The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 46
The Marquis of Ormond, a man of distinguished integrity, patience, activity and talent, had done his utmost for the King in Ireland, so long as there remained any shadow of hope there. His last service, as we saw, was to venture secretly on a Peace with the Irish Catholics,—Papists, men of the Massacre of 1641, men of many other massacres, falsities, mad blusterings and confusions,—whom all parties considered as sanguinary Rebels, and regarded with abhorrence. Which Peace, we saw farther, Abbas O’Teague and others threatening to produce excommunication on it, the ‘Council of Kilkenny’ broke away from,—not in the handsomest manner. Ormond, in this Spring of 1647, finding himself reduced to ‘seven barrels of gunpowder’ and other extremities, without prospect of help or trustworthy bargain on the Irish side,—agreed to surrender Dublin, and what else he had left, rather to the Parliament than to the Rebels; his Majesty, from England, secretly and publicly advising that course. The Treaty was completed: ‘Colonel Michael Jones,’ lately Governor of Chester, arrived with some Parliamentary Regiments, with certain Parliamentary Commissioners, on the 7th of June:[1] the surrender was duly effected, and Ormond withdrew to England.
A great English force had been anticipated; but the late quarrel with the Army had rendered that impossible. Jones, with such inadequate force as he had, made head against the Rebels; gained ‘a great victory’ over them on the 8th of August, at a place called Dungan Hill, not far from Trim:[2] ‘the most signal victory we had yet gained’; for which there was thankfulness enough.—Four days before that Sermon by Hugh Peters, followed by the military conclave in Putney Church, Cromwell had addressed this small Letter of Congratulation to Jones, whom, by the tone of it, he does not seem to have as yet personally known:
FOR THE HONOURABLE COLONEL JONES, GOVERNOR OF DUBLIN, AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF ALL THE FORCES IN LEINSTER: THESE
Sir,—The mutual interest and agreement we have in the same Cause[3] give me occasion, as to congratulate, so “likewise” abundantly to rejoice in God’s gracious Dispensation unto you and by you. We have, both in England and Ireland, found the immediate presence and assistance of God, in guiding and succeeding our endeavours hitherto; and therefore ought, as I doubt not both you and we desire, to ascribe the glories of all to Him, and to improve all we receive from Him unto Him alone.
Though, it may be, for the present a cloud may lie over our actions to those who are not acquainted with the grounds of them; yet we doubt not but God will clear our integrity, and innocency from any other ends we aim at but His glory and the Public Good. And as you are an instrument herein, so we shall, as becometh us, upon all occasions, give you your due honour. For my own particular,—wherein I may have your commands to serve you, you shall find none more ready than he that sincerely desires to approve himself, your affectionate friend and humble servant,
Michael Jones is the name of this Colonel; there are several Colonel Joneses; difficult to distinguish. One of them, Colonel John Jones, Member for Merionethshire, and known too in Ireland, became afterwards the Brother-in-law of Cromwell; and ended tragically as a Regicide in 1661. Colonel Michael gained other signal successes in Ireland; welcomed Oliver into it in 1649; and died there soon after of a fever.
One of the remarkablest circumstances of this new Irish Campaign is, that Colonel Monk, George Monk, is again in it. He was taken prisoner, fresh from Ireland, at Nantwich, three years ago. After lying three years in the Tower, seeing his Majesty’s affairs now desperate, he has consented to take the Covenant, embark with the Parliament; and is now doing good service in Ulster.