The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 37

by Thomas Carlyle

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LETTER XXXVII

FOR HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX, GENERAL OF THE PARLIAMENT’S FORCES:^[1] THESE

“London,” 31st July 1646.

Sir,—I was desired to write a Letter to you by Adjutant Fleming. The end of it is, To desire your Letter in his recommendation. He will acquaint you with the sum thereof, more particularly what the business is. I most humbly submit to your better judgment, when you hear it from him. Craving pardon for my boldness in putting you to this trouble, I rest, your most humble servant,

OLIVER CROMWELL.^[2]

 

Adjutant Fleming is in Sprigge’s Army-List. I suppose him to be the Fleming who, as Colonel Fleming, in Spring 1648, had rough service in South Wales two years afterwards; and was finally defeated, attempting to ‘sieze a Pass’ near TPembroke Castle, then in revolt under Poyer; was driven into a Church, and there slain,—some say, slew himself.^[3]

Of Fleming’s present ‘business’ with Fairfax, whether it were to solicit promotion here, or continued employment in Ireland, nothing can be known. The War, which proved to be but the ‘First War, is now, as we said, to all real intents, ended: Ragland Castle, the last that held-out for Charles, has been under siege for some weeks; and Fairfax, who had been at ‘the Bath for his health, was now come or coming into those parts for the peremptory reduction of it.^[4] There have begun now to be discussions and speculations about sending men to Ireland,^[5] about sending Massey (famed Governor of Gloucester) to Ireland with men, and then also about disbanding Massey’s men.

Exactly a week before, 24th July 1646, the united Scots and Parliamentary Commissioners have presented their ‘Propositions’ to his Majesty at Newcastle: Yes or No, is all the answer they can take. They are most zealous that he should say Yes. Chancellor Loudon implores and prophesies in a very remarkable manner: ‘All England will rise against you; they,’ these Sectarian Parties, ‘will process and depose you, and set-up another Government,’ unless you close with the Propositions. His Majesty, on the 1st of August (writing at Newcastle, in the same hours whilst Cromwell writes this in London), answers in a haughty way, No.^[6]

1. At Ragland, or about leaving Bath for the purpose of concluding Ragland Siege (Rushworth, vi. 293).
2. Sloane Mss. 1519. fol. 70.
3. Rushworth, vii. 1097, 38:—a little ‘before’ 27th March 1648.
4. Rushworth, vi. 293;—Fairfax’s first Letter from Ragland is of 7th August; 14th August he dates from Usk; and Ragland is surrendered on the 17th.
5. Cromwelliana, April 1646, p. 31.
6. Rushworth, vi. 319-21.