The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 18
In Rushworth’s List of Members covenanting in St. Margaret’s Church on Monday September 25th, the name of Oliver Cromwell stands visible: but it is an error; as this Letter and other good evidences still remain to show. Indeed some singular oscitancy must have overtaken the watchful Rushworth, on that occasion of the Covenant; or what is likelier, some inextricable shuffle had got among his Paper-masses there, when he came to redact them long after,—the indefatigable painful man! Thus he says furthermore, and again says, the signing took place ‘on September 22d,’ which was Friday; whereas the Rhadamanthine Commons Journals still testify, that on Friday September 22d there was merely order and appointment made to sign on the 25th; and that the signing itself took place, accordingly, on Monday September 25th as we have given it. With other errors,—incident to the exactest Rushworth, when his Paper-masses get shuffled!—Here is another entry of his, confirmable beyond disputing; which is of itself fatal to that of ‘Oliver Cromwell’ among ‘those who signed the Covenant that day.’ Oliver Cromwell had quite other work to do than signing of Covenants, many miles away from him just now; and indeed, I guess, did not sign this one for many days and weeks to come; not till he got to his place in Parliament again, with more leisure on his hands than now.
Tuesday, ‘26th September. The Lord Willoughby’ of Parham ‘and Colonel Cromwell came to Hull, to consult with the Lord Fairfax; but made no stay: and the same day, Sir Thomas Fairfax crossed Humber with Twenty Troops of Horse, to join with Cromwell’s forces in Lincolnshire’[1] For the Marquis of Newcastle is begirdling, and ever more closely besieging, the Lord Fairfax in Hull; which has obliged him to ship his brave Son, with all the horse, across the Humber, in this manner: horse are useless here; under the Earl of Manchester, on the other side, they may be of use.
The landing took place at Saltfleet that same afternoon, say the Newspapers: here now is what followed thereupon,—successful though rather dangerous march into the safe parts of Lincolnshire, and continuance of the drillings, fightings, and enlistments there. Committee-men ‘Spring and Barrow’ are known to us; of Margery and ‘the Malignants’ horses’ we have also had some inkling once.
TO HIS HONOURED FRIENDS, Sik WILLIAM SPRING AND MR. BARROW THESE PRESENT
Gentlemen,—It hath pleased God to bring off Sir Thomas Fairfax his Horse over the river from Hull, being about One-and-twenty Troops of Horse and Dragoons. The Lincolnshire horse laboured to hinder this work, being about Thirty-four Colours of Horse and Dragoons: we marched up to their landing-place, and the Lincolnshire Horse retreated.
After they were come over, we all marched towards Holland; and when we came to our last quarter upon the edge of Holland, the Enemy quartered within four miles of us, and kept the field all night with his whole body: his intendment, as we conceive, was to fight us;—or hoping to interpose betwixt us and our retreat; having received, to his Thirty-four Colours of Horse, Twenty fresh Troops, ten Companies of “Dragoons”;[2] and about a Thousand Foot, being General King’s own Regiment. With these he attempted our guards and our quarters; and, if God had not been merciful, had ruined us before we had known of it; the Five Troops we set to keep the watch failing much of their duty. But we got to horse; and retreated in good order, with the safety of all our Horse of the Association; not losing four of them that I hear of, and we got five of theirs. And for this we are exceedingly bound to the goodness of God, who brought our troops off with so little loss.
I write unto you to acquaint you with this; the rather that God may be acknowledged; and that you may help forward, in sending such force away unto us as lie unprofitable in your country. And especially that Troop of Captain Margery’s which surely would[3] not be wanting, now we so much need it!
I hear there hath been much exception taken to Captain Margery and his Officers, for taking of horses. I am sorry you should discountenance those who (not to make benefit to themselves, but to serve their Country) are willing to venture their lives, and to purchase to themselves the displeasure of bad men, that they may do a Public benefit. I undertake not to justify all Captain Margery’s actions: but his own conscience knows whether he hath taken the horses of any but Malignants;—and it were somewhat too hard to put it upon the consciences of your fellow Deputy Lieutenants, whether they have not freed the horses of known Malignants? A fault not less, considering the sad estate of this Kingdom, than to take a horse from a known Honest man; the offence being against the Public, which is a considerable aggravation! I know not the measure every one takes of Malignants. I think it is not fit Captain Margery should be the judge: but if he, in this taking of horses, hath observed the plain character of a Malignant, and cannot be charged for one horse otherwise taken,—it had been better that some of the bitterness wherewith he and his have been followed had been spared! The horses that his Cornet[4] Boulry took, he will put himself upon that issue for them all.
If these men be accounted ‘troublesome to the Country,’ I shall be glad you would send them all to me. I’ll bid them welcome. And when they have fought for you, and endured some other difficulties of war which your ‘honester’ men will hardly bear, I pray you then let them go for honest men! I protest unto you, many of those men which are of your Country’s choosing, under Captain Johnson, are so far from serving you, that,—were it not that I have honest Troops to master them,—although they be well paid, yet they are so mutinous that I may justly fear they would cut my throat!—Gentlemen, it may be it provokes some spirits to see such plan men made Captains of Horse. It had been well that men of honour and birth had entered into these employments:—but why do they not appear? Who would have hindered them? But seeing it was necessary the work must go on, better plain men than none;—but best to have men patient of wants, faithful and conscientious im their employment. And such, I hope, these will approve themselves to be. Let them therefore, if I be thought worthy of any favour, leave your Country with your good wishes and a blessing. I am confident they[5] will be well bestowed. And I believe before it be long, you will be in their debt; and then it will not be hard to quit scores.
What arms you can furnish them withal, I beseech you do it. I have hitherto found your kindness great to me:—I know not what I have done to lose it; I love it so well, and price it so high, that I would do my best to gain more. You have the assured affection of your most humble and faithful servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.
P.S.—I understand there were some exceptions taken at a Horse that was sent to me, which was seized out of the hands of one Mr. Goldsmith of Wilby. If he be not by you judged a Malignant, and that you do not approve of my having of the Horse, I shall as willingly return him again as you shall desire. And therefore, I pray you, signify your pleasure to me herein under your hands. Not that I would, for ten thousand horses, have the Horse to my own private benefit, saving to make use of him for the Public:—for I will most gladly return the value of him to the State. If the Gentleman stand clear in your judgments,—I beg it as a special favour that, if the Gentleman be freely willing to let me have him for my money, let him set his own price: I shall very justly return him the money. Or if he be unwilling to part with him, but keeps him for his own pleasure, be pleased to send me an answer thereof: I shall instantly return him his Horse; and do it with a great deal more satisfaction to myself than keep him.—Therefore I beg it of you to satisfy my desire in this last request; it shall exceedingly oblige me to you. If you do not, I shall rest very unsatisfied, and the Horse will be a burden to me so long as I shall keep him.[6]
The Earl of Manchester, recaptor of Lynn Regis lately, is still besieging and retaking certain minor strengths and Fen garrisons,—sweeping the intrusive Royalists out of those Southern Towns of Lincolnshire. This once done, his Foot once joined to Cromwell’s and Fairfax’s Horse, something may be expected in the Midland parts too.