I., Appendix ix., p.

522.
To these extraordinary addresses may be added a letter from the Rev.
John Cotton, a chief Congregational minister in Boston, to "Lord General Cromwell," dated Boston, N.E., May 5th, 1651.
There are three things in this letter to be specially noticed.
The _first_ is, the terms in which Cromwell is addressed and complimented.
The _second_ is, the indication here given of the manner in which the Scotch prisoners taken at the battle of Dunbar (while fighting in their own country and for their King) were disposed of by Cromwell, and with what complacency Mr.Cotton speaks of the slavery into which they were sold not being "perpetual servitude," but limited to "6 or 7, or 8 years." The _third_ thing noteworthy in this letter, in which Mr.Cotton compliments Cromwell for having cashiered from the army every one but his own partizans, thus placing the army beneath his feet, to support his absolutism in the State, having extinguished the Parliament itself, and with it every form of liberty dear to the hearts of all true Englishmen.
The chief passages of Mr.Cotton's letter are as follows: "Right Honourable,--For so I must acknowledge you, not only for the eminency of place and command to which the God of power and honour hath called you; but also for that the Lord hath set you forth as a vessell of honour to his name, in working many and great deliverances for his people, and for his truth, by you; and yet helping you to reserve all the honour to him, who is the God of salvation and the Lord of hosts, mighty in battell." "The Scots, whom God delivered into your hand at Dunbarre, and whereof sundry were sent hither, we have been desirous (as we could) to make their yoke easy.

Such as were sick of the scurvy or other diseases have not wanted physick or chyrurgery.

They have not been sold for slaves to perpetual servitude, but for 6 or 7, or 8 years, as we do our owne: and he that bought the most of them (I heare) buildeth houses for them, for every 4 an house, layeth some acres of ground thereto, which he giveth them as their owne, requiring three dayes in the weeke to worke for him (by turnes), and 4 dayes for themselves, and promiseth, as soon as they can repay him the money he layed out for them, he will set them at liberty." "As for the aspersion of factious men, I hear, by Mr.Desborough's letter [Cromwell's brother-in-law], last night, that you have well vindicated yourselfe therefrom _by cashiering sundry corrupt spirits_ out of the army.

And truly, Sir, better a few and faithfull, than many and unsound.