DA H2l> • 5 -C7 V M .5 C7 Copy 1 TWO LETTERS OF RICHARD CROMWELL, 1659 Edited by RALPH C. H. CATTERALL REPRINTED FROM THE ^mmrmt §fet*wal §tevmv VOL, VIII NO. 1 OCTOBER 1902 [Reprinted from The American Historical Review, Vol. VIII., No. i, Oct., 1902.] 2. Two Letters of Richard Cromwell, idjp. In the Lansdowne collection of manuscripts in the British Mu- seum, vol. 821, are twenty-three letters of Richard Cromwell to his brother Henry. Most of them are of little value, but two fols 1 53 and 1 54, possess importance as proving that Richard did not so Sy Documents readily acquiesce in his downfall as is generally supposed. Heath states that he declared himself unwilling to " have a drop of blood shed for the preservation " of his greatness, which was "a burden" to him (Chronicle, 744). While it is not improbable that he made these assertions, it is plain from these letters that he soon changed his mind, as indeed, was commonly believed at the time. Barwick writing Hyde on May 2d remarks that " they say he much repents of what is past." (Thurloe, VII. 666.) It is equally plain that Guizot was mistaken in asserting that " Richard allowed more than a month to pass before he wrote to his brother or sent him any directions." (Guizot, I. 143.) The letters here printed are written in cipher (deciphered) and are neither dated nor signed. The events mentioned, however, assign the first letter almost certainly to the 12th of May, and the second to the 17th of the same month. They are misplaced as they stand in the collection. It is possible that they were not received by Henry Cromwell, for he complains in a letter written to his brother on the 23d that he has heard nothing from him " for some time before the last parliament was dissolved." (Thurloe, VII. 674.) Ralph C. H. Catterall. I. (Folio 154). I shall not say in how sad a condition I and owre famuly, nay the nations are in for it is better for me to throwe myselfe in the dust and crye before the Lord, my sins hath brought what is come to pase upon us but truly it is as low as men can make it and the flourishing bough of it at spring is weathered I shall let my deportement be made knowne by my Bro l and Petty 2 the first beinge a spectator , to my carriadge at the time the par sat I can assure you I stoode not so highe as my father did yet I thought it was fitting I should keep the grounde of a good con- science wch I have done hetherto though it be for my present ruen and famuly for I could not have beleved that religion relation and selfe in- trest wold have deceved me sense Petty departure whoe was fuly instructed the same for Scotland at the same time being sent for youre better corre- spondency the rumpe of the pari hath met 3 whoe are about sixty and are very violent upon him that is gone as wel flyinge high upon those that are living there is a commite of safety apointed who sits at Walling- ford Howse the names of them are Fl i Des 5 Vane Hasselrige Ludlow Lambert and others 6 they are propounding to the pari five generals that 1 Lord Broghill. He left London April 29, 1659. Thurloe, VII. 665. 2 Dr. Petty, afterwards the celebrated Sir William Petty. 3 May 7. 4 Fleetwood. 5 Desborough. 6 Appointed May 7 ( C. J., VIII. 646) but did not include Lambert and Desborough until the 9th. {Ibid.) Two Letters of Richard Cromwell, 1659 88 shal have equal powers whoe are not to act a part in the government of the army ' though youre provocation is very greate and you have a great sense of the honor of my deceassed father and the perishing condition of the famuly yet youe wil be wary what you doe for youre owne sake and the sake of those that shal have an affection with you nothing giveth hopes but a cleare understanding and good correspondency with general Moncke whoe hath written a letter which is very favorable 2 but I hope it is only to hold himselfe in a good opinion with them at West- minster until a faire opertunity I beleive they here intende to be very vygor- ous and briske if not timely prevented which cannot be but by a diversion from the forces at the distant places I knowe noe hope but some such way and that must be also assisted by frinds and strong places here s which if there be and hopes with you there being none left here it wil be neces- sary that we should keepe boeth often and close correspondency I am now in daly exspectation what course they wil take withe me my confidence is in god and to him wil I put my cause I have heard nothing from Scot- land or Dunklerque nor fleete this nation is ful of raige and unquietnes 500 horse would have turned al but my E * was a spectator how corporals led troops from there captaines and captaines from there colonels I beleive K and L 5 are not longe lived if it wold please god to let them see there dainger yet theings might be retreived but oure hopes are lowe I knowe not whether a liberty or a prisson The Lord be with you and for me pray doe nothing that may be for your men but lay youre bussines withe united strength and then leave the succese to god I could wish you could have a correspondency by some ship from Ireland to general Mountague I rest deare brother youres most affectionatly II. (Folio 153). I am not able to advise my freinds my councel and my relations hav- ing all forsaken me 6 I am now attending the greate god, whoe is only 1 This suggestion was made to Parliament on May n (C. J., VII. 649"). On the 13th, however, seven instead of five were named [ibid., 650), a fact which shows that Richard wrote after the Ilth and not later than the 13th. As he does not mention the discussion in Parliament over the naming of a committee of state, which took place on the 1 2th, it seems certain that the letter was written on that day. 2 /.