A LETTER SENT By a Yorkshire Gentleman, to a friend in London: Being a full and true Relation of the proceedings betweene his Majesty and the County of York, at Heworth Moore, upon Friday, June. 3.
Also the most materiall passages of this Weeke, from London, Westminster, &c.
MY Engagements to you command the passages of this day; I am confident the Printed Summons so long before published, and the severall adjournments of our meeting have begot in you, as in all parts about us, strong expectations of the issue.
In the first place, his Majestie attended with divers Lords of the House of Peeres, and the 140. Troopers of Knights and Gentlemen of this Countie, led by the Prince their Captaine; & some of the House of Commons, with the 800. of the Trained Bands as a foot Guard, appeared this day on Heworth Moore; where (in the judgement of most) were betweene 60. and 70. thousand Free-holders and [Page 2]others. After his Majestie had rid about the field, He declared that that which he had to say to them, he had put in Print, and so dispersed the same through the field.
At the delivery thereof, divers of the Cavelliers and others shaked their Hats over their heads, and the people cryed, God blesse the King, God unite the King and Parliament, and God turne the Kings heart, and with this they followed the King from the Moore to the Citie. But by the way, let me advertise you of some passages upon the Moore: Sir John Bourchier being among the Freeholders, and reading a Petition, openly in the field for their approbation, to be presented in the Name of the Countie to His Majestie, thereby declaring their dislike, that those Cavelliers should be so neare the Court, as if they were kept for some designe: And desiring the King to comply with the Parliament, & to dismiss them. The Lo: Savill having notice thereof, came in a furious manner to Sir Jo. Bourchier, saying, Sirrah, what Pamphlet are you reading there; who answered, no Pamphlet, but that thing wch he could iustifie. What is it some seditious Petition? I command you to deliver it; which he refusing, the Lord Savill was ready to take him by the Throate, & laying his hand upon his Sword, threatned what he would do to him if hee did not deliver it; whereupon the Free-holders who approved of the same, were earnest to lay violent hands on his Lordship; but Sir John Bourchier desirous to avoyd shedding of Blood (which unavoydably would have followed) delivered the same; the Free-holders were so keene to bee revenged on his Lordship for affronting them in hindering their Petitioning to his Maiestie, that they presently caused another Copie of the same to be read openly in the Field, which receiving a generall approbation, none opposing it publikely, but one Bradley a Parson, Popish, and of a vitious conversation: They requested Sir Thomas Fairefaxe Knight, sonne to Fardinando Lord Fairefaxe, to present the same Petition to his Maiestie; publikely declaring their [Page 3]approbation thereunto: which hee (notwithstanding the Lord Savills opposition) accepted of, and used his utmost endeavour to deliver the same, and after extraordinary opposition, made his way thorough the Horse, and came at last neare to his Maiestie, and alighted, and tendred the same: who putting it aside with his hand, declined the acceptance thereof; and Sir Thomas Fairfaxe pressing the second time with more earnestnesse, received the like refusall, yet left the same upon the Pummell of his Maiesties Saddle; and returned and acquainted the Free-holders therewith; who being troubled at his Maiesties refusall, resolved to goe into the Citie, and as many of them whose habitations were neare Yorke and could make stay, went and subscribed the Petition; & after gave directions to present the same to the Parliament; together with a short Petition to both Houses, shewing the affronts they received by the Lord Savill and the Lord Lindsey, who tore one of the Petitions, which I should have mentioned before.
The Cavilliers reported by reason of the acclamation of the people, they were wholly for the King, against the Parliament; which the people hearing of, declared, they did not come that day with any intentions or resolutions to divide the King and Parliament, nor would they ever condescend thereunto; and were resolved of that answer in case any such propositions had beene made: And because there was an appearance of so many thousands, and nothing propounded to require their answer, they went away much unsatisfied and discontent, because they knew not wherefore they were summoned.
The Lord Savill who had endeavored to suppresse the generall Petition of the Countie, hath since the dismission of the assembly (being afraid of a publike Teste) in an obscure manner, procured hands to another Petition to the Parliament of a very strange Nature, and hath procured the same to be Printed, and to be dispersed through this Countie; [Page 4]and Benson an Atturney at Common Law is designed by his Lordship to be imployed in the West Riding, to progge for h [...]nds to that Petition.
Let me a little trespasse upon your patience, and acquaint you with other Particulars. This morning the Lord Newcastle is come, and this night the Lord Strange is expected, there are here about 42. peeres of the Realme, and as many of the House of Commons. And let me tell you what I heare, that a Declaration is intended by the King and Lords (if not by the Commons here present) against the proceedings of Parliament; what effect it will have I know not: by the next Post perhaps you will heare the Chapter-house or Deanry is making fit with seats for Consultation, much after the manner of the house of Commons; Master Hide is expected this night; Two Cart loades of Records and Bookes are come downe: Master Holborne and Master Chadwell are every day looked for.
Yorke is a Sanctuary to all those that despise the Parliament; The Cavilliers take liberty in railing against the Parliament, and use all meanes to put affronts upon them, and to disaffect the people from them; for one Master King being imployed by the Sergeant at armes of the house of Commons, for the apprehending of one Beckwith an Arch Papist, who was the principall actor in the plot for surprise of Hull, having apprehended him, was rescued by 12. Cavilliers, who beat Master King, and kickt him downe the staires, which the Committee at Yorke having notice of, Sir Ph. Stapleton, and Sir Hen. Cholmley went into the roome where they were, and demanded the prisoner, declaring withall, they would have justice done upon them for this affront to the Parliament, and at last, obtained their Prisoner againe, whereupon the Cavilliers went to Court, and a Command came from his Majesty for the releasement of the prisoner, and the Messenger of the house of Commons was sent for by Sir James Hay, and some of the Kings Guard, and for eight houres was under restraint of a Guard of Musketiers, and [Page 5]was sent for to his Majesty, who required him to shew his Warrant, which he did, and his Majesty declared that hee would protect Beckwith: And the day after Beckwith tooke the oath of Allegiance and Supremacie, as most of the greatest Papists in Yorkeshire at this time doe; and (as is conceived) throughout the Kingdome they have a dispensation to doe, thereby the better to compasse their designes; which are, as our Cavilliers publiquely declare here, to destroy the Parliament, for that so long as the Act shall stand, that this Parliament shall not be dissolved without consent of both Houses: It will be such a curb and bridle to all desirous to mount Prerogative, that they will have no hopes of recovery, but by destruction of this Parliament; which (if compassed) I feare will put a period to all Parliaments, and so by consequence destroy our Religion, Liberty, and Property: We much marvell that no notice is taken of the many Lords of the House of Peeres, and members of the house of Commons that are come downe hither, and that they are not summoned up, for it is given out here, there are but about 56. in the house of Commons left, and about 20. of the Lords; And that the rest have deserted the Parliament, and this they brag on in a high manner: Now sure if it be suffered that Members of either House may be enjoyned by a VVarrant under his Maiesties hand, to attend his Maiestie so far remote from Parliament, and neglect the great affairs of the Kingdome, whereunto they were elected by VVrit, let Law be no more our Rule, but VVill, and bid farewell to all Parliaments.
I have but two particulars more to adde, to wit, that a Corporall of Sir John Hothams (as I am informed) and some 30. Common Souldiers are come from Hull to the King, but the reason of their comming from thence, was, that the Corporall for his abusive carriages was to ride the Horse, as also some of the Common Souldiers, who in resistance therof expressed a mutinous behaviour, whereof Sir Jo. Hotham being throughly possessed, quit the Garrison of them.
In a word I conclude, the Committee of the Parliament here resident, were by his Maiesty confined to their lodgings this day, and command not to go into the field: they answered to my Lo: of Newport, (who brought his Maiesties command) that it was against the liberty of the Subiect, against the Law of the Land, and not a small breach of the Priviledges of Parliament, that members thereof (sent downe to keep the peace of the Kingdome) and Freeholders of this County should be so illegally imprisoned, at such a time; which the Freeholders did much distast: Neverthelesse, the Committee would obey, except the occurrences of the day should require their presence in obedience to the command of Parliament, and then they answered, they must not deceive so great a trust committed to them, &c.
The most remarkable passages of this Weekes proceedings.
THe Lords and Commons professing (next to the service of Almighty God) their reall desire of his Maiesties honour, and the prosperity of this Kingdome, likewise expressing their sense of the distractions thereof, and the miserie thereby threatned to the same, (occasioned by persons disaffected to the true Religion, his Maiesties honour, and the peace of the Nation) agreed upon nineteene Propositions to be sent to his Maiestie, whereto they humbly beseeched his Maiesties compliance, as to the most effectuall meanes (through Gods blessing) to prevent the enemies hopes, and our owne feares, and to beget a right understanding betwixt King and People, and declared to settle his Maiesties revenew in a fuller manner than his predecessors ever inioyed.
It is Ordered that, the members of the House, of Commons gone to Yorke, should forthwith repaire to the service of the Kingdome; in Parliament, and their disobedience to the said Order should be deemed, a high affront to Parliament, a failing of the trust reposed in them by the Kingdome, and a countenancing of the warre intended against the Parliament.
It is Ordered that all absent members of the Commons House should give speedy attendance upon the businesse of the Common wealth, that all Sheriffes should give notice of the said Order; & that if they be not in the House of Commons, the 16. of this instant June, then each to forfeit a 100. pounds towards the wars of Ireland, and to be further censured, Prout, &c.
Upon information that the Jewels of the Crowne were either sold, or pawned beyond Sea (which by the Law ought not to be alienated) and that the extraordinary sums thereby raised, were probably to furnish the intended warre against the parliament: It is ordered by the Lords and Commons, that all Actors about the same, not giving notice thereof to the parliament, shall be held promoters of the said war, enemies to the State, and ought to satisfie the publique dammage.
At a Common Hall in London the Loane of one hundred thousand pounds was required by the Parliament from the Citie (for the affaires of England & Ireland) which was granted with so generall alacritie and readinesse, that, (it being desired, all against the Loane would hold up their hands) there was not a hand lift up throughout the Hall, except one who began to speake, as was conceived, against the same, whereupon he was imediatly hissed into shame and silence; Upon the report of this faithfulnesse and affection of the Citie to the Kingdome, both Houses resolved that an especiall thankes should be drawn up and sent unto them.
It is informed to the Parliament that above an hundred faile of Ships of the Denmarkes are put to Sea, with many [Page 8]thousand Foot, and very many Horse, their voyage is pretended to France for Salt, but it is well knowne, that Light Horses doe not use to carry Salt by Sea.
The Committee of the House of Commons (now in Lincoln shiere) to settle the Militia, sent a Letter to the House, thereby shewing the ready obedience they there met withall (even beyond their expectation) unto the ordinance of Parliament in that behalfe: That the County hath fourescore High Constables, whereof all appeared before them (to render their account of the Armies and munition of the Countie) except two or three (one of which was then at London) so as the appearance was observed to bee fuller then had beene upon any occasion heretofore; and that (notwithstanding his Maiesties Proclamation against the Militia fixed upon the gate where they met, also his Maiesties Letter sent to the old Deputie Lievtenants under the Lord Lindsey, who hath a new Commission under the Great Seale for the Lievtenancy of that county) the Trayned Bands of the Citie of Lincolne with a like number of Volunteers compleatly armed, made tender of their service according to their late Protestation.
A Petition was delivered to the Parliament from the County of Yorke directed to both Houses: and therewith they sent the Petition tendered to his Maiestie by them upon Friday last.