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Lucy Hutchinson (1620–1681). Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson. 1906.

Appendix XVI: Letter to Mr. Millington January 3, 1644

SIR,—Though I had not in my letter to you any aim to be made so public as I now am, but only to clear myself from all blemishes which my concealing those offers might have made me capable of, yet I think myself happy that by this means the House hath been pleased to take notice of this poor neglected garrison, which if the enemy could get into their possession you may perceive they would make much account of it; but I shall endeavour, so far as God enable me, to preserve it from them, and if in this low condition we are now reduced to we might receive some assistance to re-establish this place in a posture of defence, it would be a great encouragement both to the commander and soldiers. I am now making the works, but if I cannot procure money to pay the garrison, poverty will make us unable to defend them. I have now in this castle five full companies of foot in pay, besides two which are raising in the town and two more in the country which I am confident will speedily be raised; here is also four hundred horse and more raising, but I assure you these that are raised in so lamentable a condition, that they have not money to shoe their horses, and the foot so miserably poor, being plundered of all they have, that they are almost naked for want of clothes, and those which have families see their wives and children ready to perish for want. The country is on the north side plundered by my Lord Newcastle’s forces, and so oppressed on the other side by Newark, Wiverton, Shelford, and Belvoir, all in the enemy’s hand, that it can withal scarcely [afford] provision to supply the garrison if we had a force able to command it. Myself and the rest of the committee have been so plundered in our estates, which now remain in the enemy’s possession, our engagements and layings out above our abilities so great, that both our purses and credits are quite exhausted; nor did we who are commanders and gentlemen of this county ever yet receive a farthing of pay. Sir, it concerns me as having this garrison in my charge to acquaint you with the condition of it, and if the House would but now please to look upon it and afford us some supply of monies answerable to our great necessities in any reasonable proportion, I hope by God’s assistance we shall give a good account of it; if it were possible to obtain two thousand pounds we should I hope be in such a condition as we should not need to crave assistance again. We never yet received any, although places of less consequence have had as large a proportion, but our extremities are so great that whatever the parliament please to think us worthy of would be most exceeding welcome to us. Sir, I know your affections are so good, and your care so great and tender of us, that I need not press you to use your best endeavours for us; if you can procure us any money it will exceedingly oblige your country to you and encourage the languishing hopes of your assured friend and servant,

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE,
January 3rd, 1644.

[Tanner MSS. lxvi. 224, where the letter is misdated 1641.]

This letter was read in the House of Commons on January 15th, 1644, and it was ordered ‘that the monies coming from the excise arising within the town of Nottingham and county of the same, be allowed and designed upon account for the maintenance of the garrison in the castle and town of Nottingham, and that it be referred to the commissioners of excise to take care herein’.