The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Com. Cant.
COM. CANT. (“Cambridgeshire To wit”)
TO ALL AND EVERY THE INHABITANTS OF FEN DRAYTON IN THE HUNDRED OF PAPWORTH
Whereas we have been enforced, by apparent grounds of approaching danger, to begin to fortify the Town of Cambridge, for preventing the Enemy’s inroad, and the better to maintain the peace of this County:
Having in part seen your good affections to the Cause, and now standing in need of your further assistance to the perfecting of the said Fortifications, which will cost at least Two-thousand pounds, We are encouraged as well as necessitated to desire a Freewill Offering of a Liberal Contribution from you, for the better enabling of us to attain our desired ends,—viz. the Preservation of our County;—knowing that every honest and well-affected man, considering the vast expenses we have already been at, and our willingness to do according to our ability, will be ready to contribute his best assistance to a work of so high concernment and so good an end.
We do therefore desire that what shall be by you freely given and collected may with all convenient speed be sent to the Commissioners at Cambridge, to be employed to the use aforesaid. And so you shall further engage us to be yours ready to serve, OLIVER CROMWELL.
THOMAS MARTYN.[1]
(“and Six others.”)
Cambridge, this 8th of March 1642.
The Thomas Martyn, Sir Thomas, and Six others whom we suppress, are all of the Cambridge Committees of those times;[2] zealous Puritan men, not known to us otherwise. Norris did not raise much at Fen Drayton; only 1l. 19s. 2d., ‘subscribed by Fifteen persons,’ according to his Endorsement;—the general public at Fen Drayton, and probably in other such places, hesitates a little to draw its purse as yet! One way or other, however, the work of fortifying Cambridge was got done.[3] A regular Force lies henceforth in Cambridge: Captains Fleetwood, Desborow, Whalley, new soldiers who will become veterans and known to us, are on service here. Of course the Academic stillness is much fluttered by the war-drum, and many a confused brabble springs up between Gown and Garrison; college tippets, and on occasion still more venerable objects, getting torn by the business! The truth is, though Cambridge is not so Malignant as Oxford, the Surplices at Allhallowtide have still much sway there; and various Heads of Houses are by no means what one could wish: of whom accordingly Oliver has had, and still occasionally has, to send,—by instalments as the cases ripen,—a select batch up to Parliament: Reverend Dr. This and then also Reverend Dr. That; who are lodged in the Tower, in Ely House, in Lambeth or elsewhere, in a tragic manner, and pass very troublous years.[4]
Cambridge continues henceforth the Bulwark and Metropolis of the Association; where the Committees sit, where the centre of all business is. ‘Colonel Cook,’ I think, is Captain of the Garrison; but the soul of the Garrison, and of the Association generally, is probably another Colonel. Now here, now swiftly there, wherever danger is to be fronted, or prompt work is to be done:—for example, off to Norwich just now, on important businesses; and, as is too usual, very ill supplied with money.