TRUE NEWS FROM HULL.  
Being a perfect Relation of a Conspiracy there by divers Cavaliers coming in disguised Habits, and entering themselves as Soldiers, who intended to have surprised the TOWN, And to have killed Sir john Hotham.  
With the manner how their wicked purpose was discovered, and they delivered up to safe custody.  
By R. C.  IN DOMINO CONFIDO  printer's or publisher's device 
Decemb 14 164● LONDON, Printed for Fr. Wright.   

True News from Hull.  
IT is not unknown to the whole kingdom with what violence and spleen the good Town of Kingston upon Hull has been laid at by the Malignants of it, being the most famous and considerable Port of the whole North parts, those perverse Councillors intimating to His Majesty that it was the mainest Engine to advance their designs that could possible be fastened upon His Majesty; therefore coming thither in person with his Cavaliers demanded entrance into the Town, which Sir john Hotham the Governor instituted by Order of Parliament, though he paid His Majesty all the due respects of a Loyal Subject, refused to do, well knowing the danger might arrive to the Commonwealth if those enemies to the State, the Cavaliers, should get possession of that excellent Haven; by which means they might give free admittance to any foreign forces, their malice should call into their aids against the just proceed of the Parliament. This action, howsoever the King was pleased to misconstrue and take as an indignity to himself, was censured just and honourable by the Parliament, who furnished the said Sir john Hotham with Forces for his defence against those malignants in case they should draw the King with His Army against him and the said Town, which they effected, though the strength of the Town and courage of the Governor enforced them to wave the siege of the place. Since there has been divers practices made against the said Town and the life of Sir john Hotham▪ as has been confessed; but none of them suiting to effect God, preventing their wicked purposes, the malignants in and abou● that riding of Yorkshire, thinking that now the business of Hull had laid so long dead, Sir john Hotham and his Garrison were grown careless and so fearless of any attempt could be made against them. Upon these false Principles therefore▪ grounding their erroneous opinion they made cocksure of the effecting their determination, some fifty or threescore Gentlemen being engaged in this affair, their servants and followers completing them the number of 100 persons, not doubting to found some malignants in Hull assistant to their treachery, over they went to Grimsby in Lincolnshire, from thence meaning to pass the Humber to Hull in the disguised habits of Seamen undiscovered: so coming thither in divers Companies by two and two, to avoid suspicion to get passage over to the Town, some day one, and some day another in several Barks; where they (when all met) resolved to evade questioning or suspect, never to be seen together, not so many as three in a Company till that very night they were to put their fatal determination in execution. Some of them had most mind, if it were possible, to murder Sir john Hotham as he should issue out of his house; others, if it were possible, to seize the Magazine of the Garrison or blow it up; but both these opinions, as too uncertain and full of danger to themselves was rejected and their resolution fixed on this, that seeming sailors and such as wanted employment, they should pretend they were Mariners had served in Denmark and the Hans Towns, and being now out of service they came to offer themselves to Sir john to be as soldiers for the defence of the Town, if he accepted them, as there was no reason nor likelihood but he would, that than they would some night, having the watch, seize upon some part of the Town, and turn the Ordnance against them, that should oppose them till some Troops of my Lord of Cumberland who was pre-acquainted with their intentions, should enter the Town and destroy the Garrison, or else, if it happened so luckily that they could surprise either of the blocke-houses or forts, that than they should not doubt to master the town with much ease, or beaten it down about the garrison and Inhabitants cares. This resolved upon, as the safest way for achieving their practice, they went some ten of the likeliest fellows of them to Sir john's Lieutenant to offer their own and their companions services to their Captain the Governor, alleging, that they were come out of Denmark, and had rather hazard their lives for the safety of the Commonwealth in that town, than any other place, the Lieutenant glad of obtaining so many proper men (the garrison being much debilitated, by reason of drawing out good store of the best experienced soldiers to furnish Master Hothams' Regiment for the service at York) went to Sir john and acquainted him with the state of the matter, who gave him order to afford them courteous entertainment, and to disperse them for the re-inforcement of those companies that had most need of supplies. The Lieutenant performing Sir john's Commands, distributed twenty of them into their Sergeant Major's company, that was very weak, ten into their own Company, and so the rest as occasion served into every Company that wanted men in the town. The ten that were in Sir john's own Company, the better to insinuate themselves into favour, demeaning themselves very civilly, and upon all occasions, either of watch or other service, most exactly performing their duties; so that they were in very good repute, both with Sir john himself, his Lieutenant, and all his inferior officers; the other that were in the Sergeant Majors and other Companies, carrying themselves with the same cunning, spending their money very liberally among their fellow soldiers, which they pretended they brought out of Denmark with them, so to ingratiate themselves among them, that they might with greater ease facilitate their purpose, intending to draw as many as they possible could to their party, yet very cautious of discovering their design to any, jest it should be made known to Sir john, giving the Earl of Cumberland by a private and subtle messenger they had in the town, and receiving encouragement from him to go on courageously, promising them, that when they should signify to him the probable time for surprisal of the town he would not fail against that very night to have some able troops in readiness, which about the dead of the same night should be in arms before that gate which they should open. All things going on thus without suspicion, they continued a whole fortnight in this manner, watching (like wild beasts for their prey) for all occasions that might quickly furnish and effect their wicked intentions, meaning also, as some advised inhumanity, to fire the town, that while the Inhabitants were employed in extinguishing that, they might with more ease let in their accomplices the enemy. On Sunday therefore the seven and twentieth of November, most of them being to be upon the watch at one of the Courts of guard close to the gate that opens towards York. So on that night they resolved to ●●…n the horse, or loose the saddle; and therefore by the aforesaid intelligence gave notice to the E●●le of their resolution, intimating the possibility they had of effecting their design, if his Lordship did not fail to sand them those which they could easily let into the town. The Earl sent bacl the messenger with assured and certain promises, not to fail against the time; this being on the Sunday before the fatal night, as it happened to themselves: for the troops with each a Musketier behind, to the number of three hundred men, advancing before day, by a back way out of York, before they could recover the way to Hull, were espied by some of my Lord Fairefaxes Sentinels, and set upon by his horse troops, to it they went very roundly, and fought it out very valiantly with our men who assaulted them on all sides, beating them down from their horses without mercy, so that after the slaughter of their chief Commander, quitting their Musquetiers, who were all either slain, or taken prisoners, the surviving horsemen betook themselves to flight, but were son arrowly surprised, and charged so hotly by our men that being impossibled of escape, they were all slain, or taken prisoners, not one getting away to carry tidings back to the Earl of their disaster, being brought before the General the Lord Fairefax, and strictly examined, Letters were found about some of them, that testified whither they were employed, and to what purpose. My Lord Fairefax and Master Hotham amazed at that unexpected danger which was so nearly imminent on Hull, dispatched with all speed a Post thither to Sir john, giving him all the intelligence they could possible of this mischief, but could not discover their number, that being not expressed in the Letters. Sir john a wise and understanding Gentleman, no whit terrified with these tidings, cast about to prevent the danger, musing who the men should be that should be so treacherous; of the fidelity of the townsmen and garrison soldiers he had no reason to doubt, at last these Sailors came into his mind, and weighing their manner of coming thither, and their general deportment since their arrival, he and his Council, absolutely determined they might be men in whom this treason lurked, and understanding that most of them were to be upon the watch that night at York Port, he than concluded it was so, and resolved to give the Gudgeons line till they were fast caught by the gillss, commanding his own guard, and an hundred more of able soldiers, when the watch was set, to have an eye to that gate, and to seize these treacherous villains, who making sure account to surprise the town, at the hour of the watch, were repaired to their stations, and because the keys of the gates were carried to the Governor, they had provided petards to blow them open, expecting only the signal from my Lord of Cumberland, which was a light in the fields; for which, some of them watched on the rampiers. A Millar dwelling without the town, going to his Mill about twelve of clock with a candle and a Lantern, gave them the signal they expected, and imagining the troops were come to the gate, they went, and were fastening two peters to it; when Sir john's guard, who had waited their attempt, taking them in the manner, laid hold or them, some of them dre● their Swords, and shot of their Muskets, but hurt not a man of ours, two of them only being slain, who had Crucifixes about their necks, the rest bound and committed to prison▪ discovered their plot, for which they are to suffer condign punishment.   
FINIS.