FIVE MATTERS OF NOTE.
AS FIRST, A continuation of the weekely Occurrences in the high Court of Parliament, from the 16. of May to the 23. more fully then before Printed.
2. His Majesties resolution concerning Yorkshire; Together with many other Occurrences concerning his royall Majesty, and the high Sheriffe of that County.
3. Sir JOHN HOTHAMS learned Speech; wherein is manifested the manifold Reasons why the Subject, being commanded by the Parliament, ought not to disobey.
With a remarkable passage concerding the Lord Littleton, Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England, and many other persons of note.
As also other occurrences upon Saturday, May 21.
An Order from the high Court of Parliament, dated the 20. of May.
Loneon printed, IT 1642.
Occurrences in the high Court of Parliament, from the 16. of May to the 23. 1642.
MOnday the 16. of May in the morning a Committee of both Houses met about the drawing up of the Remonstrance, for the Uindication of the Parliament touching disposall of the Militia, but they determined not thereof.
Upon the meeting of the Lords House there was a Petition delivered unto them by the Ear of Essex from the County of Stafford (in effect to that presented to the House of Commons on Saturday before) as giving them thanks for their great care of the Republique and in ordaining of the Militias and praying their stil corespondency, and happy continuation with the House of Commons, in what conduced to the common good: which being red, and gratefully accepted, thanks was returned for their fidelity to the State and Parliament.
On the 18 day the Earl of Stamford, one of the Committees sent to Hull, being returned, gave an account of his said service; [...]s the shipping of part of the Magazine at Hull which contrary winds kept from coming about; acquainting the House further of the fears in those parts of his Majesties intention to raise Armes against the Parliament. And also for the safe keeping of Hull. Sir John Hotham desired that some ships might be sent to lye in the river and that the Garison might be enlarged; which the House being acquainted by Message, there was a conference concerning it, where many things were propounded as convenient to be done, but nothing fully determined of.
And they then likewise Ordered, that notice should be given to the Sheriffe of Yorkshire, and other Northerne Counties that if any rose in a warlike manner, under pretence of taking part with his Majesty against the Parliament; that they should raise the trained Bands of those respective shires to suppresse them.
Then the Houses received Information from Yorke, that those Noblemen sent for to attend the House, that went thither without [Page]the Houses consent, My Lord Savell, Lord Seymer, Lord Rich, &c. had denied to come, saying they were bound by the Oath of Allegiance to attend his Majesty. The consideration whereof took each House some time in debate.
Thursday morning upon the compleating of both Houses each House tooke into consideration both the Messages from the Committees resident at Yorke, and having severally some while debated thereon, for the security of the Kingdom, and preventing of succeeding Evils (if not timely remedy were taken) upon a Message there was a Conference, whereat these joynt notes were concluded of, that touching the Magazine of each respective shire in the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, it should be put into the custody of the Lievtenants and Deputy Lievtenants of each County nominated by the Parliament for the more security.
Lords Committees appointed by the House to joyn with a proportionable number of the House of Commons, to consider of a Declaraon or Message sent to both Houses from his Majesty touching Hull, viz. L. Admirall. E. Pembrooke. E. Essex. E. Leicester. E. Holland. Vic. Say & Seal. L. Paget. L. North. L. Spencer. L. Kimbolton. L. Brooke. L. Roberts.
Their Lordships or any five are to meet with a proportionable number of the House of Commons in the Painted Chamber.
ON Friday last; the Lords fell into consideration of the malignant party of the Kingdome, and of his Majesties intention to raise Arms against his Parliament. And having some while debated thereon they at last unanimously Uoted,
- 1. That it appears the King intends to levie war against the Parliament
- 2. That whensoever the King maketh war upon the Parliament, it is the breach of the trust reposed upon him by the People, and against his Oath, and tendeth to the desolation of his Government.
- 3. That whosoever shall serve or assist the King in such War, are Traitors, and to be proceeded against as Traitors, according to a Statutes of 11. Rich. 2, and 1. Hen. 4.
The KINGS Majesties Resolution concerning Yorkshire.
AFter my hearty Commendations remembred unto you, and to your wife, I thought it necessary to send you these Occurrences, writing them with a sad and heavy heart, by reason that there is such a great dissention here, in this our County; there is no talke now in these parts but Wars, as we are very fearfull that they will ensue very sodainly; for there is great preparations in this City, and we dare not say to the contrary: His royall Majesty is resolved to stay there as yet, and doth assure us that there shall be nothing done contrary to the wil of this Kingdome,
The great and manifold dangers which are like to ensue (curteous and judicious Reader) are many for these two or three yeers; but I passe them: they have been a hatching, and are now-almost dome to a full ripenesse, as may appeare by this ensuing Relation.
Upon this present moneth of May, there hath been many fears and jealousies entring into the hearts of true harted Protestants in the Northerne parts of Englands, and especially in the County of Yorkshire, and they are now fully entred more is the pity, we may all say, for they had some hopes that. His Majesty and the honourable high Court of Parliament, would by degrees have assented one with the other, and have all joynd with one constancy of minde for the future and publique good of this Kingdome, but now in the conclusion, they are far further off then they were at the beginning, and their intentions are more apparantly known to the World: for it is absolutely thought that a Civill War will so [...]ainly ensue, unlesse God of his great mercy stir the intentions of many.
There were many assembled together in a warlike manner in the County of Yorkshire, but to what intent is not yet known; but at last each man departed to his owne home; yet this is for certain that there is great preparations for war made in this County, and divers other adjoyning Counties, but to what intent is not yet known; it strikes terrour to the hearts of all true Protestants, and maketh a great provision in this County, some of the Malignant party saying, that the world will never be good til there be some blood of the Puritan shed, but the Lord of his mercy send us a sodain prevention, that the bloodthirsty Papists may lose and misse of their intended purposes.
There is in this County a great number of Papists, and likewise in many other Counties adjoyning to this, and it is thought that they are well provided and furnished with great store of Ammunition for war, whose Designe is to bring a civill War upon the face of this whole Kingdome; that while we are in dissentions among our selves, a Forraigne Enemy may have the more advanrage to worke their damnable and mischievous designes.
There was upon the two and twentieth day of this Moneth, many that went to his Majesty, saying, They would lay down their lives for the safety of his Majesty: it is generally thought there will be sodainly Wars in this County of York and all other places thereabouts: so I rest,
Another passage of Note that happened in the County of York between the high Sheriffe of the said County, and certain men assembled in Armes.
THE high Sheriffe of Yorkshire having Order and command from both houses of Parliament, to suppresse all those that appeared in a warlike manner in those parts; and having intelligence that there were some that had put themselves into a posture of War he commanded some certain persons to make towards them with all speed to certifie the Command he had from both houses of Parliament, to suppresse all those that appeared in a warlike manner: they having heard what the Messengers had said immediately departed from them, and every man withdrew himselfe to his owne home.
An Information received from York the twenty two of May, 1642.
VPon the ninteenth day of this present moneth, 1642. the honourable Houses received Information from York, that those Noble men sent for to attend the House that went thither without the Houses consent my Lord Savell, my Lord Seymer, and my Lord. Rich, &c. had denied to come; saying, that they were bound by the Oath of Allegiance to serve his Majesty.
A learned Speech made by that much honored and renowned Gentleman, Sir John Hotham, a member of the honorable House of COMMONS.
ON the 23. day of this instant moneth, Sir John Hotham summoned some particular Knights and Gentlemen to Hull, to advise with him concerning the present estate of the Towne in regard his Majesty was so highly incensed against him; likewise the Major, Aldermen, and all other men of good ranke and quality were at that time assembled to whom Sir John Hotham (after an affable salutation to all) began to addresse himselfe to speake, which being observed, a general silence covered all the place, each man with attentive admiration catcht every syllable as soon as it uttered, fearing the aire delight with that Candor should snatch them up, and rob them of their onely happinesse; since twas a comfort to all loyall Subjects to heare and learne their duties from him that had given an ample testimony, how well he knew his owne.
The substance of his Oration, as neere as could be gathered, is set downe in this ensuing Treatise.
YOV may perhaps expect that I intend to make a large Narration with intent to clear your doubts and make my Actions to His Majesty seem (as they are) faire, Legall and Loyall.
But it is not my intention, nor will I waste so much time in that businesse, but leave it to the end, not doubting but when my Actions shall define their wished event, that the end shall crowne the bad that is past with a more full renowne. The Scope of my words at this time shall be confined to these two heads, which indeed are twins, not to be seperated.
The first is an encouragement to gaine perfect honour from your Soveraigne.
Let Loyalty be the rule of all your actions, if you intend to be truly honourable; for honour not grounded on loyalty, is like friendship without love, lost in a moment, and oft times growes the greatest Enemy; to the greatest Title, the vastest Wealth the greatest Wisdom, [Page]if not guided by Vertue, and so imployed proves ruine to the injoyer. Next, let your Loyalty take its limit from Law; otherwise, in doing things seemingly good the end may prove dangerous and your loyalty prove worse them disloyalty. Therefore the next thing that I insist upon is Obedience to the Parliament, that pious and judicious Councell, whom you in particular, and all the Kingdome in generall, have chosen as fit men to discusse and examine all causes that have dependency on his Majesties safety, and the Kingdomes security. Now to disallow of what is by them thought convenient both for his Majesty and the Kingdomes security, is to condemne your selves of folly, that you have chosen men in whom you cannot confide, but I presume (though there be many that these words may and doe concerne in this Kingdome) that there is no one here that would not lay downe his life for the defence of his Majesty and the Parliament; neither are there any, I suppose, that need this motive to Obedience to the honorable Houses of Parliament their owne safeties depending on the happy issue of their religious Councels.
Onely my aime is, to give you one generall reason and apparent testimony, why the Subject being commanded by the Parliament, ought not to disobey their Commands, though by the King commanded the contrary. Because the Parliament being called and established by the authority of the King and consent of the Kingdom, has power to command and effect all things that are agreeable to Law, tending to the preservation of his Majesties peace and welfare, and the generall good of the Subject; they being by King and People, in trusted with that waighty and great charge; and if they should sore-see an imminent danger threaten his Majesties Person, or the generall good and should not take speedy care to prevent it, they should make a violation of that Faith and Trust reposed in them: so on the contrary part, if they foreseeing a danger, by their Councels and Commands endevour to prevent it; and the Persons by them commanded falsifie their trust; they are traytors both to their royall Soveraigne and destroyers of the Kingdome. This is the truth and this is my glory, that God has so far enabled me to undergoe so great a taske; and this is my hope that all of you will manifest your loyalties to his Majesty, and obedience to the Parliament.
Many other matters I have to tell you concerning an Information of the Lord Keepers having left the Parliament.
Other occurrences upon Saturday, May 21. 1642.
Saturday, there was a conference of both Houses; the Lords moved that the Commons would joyne with them in requiring reparations for a great breach of their priviledges; which was, that the Lords having sent Messengers to Yorke, to require the attendance of some of their Members at their owne House, the Messengers were imprisoned at Yorke. Whereupon there was a Committee of both Houses to inquire thereof.
After this, the Lords by a Message sent certaine notes to the Commons, which they had agreed upon in their House, concerning the Kings late proceedings at Hull and Yorke, desiring the Commons would joyn with them in the notes, which were red then in the Commons House: the effect whereof was.
That it doth appeare to the Parliament, that the King being seduced by wicked Councellours, doth intend to make warre against the Parliament; who in all their consultations have propounded nothing but for the good of the Kingdome, and safety of his person.
That when the King maketh war against the Parliament, it is a breach of the trust committed to him, and tendeth to the dissolution of this government. That whosoever shall assist his Majesty in the war are traitors, and have bin so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament; and are to suffer as traitors by the fundamentall Lawes of the Land.
With their notes, the Lords sent a Petition, which they had drawn up to his Majesty; declaring the grounds and reasons of their proceeding upon those notes, and to disswade his Majesty from his intended purpose of raising the trained Bands of the County.
After the reading of which Petition and notes there was a long debate in the Commons House, which held till night, and divers Speeches were made upon them, all of them concurring in the just grounds and causes both Houses have had for the making of the said notes, and of their agreement with the Lawes of the Land: after which, they were put to the question, and noted by the Commons that they should be forthwith sent to Yorke to his Majesty.
It is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Magazines of the severall Counties in England and Wales, shall be forthwith put into the power of the Lord Lievtenants of the said Counties, respectively, (being such as the Parliament doth confide in for the service and safetie of his Majesty and the Kingdome.
Ordered by the Lords in Parliament, That this Order shall be printed and published.