Charles Harding Firth

“ According to Carlyle 'it was from Dalbier that Cromwell first of all learned the mechanical part of soldiering' (Cromwell, i. 216, ed. 1871) . The statement is based on Heath, who says that Cromwell learned to discipline his soldiers ' from an exact observation of some veteran commanders, viz. Colonel Dalbier, whom he had by great sums of advance money and as extraordinary pay allured to his side' (Flagellum, p. 24) . As Dalbier served under Essex and not in the army of the eastern association, the story is improbable. ”

“ Essex thought Harbord 'a very quick man for despatch of business,' but did not trust him too far (ib. i. 143) .
In October 1673 Harbord signalised himself by attacking the speaker, Sir Edward Seymour, as unfit for the post he occupied (ib. i. 140; Letters to Sir Joseph Williamson, ii. 70; Grey, Debates, ii. 188; viii. 79) . But though this made him unpopular at court he nevertheless was granted (28 May 1674) a pension of 500l. per annum on the Irish military establishment (Rawlinson MS. B. 492, f. 137) . ”

“ Cromwell rewarded his zeal by sending him a commission as major-general and commander-in-chief, which reached Jamaica early in May 1656. But Sedgwick never took up the command, and died on 24 May 1656. According to his secretary, the new responsibility imposed upon him aggravated his illness and brought him to his grave. 'There is so much expected of me,' said he, 'and I, conscious of my own disabilities, having besides so untoward a people to deal with, am able to perform so little, that I shall never overcome it ”

“ HARBORD, WILLIAM (1635?–1692) , politician, born about 1635, was second son of Sir Charles Harbord by Mary Van Alst (Baker, Northamptonshire, ii. 172) . Sir Charles Harbord, who was knighted by Charles I on 29 May 1636, was surveyor-general of the land revenues of the crown under Charles I and Charles II (Metcalfe, Book of Knights, p. 194; Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1633-4, p. 70) . He represented Launceston in the parliaments of 1661, 1678, and 1679, and many of his speeches are printed in Grey's 'Debates' (cf. iii. 46, 358) . ”

“ Fortescue supported the parliament in the attempted disbanding of May 1647, and undertook to serve in Ireland. Consequently, when the army triumphed over the parliament, he lost his commission, and was succeeded in the command of his regiment by Colonel John Barkstead [q. v.] ”

“ William Harbord is described as aged 26 in July 1661 (Chester, London Marriage Licences, p. 621) . During the Protectorate he travelled and was probably engaged in trade in Turkey (Grey, Debates, v. 41) . His political career begins in 1672, when he became secretary to the Earl of Essex (Capel, Arthur) , lord lieutenant of Ireland, and was charged to keep him informed of political affairs in England, and to act as his representative in parliament and court (Grey, Debates, ii. 437; Airy, Essex Papers, i. 184, 195, 205) . ”

“ Burnet describes him as very rich and very covetous (Own Time, ed. Airy, ii. 87) , and his reputation is severely handled in a pamphlet termed 'A List of the principal Labourers in the great Design of Popery and Arbitrary Government,' 1677, 4to, p. 3. ”

“ Present State of Jamaica, 1683, pp. 35, 38) . Doyley also carried the war into the enemy's quarters, and sent expeditions, which burnt several Spanish towns on the mainland, and brought much plunder back to Jamaica (ib. p. 35; Cal. State Papers, Colonial, Addenda, pp. 125, 127) . At the restoration of Charles II Doyley was confirmed in his post as governor, but in August 1661 he was superseded by Thomas, lord Windsor, afterwards first earl of Plymouth [q. v.] (Cal. State Papers, Colonial, 1661-8, pp. 6, 50) . He returned to England, lived chiefly in London at St. ”