WHen I directed that Summons should be sent out for your meeting here this day my principall end was, That I might give you thanks for the great forwardnesse and expressions you have made of your affe­ctions to me since I came into this Countrey, and to assure you▪ That as the whole Kingdome hath great reason to va­lue you exceedingly for it, so I shall be very unsatified with my self; till I have found some way to fix a mark of favour, and estimation upon this County, and this people, which may tell Posterity how good Subjects you have been, and how much Gentlemen; and I am confident the memory of it will grow up with my Sons too, in a just acknowledge­ment. [Page]This was the most I intended to say to you but there is an unquiet Spirit abroad, which every day throws in new accidents to di­sturbe, and confound the publike Peace. How I was driven from London, when I chose this place for my safety, is so notorious, that all men know it, who know any thing; with what strange violence, and indignities I have bin pursued, since I came hither, needs no other E­vidence, then Sir Iohn Hothams behaviour at Hull, who now ar­rived at that insolence, That he will not suffer his treason to be longer confined within those Wals, but makes fallyes out of the Town, upon his fellow Subjects, drowns their Land, burnes and plunders their houses, murthers, and with unheard of cruelty torments their per­sons; And this with so much delight, That hee would not have the patience to wait, what Answer should be sent to my just demands, though in that respect I ingaged my self to forbear to use any force, and kept my word; but chose the night before that came, (as if hee well knew what Answer I was to receive) to act those outrages.

You see the sad effects of Feares and Jealousies, the miseries they have produced; No man can tel you the least good they have brought forth or the least evill they have prevented: What inconvenience and burthen my presence hath bin here, what disturbance it hath brought upon the publick, or grievance upon any private person, your selves are the best Judges; And what ever scandall some men have pleased to cast upon the Cavaliers (which they intend should reach all my Retinew, & by degrees shall involve all Gentlemen) I am confident, there hath not bin any eminent disorder or damage befaln any man, by any person of my Train, or under my protection,

I am sure my directions have been very strict in that point, and if they had not been observed, thinke I should have heard of it by nee­rer complaints, then from London; I pray God the same care may be taken there: I am sure it hath not been. And to give you the fullest testimony of my affection to you, and to the peace of this County, and to shew you that no provocation shall provoke me to make this place to be the seat of the war, I have for your sakes, passed over the Considerations of Honour; and notwithstanding the reproches eve­ry day laid on me, laid ho siege to that place, that they may not have the least pretence of doing you mischiefe, but resolve, by Gods helpe to recover Hull some other way, for that I will ever sit downe under so bold and unexcusable a Treason no honest man can imagine. But it seems other men are not of my mind, but resolve to make a War at your own doores, whatsoever you doe, or I suffer. To what pu [...] ­pose else is their new Generall armed with an authority to kill and destroy all my good subjects; their levies of Horse and Foot, some [...] [Page]and the sending so many new souldiers into Hull, when there is no approach made towards it, but to sally out, and to commit Rapine, and by degrees to poure out an Army upon you: In this I must aske your advice, what you would doe for your selves, what you would have mee doe for you, you see how I am stript of my Navy at Sea, which is imployed against me, of my Forts and Townes at Land, which are filled with armed men to destroy me; my money and provisions of my house taken from me, and all my subjects forbid and threatned if they come neere me, that may by famine or solita­rinesse be compelled to yeeld to the most dishonourable Propositions, and to put my selfe and Children into the hands of a few Malignant persons, who have entred into a Combination to destroy us: And all this done under pretence of a trust reposed by the people. How farre you are from committing any such trust, most of the persons trusted by you, and your owne expressions of duty to me, hath manifested to all the World; and how far the whole Kingdome is from avow­ing such a trust, hath already, in a great measure, and I doubt not will more every day appeare, by the professions of every County: for I am wholly cast upon the affections of my people, and have no hope but in the blessing and assistance of God, the justnesse of my cause and the love of my Subjects, to recover what is taken from me and them, for I may justly say they are equall losers with me.

Gentlemen, I desire you to consider what course is to be taken for your owne security from the excursions from Hull, and the vio­lence which threattens you from thence: I will assist you any way you propose. Next, I desire you, out of the publick Provision, or your private Store to furnish me with such a number of Armes (Muskets and Corslets) as you may conveniently spare, which I do promise to see fully repaid to you: These Arms I desire may be speedily delivered to the custody of my Lord Major of Yorke, for my use, principally from those parts, which by reason of their distance from Hull are least subject to the fear of violence from thence.

And whosoever shall so furnish me shall be excused from their at­tendance and service at Musters, til their Arms shal be restored; which may wel be sooner then I can promise, or you expect. I desire nothing of you but what is necessary to be done for the preservation of Gods true Religion, the Laws of the Land, the Liberty of the Subject, and the very being of this Kingdom of England: for tis too evident al these are at stake. For the compleating my Sons Regiment for the guard of my Person under the command of my Lord Cumberland, I refer it wholly to your selves, who have expressed such forwardnes in it.