Now! Then! Having promised parliament to safeguard for it Hull’s crucial arsenal, John Hotham tells it how today he shut the gates of Hull to Charles I

23 April 1642: Having promised parliament to safeguard for it Hull’s crucial arsenal, John Hotham tells it how today he shut the gates of Hull to Charles I

George Arnald shows Charles I demanding entrance at the Beverley Gate, Hull on 23 April 1642 (Arnald 1819ish).

John Hotham. 1807. Sir J. Hotham’s Letter Concerning the King’s Coming to Hull. The Parliamentary History of England, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803, Vol. 2, 1625-42. Ed. William Cobbett. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Browne et al. Get it:

Excerpt

His majesty had in his train, to the best of all our judgments, 300 horse. I was advertised, but the certainty I knew not, that 400 horse lay further off. All these put me to a sudden resolution to draw up the bridges, upon certain news of his majesty’s approaching; having first sent out a gentleman to his majesty, humbly to entreat his majesty to forbear his coming to the town at that time, in regard I might not, without a breach of that trust committed to me, admit him and his train. This message met him three miles off; notwithstanding his majesty came on to the town gates, and sent for me thither. As I went, I met the mayor and some townsmen assembled to go to his majesty to the gates, whom I commanded to keep their houses; which accordingly they did, and myself went to the town wall next the port. Being there, his majesty demanded entrance. I, in the most humble manner I was able to express myself, begged of his majesty to take my case into his most princely consideration: that I had that place delivered me under that sacred name of trust: that I could not satisfy him, at that time, without incurring to me and my posterity the odious name of a villain and faith-breaker: that he would, for that time, withdraw; and, if my being in this town gave him the least cause of offence, if he would give me leave to advertise the parliament, I should get myself discharged never to come here. But nothing I could say could give any satisfaction to his majesty, who endeavoured to persuade all my captains and soldiers. But they were all of one mind with me, faithfully to perform our trust. Some of his majesty’s train, with great earnestness, cried out to kill me and throw me over the wall. This, and some other advertisements I had given of some attempts to be made upon my person, which would have apparently hazarded the loss of this place, made me enter upon a resolute determination to entreat his majesty at that time to withdraw, and not to admit of his entrance (till I had advertised the parliament thereof) with any considerable company. And also being I saw that, with his presence, the townsmen begin to stagger. The mayor, contrary to my command, being come to the wall, and receiving from his majesty many gracious words. The conclusion was, his majesty, after persuasions would not prevail, caused me, and all that adhered to me, to be proclaimed traitors.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

The best account I’ve read is Anna Maria Wilhelmina Stirling’s (Stirling 1918), which includes a delightful detail: “family tradition further asserts that he caused refreshments to be lowered from the walls of the town to the King and his attendants.” Perhaps it is a wry response to the king’s talk in March of starving the town:

The Earl of Holland … was appointed at that time to disband the army that had lately been raised against the Scots and was then with the army near Doncaster, and I there in attendance on him, to whom in the head of the army there, the King in his journey towards York came and dined at Doncaster, at the lady Carlingford’s house, and at dinner asked Sir Thomas Glenham, who had lately been governor of Hull, and whom I stood next unto: “Cannot I,” said the King, “starve Hull: I am told,” said he, “I can take their fresh water from them;” (this was before any wars were begun), to whom Sir Thomas answered “Your Majesty is misinformed; for though you may cut off from them the fresh spring that runs to Hull, yet the very haven is fresh at low-water, and every man can dig water at his door;” and said, “they cannot bury a corpse there, but the grave first drowns him ere it buries him” (Shawe 1824).

Images: see also Wenceslaus Hollar’s 1640ish plan of Hull, and his Magna Britannia Divisa.

Rushworth:

His Majesty continuing his Residence at York, on the 22d. of April 1642, there came to Hull the Duke of York, the Prince Elector, the Earl of Newport, the Lord Willoughby, and some other persons of honour with their attendants to see the town, who were respectfully entertained by the Major and the Governor, who spending that day in viewing the beauty and strength of the place, were invited to a banquet by the Major, and to dinner by the Governor the next day (being St. George’s Day;) but a little before dinner time [on the 23rd], Sir John Hotham, being busy in his entertainment of their Highnesses, entrance into was suddenly saluted by Sir Lewis Dives with a message from His Majesty, that he also intended to dine with him that day, being then within four miles of Hull with three hundred horse and upwards, whereat being startled for the present, he consulted with Master Pelham, a Member of the House, and Alderman of Hull, and with some others what to do, whereupon, a messenger was thought fit to be forthwith sent to His Majesty, humbly to beseech him to forbear to come, forasmuch as he could not without betraying the trust committed to him, set open the gates to so great a guard as he came attended withal; upon the return of the messenger, who certified concerning the King’s advance towards the town, he drew up the bridge, and shut the gates, and commanded the soldiers to stand to their arms round about the walls.

About eleven of the clock His Majesty with his attendants came to the gate of the town called Beverly Gate, where calling for Sir John Hotham, he commanded the gate to be opened; whose frequent answer, to that reiterated command was, that he was intrusted by the Parliament, for the securing of the town for His Majesty’s honour, and the Kingdom’s use, which he intended by God’s help to do; and herein he desired His Majesty not to misinterpret his action, protesting his loyalty, and proffering that if His Majesty would be pleased with the Prince and twelve more to come in, he should be very welcome, otherwise he could not, without betraying his trust to the state, admit entrance to so great a guard. But His Majesty refusing to enter without his whole train, about one of the clock the Duke and the Prince Elector with their attendants, went forth to His Majesty, who departed not from the gates till four of the clock. During all which time not the least disturbance was offered to Sir John Hotham or his soldiers, from the townsmen, although they exceeded their numbers, but rather encouragement and offers of assistance, if need should require. About five of the clock, having given to Sir John Hotham one hour to consider what he did, His Majesty returned to the gate, and receiving the same answer as before, he commanded Sir John Hotham to be proclaimed traitor by two heralds at arms, and then retreated to Beverly six miles off, where he lodged that night. And the next morning sent again an herald and some others with conditions of pardon, if yet he would open the gates: But the same answer being returned as before, His Majesty advanced forwards towards York (Rushworth 1692).

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Original

Sir J. Hotham’s Letter concerning the King’s coming to Hull.
Another Message came up to the lords, by Mr. Hampden, and others, who presented to their consideration a Letter, directed to the Speaker; and, though there was no name subscribed, yet many of the members knew it to be of sir John Hotham’s hand-writing, and contained a true Narrative of the whole business concerning Hull. Which letter the lords commanded to be read as follows:-
“Sir; I make no question but you have heard, in general, of the business we have had at Hull; you had received the particulars before this, but that all ways have been stopped, for the intercepting my letters: Two posts I have sent expresses, both which were intercepted; and one of them, as I am informed, carried prisoner to York. The parliament, as you well know, hath intrusted me with the safekeeping of this place: their orders I have performed to the best of my understanding, and utmost endeavours, though with some hazard of being misconceived by his majesty. If I have, in any thing, misbehaved myself, or not performed my trust, I shall most willingly submit to their censures: only this I must make my most humble request, if so it may seem good to the wisdom of the parliament, that I may have from them a quick resolution, in such manner as they shall find to be just. I perceive, by some letters sent by his majesty to this town, that he hath advertised the parliament of this action of mine, and hath demanded a punishment against me: I shall intreat the parliament to take into consideration under how deep an accusation I lie; and how unable I shall be to do them service here, if this receive not a speedy resolution.
The manner I shall faithfully (God willing) relate. It was thus: Upon Friday the 23rd of this instant April, an alderman of Hull came to me, and told me, He was newly come from York, and that he was to give me notice that the duke of York, the prince Elector, and my lord Newport, would that night come to Hull, and stay only one night, and go back next day to York. I could have well wished they had taken some other time, but being very desirous to give all the content I could, (my trust always preserved) I gave way to their reception; and had provided, for next day, a dinner, to have given them the best welcome I could: But, late that night, I had some cause of suspicion that they meant not to depart the next day; whereupon I went to my lord Newport, who assured me confidently it was not so, which a while satisfied me; till about 9 of the clock, the duke, prince, and the rest, being walking in the fort called the South-End, sir Lewis Dives comes in thither, and delivered me a Letter from his majesty; purporting, that he intended to visit his town of Hull and his Magazine there, and that I should provide for the reception of him and his train; that he doubted not of my obedience, else he must make his way into his town according to the laws of the land. This I confess put me to a great strait: on the one side being most extremely sorry to give his majesty the least cause of offence; on the other side the breach of a trust being, in my sense, so horrid a fact, as after that I should not have wished to live; I then began to put together circumstances, thus: Why such a journey, at such a time as this, should have been undertaken by so great personages; why should they deny their stay, when I had some cause to suspect it was resolved when they came; the numbers coming with them already received into the town; and, lastly, the extreme urging of the messenger, sir Lewis Dives. I had received of those that came along with them, whether of their servants or no I know not, 45 persons. I well knew of a party practising, by papists in Holderness, with some of the town. His majesty had in his train, to the best of all our judgments, 300 horse. I was advertised, (but the certainty I knew not) that 400 horse lay further off. All these put me to a sudden resolution to draw up the bridges, upon certain news of his majesty’s approaching; having first sent out a gentleman to his majesty, humbly to intreat his maj. to forbear his coming to the town at that time, in regard I might not, without a breach of that trust committed to me, admit him and his train. This message met him 3 miles off; notwithstanding his maj. came on to the town gates, and sent for me thither: As I went, I met the mayor and some townsmen assembled to go to his majesty to the gates, whom I commanded to keep their houses; which accordingly they did, and myself went to the town wall next the port; Being there, his majesty demanded entrance: I, in the most humble manner I was able to express myself, begged of his majesty to take my case into his most princely consideration: that I had that place delivered me under that sacred name of trust: that I could not satisfy him, at that time, without incurring to me and my posterity the odious name of a villain and faith-breaker: that he would, for that time, withdraw; and, if my being in this town gave him the least cause of offence, if he would give me leave to advertise the parliament, I should get myself discharged never to come here: but nothing I could say could give any satisfaction to his majesty, who, as well as to myself, endeavoured to persuade all my captains and soldiers; but they were all of one mind with me, faithfully to perform our trust. Some of his majesty’s train, with great earnestness, cried out to kill me and throw me over the wall; and they were not a few which did it. This, and some other advertisements I had given of some attempts to be made upon my person, which, though in itself not at all considerable, yet at this time since that my perishing, by any sudden attempt, would have apparently hazarded the loss of this place, made me enter upon a resolute determination to intreat his majesty at that time to withdraw; and not to admit of bis. entrance (till I had advertised the parliament thereof) with any considerable company; and also being I saw that, with his presence, the townsmen begin to stagger; the mayor, contrary to my command, being come to the wall, and receiving from his majesty many gracious words. The conclusion was, his majesty, after persuasions would not prevail, caused me, and all that adhered to me, to be proclaimed traitors. Then he retired to a little house, without the walls; and, after one hour’s stay, returned and demanded again my resolution. I made the same answer as before; and I think then (but I do not well remember it) he demanded entrance for himself and 20 horse; but in my judgment (as I well saw how the state of affairs stood) being fully satisfied, that if his person were in but with half that number, I was in no ways master of the town; I intreated his pardon in that. Soon after he went away and lodged at Beverley; from whence he sent, next day, two heralds to demand entrance to see his Magazine: but I still intreated his pardon; breach of trust still sounding horrid in my ears. Upon Tuesday after, came one Savage, a knight,[The earl of Newcastle in disguise, as mentioned in the foregoing Declaration. Rushworth, vol. iv. p. 565.] and Mr. Carey; I know neither of their Christian names. They said, they were sent by the king to deliver a letter to the mayor, and demanded entrance. I told them I would be responsible it should be delivered; which I did: It contained a great length, the chief, as I remember, confirming us all traitors; aggravations of my offence; and that he had advertised his parliament of it to have me punished according to my demerits; with command to the townsmen and soldiers not to obey me, nor to suffer the magazines to be removed. The sheriff, as I hear, hath refused to levy the Posse Comitatus; being it seems he conceives against law. All the gentry and justices are, as I hear, sent for to York. His majesty, at his being at the walls, told me, if I would not let him in, he would raise the Trained-Bands. Sir, as I was writing this, I received a letter by Mr. Askew, for which I must return my most humble thanks; and (God willing) the parliament may ‘rest most assured, that there shall not want my utmost endeavours faithfully to serve them in my life and fortune. I shall desire you will represent to them the absolute necessity of present monies in some good proportion; the necessity of affairs having constrained me to call such other of the county in, as I was hopeful of would be assured to me, though not many, yet so as if they please to take some course for the sea ward, I hope to give a good account of this place. I am sorry to write who were the men; for there were many of those who were at the parliament door, when the king came to the house.

1620 words.