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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1044

Colonel William White to Ferdinando Fairfax
1647 (16 May) long autograph letter signed at London with integral address panel reading "For the Right Hon'ble Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, These".

The letter reads, in full:

My noble lordby yor lopps received the last night I perceive that yor lopp may receive letters and returned answer by the same post. Of witch I am very gladd. This day sir Richard Lucy telleth mee that Mr. Spenser Lucy is come to town. And some day this weeke pay in his money.

There is noe newes of Sir John Mounson yet at goldsmiths' hall and I hear hee is in towne, therefore i desire yor lopps further direccon, whether I shall not procure an order for the sequestracon to bee laid again upon his estate, in case on non payment speedily. i doe intend to send one of Goldsmiths' hall messengers unto him to quickin him in the meane tyme.

This day by letters from lord Inchequeen [inchiquin] hee informs me the house that hee hath taken the towne and castle of dungannan [duncannon] with two other castles from the rebel's' that hee is absolute master in the field in Munster, that the rebelles generally want amunicon; and money by reason where of they are not able to takethe feild with any considerable force; that they are not any where about 1500 men in one body; and that they are soe divided amongst themselves that they are not likely to does much hurt.

This day also came a letter from major general skippon Itt general Cromwell, and the rest. Sent unto the army that they had received the resulucons of the army to the proposisons delivered by them from the parliamt but thought not fit to send them but by some of themselves, we might wthall destine some materiall circumstances; they or some of them are speedily to bee here. I hope the army will prove obedient. As well as successful' i hear they meddle not with any things but what concerns them as soldiers.

There are divers gentle in the house (whom yor lopp may imagine) who are very desirous to have the army speedily disbanded and upon a long debate this day it was resolved that it bee referred to the committee at darby house to consider if the tyme and manner of speedy disbanding all such forces, as are not coated to bee continued for service of this Kingdome, or shall not engage for Ireland.

This evening wee had read in the house a paper from the Armey in answer to the proposicons sent to him (ie the king) att Newcastle, but gave little satisfacon. It came down in a message into consideracon upon Thursday next.

For further relacon of yep(ro)ceedinges i shall refer youir lopp to the diurnall and humbly p(re)entinge my own and mywives most humble service to yor lopp; and noble lady taker leave to remaine my lord."

Well preserved and an important letter and account of the state of affairs in Ireland.

Notes: This letter preceds by some months the events of Pride's Purge in which Thomas Pride purged Parliament of any who felt sympathies towards Charles I and sought settlement with him, forming thence the 'Rump Government'. One can discern within the text of this letter the ill ease with which the Parliament discussed the use of forces and the destiny of Charles.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480