The Humble PETITION OF Many Officers lately drawne from the Army for the ſervice of IRELAND, In the behalfe of themſelves, and their Souldiers, TO HIS EXCELLENCY Sir Thomas Fairfax Knight, Captaine Generall of the Army raiſed by Authority of both Houſes of PARLIAMENT.
Shewing the Reaſons why, and how they were drawn off. With a Vindication of themſelves againſt the ſcandals raiſed by ſome of his Excellencies Army ſince their drawing off.
Alſo, a Letter annexed from the Generall to the ſeverall Regiments inducing them to engage in that Honourable and juſt warre.
⟨July 8th⟩ LONDON, Printed by E. Griffin. 1647.
THat your Petitioners formerly members of your Army, by your Excellencies countenance and encouragement did draw off and engage our ſelves and ſouldiers for the ſervice of Ireland; and ſince that contrary to our expectation, and as we humbly conceive, your Excellencies knowledge, there hath been very high affronts offered unto us by ſome of30 your Excellencies Army that came into our quarters, and by a pretended authority from your Excellency, and a ſpeciall order from ſome of the chiefe Commanders in your Excellencies Army, as they alledged, did•t that time draw away many of our Souldiers, and have by falſe and ſcandalous ſuggeſtions and miſinformation endeavoured to ſeduce, corrupt, and draw away many more, as doth appeare by the late loſſe of five Companies, and the great diſcouragement of all the reſt from that ſervice, which your Excellency endeavoured ſo much to promote, manifeſted by that never to be forgotten expreſſion which then fell from your Excellency; That rather then the ſervice of Ireland ſhould be neglected or retarded, you would willingly traile a Pike your ſelfe: And whereas it is by ſome perſons or pamphlets ſpread abroad, declaring that we deſerted the Army meerely on purpoſe to make a party to ſtand in oppoſition to the Army, and ſo to involve and ingage this Kingdome in another bloody warre: which our conſciences tell us to the contrary; and to give your Excellency and the world ſatisfaction, we call God the ſear••er of••l hearts to witneſſe for us, that ſuch a〈…〉never entered in, or came neere ou••••ug••neither doe we know of any ſuch incli•••••n〈◊〉have had ſuch intimation from any of our ſuperiours, or from any others in the whole world.
We therefore make it our humble ſuite to your Excellency, That as we have all5 along ſerved your Excellency in your juſt undertakings for the welfare of this Kingdome, with all integrity and fidelity, we may not now be looked upon as enemies, but as well wiſhers to the peace of this Kingdome; and now ready, if not obſtructed, with our lives and fortunes to endeavour the reliefe of bleeding Ireland. And to that purpoſe we further beſeech your Excellency to give command that no interception be made, or interruption given to any perſon or perſons imployed to London or to the Parliament upon our affairs, by any of your Excellencies Army, but that at all times free paſſage may be allowed to your Petitioners,
WHereas at the laſt meeting of the Officers of this Army at Saffron Walden I declared in the preſence of the Lords and Commons Commiſſioners of Parliament to all the Officers then preſent; as alſo to ſuch Officers as have ſince that time come to the Head-quarters, that they ſhould make known to their ſeverall Regiments the intention of the Parliament to ſend a conſiderable force of ſuch of their Army that are willing to goe into Ireland for the reducing of that Kingdome, deſiring them alſo to make known my deſire to advance that ſervice, and to prevent any hinderance thereof; and that if any Officers ſtand not diſpoſed to engage in perſon in that imployment, yet that they ſhould promote it, in making known my deſire and the Votes of both Houſes, for the encouragement of ſuch as ſhould8 engage in that ſervice: I doe therefore deſire you to publiſh this Letter, together with the ſaid Votes, by reading the ſame unto your Regiment. In expectation whereof I remaine
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