for the fettinge those to worke who are able, for bringirigé up of children to profitable employments, and for relievinge fuch as are paft their labor, efpecially fuch as became fo in the fervice of their country duringe the late warre.

14. That the affairs of Ireland be taken into a more ferious confideration than heretofore, and that a peaceable way for reducing that nation may be once endeavoureds and in cafe that fucceed not, the war to be profecuted with vigour and unanimity, as by God's bleffinge wee may promise to ourselves a fpeedy end of thofe troubles, a timely reliefe to many famifhing families there, and better intend the affairs of England.

Now confidering that the fettlement of the nations peace and freedome, hath beene conftantly declared by the parlament to be their only end in engaginge in this laft warre and confidering the many promifes folemn vowes and oathes made by them to the people, to confirme them in the belief of their fincere intentions therein, wee should hope to find no oppofition from them in our defires. But however wee cannot but be confident, that the fouldiery of the army (who folemnly engaged at Newmarket in June last June 5, 1647] to procure the fame things in effect for the people, which are here propounded,) will fo remember that folemn engagement as to fhew their ready concurrence with us; and wee hope it will be clear to them, that there is noe other poffible way to provide that fufficient indemnity (the want whereof firft occafioned their refufal to difband) than what is here propounded; neither that there is any probable way to fecure the arrears of the fupernumeraries, (who are difbanded contrary to the folemn engagement) or of thofe continuing in armes. And at least wee cannot but promife ourselves the affiftance of all the commons, who are not blinded by fome felf-intereft, or engaged to continue the prefent confuming distractions by virtue of fome affet or employment dependinge thereon.

But however wee intending wrong to noe man, nor any private advantage to ourselves, and the caufe for which we appear beinge foe clearly juft, wee repofe our confi. dence in the most high God, to protect us from the malice and rage, both of all felfseekinge ambitious men, who affect lordlinefle and tiranny, and have defigned the peo

ple's

ple's flavery, and a perpetuation of their own rule, and of all fuch mercenary vaffals as they fhall hire to deftroy us, and keepe the yoke of flavery upon the people's necks. And wee doe hereby promife and engage to all our countrymen, that whenfoever the fettlement of the peace and freedome herein propounded fhall be effected (all delayes wherein wee fhall to our utmoft poffibilities prevent) wee fhall gladly and chearfully return to our private habitations, and callings, enjoying only our equal share of freedome with all others in the nation.

of Hans Wintrop

Copy of a letter from O. Cromwell to (then) major Saunders of Derbyshire, dated June 17, 1648; fuperfcribed In the hands For your felfe and endorjed in major Saunders's hand writing as followeth, The L. generalls order for takeing Mortimer, Sir Trevor Williams, and Mr. Morgan, Sheriffe of Eg Monmouthshire.'

I

SIR,

Send you this enclofed by it felfe, because it's of greater moment. The other you may communicate to Mr. Rumfey as far as you thinke fitt, and I have written.. I would not have him or other honeft men bee difcouraged that I thinke itt not fitt at present to enter into contefts, itt will be good to yeeild a little for publicke advantage, and truly that is iny end, wherein I defire you to fatisfie

them.

I have fent as my letter mentions, to have you remove lout of Brecknokfheire, indeed into that part of Glamorganfheire wch lyeth next Munmouthfheire, for this end.

Wee have plaine difcoveries that Sir Trevor Williams of Langevie about two miles from Uke in the countye of Munmouth was very deepe in the plott of betrayinge Chepflowe caftle, foe that wee are out of doubt of his guiltynefle thereof.

I doe hereby authorize you to feize him, as alfo the high theriffe of Munmouth Mr. Morgan, whoe was in the fame plott.

But becaufe Sir Trevor Williams is the more dangerous. man by farr, I would have you to feize him first, and the other will eafilye hee had. To the end you may

not

not be fruftrated, and that you bee not deceaved, I thinke fitt to give you fome caracters of the man, and fome intimations how things ftand. Hee is a man (as I am informed) full of craft and fubtiltye, very bould and refolute, hath a house at Langevie well ftored with armes, and very stronge, his neighbours about him very malignant and much for him, whoe are apt to rescue him if apprehended, much more to difcover any thinge wch may prevent itt. Hee is full of iealofie, partly out of guilt, but much more because hee doubts fome that were in the bufineffe have difcovered him, which indeed they have, and alsoe because hee knows that his fervant is brought hither, and a minifter to bee examined here, whoe are able to discover the whole plott. Iff you should march directly into that countye and neere him, itts ods hee either fortefyes his houfe, or gives you the flip, foe alfoe if you should goe to his houfe and not finde him there, or if you at tempt to take him and miffe to effect itt, or if you make any knowen enquirye after him, itt wil be difcovered.

Wherefore to the first you have a faire pretence of goeinge out of Brecknock fheire to quarter about Newport and Carleon, which is not above 4 or 5 miles from his house. You may fend to col. Herbert, whofe houfe lyeth in Munmouthfheire, whoe will certenly acquaint you where hee is. You are alfoe to fend to capt. Nicolas, whoe is at Chepstowe, to require him to affift you if hee fhould gett into his houfe, and ftand upon his guard. Sam. Jones, whoe is quarterm to col. Herbert's troupe, wil be very affiftinge to you if you fend to him to meete you att your quarters; both by lettinge you know where hee is, and alfoe in all matters of intelligence. If theire fhal be neede capt. Burge his troupe now quarteringe in Glamorganfheire fhal be directed to receave orders from you. You perceave by all this, that wee are (it may bee) a little too much follicitous in this bufineffe, it's our fault, and indeed fuch a temper caufeth us often to overact bufineffe, wherefore without more adoe wee leave itt to you, and you to the guidance of God herein, and reft

June 17, 1648.

Yours O CROMWELL.

If you feize him bring & lett him bee brought with a Aronge guard to mee. If capt. Nicolas fhould light on him

at

at Chepstowe, doe you strengthen him with a good guard to bring him,

If you feize his perfon, difarme his houfe, but lett not his armes bee imbeziled.

If you need capt. Burge his troupe, it quarters betweene Newport and Cardiffe.

Cromwell went into Wales the beginning of May, 1648; Chepflow caftle was furprized for the King about the fame time, but retaken the 25th. It does not appear whether Sir Trevor Williams was fecured, or not.

The fix following letters are in the poffeffion of Theodofius Forreft, Efq; of George-ftreet, YorkeBuildings, London.

Deereft Robin,

Owe (bleffed bee God) I can write, and thou receavé,

freely. I never in my life fawe more deepe fenfe, and leffe will to fhewe itt unchriftianly, then in that, wch thou diddeft write to us when wee were at Windfor, and thou in the middeft of thy tentation, wch indeed (by what wee understood of itt) was a great one, and occafioned the greater, by the letter the generall fent thee, of wch thou waft not mistaken, when thou dideft challenge mee to bee the pener. How good has God beene to difpofe all to mercy, and although itt was trouble for the prefent, yett glory is come out of itt, for wch wee prayse the Lord with thee, and for thee, and truly thy carriage has biene fuch, as occafions much honor to the name of God, and too religion, Goe onn in the ftrength of the Lord, and the Lord bee ftill with thee. But (deere Robin) this. bufineffe hath beene (I truft) a mightye providence to this poore kingdome, and too us all. The house of comons is very fenfible of the Kg dealinges, and of our brethrens, in this late tranfaction, You fhould doe well (if you have any thing that may difcover iuglinge) to search itt out and lett us knowe itt, itt may bee of admirable use at this tyme, because wee shall (I hope) inftantly goe upon bufineffes in relation to them, tendinge to prevent danger. The house of comons has this day voted as follows. Firft

that

'Tis be

lieved bim is the word, though there is

fome doubt

of it.

*

that they will make noe more addreffes to the K. 2. None fhall applye to him without leave of the two houses upon paine of beinge guilty of high treafon. 3dly, They will receave nothinge from the Kinge, nor fhall any other bringe any thinge to them from him, nor receave any thinge from the Kinge. Laftly the members of both houfes, whoe were of the committee of both kingdoms, are established in all that power in themselves for England, and Ireland, weh they had to act with both kingdoms, and Sr. John Evelin of Wilts is added in the roome of Mr. Recorder, and Rath. F. Fienis in the roome of Sir Phillip Stapleton, and my Lord of Kent, in the roome of the Earl of Effex. I thinke it good you take notice of this, the fooner the better.

Lett us knowe how its with you in point of ftrength, and what you neede from us, fome of us thinke the Kinge well with you, and that itt concernes us to keepe that ifland in great fecuritye, becaufe of the French, et. And if foe, where can the Kinge bee better. If you have more force you will fuer of full provifion for them. The Lord bleffe thee, pray for

Thy deere friend and fervant

My La Wharton's Jan. 3d.

neere tenn at night, 1647.

O. CROMWELL.

For Col. Robert Hamond Governor

of the ifle of Wight theife

For the fervice of the kingdom haft post haft.

OLIVER CROMWELL.

SIR,

WEE have received yo' letter of the 28th inftant, wherein you defire to have the approbation of this committee concerning the fower gentlemen by you appointed to watch in their courfes at the Kinges chamber dore, Wee thinke it fitt that in this bufineffe you fhould make your application to the houses, from whom wee doubt not you will receive orders in that particular. For the money appointed for the fortification of the caftle it was to be furnished by the committee of the army by the

ap