out towards Bristol, to take the command in Ireland, 10th July, 1649, about five in the afternoon.' In some Committee-room, or other such locality, in the thick press of business, Lowry had contrived to make his way to the Lord Lieutenant, and to get this Letter out of him. Which indeed proved very helpful. For on that day week, 17th July, 1649, we find as follows: 'The humble Petition of John Lowry, Esq., was this day read. Ordered, That the sum of Three-hundred pounds be allowed unto the said Mr. John Lowry, for his losses in the said Petition mentioned: and that the same be charged upon the revenue: and the Committee of Revenue are authorized and appointed to pay the same: and the same is especially recommended to Sir Henry Vane, Senior, to take care the same be paid accordingly,'*—which we can only hope it was, to the solace of poor Mr. Lowry and the ending of these discussions. Ten years later, in Protector Richard's time, on Friday 22d July, 1659, a John Lowry, Esquire, now quite removed from Cambridge, turns up again; claiming to be continued 'Cheque in Ward in the Port of London,'-which dignity is accordingly assured him till the first day of October next.' But whether this is our old friend the Mayor of Cambridge, and what kind of provision for his old age this same Chequeship in Ward might be, is unknown to the present Editor. Not the faintest echo or vestige henceforth of a John Lowry either real or even possible. The rest-gloomy Night compresses it, and we have no more to say. LETTER LXVII. MAYOR of Hursley, with whom are the young Couple, is connected now with an important man: he has written in behalf of Major Long;' for promotion as is likely. The important man does not promote on the score of connexion; and mildly signifies so much. * Commons Journals, vi., 263. † Commons Journals, vii., 727. For my very loving Brother, Richard Mayor, Esquire, at LOVING BROTHER, Hursley: These. Bristol, 19th July, 1649. I received your Letter by Major Long; and do in answer thereunto according to my best understanding, with a due consideration to those gentlemen who have abid the brunt of the service. I am very glad to hear of your welfare, and that our children have so good leisure to make a journey to eat cherries :-it's very excusable in my Daughter; I hope she may have a very good pretence for it. I assure you, Sir, I wish her very well; and I believe she knows it. I pray you tell her for me I expect she writes often to me; by which I shall understand how all your Family doth, and she will be kept in some exercise. I have delivered my Son up to you; and I hope you will counsel him he will need it; and indeed I believe he likes well what you say, and will be advised by you. I wish he may be serious; the times require it. I hope my Sister* is in health; to whom I desire my very hearty affections and service may be presented; as also to my Cousin Ann,† to whom I wish a good husband. I desire my affections may be presented to all your Family, to which I wish a blessing from the Lord. I hope I shall have your prayers in the Business to which I am called. My Wife, I trust, will be with you before it be long, in her way towards Bristol.-Sir, discompose not your thoughts or Estate for what you are to pay me. Let me know wherein I may comply with your occasions and mind, and be confident you will find me to you as your own heart. Wishing your prosperity and contentment very sincerely, with the remembrance of my love, I rest, Your affectionate brother and servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.‡ Received 27 July, 1649, per Mayor has endorsed this Letter: Messenger express from Newbury.' ris, jotted on it'some shorthand,' and 'an account of his cattle and sheep.'-Who the Major Long' was, we know not: Cromwell undertakes to do' for him what may be right and reasonable, and nothing more. * Mrs. Mayor. † Miss Mayor, afterwards Mrs. Dunch of Pusey. Harris, p. 510: no. 8 of the Pusey seventeen. Cromwell, leaving London as we saw on Tuesday evening July 10th, had arrived at Bristol on Saturday evening, which was the 14th. He had to continue here, making his preparations, gathering his forces, for several weeks. Mrs. Cromwell means seemingly to pass a little more time with him before he go. In the end of July, he quits Bristol; moving westward by Tenby* and Pembroke, where certain forces were to be taken up,—towards Milford Haven; where he dates his next Letters, just in the act of sailing. LETTER LXVIII. THE new Lord Lieutenant had at first designed for Munster, where it seemed his best chance lay. Already he has some regiments over, to reinforce our old acquaintance Colonel, now Lieutenant-General Michael Jones, at present besieged in Dublin, and enable him to resist the Ormond Army there. But on the 2d of August an important Victory has turned up for Jones: surprisal, and striking into panic and total rout, of the said Ormond Army ;† which fortunate event, warmly recognized in the following Letter, clears Dublin of siege, and opens new outlooks for the Lord Lieutenant there. He sails thitherward; from Milford Haven, Monday, August 13th. Ireton, who is Major-General, or third in command, Jones being second, follows with another division of the force, on Wednesday. Hugh Peters also went ; and 'Mr. Owen' also, for another chaplain. The good ship John is still lying in Milford waters, we suppose, waiting for a wind, for a turn of the tide. 'My Son' Richard Cromwell, and perhaps Richard's Mother, we may dimly surmise, had attended the Lord Lieutenant thus far, to wish him speed on his perilous enterprise ! * At Tenby, 2d August, Commons Journals, vi., 277. Rout at Rathmines or Bagatrath: Ormond's own Account of it, in Carte's Ormond Papers, ii., 403, 407-11. 1 'For my loving Brother, Richard Mayor, Esquire, at Hursley: These.' . Milford Haven,' From Aboard the John, 13th Aug., 1649. LOVING BROTHER, I could not satisfy myself to omit this opportunity by my Son of writing to you; especially there being so late and great an occasion of acquainting you with the happy news I received from Lieutenant-General Jones yesterday. The Marquis of Ormond besieged Dublin with 19,000 men or thereabouts; 7,000 Scots and 3,000 more were coming to 'join him in' that work. Jones issued out of Dublin with 4,000 foot and 1,200 horse; hath routed this whole army; killed about 4,000 upon the place; taken 2,517 prisoners, above 300 of them' officers, some of great quality.* This is an astonishing mercy; so great and seasonable that indeed we are like them that dreamed. What can we say! The Lord fill our souls with thankfulness, that our mouths may be full of His praise,and our lives too; and grant we may never forget His goodness to us. These things seem to strengthen our faith and love, against more difficult times. Sir, pray for me, That I may walk worthy of the Lord in all that He hath called me unto ! I have committed my Son to you; pray give him advice. I envy him not his contents; but I fear he should be swallowed up in them. I would have him mind and understand Business, read a little History, study the Mathematics and Cosmography :—these are good, with subordination to the things of God. Better than Idleness, or mere outward worldly contents. These fit for Public services,† for which a man is born. Pardon this trouble. I am thus bold because I know you love me; as indeed I do you, and yours. My love to my dear Sister and my Cousin Ann your Daughter, and all Friends. I rest, Sir, Your loving brother, OLIVER CROMWELL. 'P.S.' Sir, I desire you not to discommodate yourself because of the money due to me. Your welfare is as mine: and therefore let me know from time to time what will convenience you in any forbearance; I shall * The round numbers of this account have, as is usual, come over greatly exaggerated (Carte, ubi supra). † Services useful to all men. answer you in it, and be ready to accommodate you. And therefore do your other business; let not this hinder.* LETTER LXIX. Same date, same conveyance. To my beloved Daughter, Dorothy Cromwell, at Hursley: These. From Aboard the John, 13th August, 1649. MY DEAR Daughter, Your Letter was very welcome to me. I like to see anything from your hand; because indeed I stick not to say I do entirely love you. And therefore I hope a word of advice will not be unwelcome nor unacceptable to thee. I desire you both to make it above all things your business to seek the Lord to be frequently calling upon Him, that He would manifest Himself to you in His Son; and be listening what returns he makes to you, for He will be speaking in your ear and in your heart, if you attend thereunto. I desire you to provoke your Husband likewise thereunto. As for the pleasures of this Life, and outward Business, let that be upon the bye. Be above all these things, by Faith in Christ; and then you shall have the true use and comfort of them,-and not otherwise. I have much satisfaction in hope your spirit is this way set; and I desire you may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and that I may hear thereof. The Lord is very near which we see by His wonderful works: and therefore He looks that we of this generation draw near to Him. This late great Mercy of Ireland is a great manifestation thereof. Your Husband will acquaint you with it. We should be much stirred up in our spirits to thankfulness. We much need the spirit of Christ, to enable us to praise God for so admirable a mercy. The Lord bless thee, my dear Daughter. I rest, Thy loving Father, OLIVER CROMWELL. *Forster's Statesmen of the Commonwealth, iv.,267; from certain Mss. of Lord Nugent's. How true is this; equal, in its obsolete dialect, to the highest that man has yet attained to, in any dialect, old or new! |