The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 74
FOR THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE COMMITTEE OF ESTATES OF THE KINGDOM OF SCOTLAND, AT EDINBURGH: THESE
Right Honourable,—We perceive that there was upon our advance to the Borders, the last Lord’s Day[1], a very disorderly carriage by some horse; who, without order, did steal over the Tweed, and plundered some places in the Kingdom of Scotland . and since that, some stragglers have been alike faulty; to the wrong of the inhabitants, and to our very great grief of heart.
I have been as diligent as I can to find out the men that have done the wrong, and I am still in the discovery thereof; and I trust there shall be nothing wanting on my part that may testify how much we abhor such things: and to the best of my information I cannot find the least guilt of the fact[2] to lie upon the regiments of this Army, but upon some of the Northern horse, who have not been under our discipline and government, until just that we came into these parts.
I have commanded those forces away back again into England; and I hope the exemplarity of justice will testify for us our great detestation of the fact.[3] For the remaining regiments, which are of our old forces, we may engage for them their officers will keep them from doing any such things: and we are confident that, saving victual, they shall not take anything from the inhabitants; and in that also they shall be so far from being their own carvers, as that they shall submit to have provisions ordered and proportioned by the consent, and with the direction, of the Committees and Gentlemen of the Country, and not otherwise, if they[4] please to be assisting to us therein.
I thought fit, for the preventing of misunderstanding, to give your Lordships this account; and rest, my Lords, your most humble servant,
‘Upon our entrance into Scotland, a regiment lately raised in the Bishopric of Durham, under Colonel Wren, behaved themselves rudely; which as soon as the Lieutenant-General of this Army’ Cromwell ‘had notice of, he caused it to rendezvous on Tweed banks; and the Scottish people having challenged several horses taken from them by that Regiment, the Lieutenant-General caused the said horses to be restored back, and the plunderers to be cashiered. A Lieutenant that countenanced such deeds was delivered into the Marshal’s hands; and the Colonel himself, conniving at them, and not doing justice upon the offenders when complaints were brought in to him, was taken from the head of his Regiment, and suspended from executing his place, until he had answered at a Council of War for his negligence in the performance of his duty. This notable and impartial piece of justice did take very much with the people; and the Regiment is ordered back into Northumberland.’[6]—as we see.
The answer of ‘Loudon Cancellarius’ to this Letter from Norham is given in the old Newspapers.[7] The date is Edinburgh, 28th of September 1648. Loudon of course is very thankful for such tenderness and kind civilities; thankful especially that the Honourable Lieutenant-General has come so near, and by the dread of him forced the Malignants at Stirling Bridge to come to terms, and leave the Well-affected at peace. A very great blessing to us ‘the near distance of your forces at this time,’—though once (you ken varry weel, and Whitlocke kens,) we considered you an incendiary, and I, O Honourable Lieutenant-General, would so fain have had you extinguished,—not knowing what I did!
Norham lies on the South shore of the Tweed, some seven miles above Berwick:
‘Day set on Norham’s castled steep.’[8]
Cromwell went across to Mordington, and met the ‘Influential Persons,’ on the morrow. As the following Letter, taking a comprehensive survey of the matter, will abundantly manifest.