Bring me two pair Boothose, from the Fleming's | To Mr. Squire, at his Quarters, Oundle: These. who lives in London Lane; also a new Cravat :

I shall be much thankful. I rest

Your Friend,

OLIVER CROMWELL.

SIR,

Post haste, haste.
STILTON, 12 April, this day, 1643.'

Pray shew this to Berry, and advise [sig'London-Lane,' I understand, is in Norwich. nify to] him to ride in, and join me, by four days time; as these Ca'ndishers, I hear, are over, tearLet us hope the Fleming' has a good fleecy-ing and robbing all, poor and rich. -[moths] — hosiery article there, aud can furnish one's Cornet; for the weather is still cold!

NO. XVI.

Mr. Samuel Squire, at his Quarters, Peterborough, in Bridge-street there: Haste.

ST. NEOTS, 3 April, 1643.

DEAR SIR, I am required by the Speaker to send up those Prisoners we got in Suffolk [at Lowestoff, &c. ;] pray send me the Date we got them, also their Names in full, and quality. I expect I may have to go up to Town also. I send them up by Whalley's Troop and the Slepe Troop; my Son goes with them. You had best go also, to answer any questions needed.

I shall require a new Pot [kind of Helmet;] mine is ill set. Buy me one in Tower-Street; a Fleming sells them, I think his name is Vandeleur: get one fluted, and good barrets; and let the plume-case be set on well behind. I would prefer it lined with good shamoy leather to any other.

Many poor souls slain, and cattle moved off. Stamford is taken, and Lord Noel (Nole) has put some 300 to garrison it.

Send on word to Biggleswade, to hasten those slow fellows. We are upon no child's-play; and must have all help as we (they) may.- - At same time, I will buy your Spanish Headpiece you shewed me; I will give you Five Pieces for it, and my Scots one at all rates, I will fain have it. So rest Your Friend, O. C. The East Foot (from Suffolk, &c.) are come in, to some 600 men, I learn. Say so to those Biggleswade dormice.

Squire has jotted on this letter: "12 April, 1642" (meaning 1643) 66 as we were upon our Lincoln riding."

ELY, This 13th day April, 1642 (for 1643.) SIR,

I have wished them return [the two Troops to return] by Suffolk home; so remind them. Do see Nos. 16, 17.] I find we want much ere we march. I got your Letter and the Headpiece [See after the 3 [undecipherable cipher.] 81 is playing Our Smiths are hard' on' work at shoes. Press me fox: I hold a letter of his he sent to certain ones, Four more Smiths as you come on: I must have which I got of one who carried it. If you light on them, yea or nay; say I will pay them fee, and let him, pray take care of him, and bring him on to me. I cannot let such escape; life and property is lost go after shoeing,-home, and no hindrances. by such villains. If resistance is given, pistol him. I am glad Berry is of our mind; and in so good No nonsense can be held with such; he is as dan-discipline of his men,-next to good arms, sure victory, under God.-I am

Your Friend,

O. C.

gerous as a mad bull, and must be quieted by some means. This villain got our men into a strife near Fakenham, some three weeks since; and two got shot down, and nine wounded; and the others lost some twenty or thirty on their side; and all for his To Mr. S. Squire, at his Quarters, Oundle: These.

mischief.

Let me see you as soon as needs will allow. Mind Henry come to no ill in London; I look to you to heed him.-From

Your Friend,

OLIVER CROMWELL.

NO. XIX.

Haste.
ELY, this day Monday,

1643.'

SIR, The Pay of the three Troops is come down ; therefore come over by Twelve to-morrow, and see to it. I can hear nothing of the man that was sent me out of Suffolk and Essex. I fear he is gone off Squire endorses : "We went up with the treas-with the money. If so, our means are straitened ure; and got sadly mauled coming back, but beat beyond my power to redeem ;-so must beg of you the ruthians [ruffinns] at Chipping, but lost near all to lend me 200 Pieces more, to pay them; and I will our baggage." give you an order on my Farm at Slepe, as security, if Parliament fail payment, which I much doubt of.

NO. XVII.

I got the money out of Norfolk last Friday: it These plundering 'Ca'ndishers,' called lately came, as usual, ill; and lies at my Son's quarters 'Camdeners,' from Noel Viscount Camden their safely also the Hertfordshire money also (sic,) which lies at his quarters also. The money which principal adherent in these southern parts, are outwas got from the man at Boston is all gone: I had skirts or appendages of the Marquis of Newcastle's to pay 20 per centum for the changing it, and then northern or Papist' army, and have for com- take Orders on certain you know of, which will remander the Hon. Charles Cavendish, cousin of the duce it down to barely £60 in the 100-which is marquis; whence their name. They are fast hard case on us who strive, thus to lose our hard flowing southward at present, in spite of the Fair-earnings by men who use only pens, and have no danger of life or limb to go through. faxes to the terror of men. Our first distinct notice of them by Oliver; the last will follow by and by.

Bring me the Lists of the Foot now lying in Garrison. I fear those men from Suffolk are being tried sorely by money from certain parties,-whom

I will hang if I catch playing their tricks in my quarters; by law of arms I will serve them. Order Isham to keep the Bridge, (it is needful,) and shoot any one passing who has not a pass. The Service is one that we must not be nice upon, to gain our ends. So shew him my words for it.

Tell Captain Russell my mind on his men's drinking the poor man's ale and not paying. I will not allow any plunder so pay the man, and stop their pay to make it up. I will cashier officers and men,

if such is done in future.

So let me see you by noon-time; as I leave, after dinner, for Cambridge. Sir, I am Your Friend,

OLIVER CROMWELL.

“Isham,” who is to keep the bridge on this occasion, "left the regiment at the same time as Squire did," (the First War being ended,)" and went to sea, as did many others: so said Journal.” (Note by the Transcriber.)

NO. XX.

Squire has endorsed: "Got the man at Tilney, after a tussle, two troopers hit, and he sore cut, even to loss of life. Got all."

NO. XXIII.

Mr. Waters is some lukewarm committee-man ; whose lazy backwardness, not to say worse of it, this Colonel can endure no longer. Squire (by whatever chance the letter came into Squire's hand) has endorsed as memorandum: "149 [and other cipher marks] lives at his house"—which perhaps may explain the thing!

To Mr. Waters at the Cross Keys: These in all speed,

LINCOLN, 25 July, 1643.

SIR, If no more be done than you and yours have done, it is well you give over such powers as you have to those who will. I say to you now my mind thereto: If I have not that aid which is my due, I

Address torn off, date eaten by moths; the for-say to you I will take it. And so heed me; for I find your words are mere wind; I shall do as I say, mer to be guessed at, the latter not. if I find no aid come to me by Tuesday. Sir, I rest, as you will, OLIVER CROMWELL.

To Mr. Squire.'

DEAR FRIEND,

1643.'

I pray you'* send a Hundred Pounds

to 81 at Ipswich also a Hundred Pounds to 92 in

NO. XXIV.

Here are the Ca'ndishers again; scouring the

Harwich; also Fifty-two Pounds to 151 at Ald- world, like hungry wolves; swift, mount, and after borough-and do not delay an hour. W. [Wild-them! man?] is returned: they are all fit to burst at news come in; and, I much fear, will break out. So I am now going over to clip their wings. I shall be back in five days, if all be well.

Henry has borrowed of you Fifty Pieces, I learn. Do not let him have any more; he does not need it; and I hope better of you than go against my mind. I rest,

Your Friend,

NO. XXI.

OLIVER CROMWELL.

I learn from Burton (112) that one landed at the Quay from Holland, who was let go, and is now gone on by way of Lynn. I hear he has a peaked beard, of a blue black color; of some twenty-five years old; I think from my letters, a Spaniard. See to him. He will needs cross the Wash; stop him, and bring him to me. I shall lie at Bury, if not at Newmarket; so be off quickly.-From Your Friend,

O. CROMWEll.

Haste-ride on spur. *Some such phrase, and the half of ' Friend,' have gone by moths.

One has just come in to say the Ca'ndishers have come as far as Thorney, and done a great mischief, and drove off some three score fat beasts.

Pray call in, and follow them; they cannot have got far. Give no quarter; as they shed blood at Bourne, and slew three poor men not in arms. So make haste. From

Your Friend and Commander,
OLIVER CROMWELL.

Here, too, is a letter from Henry Cromwell, copied by my correspondent from Squire's old papers; which is evidently of contiguous or slightly prior date, and well worth saving:

'To Captain Berry, at his Quarters, Whittlesea : These in all haste.

'SIR, There is great news just come in, by one of our men who has been home on leave. The Candishers are coming on hot. Some say 80 troops, others 50 troops. Be it as it may, we must go on. Vermuyden has sent his Son to say, We had better push on three troops as scouts, as far as Stamford; and hold Peterborough at all costs, as it is the Key of the Fen, which if lost much il may ensue. Our news says, Candish has sworn to sweep the Fens clear of us. How he handles his broom, we will see when we meet; he may find else than dirt to try his hand on, I think! Last night came in Letters from the Lord General; also money, and ammunition a good store.

'Our men being ready, we shall ride in and join your Troop at dawn. Therefore send out scouts

-to see. Also good intelligencers on foot had better | Now, that is hardly to be given; seeing we are be seen after; they are best, I find, on all occasions. Hold the Town secure; none go in or out, on pain of law of arms and war. Sharman is come in from Thrapstone; there was a Troop of the King's men driving, but got cut down to a man-not far from Kettering, by the Bedford Horse, and no quarter given, I hear.

'Sir, this is all the news I have. My Father desires me to say, Pray be careful! Sir, I rest, Ir Your humble Servant,

To Mr. Squire, at his Quarters, the Flag. Thursday, 3d August, 1643. SIR, These are to require you to bring the Statements of the Troopers who were on the road, when they stopped the Wains containing the Arms going from [word illegible; my correspondent writes "Skegness"] to Oxford; that they be paid their dues for the service.

I learn from Jackson that some of the Suffolk Troop requires Passes to return home to Harvest. *Letters and Speeches, i. 182.

after Lynn Leaguer, and require all aid needful to surround them [the Lynn Malignants;]-Say I cannot grant their requesting. Have they not had great manifesting of God's bounty and grace, in so short a time? I am filled with surprise at this fresh requiring of these selfish men. Let them write home, and hire others to work. I will grant no fresh Passes: The Lord General is against it; and so am I, fixed in my mind.

Do you ride over to Swaffham, and buy Oats for 2,000 horses; we shall require as many, to come on to Gaywood, (?) by order, as needed. Also see to the Hay;-and let your servants see well that no imposition is practised. I must insist on due weight and measure for man and horse; or let the chapmen look to their backs and pouches! I stand no rogue's acts here, if they are tolerated in London ! will have my penny worth for my penny.

for news.
Send on a Trooper to Norwich and Yarmouth
Bid them cali at 112 and 68, and ask
Mr. Parmenter (?) after 32; he is fox, I hear. I
fear Burton is double. I am,
Your Friend,

OLIVER CROMWELL..

I sent a Pass to your Kinsman.

NO. XXVII.

'To Mr. Squire.'

17 August, 1643.' Bid Three Troops go on to Downham, and come by way of Wisbeach. Tell Ireton my mind on his shooting that Spy without learning more. I like it not. His name is Nickols, I hear. It were well no news took air of it.

O. C.

"From Col. Cromwell on his way to siege of Lynn, August 17, 1643:" so Squire dockets; which enables us to date. Further in regard to 'Ireton's matter,' (the well-known Ireton,) there stood in the journal, says my correspondent: "This man was shot in Thorney Fen; he was a spy and had done great injury. He had 500 gold pieces in his coat, and a pass of Manchester's and one of the king's." To which my correspondent adds in his own person : 66 hanging newsmongers, was very often done; and Shooting spies, and

to me very horrible was the news I read often in the journal of such doings."