The Hypocrites Unmasking, Letter
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.
May it please your Honour.
WE, who have [for these two yeares past and more] bin by your1Sir 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 2This disc… vers, who is supreame head of the mutinous faction in the Armyyour 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 suffer at every 3A 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 be*The 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 4The 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 5What 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 thought6So 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 an7Because not of the Present faction & confedracy which they long have …nce in conscience deserted ejection then imployment? We are sensible, Yea, 8Your 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 onelyonly 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 9This 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 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 the*You 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.
Your1His in the first p…ace, and a truth as to him. Honours and the2This your present Rebellion and disobedience to the Parliament proves a falshood, in relation to the Kingdome. Kingdomes most faithfull and obedient Servants, whose names are here annext, as agitating in behalfe of their severall Regiments.
*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
For Col. Whalleys Regiment.
Tho. Lindoll
Iohn Thomas
For Col. Butlers Regiment.
Tobias Box
Iohn Willoughby
For Col. Riches Regiment.
Nichol. Lockyer
Ioseph Foster
For our Honoured Commander, Leiutenant*Though no present Officer in, or Member of the Army; yet, now chiefe President in the Councell there, and is appointed a Commssioner for the Army to treat with the House, of which he is an actuall Member; as in contradistinction to the House. A strange Mystery of iniquity. Generall Crumwell these. 30. Aprilis 1647.