THE HYPOCRITES VNMASKING; OR A Cleare Discovery of the grosse Hypocrisy of the Officers and Agitators in the Army, concerning their pretended forwardnesse, and reall syncere desires to relieve Ireland, with the obstruction whereof they falsely charge some of the 11 impeached Members, (who cordialy advanced it) in the 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13., 11, 12, & 14. Articles of their mostfalse and scandalous Charge.
By a Letter of the Agitators to Lieutenant Generall Crumwell, March 30. 1647: and Colonell Robert Hammond his unreasonable Propositions to the Parliament; and some briefe Observations concerning Sir Hardresse Waller, and the Lord Lisle; late Governour of IRELAND.
Isay 9. 16. 17.
For the Leaders of this People cause them to erre: and those that are led of them are swallowed up: For every one is an Hypocrite, and an evill doer, and every mouth speaketh Villany.
LONDON, Printed Anno Dom. 1647.
A Letter of the Agitators to Leiutenant Generall Cromvvell.
WE, who have [for these two yeares past and more] bin by yourSir Thomas Fairfax (It seemes) was & is but a cy-;pher with you: crumwell, only your Conductor, and Generall. Honour conducted through many dangers, and by providence have been hitherto protected; who have often seen the devouring sword of a raging enemy drawn forth against us threatning destruction to us, and now see them vanquisht, and our selves seemingly setled in peace and safety, are not unsensible of a more dangerous storm hanging over our heads then ever the malice of our open Enemies could have contrived, or their furie caused to fall upon us, which unless diverted, strikes not only at our libertie, but also at our lives: To whom (next to our maker) shall we fly for shelter but to This disc [...] vers, who is supreame head of the mutinous faction in the Army your Honour, our Patron and Protector? from what Secondary meanes shall we expect our deliverance, but from that hand that hath been so often ingaged with us? and from that heart that hath often bin so tender over us, and carefull for our securities? Can we suffer, and, you not Sympathize? can we be proclaimed Rebels, and your Honour remain secure? Ah dear Sir, let your wonted care for us be further demonstrated: cease not to speak for us who together with your selfe, and in obedience to your commands have adventured all that is deare to us for the Kingdomes safety: Hath any thing bin desired by, that hath bin promised us, or then we have just cause to expect? if there hath, then let it and the Authors thereof perish. But can the Parliament upon mis-information passe us for Enemies, and we not therein perceive the designes of our Enemies? can we be satisfied with a complement, when our fellow souldiers [Page 3] suffer at every A more untruth, never cleared by any one reall instance; Assi [...]e for Acts meerely relating to the war It is not our lives we seeke for: where shall we beThe Ordinance for Indempnity hath prevented this danger. secured whom the meere Envy of a Malitious person is sufficient to destroy us? were our Enemies in the field with their swords in their hands, we should expect no more then a bare command, and a divine protection in our indeavours to free our selves: but it is another and a farre worse Enemy we have to deale with, who like Foxes lurke in their Dens, and cannot be dealt with though discovered, being protected by those who are intrusted with the The XI impeached Members, who now can neither protect themselves (though Innocent) nor others against these Agitators and the Armies rage, and violence. Government of the Kingdome. It is the greife of our hearts that wee cannot desire our own security without the hazard of your Excellencie if but in speaking in our behalf. When shall we see Iustice dispensed without partiality, or when shall the publique weale be singly sought after and endeavoured? Can this Irish Expedition be any thing else but a designe to ruine and What need they continue entire to oppress the kingdome withtheir pay and frequarter, now the wars are ended. break this Army in peeces? Certainly Reason tells us, it can be nothing else, otherwise why are not those who have been made Instruments in our countries deliverance, again thoughtSo they were: as Major Gen. Skipp [...]n, Massy. worthy to be imployed? or why, are such [who for their miscarriage have been cast out of the Army] thought fit to be intrusted, and those Members of the Army incouraged and preferred to that service, when they are for the most part such, as (had they considered their just demerrits) might rather have expected anBecause not of the Present faction & confedracy which they long have [...]nce in conscience deserted ejection then imployment? We are sensible, Yea, Your comm-dictory Actions and present rebellious proc [...]edings, obstructive and destructive to Ireland, proclaime this anotable untruth. farre more sensible of the bleeding condition of Ireland crying aloud for a brotherly assistance, then those forward undertakers in this present designe manifest them selves to bee, and shall willingly contribute the utmost of our abilities toward their releife, when we shall see this to be the onely thing sought after and endeavoured: But we are confident that you cannot but perceive, That this Plot is but a meere Cloak for some who have lately tasted of Soveraignty, and being lifted beyond the ordinary spheare of servants This is mosttrue of the Agitators and Officers in the Army, who now exalt themselves above king and Parliament, & give Lawes to both. seek to become Masters & degenerate into Tyrants. We are earnest therefore with your Honour to use your utmost endeavours that before any other or further [Page 4] Propositions be sent to us, our expectations may be satisfied; which if they are not, we conceive our selves and our friends as bad as destroyed, being exposed to the mercilesse cruelties of our malitious Enemies. And shall your Honour, or any other faithfull servant to the State, be appointed for the service of Ireland, and accept of that imployment, we This is their reall forwardnesse to relieve Ireland. must of necessity (contrary to our desires) shew our selves averse to that service, untill our just desires be granted, the just Rights and Liberties of the Subjects of England vindicated, and maintained: And then, (as God and our owne consciences beare us witnesse) shall we test [...]fie to the Kingdome theYou should say Hypochrisy. integrity of our hearts to the service of Ireland, and our forward actions shall demonstrate the sincerity of our expressions, in reference to that imployment. Once more, we are earnest with your Honour for your assistance; without it we are like to be wholly ruined, and having obtained it, may be inabled [as in duty we are bound] to expresse our selves.
- Traitrous Mutineers by Law Martiall, and the Common Law of the Land.Agents for the Generalls Regiment.
- Tho. Moore
- Edward Sexby
- For the Lieutenant Generalls Regiment.
- Samuell Whiting
- William Allin.
- For the Commissary Generalls Regiment.
- Anthony Nixson
- Tho. Sheppard.
- For Col. Fleetwoods Regiment.
- William Iones
- Iohn Cusby.
- For Col. Sheffeilds Regiment.
- Henry Gethings
- Edw. Starre
- [Page 5]For Col. Whalleys Regiment.
- Tho. Lindoll
- Iohn Thomas
- For Col. Butlers Regiment.
- Tobias Box
- Iohn Willoughby
- For Col. Riches Regiment.
- Nichol. Lockyer
- Ioseph Foster
Propositions of Colonell Robert Hamond concerning the present service of DVBLIN.
1. THat the time of his imployment, and those of this Army going with him, in this service,Why so? but only to carry on the designes now on foot here in the Army. exceed not two, or three Monethes at the farthest.
2. To have the Yet these Gentlemen are not Mercenary and scorne and neglect their pay in respect of Justice and higher ends. Proportion of money in hand for the pay of the said forces for the said Terme, and that their pay be made good by the Parliament for what further time their returne and landing againe in England, shall by casuality of weather, or any other unavoydable necessity, be protracted beyond that time.
3. That good shipping, well victualled, both for Souldiers and Marriners, with sufficient convoy, be provided and appointed for the Transportation of the said Forces to Dublin; which shipping and convoy toThis Gent. would be supreame Commander both by Sea and Lande be commanded to observe his directions in Order to that service, and not to depart untill he dismisse them.
[Page 6]4. That the said Forces going over with him, be not obliged to Their de [...]g [...] therein was to posse [...] themselves of Dublin, not to relieye Ireland. this seemes unreasonable when they would stay there but 2. or 3 moneths at furthest. any other service whatsoever, more then the possessing and defending of Dublin.
5. That there be imbarqued with them victuall for he would be both Lord Generall and Lord Admiral at once, and command both by Land and Sea. six Moneths after their comming thither, for their supply, in case they should be so besieged, that it should not be possible for them to returne for England, at the time appointed.
6. That sufficient shipping of Warre, convenient for that service, lye in the River of Dublin to serve upon al occasions, and to preserve an interc [...]urse betwee [...]e the towne and releife by Sea in case the Enemy [being potent] should besiege the Towne: Which shipping to be commanded to observe what orders or directions they shall receive from him in Order to that service during his sayd continuance there.
7. That shipping be ready in the harbour of Dublin victualled at the Parliaments Charge with sufficient Convoy, A very reasonable motion to waite so long upon his worship before hand, at so great expences, only for a moneths continuance (not service) in Dublin. fourteene dayes before the expiration of the said Terme, to transport the said Forces back againe for England, which shipping to be commanded to observe his orders or directions in order to that service, untill he be landed in England; and that in Case releife doe not come for him and the Forces of Sir Thomas Fairefax his Army with him, within fourteene dayes before the end of the said Terme, That [whatsoever otherwise shall happen] It shall be lawfull for him and them to take shippingA very Iust demand to receive full pay beforehand for the whole time and yet to returne without Orders 7. dayes before the time. seven dayes before the expiration of the sayd time and to returne for England.
That a good Ingineere,What need such extraordinary provision for 2 moneths service only when monies were so scarce. Gunners, Matrosses, with pay for them, convenient Amunition and Provisions of Warre with Materials to worke, as spades, shovels, Mattocks and the like, may be ready to goe with them.
That at Chester there may be A very just [...] for scarse 2 moneths stay in Dublin. Fourteene dayes pay ready for the said forces at their returne put into the hands of such as he shall name, to cary them from thence to their owne homes, in case the Army, wherof they are Members be disbanded.
That in all other things, they shall enjoy a like priviledge in [Page 7] point of Arreare or otherwise, with the ArmyThey knew the Army would not disband, & therefore would continue Members of it, and returne from Ireland to ioyne in their present designes whereof they Are Members if disbanded
That the said To gaine all into the Armies power both in Irel. & Engl. to carry on their present designes the better. Colonell Hamond may have the Command of the said Garrison of Dublin and of all the forces in it, during the said Term, or until he and the forces going with him be releived; and also that a good Proportion of Money be provided for the contingent occasion that may happen, for the better carrying on of this worke, to be trusted in the hands of some, whom the Parliament shall appoint [...], and to be issued out, as Colonel Hamond shall Order.
Which last proposition (as also some parts of the former) he would not have made, but that he doubts andPay before hand for all the time; 14 days pay at the return; and yet such a good proportion of money besides: is a very unreasonable demand of unmercinary men for a months service only findes, he shall not be able to get any considerable number with him to answer this service, vnles they be so satisfied in the point of command during their stay. Nevertheles, If that, or any of the other propositions be thought unfit [to manifest the Therefore neither he nor his friends in the Army ever realy intended Irelands releif, but their own private interest and lucre- reality of his intentions for the advancement of this service, in case it could be no otherwise supplyed] he is willing himselfe, with as many others as he can perswade, to goe over for that space, upon what termes the Parliament shall thinke fit, But heHe meanes Hypocrsy: Elswhy such Articles or such a conclusion as this. doubts, that upon other termes then these, the number would not be Considerable.Which puts al out of doubt, that the Army never cordially intended Irel [...]. releif, but only jugled with the Parliament therein.
Sir Hardress Waller, a Colonell in this Army, one of the Councel of War there: a great stickler against the Accused Members, hath so litle zeale to Ireland, and so large a conscience [though he disdaines the thoughts of being Mercinary] as to continue with this Mutinous Army instead of repairing into Ireland, where he hath a plurallity of Offices of very great trust and profit: being Major Generall of the Army there, Governour of Cork and Colonell of 2. or 3. Regiments, and Captain of one Troop of Horse at once: receiving no lesse then 5079. 17. 6 4. d. this last yeare from the Houses for his pay and raysing forces for Ireland, which lay many moneths upon the western parts, and spent as much in free quarter as would have raysed fiue times more men, who yet were never transported thither to doe service there, till the Country rose up in armes against them and some of the accused members sent some of them over.
[Page 8]The Lord Lisle [a great Independent and friend of the Armies] who in the 14. Article against the Members, accuseth Sir Io [...] Clotworthy, Mr. Holles, and Sir Philip Stapleton, for Calling him back from the Government of Ireland, of which he was made Lord President for one yeare; did during that whole yeare space, except two moneths in the Winter; continue constantly in England, without doing any service at all in the Field; yet received his full pay of 10. l. a day [or more] for all the time he resided here in London (being near ten moneths space) as well as for the time he was in Ireland: During which yeare, he and his Agents received from the State no lesse then 236000. l. in money and Provisions for the service of Ireland; and put the Kingdome to neare as much charge in quartering of Souldiers raised and designed for Ireland, which lay some 8. 9. 10. 11. and 12. moneths upon the Country on free-quarter, or more, and yet were not transported during his time; which money and forces if well imployed, might have reduced Ireland ere this: And to recompence this disservice, his interest in the Officers and Souldiers of the Army at this time, hath obstructed the reliefe of Ireland, of purpose to gaine a New Commssion for himselfe to be Governor there; rather to promote his owne ends, and the Independents interests and designes, then the welfare of that bleeding Kingdome, which hath already suffered too much by his service, (bought at an over deare rate) as will appeare by his Accompt [...] when they come to be examined.
By all which (and the late treacherous ingaging of Col. Birch his forces to joyne with Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Army against the Parliament, when they were to be shipped for Ireland, by letters and sollicitations from the Army, and to returne to Hereford) let the world Judge of the Armies & Independents most derestable Hypocrisie, dissimulation and feigned intentions to relieve Ireland, whose releife they have most wilfully obstructed, and how false their Charge against those worthy Members of the House, for obstructing its releife, is, even for their most cordiall and reall endeavours to accelerate and promote it, all they could.