Viceroys and Chief Secretaries: Cromwell's summons, 1649

From the Carte Papers: MS. Carte 25, fol. 509r.

The official copy of Cromwell's summons for the surrender of Drogheda, 10 September 1649. The refusal of the governor, Arthur Aston, led to the storming of the town and the notorious massacre. Aston sent this copy to Ormonde. He was killed very soon afterwards, and his brains were beaten out with his own wooden leg. The summons reads:

Sir

Having brought the Army belonging to the Parliament of England before this place to reduce it to obedience to the end effusion of blood may be prevented I thought fitt to sommon yow to deliver the same into my hands to their use. If this be refused yow will have no cause to blame me. I expect your answer and rest

Your servant
O Cromwell
September 10th 1649

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Viceroys and Chief Secretaries