The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 69
Fairfax is still at Colchester, arranging the ‘ransoms, and confused wrecks of the Siege there; Cromwell has now reached Berwick[1], at least his outposts have,—all the Monroes now fairly across the Tweed. ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Cowell,‘ I conclude, was mortally wounded at Preston Battle; and here has the poor Widow been, soliciting and lamenting.
FOR HIS EXCELLENCY THE LORD FAIRFAX, GENERAL OF ALL THE PARLIAMENT’S ARMIES: THESE
My Lord,―Since we lost Lieutenant-Colonel Cowell, his Wife came to me near Northallerton, much lamenting her loss, and the sad condition she and her children were left in. He was an honest worthy man. He spent himself in your and the Kingdom’s service. He being a great Trader in London, deserted it to serve the Kingdom. He lost much moneys to the State; and I believe few outdid him. He had a great arrear due to him. He left a Wife and three small children but meanly provided for. Upon his deathbed, he commended this desire to me, That I should befriend his to the Parliament or to your Excellency. His Wife will attend you for Letters to the Parliament; which I beseech you to take into a tender consideration.
I beseech you to pardon this boldness to, your Excellency’s most humble servant,
On the 19th June 1649, Widow Cowell’ is ordered to be paid her Husband’s Arrears by the Committee at Haberdashers’ Hall.[3] One hopes she received payment, poor woman! ‘Upon his deathbed her Husband commended this desire to me.‘
In the very hours while this Letter is a-writing, ‘Monday 11th September 1648,‘ Monro, now joined with the Earl of Lanark, presents himself at Edinburgh: but the Whiggamore Raid, all the force of the West Country, 6,000 strong, is already there; ‘draws out on the crags be-east the Town,‘ old Leven in the Castle ready to fire withal; and will not let him enter. Lanark and Monro, after sad survey of the inaccessible armed crags, bend westward, keeping well out of the range of Leven’s guns,―to Stirling; meet Argyle and the Whiggamores, make some Treaty or Armistice, and admit them to be the real ‘Committee of Estates,‘ the Hamilton Faction having ended.[4] Here are Three Letters, Two of one date, directly on the back of these occurrences.