The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 14
Gainsborough was directly taken, after this relief of it; Lord Willoughby could not resist the Newarkers with Newcastle at their head. Gainsborough is lost, Lincoln is lost; unless help come speedily, all is like to be lost. The following Letter, with its enclosure from the Lord Lieutenant Willoughby of Parham, speaks for itself. Read the Enclosure first.
‘TO MY NOBLE FRIEND COLONEL CROMWELL, AT HUNTINGDON: THESE
‘Noble Sir,—Since the business of Gainsborough, the hearts of our men have been so deaded that we have lost most of them by running away. So that we were forced to leave Lincoln upon a sudden:—and if I had not done it then, I should have been left alone in it. So that now I am at Boston; where we are very poor in strength;—so that without some speedy supply, I fear we shall not hold this long neither.
‘My Lord General, I perceive, hath writ to you, To draw all the forces together. I should be glad to see it: for if that will not be, there can be no good to be expected. If you will endeavour to stop my Lord of Newcastle, you must presently draw them to him and fight him! For without we be masters of the field, we shall be pulled out by the ears, one after another.
‘The Foot, if they will come on, may march very securely to Boston; which, to me, will be very considerable to your Association. For if the Enemy get that Town, which is now very weak for defence for want of men, I believe they will not be long out of Norfolk and Suffolk.
‘I can say no more: but desire you to hasten;—and rest, your servant, Francis Willoughby.’[1]
TO MY HONOURED FRIENDS THE COMMISSIONERS AT CAMBRIDGE: THESE PRESENT
Gentlemen,—You see by this Enclosed how sadly your affairs stand. It’s no longer Disputing, but Out instantly all you can! Raise all your Bands;[2] send them to Huntingdon;—get up what Volunteers you can; hasten your Horses.
Send these Letters to Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, without delay. I beseech you spare not, but be expeditious and industrious! Almost all our Foot have quitted Stamford: there is nothing to interrupt an Enemy, but our Horse, that is considerable. You must act lively; do it without distraction. Neglect no means!—I am, your faithful servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.[3]
In the Commons Journals August 4th,[4] are various Orders, concerning Colonel Cromwell and his affairs, of a comfortable nature: as, ‘That he shall have the Three-thousand Pounds, already levied in the Associated Counties, for payment of his men’; likewise privilege of ‘Free Quarter on the march he is now upon’; and lastly, ‘That the Six Associated Counties do forthwith raise Two-thousand men more’ for his behoof and that of the Cause. On which occasion Speaker Lenthall, as we otherwise find, writes to him on the part of the House, in these encouraging terms: ‘The House hath commanded me to send you these enclosed Orders; and to let you know that nothing is more repugnant to the sense of this House, and dangerous to this Kingdom, than the unwillingness of their forces to march out of their several Counties.—For yourself, they do exceedingly approve of your faithful endeavours to God and the Kingdom.’[5]