On the morrow, which is Monday the 15th, day also of John Milton's nomination to be Secretary, Lieutenant-General Cromwell was nominated Commander for Ireland; satisfactory appointments both. LETTER LXXXVII. THE Lieutenant-General is in hot haste today; sends a brief Letter by your Kinsman,' consenting to almost everything.Mayor, as we saw before, decidedly prefers 'my ould land' to uncertain Parliamentary land. Oliver (see last Letter) offered to settle the 3007. of jointure upon his old land, after his Wife's decease; he now agrees that half of it, 1507., shall be settled directly out of the old land, and the other half out of what Parliamentary land Mayor may like best.-The Letter breathes haste in every line; but hits, with a firm knock, in Cromwell's way, the essential nails on their head, as it hurries on. "Your Kinsman,' who carries this Letter, turns out by and by to be a Mr. Barton; a man somewhat particular in his ways of viewing matters: unknown otherwise to all men. The Lieutenant-General getting his Irish Appointment confirmed in Parliament, and the conditions of it settled,' is naturally very busy. For my worthy Friend, Richard Mayor, Esquire, at SIR, Hursley: These, 'London,' 25th March, 1649. You will pardon the brevity of these lines; the haste I am in, by reason of business, occasions it. To testify the earnest desire I have to see a happy period to this Treaty between us, I give you to understand, That I agree to 150l. per annum out of the 3007. per annum of my old land for your Daughter's jointure, and the other 150%. where you please. Also' 400%. for present 1 Cromwelliana, p. 54; Commons Journals, &c. maintenance where you shall choose; either in Hantshire, Gloucester- or Monmouth-shire. Those lands 'to be' settled upon my Son and his heirs male by your Daughter; and in case of daughters, only 2,000l. apiece to be charged upon those lands. 'On the other hand,' 400l. per annum free,1 to raise portions for my two Daughters. I expect the Manor of Hursley to be settled upon your Daughter and her heirs, the heirs of her body. Your Lady a jointure of 150l. per annum out of it. For compensation to your younger Daughter, I agree to leave it in your power, after your decease, to charge it with as much as will buy in the Lease of the Farm at Allington2 by a just computation. I expect, so long as they the young couple' live with you, their diet, as you expressed; or in case of voluntary parting 'from you,' 150l. per annum. 'You are to give' 3,000l. in case you have a Son;3 to be paid in two years next following. In case your Daughter die without issue,-1,000l. within six months of the marriage.' Sir, if this satisfy, I desire a speedy resolution. I should the rather desire so because of what your Kinsman can satisfy you in. The Lord bless you, and your Family, to whom I desire my affections and service may be presented. I rest, Your humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL." Your Kinsman can in part satisfy you what a multiplicity of business we are in: modelling the Army for Ireland ; — which 'Means, shall be settled on Richard and his Wife, that I may be left free.' 2 Ludlow's Lease,' I fancy. Anne Mayor, your younger Daughter,' married Dunch of Pusey; John Dunch, to whom we owe these seventeen Letters. See also Letter 27 August, 1657. 3 Grandson, i. e.: in the next sentence,' die' means more properly live. * Harris, p. 508; one of the seventeen. indeed is a most delicate dangerous operation, full of difficulties perhaps but partly known to your Kinsman! For, in these days, John Lilburn is again growing very noisy ; bringing out Pamphlets, England's New Chains Discovered, in several Parts. As likewise, The Hunting of the Foxes from Triploe Heath to Whitehall by Five Small Beagles,' — the tracking out of Oliver Cromwell and his Grandees, onward from their rendezvous at Royston or Triploe, all the way to their present lodgment in Whitehall and the seat of authority. Five small Beagles,' Five vociferous petitionary Troopers, of the Levelling species, who for their high carriage and mutinous ways have been set to ride the wooden horse' lately. Do military men of these times understand the wooden horse? He is a mere triangular ridge or roof of wood, set on four sticks, with absurd head and tail superadded; and you ride him bare-backed, in face of the world, frequently with muskets tied to your feet,—in a very uneasy manner! To Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburn and these small Beagles it is manifest we are getting into New Chains, not a jot better than the old; and certainly Foxes ought to be hunted and tracked. Three of the Beagles, the best-nosed and loudest-toned, by names Richard Overton, William Walwyn, Thomas Prince,—these, with Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburn, huntsman of the pack, are shortly after this lodged in the Tower;2 committed to the Lieutenant,' to be in mild but safe keeping with that officer. There is, in fact, a very dangerous leaven in the Army, and in the Levelling Public at present, which thinks with itself: God's enemies having been fought down, chief Delinquents all punished, and the Godly Party made triumphant, why does not some Millennium arrive? 6 LETTER LXXXVIII. 'COMPENSATION,' here touched upon, is the 'compensation to your younger Daughter' mentioned in last Letter; burden settled on Hursley Manor, after your decease,' 'to buy in the Lease of 1 Given in Somers Tracts, vi. 44-60. 2 27 March, 11 April, 1649 (Commons Journals, in diebus). Allington Farm.' Mayor wants it another way; which 'seems truly inconvenient,' and in brief cannot be. For my worthy Friend, Richard Mayor, Esquire, at SIR, Hursley: These. 'London,' 30th March, 1649. I received yours of the 28th instant. I desire the matter of compensation may be as in my last to You propose another way; which seems to me truly inconvenient. you. I have agreed to all other things, as you take me, and that rightly, repeating particulars in your Paper. The Lord dispose this great Business (great between you and me) for good. You mention to send by the Post on Tuesday.' I shall speed things here as I may. I am designed for Ireland, which will be speedy. I should be very glad to see things settled before I go, if the Lord will. My service to all your Family. I rest, Sir, Your affectionate servant, LETTER LXXXIX. WHO the Lawyer, or what the arrest' of him is, which occasions new expense of time, I do not know. On the whole, one begins to wish Richard well wedded; but the settlements do still a little stick, and we must have patience. 1 The 30th of March is Friday; Tuesday is the 3d of April. For my worthy Friend, Richard Mayor, Esquire, at SIR, Hursley: These. 'London,' 6th April, 1649. I received your Papers enclosed in your Letter; although I know not how to make so good use of them as otherwise might have been, to have saved expense of time, if the arrest of your Lawyer had not fallen out at this time. I conceive a draught, to your satisfaction, by your own Lawyer, would have saved much time; which to me is precious. I hope you will send some 'one' up, perfectly instructed. I shall endeavour to speed what is to be done on my part; not knowing how soon I may be sent down towards my charge for Ireland. And I hope to perform punctually with you. Sir, my Son had a great desire to come down and wait upon your Daughter. I perceive he minds that more than to attend to business here.1 I should be glad to see him settled, and all things finished before I go.. I trust not to be wanting therein. The Lord direct all our hearts into His good pleasure. I rest, Sir, Your affectionate servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. My service to your Lady and Family.* There is much to be settled before I can be sent down to my charge for Ireland.' The money is not yet got;-and the Army has ingredients difficult to model. Next week, a Parliamentary Committee, one of whom is the Lieutenant-General, and another is Sir Harry Vane, have to go to the City, and try if they will lend us 120,000l. for this business. Much speaking in the GuildHarris, p, 509. 1 The dog! |
