CERTAINE LETTERS Sent from Sir IOHN HOTHAM, Young HOTHAM, the Major of HULL, and others.

Intercepted, and brought to Court to His MAJESTIE, April 16.

OXFORD, Printed by Henry Hall. M.DC.XLIII.

READER,

THese Intercepted Letters which we here impart to thee are exactly printed without the le ist alteration of word or spelling from the Originalls which the Printer hath in his custody under the Authors owne hands and seales.

  • The first letter superscribed to Mr Pym, From Sir Iohn Ho­tham.
  • The second to Sir Matthew Boynton, and Mr Nye, From Sir Iohn Ho­tham.
  • The third to Sir Thomas Barrington, From Sir Iohn Ho­tham.
  • The fourth to Sr Philip Stapleton, From Young Hotham.
  • The fifth to one Mr Darly, From Young Hotham.
  • The sixth to Mr Pelham Burgesse of Hull from the Major and others of that incorporation.

1st FOR MY MVCH HONOVRED friend IOHN PYM Esquire.

Sir,

I Received yours of the 4 of Aprill with the Orders inclosed; for which I desire you will present my humble service to the House, I heare from many of my friends as well as from your selfe, the jealousies was so uppon mee by reason of that fact of Sir Hugh Cholmeley's, it is the Evening Crownes the day, and I hope to make it in the end well appeare they were without cause; I confesse, I much marveile how such things should find the least beleife, being that I have ever since I was trusted by you in this imploiment served you to the best of my Judgment, not according to the strict letter of my Commissi­on, but have acted all things both here and in other places that I thought might conduce to the advancement of your service. I have now sent some good force both of horse and foote into Lincolneshire, and my sonne with them to the aid of our friends there; I assure you if Prince Rupert with his forces come downe into these parts, unlesse you send forces downe to attend up­on him, all these parts will be in very bad estate, if there were any considerable forces to fight with my Lord of Newcastle, before his new raised men be with exercise made soldiers, tru­ly I beleeve the victory would not be very difficult, but if you suffer Prince Rupert and him to joyne together, though souldi­ers that are now of noe value will within a while be as good as the other.

That businesse of Scarbrough Castle of which I writ to you in my last letter is fallen out unfortunately, for Captaine Bushell after he had surprised the Castle and was in full posses­sion of it dispatch't a messenger to mee for instant aid, which I [Page 2]presently sent him with two Catches, he in the meane time most treacherously delivered the Castle, and had the impu­dence to come to mee to Hull, I have clapt him up close priso­ner, and intend to call him to a Councell of war [...]e, there to bee punished according to his Demerits, if such Villaines be not made examples noe man will be deterr'd from doing ill.

I have received your order for the customes and have recei­ved of Mr Somerfield betwixt foure and five hundred pound, being all he had in his hand, my order is for the time to come, & this was of mony in his hand before the receipt of my order, therefore I pray you Sir by the next post send him a discharge for that mony, which I have promised him to procure the cu­stomes by reason of the decay of trade heare I feare will not be above 100l in the weeke at most, which you know how farr short it will come of our pay, I shall therefore intreat that you will not faile to speede us downe money, for in good faith else your affaires will suffer irrecoverably without my power to helpe it. I have during almost all the time of your businesse mainteined 4 troopes of horse, 4 troopes of dragoones, a Re­giment of foot without any charge to you more then the pub­lique faith, I conceive then you may be better satisfied to pay this garrison which cannot shift without it, Sir this is all I have for the present but his best respect who ever is.

Your most humble servant IOHN HOTHAM.
Hull the 7th of April. 1643.
Postscript.

Sir, you must needs send us down two Demi-Cannon, and we shall make a shift for the rest: There is one approach to the towne and we want great peices to hinder that, so as you must needs send us downe two Demi-Cannon, we sent you divers good ones from hence, if you send them downe I pray doe it by the next Ship and send bullets with them.

2d. For my much honoured friends Sir Mat­thew Boynton Knight and Baronet, and Master Nay Preacher of Gods Word, these.

Sir,

I Received yours of the 4 of Aprill. and in a letter from Sir William Stricland, the order for receiving the Customes. they were usually before these ill times 7 and 800l a weeke, I feare they will not be for the present 100l a weeke. soe that you see in what case we are at, I desire you will doe the utmost with our friends, that the 6000l whereof I have had one may be sent speedily downe, truely I am driven to my wits end for monies. The newes you heard of my Lord Fairefax losse was too true, he had 700 of his Club men Caried prisoners into Yorke where they now are. My Lord Fairefax is now at Leedes, and my Lord Newcastle is drawen with most of his forces into the West: Major Jefford is Battering Pomfret Castle, while the other increaseth in strength and reputation; we take it heere for granted Prince Rupert is comming Northward, if some stronge forces march not in the Backe of him, our forces in Yorkeshire will subsist but a while. My sonne at the Extreame earnest soli­citation of our Lincolneshire friends, is to morrow settinge for­wards to their assistance, with some troopes of horse and two strong companies of foote, he is to command in chiefe all their forces, I hope with Gods blessing he will give a good account of his actions. In the Businesse of Scarbrouge Castle we are be­trayed. Bushell hath surrendered the Castle; and my Catches I sent to his aid, like fooles contrarie to my expresse order ente­red the Haven, and are surprised. yet had Bushell the impu­dence to come to Hull, where I have him fast, and intend to Judge him according to his deserts by a Councell of war; such villaines cannot suffer sufficiently. For those letters of Marte, [Page 4]I thinke it not amisse to leave them for the present: If it were not for those foolish Jealosies▪ (which I endeavour to avoyd) I dare say at this time I could have done the Parliament more service then all the actions I ever did them was worth; but I dare not adventure upon it I saw my selfe so much mistaken, as God willing it shall well appeare in the End: Sr I am soe much your debtor for your so painfull a journey as I know not how to requite. But upon all occasions you shall ever finde mee▪

Your most faithfull friend IOHN HOTHAM.
Hull 7th 1643.
Postscript.

We heare there is an Order of Parliament for the sequestra­tion of the spirituall liveings of the malignant priests; if it be so theire is three good livings, within 10 miles of Hull, the least worth 200l per annum, I could dispose to three good friends: I pray see what may be done in it.

If their be any good to be done for the sequestrations of these livings Master Nie, my Cosen Salt-marshe, and my sonne Charles might well supply those three places, and they are within the protection of Hull; the livings are Bainton, Elton, Lockington.

3d For my much honoured friend Sir THO­MAS BARRINGTON Knight, these.

Sir,

I Received yours of the 29 of March, and must give you ma­ny thanks for the expressions of your love and favour to me; but those jealousies that I heare are raised upon me, I hope in God it shall well appeare that as I have ever abhorred from the deceaving of the least private friend that trusted me, I shall much more be farre from betraying a trust put upon me by so great a body as the House of Parliament. It is the evening Crownes the day.

I heare that this unfortunate businesse of Sir Hugh Cholmelies did in the opinion of many reflect upon me, but truely without all cause, as shall well appeare in the end. Captaine Bushell as I writt in your former letters had ceased on Scarbrough Castle and dispatch't away a post to me to send him aide, which I suddainely sent him in two Catches, but he as I conceive hath treacherously surrender'd up the Castle, and my Catches coming thither, contrary to my order entred the place, and weare both surprised; Captaine Bushell as soone as he had yeilded upp the Castle had the impudence to come hither to Hull, I suppose with the intent to work some further mischeife, but I have clapt him close, and intend to call him to a Coun­cell of warre, for betraying the Castle which he had once in his power, and my Catches; and if such villains be not puni­shed noe man will be true.

My Lord Fairefax hath 700 of his clubb-men slaine and taken prisoners, his quitting his quarters at Selby being as we conceive against all reason, and I feare will prove prejudiciall [Page 6]to his affaires, My Lord of Newcastles forces are many of them gonne towards the west, God send us a good issue, Sir I have no more at this but his best respects who ever is

Your faithfull friend to serve you, IOHN HOTHAM.
Hull the 7th of Aprill 1643.

4th. For my much honored brother Sir Philip Stapylton Knight these present.

Noble Sir,

I Doupt not but you that are upon the*** have a great deale better intelligence then we can expect here, yet something sees the by-stander that the gamster doth not. I have some cause to beleive that a very great part of the Kings Army will with speed march from Oxford to Yorke, and that Oxford will be left only with the Kings Person and some 3000 to guard it, and countenance his party; and the 2 Armies be joyned, if you follow not, you may easily guesse in what condition these Nor­thern counties will be in, that now can hardly defend them­selves. Sir, I shall not take upon me to offer any thing to you in a businesse of so great weight as this, but to desire from you some directions for the management of our businesse here, for my Lord Fairefax lies in the West, wee in the East, and some few at Lincoln, so divided as neither able to do the publike good nor our selves. My Lord Fairfax hath I doupt presuming too much upon the foolish clubb-men lost a matter of 700 of them, yett is in condition good enough yett to keepe from being broken if it be well managed, as Mr Stockdale will doe it you will think; the worst is leaving Selby, Cawood and those quarters he hath put himselfe out of any possibility of being supplied with ammunition; Sir, if the Counsells at Court alter not, this was the last resolution. My Lord Newcastle hath raked up a great many men but wants armes for some; Sir Hugh Cholmely hath given us the slip, and Captaine Bushell tooke the Castle for us one day, and let them have it the next. THE SCOTS ARE SCOTS, ALL'S LOST HERE WITH TRUSTING TO THEM. Sir [Page 8] John Seton hath betrayed them in Lancashire. Your goods are all safe at Hull, and the quicke goods in Holdernesse; Colonell Boynton never toucht any of them; I thought it was time to re­move them when Sir Marmaduke had sent for his from them. I have sent 2 good Foote companies to help them in Lincolne-shire, and will follow my selfe presently. Sir, I shall ever remaine your most affectionate Brother to serve you.

Beverly Aprill 7th 1643.
IOHN HOTHAM
Postscript.

Sir, if our army follow the Prince you will have 5 or 6000 good men to joyne with you, if you delay time they may well come to be broken.

5th. For my much honored friend HENRY DARLY Esquire these present.

Sir,

I Should be gladder to see our BRETHREN then to heare of them, they have talked of comming long, but all is words, and the enemy mightily strengthens in the mean time. I would the Treaty were at an end, for I think neither North, nay nor South intend it, and I have some reasons to beleive so; and so I wish with all my hart we might hancker no more after it but fall to good earnest. Bushell hath as basely given up the Castle, as he seemed bravely to regaine it, and hath to boote betrayd our two Cattches with 10 peice of ordinance and 80 men that was sent from Hull to releive itt: wee have him close prisonnier and intend the Counsell of war to proceed against him according to his high and Capitall of­fence. My Lord Fairfax his sudden quitting of his strong quar­ters upon the rivers hath taken all hopes from him of being supplied eyther with forces or ammunition from hence. we heare Prince Rupert is comming downe with 6000 horse to the Queene, and then you will think this Country will be in a good condition, unlesse our army follow fast which I am a­fraid they will not. That unlucky over-swelling commission hath undone all our businesse, Master Stockdale and his complices have with it given that discontent that all men of courage have left them but their owne clan. I assure you, you will find my Lord Newcastles Army very numerous, and many good Comman­ders, and if they have time they will make the soldiers good [Page 10]too. Sir, if our army follow not, your party here will danger to be broken, Sir I will trouble you noe longer but remayne

Beverly Aprill 7th 1643.
Your most affectionate friend to serve you. IOHN HOTHAM.
Postscript.

I have sent two very good foot companies into Lincolneshire and intend to follow as soone as I can. Sir, I heare the Lords would have you disavow the Captaines for shooting at Where the Queene lan­ded. Birlington, pray tell all my friends my opinion, that if you doe, you will discourage all men of honor or worth to serve you.

6th. For the worshipfull PEREGRINE PEL­HAM Esquire, one of the Burgesses of Parlia­ment for the Towne of Kingston upon Hull, at his lodging in Wolstable markett in Westm [...] these.

Sir,

We are glad to understand by your Letters that you have procured a warrant from the Committee for the ord­nance to be sent hither, being assured you wil now hasten them away with all speed (as we much desire:) But withall we thought fitt to signifie unto you, that (as the case stands) some care had need to be taken by the shipps that bring them, and other our Neighbours at London, for convoy; or otherwise that they come well appointed; for since our last writeing un­to you, Scarbrough castle which was then taken by Captaine Bu­shell (and as was thought) for the Parliament, is delivered up to the Earle of New-castles Forces; and (as is reported) by Cap­taine Bushells treachery: who notwithstanding that his fact re­turned hither, thinking (as it seemes) to brave it out; but is now Sir John Hothams prisoner in the Gaole upon suspicion of his voluntary betraying the Castle; which if it prove true, he deserves no lesse: for by reason of Sir John Hothams credulity of Bushells fidelity; he forthwith upon Bushells takeing of the Castle, sent him up (as he desired) some men, ordinance, pow­ther, and amunition in two of his Catches and a Pyncke; who fearing no harme, the two Catches went boldly into Scar­brough, and were there surprised by the Malignant forces, and the men taken prisoners; which the pyncke perceiving return­ed hither safe: And now (as wee heare) these two Catches are well manned and provided; and are roving upp and downe the coast waiting their opportunity of prise. Therefore wee [Page 12]pray you use your discretion in giving notice hereof to our Neighbours. This is all wee have at present, save the remem­brance of our loving respects to your selfe and Mris Pelham, and so taking leave wee rest

Kingston upon Hull the 7th of Aprill. 1643.
Your very l [...]ving freinds
  • Tho. Rickes Maior,
  • Lancellot Roper,
  • Jno Barnard,
  • Robbert Morton,
  • N. Denman,
  • William Popple,
  • Joseph Blandes,
  • Henry Barnard.
FINIS.

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