Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 06.djvu/185

 came hovering about him: he drove them into Burleigh House, near by, and laid siege to the same; ‘at three in the morning, battered it with all his shot, and stormed it at last Which is ‘a good help we have had this week.’

On the other hand, at Gainsborough we are suffering siege; indisputably the Newarkers threaten to get the upper hand in that quarter of the County. Here is Cromwell’s Letter,—happily now the original itself;—concerning Lord Willoughby of Parham, and the relief of Gainsborough ‘with powder and match.’

Rushworth and the old Newspaper copies of this Letter, along with certain insignificant, perhaps involuntary variations, there are two noticeable omissions; the whole of the first paragraph, and nearly the whole of the last, omitted for cause by the old official persons; who furthermore have given only the virtual address ‘To the Committee of the Association sitting at Cambridge,’ not the specific one as here:

Huntingdon, 31st July 1643. ''Gentlemen,—No man desires more to present you with encouragement than myself, because of the forwardness I find in you,—to your honour be it spoken,—to promote this great Cause. And truly God follows us with encouragements, who is the God of blessings:—and I beseech you let Him not lose His blessings upon us! They come in season, and with all the advantages of heartening: as if God should say, ‘Up and be doing, and I will stand by you, and help you!’ There is nothing to be feared but our own sin and sloth.''