEN, I formerly recommended unto you the Petition of one Mr. Fincham and his Wife, desiring that if it were in your power to give remedy in their case, you would be pleased to hear them, according to the equity of their case. And forasmuch as they have waited long in Town for a hearing, to their great charge and expenses, which their present condition will not well bear, I again earnestly desire that you will grant them your favor of a speedy hearing of their business, and to relieve them according to the merits and justice of their case: whereby you will very much oblige, Gentlemen, "Your very loving friend, "OLIVER CROMWELL." 1 No. 25. To OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE. [Vol. xviii. p. 280.] FROM those nine months of 1652 remain certain other small vestiges or waymarks; relating, as it happens, to the Universities, of one of which Oliver was Chancellor. The first is a Letter to Oxford. "Greenwood" we have already seen: "Goodwin" is the famed Independent, at this time President of Magdalen College. Of "Zachary Maine," and his wishes and destinies, the reader can find an adequate account in Wood, with express allusion to the Letter which follows.2 Zachary's desire was complied with. A godly young man from Exeter City; not undeserving such a favor; who lived seven years in profitable communion with Goodwin, Owen and the others; then, at the Restoration, fell into troubles, into waverings; but ended peaceably as Master of the Free School of Exeter, the Mayor and Chamber favoring him there. 1. "To the Reverend my very loving Friend Dr. Greenwood, ViceChancellor of the University of Oxford. "[COCKPIT,] 12th April, 1652. "SIR, Mr. Thomas Goodwin hath recommended unto me one Zachary Maine, Demy of Magdalen College, to have the favor To be 1 Composition Papers, in State-Paper Office. 2 Athena, iv. 411. dispensed with for the want of two or three terms in the taking of his Degree of Bachelor. I am assured that he is eminently godly, of able parts, and willing to perform all his exercises. Upon which account (if it will not draw along with it too great an inconvenience) I desire that he may have the particular favor to be admitted to the said Degree. Which I intend not to draw into a precedent, but shall be very sparing therein. I remain, Sir, "Your very loving friend, "OLIVER CROMWELL." 1 The Second an official Protection to Cambridge: 2. "To all Officers, Soldiers under my command, and others whom it may concern. "These are to charge and require you, upon sight hereof: Not to quarter any Officers or Soldiers in any of the Colleges, Halls or other Houses belonging to the University of Cambridge; Nor to offer any injury or violence to any of the Students or Members of any of the Colleges or Houses of the said University. As you shall answer the contrary at your peril. "Given under my hand and seal, the First of July, 1652. "OLIVER CROMWELL.” 2 Note. In the Archives of Trinity College Cambridge is a Patent duly signeted, and superscribed "Oliver P.," of date "Whitehall, 21st October, 1654;" appointing Richard Pratt, "who, as we are informed, is very poor and necessitous," a Bedesman (small pensioner for life) of that College. Which merely official Piece, as Richard Pratt too, except this of being poor, is without physiognomy for us, we do not insert here. The Third and Fourth are for Oxford again: 3. "By his Excellency the Lord General Cromwell, Chancellor of the University of Oxford. "Whereas divers applications have been made unto me, from several of the Members of the University of Oxford, concerning differences 1 From the Archives of Oxford University. Communicated by the Rev. Dr. Bliss. 2 Cooper's Annals of Cambridge, iii. 452. 3 Copy penes me. |