The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 28
By Letter Twenty-eighth it will be seen that Lieutenant-General Cromwell has never yet resumed his Parliamentary duty. In fact, he is in the Associated Counties, raising force; ‘for protection of the Isle of Ely,’ and other purposes. To Fairfax and his Officers, to the Parliament, to the Committee of Both Kingdoms, to all persons, it is clear that Cromwell cannot be dispensed with. Fairfax and the Officers petition Parliament[1] that he may he appointed their Lieutenant-General, Commander-in-Chief of the Horse. There is a clear necessity in it. Parliament, the Commons somewhat more readily than the Lords, continue, by instalments of ‘forty days,’ of ‘three months,’ his services in the Army; and at length grow to regard him as a constant element there. A few others got similar leave of absence, similar dispensation from the Self-denying Ordinance. Sprigge’s words, cited above, are no doubt veracious; yet there is trace of evidence[2] that Cromwell’s continuance in the Army had, even by the framers of the Self-denying Ordinance, been considered a thing possible, a thing desirable. As it well might! To Cromwell himself there was no overpowering felicity in getting out to be shot at, except where wanted; he very probably, as Sprigge intimates, did let the matter in silence take its own course.
“TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX, GENERAL OF THE PARLIAMENT’S ARMY: THESE”
Sir,—I most humbly beseech you to pardon my long silence. I am conscious of the fault, considering the great obligations lying upon me. But since my coming into these parts, I have been busied to secure that part of the Isle of Ely where I conceived most danger to be.
Truly I found it in a very ill posture: and it is yet but weak; without works, ammunition or men considerable—and of money least: and then, I hope, you will easily conceive of the defence: and God has preserved us all this while to a miracle. The party under Vermuyden waits the King’s Army, and is about Deeping; has a command to join with Sir John Gell, if he commands him. So “too” the Nottingham Horse. I shall be bold to present you with intelligence as it comes to me.
I am bold to present this as my humble suit: That you would be pleased to make Captain Rawlins, this Bearer, a Captain of Horse. He has been so before; was nominated to the Model; is a most honest man. Colonel Sidney leaving his regiment, if it please you to bestow his Troop on him, I am confident he will serve you faithfully. So, by God’s assistance, will your most humble servant,
The ‘Vermuyden’ mentioned here, who became Colonel Vermuyden, is supposed to be a son of the Dutch Engineer who drained the Fens. ‘Colonel Sidney’ is the celebrated Algernon; he was nominated in the ‘Model,’ but is ‘leaving his regiment’; having been appointed Governor of Chichester.[4] Captain Rawlins does obtain a Company of Horse; under ‘Colonel Sir Robert Pye.’[5]—Colonel Montague, afterwards Earl of Sandwich, has a Foot-Regiment here. Hugh Peters is ‘Chaplain to the Train.’