moderation and religious liberty, and for allowing each. man to think out religious problems for himself. ton's Areo Lords and Commons of England, consider what nation it is 288. Extracts whereof ye are, and whereof ye are the governments: a nation from Milnot slow and dull, but of a quick, ingenious, and piercing pagitica spirit, acute to invent, suttle and sinewy to discours, not (published November, beneath the reach of any point the highest that human capacity 1644) can soar to. Therefore the studies of learning in her deepest sciences have bin so ancient and so eminent among us, that writers of good antiquity and ablest judgment have bin perswaded that ev'n the school of Pythagoras and the Persian wisdom took beginning from the old philosophy of this island. And that wise and civill Roman, Julius Agricola, who govern'd once here for Cæsar, preferr'd the naturall wits of Britain before the labour'd studies of the French. reformation Nor is it for nothing that the grave and frugal Transylvanian sends out yearly from as farre as the mountainous borders of Russia, and beyond the Hercynian wilderness, not their youth, but their stay'd men, to learn our language and our theologic arts. Yet that which is above all this, the favour and the love of heav'n we have great argument to think in a peculiar manner propitious and propending towards us. Why else was this The atnation chos'n before any other, that out of her, as out of Sion, tempted should be proclaim'd and sounded forth the first tidings and of Wycliffe trumpet of reformation to all Europ? And had it not bin the obstinat perverseness of our prelats against the divine and admirable spirit of Wicklef, to suppresse him as a schismatic and innovator, perhaps neither the Bohemian Husse and Jerom, no nor the name of Luther or of Calvin had bin ever known: the glory of reforming all our neighbors had bin compleatly ours. But now, as our obdurate clergy have with violence demean'd the matter, we are become hitherto the latest and the backwardest schollers, of whom God offer'd to have made us the teachers. Now once again by all concurrence of signs, and by the generall instinct of holy and devout men, as they daily and solemnly expresse their thoughts, God is decreeing to begin London, a city Different varieties of religious belief desirable some new and great period in his church ev'n to the reforming of reformation itself: what does he then but reveal himself to his servants, and as his manner is, first to his Englishmen; I say as his manner is, first to us, though we mark not the method of his counsels and are unworthy. Behold now this vast city, a city of refuge, the mansion house of liberty, encompast and surrounded with his protection. The shop of warre hath not there more anvils and hammers waking, to fashion out the plates and instruments of armed justice in defence of beleagur'd truth, then there be pens and heads there, sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, revolving new notions and ideas wherewith to present, as with their homage and their fealty, the approaching reformation: others as fast reading, trying all things, assenting to the force of reason and convincement. What could a man require more from a nation so repliant and so prone to seek after knowledge? What wants there to such a towardly and pregnant soile but wise and faithfull labourers to make a knowing people a nation of prophets, of sages, and of worthies. We reck'n more than five months yet to harvest; there need not be five weeks; had we but eyes to lift up, the fields are white already. Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making. Under these fantastic terrors of sect and schism, we wrong the earnest and zealous thirst after knowledge and understanding which God hath stirred up in this city. What some lament of we rather should rejoice at, should rather praise this pious forwardness among men to reassume the ill-deputed care of their religion into their own hands again. A little generous prudence, a little forbearance of one another, and som grain of charity, might win all these diligences to joyn and unite into one generall and brotherly search after truth; could we but foregoe this prelaticall tradition of crowding free consciences and Christian liberties into canons and precepts of men. The two following letters of Cromwell were written, the first just after the battle of Marston Moor, the second just after the battle of Naseby. The first, in addition to the news of the battle, tells Colonel Walton of the death of his son; the second makes an appeal to parliament similar to that of Milton given above, in favor of the Independents, who were in danger of suffering from persecution by the Presbyterian parliament. Deere Sir: 289. Oliver Colonel It's our duty to sympathize in all mercyes; that wee praise Cromwell to the Lord together in chastisements or tryalls, that soe wee may Valentine sorrowe together. Truly England and the Church of God hath Walton had a great favor from the Lord in this great victorie given (July 5, 1644) unto us, such as the like never was since this War begunn. It had all the evidences of an absolute Victorie obtained by the Lord's blessing upon the godly partye principally. Wee never charged but wee routed the enimie. The lefte Winge, which I commanded, being our owne forse saving a few Scottes in our reere, beat all the Prince's horse. God made them as stubble to our swords. Wee charged their Regiments of foote with our horse and routed all wee charged. The particulars I cannot relate now; but I believe of twenty thousand, the Prince hath not four thousand left. Give glory, all the glory, to God. Sir, God hath taken away your eldest sonn by a cannon shott. Itt brake his legge. Wee were necessitated to have itt cutt off, whereof hee died. Sir, you know my tryalls this way, but the Lord supported mee with this, that the Lord tooke him into the happinesse wee all pant after and live for. There is your precious child, full of glory, to know sinn nor sorrow any more. Hee was a gallant younge man, exceedinge gracious. God give you his comfort. Sir: Your truly faythfull and lovinge brother, Beinge commanded by you to this service, I thinke myselfe bound to acquaint you with the good hand of God towards you and us. Wee marched yesterday after the Kinge, 290. Oliver whoe went before us from Daventree to Haverbrowe, and Cromwell to quartered about six miles from him. This day wee marched William Lenthall, speaker of the House of Commons (June 14, 1645) Lord Fair towards him. Hee drew out to meete us. Both Armies engaged. Wee, after three howers fight, very doubtfull, att last routed his Armie, killed and tooke about five thousand, very many officers, but of what quallitye wee yet know not. Wee tooke alsoe about two hundred carrages, all hee had, and all his gunnes, being twelve in number, whereof two were demiecannon, two demie-culveringes, and, I thinke, the rest sacers. Wee persued the enimie from three miles short of Haverbrowe to nine beyond, even to sight of Leicester, whither the Kinge fled. Sir, this is non other but the hand of God, and to him alone fax's services belongs the glorie wher in none are to share with him. The Generall has served you with all faythfullness and honor, and the best commendations I can give him is that I dare say hee attributes all to God and would rather perish than assume to himselfe ; which is an honest and a thrivinge way, and yett as much for bravery may bee given to him in this action as to a man. Honest men served you faythfully in this action. Sir, they are trusty. I beseech you in the name of God not to discourage them. I wish this action may begett thankfulnesse and humilitye in all that are concerned in itt. Hee that venters his life for the libertye of his countrie, I wish hee trust God for the libertye of his conscience and you for the liberty hee fights for. In this hee rests, whoe is your most humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. During the whole of the war the king wrote constantly to the queen, who was in France. Some of his letters of the year 1646, when his fortunes were at almost their lowest ebb, are here given. Dear Heart: Because I desire to insist upon that which I conceive most necessary for our preservation, I refer thee to Sir Edw. Nicholas concerning the late unhappy accident in Ireland, and my last message to London. And first, I earnestly desire thee to believe 291. The that what I have sent to the rebells will not procure a peace. king to the queen (OxSecondly, that as I have not hitherto quitted foundations, so I ford, Febam resolved to suffer those afflictions that it shall please God ruary 1, 1646) to inflict upon me, rather than to part with any more. I judge this short preamble necessary to hinder the greatest mischief which now can befall me, which is, that supplies should be stopt by thinking them needless, as if peace were assured on either my present or future concessions. As at no time I desire to conceal anything from thee, so at this it is most necessary to shew the truth of my present condition, which is that, considering my own weakness, the small or rather no hopes of supplies from either Ireland or Scotland, and the rebells' strength, I am absolutely lost if some brisk action do not recover me, wherefore, having thought of many, I have at last resolved on this. I shall, by the grace of God, without fail, draw into a body by the end of this February 2000 horse and dragoons; with these I resolve to march into Kent, where I am confident to possess some important place not far from the seaside (not being out of hope of Rochester), where, if I have either time or sufficient strength to settle myself, I shall esteem myself in a very good condition. Wherefore I desire thee, as thou lovest me, to hasten those men which Jermyn promised me by the middle of March; they must land at or near to Hastings, in Sussex. . . . ... So desiring a speedy answer of this letter, I rest eternally thine. C. R. 292. The queen (Ox Dear Heart : Albeit that my personal danger must of necessity presede king to the thine, yet thy safety seems to be hazarded by my resolution ford, Februconcerning church government. I am doubly grieved to differ ary 19, 1646) with thee in opinion, though I am confident that my judgment, not love, is censured by thee for it. But I hope, whatsoever thou mayest wish, thou wilt not blame me at all, if thou rightly understand the state of the question. For I assure thee, I put little or no difference between setting up the Presbyterian |