The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 57
FOR COLONEL ROBERT HAMMOND
“London,” 6th April 1648.
Dear Robin,—Your business is done in the House: your 10l. by the week is made 20l.; 1000l. given you; and Order to Mr. Lisle to draw-up an Ordinance for 500l. per annum to be settled upon you and your heirs. This was done with smoothness; your friends were not wanting to you. I know thy burden; this is an addition to it: the Lord direct and sustain thee.
Intelligence came to the hands of a very considerable Person, That the King attempted to get out of his window; and that he had a cord of silk with him whereby to slip down, but his breast was so big the bar would not give him passage. This was done in one of the dark nights about a fortnight ago. A Gentleman with you led him the way, and slipped down. The Guard, that night, had some quantity of wine with them. The same party assures that there is aquafortis gone down from London, to remove that obstacle which hindered; and that the same design is to be put in execution in the next dark nights. He saith that Captain Titus, and some others about the King are not to be trusted. He is a very considerable Person of the Parliament who gave this intelligence, and desired it should be speeded to you.
The Gentleman that came out of the window was Master Firebrace; the Gentlemen doubted are Cresset, Burrowes, and Titus; the time when this attempt of escape was, the 20th of March. Your servant,
OLIVER CROMWELL.[1]
Henry Firebrace is known to Birch, and his Narrative is known. ‘He became Clerk of the Kitchen to Charles ii.’—The old Books are full of King’s Plots for escape, by aqua-fortis and otherwise.[2] His Majesty could make no agreement with the Parliament, and began now to smell War in the wind. His presence in this or the other locality might have been of clear advantage. But Hammond was too watchful. Titus, with or without his new horse, attends upon his Majesty; James Harrington also (afterwards author of Oceana); and ‘the Honourable Thomas Herbert,’ who has left a pleasing Narrative concerning that affair. These, though appointed by the Parliament, are all somewhat in favour with the King. Hammond’s Uncle the Chaplain, as too favourable, was ordered out of the Island about Christmas last.