COLONEL CHRISTOPHER COPLEY.

Sufficient has been said respecting Copley in the “Life, Times, &c.,” pages 214, 215, to give interest to any matter that can afford information respecting him.

We here supply his autograph, from MSS. in the British Museum, which may be useful to collectors; and have also to offer the account he gives of himself and his affairs during the Commonwealth, derived from Cole’s MSS. also in the British Museum, No. 5832, volume 31, page 209, as follows:—

I. (The following Case, wrote on half a sheet of paper, and was the first draught as seems to me, by the alterations and scratchings out of several words, and additions over them. I know not how I came by it.)

Col. Christopher Copley his Case.

Humbly sheweth,

That the said Colonel Copley did, in the year 1642, at his own charge raise a troop, and in 1644, a regiment of Horse, and supplied the Parliament with Bar-iron and Bullets, which with other things due amounted to the value of £1,843, whereof £1,500 was granted unto him as by an order of the 19th of July 1656, may at large appear; but is still unpaid.

That during the greatest part of the years 1644, and 1645, he had the command and care of several regiments of Horse, and by the blessing of God upon his conduct and resolution, several pieces of service were done, and victories obtained, whereby diverse of the counties of England were settled in peace, to the great advantage of the nation.

That the Committees of all ridings of the county of York did, in approbation of his service and fidelity, elect him to be Colonel of the West-riding Regiment of Horse in 1645; and the Parliament, by their letter, under the hand of the R^t hon^ble. Mr. Speaker, did also assure him, that they would be ready upon all occasions to testify their sense of his service; and did after, in 1647, appoint him to be one of the nine, who by their vote, were to command the nine regiments of Horse then only to be continued for the defence of this nation.

That by reason of the premisses the Earl of Newcastle caused his wife and children to be turned out of doors, and his house, lands, goods, and stock at four Iron Works to be taken from him, to the value of £2,000; for which he never had any recompense.

That Lieut^t.-Gen^l. Cromwell finding the said Colonel Copley would not become subservient to his ambitious ends (which then were under the curtain, but since discovered) caused him to be undeservedly questioned upon articles (which before he had waived), and after he had fully cleared himself, did, notwithstanding his said service, contributions and sufferings, cause him to be put out of the Catalogue presented to be continued in 1647; whereby his regiment was taken from him, and given to Colonel Lambert, contrary to the said vote; the Parliament, as is conceived, not then remembering it, nor their engagement by their letter afore-mentioned.

That though he thus lost his command, yet he did not resist (as others of late) but acquiesced in the pleasure of the house, and submitted shortly after to a Commonwealth Government set up; yet hath been kept out of all employment, both civil and military ever since; to his reproach and the ruin of his estate, contrary to the declaration of the 20th January 1643, while he hath seen many others (who never at all, or not considerably, either served or contributed to, or suffered for the Parliament) from mean conditions, preferred to, and continued in great commands and employments by their compliances with the many changes of this evil age, and the lusts of ambitious men, to the hazard of the ruin of this Commonwealth.

That he did disapprove of the usurpations of the Protectoral, and the longings after the regal power; but when the Parliament was invited to return to the discharge of their trust, and were about the restitution of the commands to such, as by the usurpations were dispossessed, he tendered his service. And after the late interruption, he declared his readiness to raise a regiment, and to run the hazard of his life and fortune, to reduce the army to the Parliament’s obedience; and received a Commission to that end.

His humble request, therefore, is, that your Honours will be pleased upon due consideration of the premisses to confer upon him his own regiment of Horse, late under the command of the said Colonel Lambert, and now about 12 years withheld from him, according to the justice of his case above-mentioned, or some other command or civil employment in England or Ireland, suitable to his former, and to the merit of his fidelity and affections to the Parliament, expressed in the premisses.

This is a true copy of the last:

That since the good Providence hath put the power into your hand, your Ex^cy. will be pleased upon due consideration of the Premisses, to confer upon him a command in England or Ireland, suitable to his former, and to the merit of his fidelity and affections to the Parliament expressed in the Premisses.

II. In the 4th Volume of the Journals of the House of Commons for 1644 to 1646, on the 20th October, 1645, is reported—“A letter from * * 18th October, 1645— * * relating the great success of the Parliament’s forces (about 1,200), under the command of Colonel Copley, near Ferrybriggs, over near 2,000 of the enemy, under the command of Digby.”

And in the 5th Volume, 1646 to 1648, on the 18th May, 1647, was read—“A Certificate from the Earl of Manchester, of the 20th February, 1646, concerning iron belonging to Mr. Copley and his Partners, made use of by the forces under his command.”

On referring to the Journals of the House of Lords, we find that on the 8th of July, 1648, there was a message from the House of Commons, and an order desiring their Lordships’ concurrence; being among other matters—“An Ordinance for £4,324. 9s.—to Colonel Christopher Copley,” which was entered and agreed to. (See Vol. X., 1647 to 1648, pages 369 and 371.)