Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 06.djvu/411

Rh of this Army’ Cromwell ‘had notice of, he caused it to rendezvous on Tweed banks; and the Scottish people having challenged several horses taken from them by that Regiment, the Lieutenant-General caused the said horses to be restored back, and the plunderers to be cashiered. A Lieutenant that countenanced such deeds was delivered into the Marshal’s hands; and the Colonel himself, conniving at them, and not doing justice upon the offenders when complaints were brought in to him, was taken from the head of his Regiment, and suspended from executing his place, until he had answered at a Council of War for his negligence in the performance of his duty. This notable and impartial piece of justice did take very much with the people; and the Regiment is ordered back into Northumberland.’ —as we see.

The answer of ‘Loudon Cancellarius’ to this Letter from Norham is given in the old Newspapers. The date is Edinburgh, 28th of September 1648. Loudon of course is very thankful for such tenderness and kind civilities; thankful especially that the Honourable Lieutenant-General has come so near, and by the dread of him forced the Malignants at Stirling Bridge to come to terms, and leave the Well-affected at peace. A very great blessing to us ‘the near distance of your forces at this time,’—though once (you ken varry weel, and Whitlocke kens,) we considered you an incendiary, and I, O Honourable Lieutenant-General, would so fain have had you extinguished,—not knowing what I did!

Norham lies on the South shore of the Tweed, some seven miles above Berwick:

Cromwell went across to Mordington, and met the ‘Influential Persons,’ on the morrow. As the following Letter, taking a comprehensive survey of the matter, will abundantly manifest.