For our faithfull and ever honored commanders, the right honorable his excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Major Generall Skipton, Lieutenant Generall Cromwell presented to them in the behalfe of eight regiments of horse, by three private soldiers, who were sent from the quarters by the soldery of the forementioned regiments, wherein they manifest to the world their reall affections to this Common-wealth, and their forward and brotherly assistance, towards the reliefe of Ireland: if not by some diverted. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A93012 of text R210418 in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.11[9]). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 6 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A93012 Wing S2826 Thomason 669.f.11[9] ESTC R210418 99869220 99869220 162660 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A93012) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 162660) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f11[9]) For our faithfull and ever honored commanders, the right honorable his excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Major Generall Skipton, Lieutenant Generall Cromwell presented to them in the behalfe of eight regiments of horse, by three private soldiers, who were sent from the quarters by the soldery of the forementioned regiments, wherein they manifest to the world their reall affections to this Common-wealth, and their forward and brotherly assistance, towards the reliefe of Ireland: if not by some diverted. Sexby, Edward, d. 1658. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [London : 1647] At end: These three gentlemen soldiers whose names are hereto subscribed, delivered the letter in be halfe of the whole, Edward Sexby, Will. Allen, Thomas Sheppherd. Imprint from Wing. Annotation on Thomason copy: "London about ye 6th of may 1647". Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Soldiers -- Great Britain -- Early works to 1800. Ireland -- History -- 1625-1649 -- Early works to 1800. Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800. A93012 R210418 (Thomason 669.f.11[9]). civilwar no For our faithfull and ever honored commanders, the Right Honorable His Excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Major Generall Skipton, Lieutenant Ge Sexby, Edward 1647 1098 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A This text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2007-09 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-11 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-12 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2007-12 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion FOR OVR FAITHFVLL AND EVER HONORED COMMANDERS , THE RIGHT HONORABLE HIS EXCELLENCY , SIR Thomas Fairfax , Major Generall Skipton , Lieutenant Generall Cromwell , presented to them in the behalfe of eight Regiments of Horse , by three private Soldiers , who were sent from the Quarters by the Soldery of the forementioned Regiments , wherein they manifest to the world their reall affections to this Common-Wealth , and their forward and brotherly assistance , towards the reliefe of Ireland : If not by some diverted . May it please your Honours , WEE who have ( for these two yeares , past ) been by your honours 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 yet sensible of a more dangerous storme hanging over our heads , then ever the malice of our open enemies could have contrived or their fury caused to fall upon us , which unlesse diverted , strikes not only at our liberty , but also at our lives . To whom ( next to our Maker ) shall we fly for shelter but to your honours , our Patrons , and Protectors , from what secondary meanes shall we expect our deliverance , but from that hand that hath so often been ingaged with us ? And from that heart that hath as often been so tender over us ; and carefull for our securities . Can we suffer and you not sympathise ? Can we be proclaimed Rebels and your Honours remain secure ? Ah , dear Sirs ! Let your wonted care for us be further demonstrated , cease not to speak for us , who together with your selves , and in obedience to your commands , have adventured all that is deare to us , for the Kingdomes safety . Hath any thing been desired by us that hath not been promised us , or then wee 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 wee not therein perceive the designes of our Enemies ? Can wee be satisfied with a complement , when our fellow Soldiers suffer at every Assize , for acts meerly relating to the Warre ? Is it not our lives wee seek for ? Where shall wee be secured , when the meer envy of a malicious person is sufficient to destroy us ? Were our Enemies in the field with their swords in their hands , wee should expect no more then a bare command , and a divine protection in our endevoures to free our selves but it is another ; and a farre worse Enemy that wee have to deal with , who like Foxes lurke in their Dens ; and cannot be dealt with , though , discovered , being protected by those who are intrusted with the Government of the Kingdome ; it is the griefe of our hearts , that wee cannot desire our own security , without the hazard of your Honours , if but in speaking in our behalfe : When shall we see Justice dispenced without partiality , or when shall the weal publike be singly sought after & endeavoured ; can this Irish expedition be any thing else , but a design to ruine & break this Army in peeces , certainly reason tels us it can be nothing else ; otherwise , why are not those who have bin made instruments in our Countries deliverance , again be thought worthy to be employed ? Or why are such ( who for their miscariages have been cast out of the Army ) thought fit to be intrusted , and those members of the Army encouraged and preferr'd to that service , when they are for the most part such , as ( had they considered their just demerrits ) might rather have expected an ejection then imployment : Wee are sensible , yea , far more sensible of the bleeding condition of Ireland , ( crying aloud for a Brotherly assistance ) then those forward undertakers in this present designe manifest themselves to be , and shall willingly contribute the utmost of our abilities towards their reliefe , when wee shall see this to be the only thing sought after , and indevoured ; but wee are confident , that your Honours cannot but perceive , that this plot is but a meer cloake , for some who have lately tasted of Soveraignity , and being lifted beyond the ordinary spheare of Servants , seek to become Masters , and degenerate into Tyrants : We are earnest therefore with your Honours , to use your utmost endevours , that before any other or further propositions be sent to us , our expectations may be satisfied , which if they are not , wee conceive our selves , and our friends , as bad as destroyed , being exposed to the mercilesse cruelties of our malicious 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 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 testifie to the Kingdom the 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 honours for your assistance , without it we are like to be wholly ruind , and having obtaind it , may be inabled , as in duty we are bound to expresse our selves . Your Honours and the Kingdomes most faithfull and obedient servants , whose names are here to annext , as agitating in behalfe of their severall Regiments . These three Gentlemen Soldiers whose names are hereto subscribed , delivered the Letter in be halfe of the whole , Edward Sexby . Will. Allen . Thomas Sheppherd .