A letter from His Excellency Robert Earl of Essex to the Honourable House of Commons concerning the sending of a commission forthwith to Sir William Waller : wherein His Excellency declareth himself to be confirmed in the justnesse of the cause, so long as he hath one drop of blood in his veins.

Author: Essex, Robert Devereux, Earl of, 1591-1646.1644

A LETTER From His Excellency, Robert Earl of Essex, To The Honorable House of Commons: CONCERNING The sending of a Commission forthwith To Sir William Waller:

Wherein His Excellency declareth himself to be confirmed in the justnesse of the Cause, so long as he hath one drop of Blood in his Veins.

Published by Authority.

Printed for Laurence Blaiklock. January 13. 1644.

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A LETTER From His Excellency ROBERT Earl of ESSEX, To the Honorable House of Commons:

SIR,

I Received an Order the last night, to desire me forthwith to send a Commission to Sir William Waller, to command the Forces of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, according to an [Page 4] Ordinance of both Houses; I am so ready for the advancement of the present service he is now ingaged in, and my will to satisfie the desire of the Honorable House of Commons, as that I have sent down a Commission accordingly: But finding expressions in that Order that might intimate a neglect in me, and being confident of mine own Integrity to serve both Houses, and to preserve the good opinion of the house of Commons, I shall acquaint you that I sent a Commission by Mr. Nicolls, which he kept some dayes, and then wrote earnestly to mee for another more ample; I wondring why hee should keep it so long, and then send for another, deferred my Resolution, untill I came up; But this Order intervening, prevented mee of asking the [Page 5] reason: It is true, the Commission was not according as I usually grant them (but it gave him full Authority for the present service.)

For the Reasons of my Limitations in the former Commission, I forbear to give them; But whensoever the Houses shall command me, I shall be ready to make it appear, I did no more then I ought to do, having received so great a Trust from the Parliament, in the discharge of my duty, and then to submit to their further pleasures.

Sir, I shall desire you to beleeve, it shalbe my greatest care, so to carry my self, as that I may give a reall accompt of my Actions, whensoever it shall please the Parliament to require it.

[Page 6] The charge I took, was not by my seeking (I knowing my own imperfections) but not in the least way of Fidelity and constancy, and it was a great incouragement to me, the noble and free offers of both Houses, To live and dye with me; which hath put a great confidence in me, that I shall never want your just Protection and Assistance; And that you will take care of that Army that hath shewed so much Faithfulnesse and Resolution in your services, and that God hath been pleased of his infinite goodnesse so to protect; And for my own part, I am every day so confirmed in the justnesse of the Cause, that let the strength I have be never so weak, I shall never desert the Cause, as long as I have any Blood in my Veins, untill this Kingdom may [Page 7] be made happy by a blessed Peace (which is all honest mens Prayers) or to have an end by the Sword, which is the intention of

Your assured Friend, ESSEX.

Essex-house, this 2. of Jan. 1643.

FINIS.

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