ously on the parliament, who failed not to re wise commander. Also Colonel Butler and Colonel Ireton, upon theire first charge were both dangerouslie wounded, behaving themselves very gallantlie. If I could enter into particulars, much might be spoken of the resolucon and courage of many commanders, both horse and ffoote in this day's service. These letters give us a clear idea of this important and decisive battle, a battle which in a manner extinguished the king's hopes, and soon after brought on a total reduction of his power! Lord Clarendon says, the king and the kingdom were lost in it-an expression which denotes his lordship's idea of the immenseness of the loss, though perhaps not much more exact than his account of the battle itself, which, to say the least of it, is very defective and erroneous, as will appear by comparing it with the authentic accounts here given. 24 The parliament failed not to reward Oliver for his good services.] Milton complains of the offices, gifts and preferments bestowed and shared among the members of parliament. And if we may believe a writer of those times, who had opportunity of being informed, (though allowances must be made for his prejudices) this was commonly and openly done, to the vexation of such as either could not, or would not partake with them. The passage is remarkable, and relates properly to the subject in hand. "The leading men or bel-weathers having seemingly divided themselves, and having really divided the houses, and captivated their respective parties judgment, teaching them by an implicite faith, Jurare in verba magistri, to pin their opinions upon a Since the insertion of these letters, I find they were printed by order of parliament, June 16, 1645, and republished in Rushworth's Collections. But as they are curious, little known, and probably now first transcribed from the originals, I have thought proper to give them a place in this work notwithstanding. A copy of Cromwell's letter is in the British Museum. ♪ Vol. IV. p. 658. See the second quotation from Milton in note 14. ward Oliver for his good services. But grati their sleeves; they begin to advance their projects of monopolizing the profits, preferments, and power of the kingdom in themselves. To which purpose, though the leaders of each party seem to maintain a hot opposition, yet when any profit or preferment is to be reached at, it is observed that a powerful independent especially moves for a presbyterian, or a leading presbyterian for an independent: and seldom doth one oppose or speak against another, in such cases, unless something of particular spleen or competition come between, which causeth them to break the common rule. By this means the grandees of each faction seldom miss their mark, since an independent moving for a presbyterian, his reputation carries the business clear with the independent party: and the presbyterians will not oppose a leading man of their own side. By this artifice the grandees of each side share the commonwealth between them; and are now become proud, domineering Rehoboams, even over the rest of their fellow members (contrary to the liberty of parliament, which consists in an equality) that were formerly fawning ambitious Absaloms. There hath been lately given away to members openly (besides innumerable and inestimable private cheats mutually connived at) at least 300000Z. in money, besides rich offices, employments in money committees, sequestrations and other advantages. And those members who have so well served themselves under colour of serving the publick, are, for the most part, old canvasers of factions, who have sat idly and safely in the house, watching their advantages to confound businesses, and shuffle the cards to make their own game; when others that have ventured their persons abroad, laboured in the publick work, like Israelites under these Egyptian taskmasters, and lost their estates, are left to starve until they can find relief in that empty bag called by fools, fides publica, by wise men fides punica, and are now looked upon in the house superciliously, like unwelcome guests"," * Walker's Mystery of the two Juntoes, p. 2. tude did not bind him; for his success and Lord Holles in very sharp terms speaks of his antagonists, the independent party, promoting and rewarding their friends and adherents: "Which," says he, "was easy for them, having both sword and purse, and withall an impudence and boldness to reward all those who would sell their consciences. For all such members of the house, and others, were sure to be preferred, have large gifts given. them out of the commonwealths money, arrears paid, offices confered upon them, countenanced and protected against all complaints and prosecutions, had they done never so unworthy, unjust, horrid actions, to the oppression of the subject, and dishonour of the parliament. All others discountenanced, opposed, inquisitions set upon them, questioned, imprisoned upon the least occasion, colours of crimes many times for doing real good service, and no favour nor justice for them only that the world might see which was the way to rise, and which to be sure to meet with contrary winds and storms, and so make all men at least to hold candles to these visible saints."In another place his lordship vindicates himself and friends from the charge of enriching themselves by disposing of the public money, and retorts it on his adversaries, setting forth in a very particular manner what sums of money they had received under various pretences, and what salaries they enjoyed. But after all these warm declamations, for both these writers were very warm, when they exercised their pens on these subjects, what was there done in these times that has not, that will not be done at all times? Friends and favourites are countenanced and preferred, enemies are overlooked, neglected, or disappointed. Was it ever otherwise? If men perform great and eminent services, it is grateful, it is politic to reward them. To complain of the givers or receivers, seems not very consistent with good sense and impartiality. Cromwell we have seen make a figure in the war: he had Id. p. 132-138. Holles's Memoirs, p. 36. influence on the army, inspired him with con ventured his life many times in the public service, and had brought reputation and victory back with him. Was he unworthy of notice, or did he not highly merit it? When the house of commons was far enough from being wholly at his devotion, we find it ordered, "that five hundred pounds be forthwith provided and advanced, to be bestowed on lieutenant general Cromwell, as a respect from the house. Ordered that all the lands of the earl of Worcester, lord Herbert, and Sir John Somersett, his sons, in the county of Southampton, be settled upon lieutenant general Cromwell, and his heirs, to be accounted as part of the two thousand five hundred pounds per annum, formerly appointed him by this house and that Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Lisle, and Mr. Wallop, do bring in an ordinance accordingly. Ordered, that it be referred to the committee of the army, to consider how the residue of the two thousand five hundred pounds, land of inheritance formerly assigned lieutenant general Cromwell by this house, may be speedily settled upon him, and his heirs, for ever, and he put in the present possession of it; and likewise to consider of an entertainment for his present subsistence; and to bring in an ordinance to this purpose." And it was moreover ordered a few days afterwards, "that Mr. Lisle do bring in an ordinance for the full granting unto, and settling upon lieutenant general Cromwell, and his heirs, the manors of Abberston and Itchell, with the rights, members and appurtenances thereof, in the county of Southampton; being the lands of John lord marquis of Winchester, a delinquent, that hath been in arms against the parliament, and a Papist." What the event of this last order was I cannot find; but by the following letter of Oliver St. John to Cromwell, it appears that the house of commons had liberally rewarded him for his services. a Journal, Jan. 23, 1645. b Journal, Jan. 31, 1645. fidence and ambition, and excited in him DEARE SIR, "I have herewithall sente you the order of the house of commons for settling 2500l. per annum upon you and your heires, and the ordinance of parliament in pursuance thereof in part, whereby the lands therein mentioned, being all the lands of the earle of Worcester in that county, are settled upon you. I have likewise sent you a rent-roll of the quitThe manors consist most of old rents. rents. There are three advowsons. I am told by Col. Norton and Mr. Wheeler, whoe know the lands, that they are accounted 100l. p. ann. "I endeavoured to passe this for the present, rather than to have stayed longer to make up the whole. Your patent was speedily prepared, and is this day passed the great seal. I have not sente it downe, but will keepe it for you, until I receive your direction to whom to deliver it. The charges of passing the ordinances to the clerkes, and of the scale, my clerke of the patents hath satisfied; you shall hereafter know what they come to. I delivered a copy of the ordinance to Mr. Lisle to send it to the committee of sequestrations, whoe hath, together with a letter to them, desyred, that the sequestrators take care that no wrong be done to the lands. That which principally moved me to it was, because I heard, there weare goodly woods, and that much had been formerly cut, that for the future a stop might be made. By the ordinance sent you, you will be auctorized to send some bayliffe of your owne to husband the lands to your best advantage, which would be done speedilie. There is another order of the house for preparinge an ordinance for a goodly house and other lands in Hampshire, of the marquisse of Winchesters. Wee had thought to have had them in the ordinance, already passed, but by absence of some, when I brought in the other, that fayled. Perhaps it is better as it is, and that the addition might have stayed this. You know to whome the marquise hath relation, and in regard The marquis of Winchester married the half-sister of the earl of Essex. |