2 Povey says 'of all places, if there be hell, it is here, [at Court].'" And again under date July 27th, 1667. "He [Fenn] tells me that the king and Court were never in the world so bad as they are now for gaming, swearing, women, and drinking, and the most abominable vices that ever were in the world." This was not a new deluge of vice, the creation of the Puritan legislation. It was the fiend returned to his abode with all his evil passions and appetites only strengthened by his temporary expulsion, during which he had wandered through dry places seeking rest and finding none. During the winter Cromwell received considerable reinforcements from England. On the 19th of October, the 'report of the recruits of foot for Ireland" having been brought in to the Council of State, it was ordered "That the 5000 recruits be divided into 5 regiments. That for the raising and conducting of each of the said regiments to the waterside and so into Ireland there be appointed by the Lord-General out of the several regiments of the army 1 major, 4 captains, 5 lieutenants, 20 sergeants, 10 drums. That as soon as the said men are landed in Ireland, they are to be taken into the several regiments there, and receive pay as other the soldiers there. That the ports where they are to ship the said men be Appledore and Minehead for the west, Milford Haven for South Wales and counties adjacent; Liverpool and Chester for those that shall march from London and so northward, and Anglesey for North Wales. That the Council give order that moneys be sent down to the several ports, to be there delivered to the several treasurers for the payment of quarters and providing of 1 Pepys's Diary, vol. i. p. 436. 1st 1 Pepys's Diary, vol. ii. p. 99. 4to edition, 1825. shipping and victuals for transportation as aforesaid, viz. It appears from the minutes cited below that the Council of State granted blank commissions for the officers who were to conduct the recruits over to Ireland, and that the Lord-General had the power of filling up the names of the blank commissions granted by the Council of State.2 The following minute further shows the care of the Council of State formerly noted to guard against oppression in the way of soldiers' quarters. "In respect of the season of the year and the former sufferings of the country by soldiers, that there be an allowance of 8d. per diem [instead of 6d. per diem] to pay their quarters." 3 Colonel Pride was appointed to command the recruits in chief. ‘ On the paying officers adopted by the Council "That the Scout - Master - General shall have £4 per diem when there is any action in the field as he hath had hitherto. But for that there is no action at present [i. e. in England] that he shall have 20s. a day during the time there is no action in the field." Ibid. 20 October, 1649. 3 Order Book of the Council of State, 23 October, 1649, à Meridie. • Order Book of the Council of State, 23 October, 1649. Further by a minute of the 25th of the same month it was ordered "That £200 be im. 3rd of November a warrant was issued to Charles Walley, Esq., treasurer for the paying of quarters at Chester, to impress all ships belonging to or coming into any of the ports of Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales for this service.1 Besides the 5000 foot, a reinforcement of horse was also sent to Ireland. On the 15th of November it was ordered "That the Report brought in by the committee for the affairs of Ireland be approved of, viz. "That it be reported to the Council in order to the sending of recruits of horse into Ireland out of every troop of the several regiments following, viz. "The Lord General's regiment of horse. 'Major-General Lambert's regiment of horse prested to Colonel Pride toward the conduct of the soldiers to the waterside. That sergeants shall have 12d. per diem in place of 9d. and that drums shall have 9d. in place of 6d." On the same day it was ordered "That Mr. Frost do write unto Mr. Parker secretary to the army in Ireland to take care that a constant knowledge may be given to the Council of State of all matter of fact which passeth in Ireland."-Order Book of the Council of State, 25° Octobris, 1649. On the following day there is an order "To write to Mr. Walley to dispatch away the foot of Colonel Moore and Colonel Fenwicke with all expedition to Belfast We 1 Order Book of the Council of State, 3° Novemb. 1649. MS. State Paper Office. "1. That there be 20 troopers reduced out of every troop of the said several regiments. "2. That the said horsemen so to be reduced be taken on for recruits to go into Ireland, or so many of them as are willing to go. "3. That, instead of such of the said recruits of horse as shall refuse to go recruits as aforesaid, the officer or officers to be appointed to take the charge of marching them to the waterside and so into Ireland may have power to entertain any other well-affected person or persons that shall, well furnished with horse and arms, be willing to go until the number be completed. "4. That a captain, lieutenant, quartermaster, three corporals, and two trumpets be chosen by the colonel of every regiment to take the charge." "1 Further directions are added that the colonels take especial care that the men save their pay to discharge their quarters till they be shipt. Wexford is appointed as the port where they are to land in Ireland. Letters are also ordered to be written to Colonel Blake and Colonel Deane to provide convoys at the several ports and to assist the treasurer for paying quarters at those ports to press and provide shipping. On the 16th of November there is a minute "That the committee for the affairs of Ireland do take care to advance £20 to a messenger who is to be sent over into Ireland express to the Lord-Lieutenant according to what Mr. Scot hath moved in that behalf." 2 Mr. Scot, whom John Lilburne called their Secretary of State, was a very active member of the Council of State, and among other business committed to him had the charge of the secret service. 1 Order Book of the Council of State, 15° Novemb. 1649. MS. State Paper Office. 2 Order Book of the Council of State, 16° Novemb. 1649. MS. State Paper Office. 1650.] IRETON APPOINTED LORD DEPUTY OF IRELAND. 189 Cromwell having allowed his troops to remain in winter quarters about two months, again took the field early in February. He made himself master of Kilkenny and Clonmel, and many other places of less importance. At Clonmel he met with a vigorous resistance. "We found in Clonmel," says one of his officers, "the stoutest enemy that our army has encountered in Ireland." Thus Cromwell had reduced the greater part of Ireland to subjection in the space of about ten months, from the middle of August 1649 till May 1650, "a time inconsiderable" says a contemporary writer, "respect had to the work done therein, which was more than ever could be done in ten years before by any king or queen of England. Queen Elizabeth, indeed, after a long and tedious war there, at last drove out the Spaniards that came in to the assistance of the rebellious natives, but could never utterly extinguish the sparks of that rebellion." When Cromwell was recalled from Ireland, there remained only Limerick, Waterford, and some few inconsiderable garrisons to be reduced. This business was left to the charge of Ireton, who was appointed Cromwell's successor in Ireland with the title of Lord Deputy, and performed the work assigned to him with great ability and success. There is an anecdote preserved by tradition respecting a certain bridge in a remote part of Ireland which gives a very vivid idea of the impression which Cromwell left behind him in Ireland-an impression not dissimilar to that he made on the boy Bill Spitfire in Woodstock, who described his face "6 as a face one would not like to say No to." Cromwell seeing the importance of a bridge at the particular point to which the story refers, and knowing something of the habits of the people of the neighbour 1 Perfect Politician. |