The Hypocrites Unmasking, Propositions
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,1Why 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 2Yet 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 to3This 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.
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 shipping*A 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,1What 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 2A 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 point of Arreare or otherwise, with the Army*They 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 and*Pay 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 he*He 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.
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.
FINIS:
End of the text · William Prynne, The Hypocrites Unmasking (1647)