State Papers, 1638: Oct-Dec

A COLLECTION OF STATE PAPERS OF John Thurloe Esquire, &c.

Oliver Cromwell to Mrs. St. Johns.

Vol. i. p. 1.

Deere Cozen,
I thankfullyacknowledge your love in your kind remembrance of mee upon this oportunitye. Alas, you doe too highlye prize my lines, and my companie. I may bee ashamed to owne your expressions, consideringe how unproffitable I am, and the meane improvement of my tallent. Yett to honour my God by declaringe what hee hath done for my soule, in this I am confident, and I will bee soe. Trulye then this I finde, that hee giveth springes in a drye and barren wildernesse, where noe water is. I live (you know where) in Mesheck, which they say signifies prolonginge; in Kedar, which signifieth blacknesse; yet the Lord forsaketh mee not. Though hee doe prolonge, yett hee will (I trust) bring mee to his tabernacle, to his restinge place. My soule is with the congregation of the first borne, my body rests in hope; and if heere I may honour my God either by doeinge or sufferinge, I shal be most glad. Truly noe poore creture hath more cause to putt forth himselfe in the cause of his God, then I. I have had plentifull wadges before hand; and I am sure I shall never earne the least mite. The Lord accept mee in his sonn, and give mee to walke in the light, and give us to walke in the light, as hee is in the light. Hee it is that inlighteneth our blacknesse, our darknesse. I dare not say, hee hydeth his face from mee; hee giveth me to see light in his light: one beame in a darke place hath exceedinge much refreshment in it; blessed bee his name for shininge upon soe darke a hart as mine. You knowe what my manner of life hath bine. O, I lived in, and loved darknesse, and hated the light; I was a chiefe, the chiefe of sinners. This is true, I hated godlinesse, yett God. had mercy onn mee. O the riches of his mercy! praise him for mee, pray for mee, that hee, whoe hath begunn a good worke, would perfect it to the day of Christ (fn. 1). Salute all my good freinds in that family, wherof you are yett a member. I am much bound unto them for ther love. I blesse the Lord for them, and that my sonn by there procurement is soe well. Lett him have your prayers, your councell; lett mee have them. Salute your husband and sister from mee: hee is not a man of his word; hee promised to write about Mr. Wrath of Epinge, but as yett I receaved noe letters: putt him in minde to doe what with conveniency may bee donn for the poore cozen, I did sollicit him about. Once more farewell; the Lord bee with you; soe prayeth

Ely 13th of October, 1638.

Your trulye lovinge cozen,
Oliver Cromwell.

My wives service and love presented to all her freinds.

To my beloved cozen Mrs. St. Johns att sir William Masham his house called Oates in Essex, present theise.

A warrant under the privy seal for Mr. William Woodhouse to be consul of Tunis.

Vol. i. p. 5.

Charles R.
Whereas we are given to understand, that sir Peter Witch our ambassadour to the Grand Seigneur, for the better accommodation of trade to our marchants abroad in those parts, hath thought fitt to constitute and appoint our well beloved subject William Woodhouse to reside as consul at the towne of Tunis; these are therefore to signifie our approbation and confirmation thereof unto the said Wiliam Woodhouse; giveing him full power and authority, to doe and perform all dutyes, necessary and belonging to our consul in that place, untill such time as we shall otherwayes declare our pleasure. And we doe hereby will, and command all our subjects trading into that place, and the parts therunto belonging, that they acknowledge him our said consul in ther respects, and allso in the dues and benefitts belonging unto him by virtue therof, as they will answer the contrary at ther perill. Given under our signet at our court of Whithall this twelveth day of December 1638.

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