“TO THE REVEREND MR. HITCH, AT ELY: THESE”
Mr. Hitch,—Lest the soldiers should in any tumultuary or disorderly way attempt the reformation of the Cathedral Church, I require you to forbear altogether your Choir-service, so unedifying and offensive:—and this as you shall answer it, if any disorder should arise thereupon.
I advise you to catechise, and read and expound the Scripture to the people; not doubting but the Parliament, with the advice of the Assembly of Divines, will direct you farther. I desire your Sermons “too,” where usually they have been,—but more frequent. Your loving friend, OLIVER CROMWELL.[1]
Mr. Hitch paid no attention; persisted in his Choir-service:—whereupon enter the Governor of Ely with soldiers, ‘with a rabble at his heels,’ say the old Querelas. With a rabble at his heels, with his hat on, he walks up to the Choir; says audibly: ‘I am a man under Authority; and am commanded to dismiss this Assembly,’—then draws back a little, that the Assembly may dismiss with decency. Mr. Hitch has paused for a moment; but seeing Oliver draw back, he starts again: ‘As it was in the beginning’—!—‘Leave off your fooling, and come down, Sir,’[2] said Oliver, in a voice still audible to this Editor; which Mr. Hitch did now instantaneously give ear to. And so, ‘with his whole congregation,’ files out, and vanishes from the field of History.
Friday, 19th January. The Scots enter England by Ber-
