A true RELATION OF A GREAT DISCOVERY Intended against hull.  
Sent in a Letter by Sir John Hotham to both Houses of PARLIAMENT.  
With a true Copy of a Letter sent from Master Beckwith, a Recusant, to Lieutenant Fooks his Son in law, in service at Hull under Sir John Hotham.  
Also three Proclamations lately sent from the Kings Most Excellent majesty from York.  
Published by His majesty's special command.   royal blazon or coat of arms 
London, Printed for F. Coules and T. Bates, June 4. 1642.   

Sir John Hotham's Letter to a worthy Member of the House of Commons, concerning the late Discovery at Hull.  
SIR,  
SInce my last to you, It hath pleased the Almighty God, out of his great mercy to us here, and the kingdom, to preserve us from an eminent danger, and ruin plotted against us here, which I thought fit to acquaint you with. I writ a word of it to the Committee at York, but since have made a more ample discovery. I have within my Company a Lieutenant, his name is Foolks, son in law to one Master Thomas Beckwith a Recusant at Beverly, a good soldier but poor. This man, his father in law, thought a fit Instrument to work upon, and to that end, sent for him to come over to him. The Gentleman presently acquaints me with it, and asked my leave and advice therein; Protesting, that both in regard of the honour of a soldier, and a Gentleman, nothing should pass but I should know. He had formerly been obliged to me, and therefore I gave him leave to go, with directions to yield to such propositions as should be made him; for otherwise being in their power, I knew not how they might have used him. At his return he told me, that at his first coming, after an unusual kind welcome, that Master Beckwith broke the matter to him, That if he would do service, &c. he should be rewarded in a great measure, intimating to him how unable I was to prefer him in any way of subsistence: To be short, He made a plain contract with him, That if he could betray a Port, he should have five hundred pound in hand, and two hundred and fifty pound per annum for his life, this he willingly accepted: Then Beckwith discoursed with him of the means how he could do this; he told him, that upon Thursday night, the six and twenty day of May, he had the guard at the North gate, and if Alarum were given at another gate, called Hessell Gate, he could then let them in. This thus overnight concluded upon, next morning he was brought into the presence of one Trist, he was a Papist, and commanded Master Percies Troop of Horse at the defeat at Newbourne, and one captain Courtney, and six others; some of which his father-in-law told him were Lords disguised: These promised him to make good his reward, but they doubted, unless some captain might likewise be aiding, it might miss of performance; and therefore propounded to him to draw his Captain into the business. Lowanger a Dutchman (a man truly of that faith, courage, and ability, that were I to manage an enterprise of the greatest moment that might be, I would not wish a better second) they propounded to him that he should have in reward 1000 pounds, 500 pounds for his life, and be made a Knight. You see, Sir, whatever the performance would have been, they were not spare in promises. Trist told him he had a man of his, whom under colour of carrying arms as a Voluntiere, he might employ as he saw cause. Beckwith, it appears, some time before, had an eye to have corrupted Lowanger, for he had invited Lowanger to his house, and sent him word he would bestow a Gelding upon him, which he presently then acquainted me with, and told me he thought there was some ill meant in it, and so would not go: He hath exceedingly laboured in the discovery of this, being in a great measure sensible of his honour herein. Upon Tuesday we caused the Lieutenant to write back to his father-in-law, that Lowanger liked well of the business, but desired some better assurance of his reward then Trist and Courtney's words, and sent a boy with the Letter; and that it might appear to Mr Beckwith 〈◊〉 be carried with more secrecy, the boy was caused to put the Letter in his shoe: the return was this Letter enclosed; the original (being well known to be his hand) I keep (to be sent when the Parliament shall command) lest it might miscarry, as some other Letters of his, whereby his hand may be known. I have Trists man in hold, who confesseth he was sent hither by Trist (under colour to carry arms) to give intelligence: and I find he had endeavoured to send to York divers of my soldiers. This morning I received a Letter from Master Maior of Beverley, the Copy of which I send you, of divers assembled at Master Bardolph's house: we had another, as I think, to surprise the Block-house, being the strong Fort of the town; but how that is, I have not yet made a full discovery.  
I have sent to the Maior of Beverley to search Master Bardolph's house, being a Recusant, and to tender them the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, and to know their names. If there had been open war, I could soon have told what to have done in this business: And truly, if I should have let the Plot gone on, and given them what they deserved, I think, being they came that way to have taken the town, I might have justified it before God and man: But being loath to be the first letter of blood, I resolved of another course; which was, To advertise His majesty of the Plot discovered, lest some should advise Him upon a design, might prove dishonourable and dangerous to Him. This dispatch I sent away last night. I shall trouble you no farther, but rest,  
Hull, 1642. Your affectionate faithful friend, John Hotham.   

The true Copy of Master Bardolph's Letter, a Recusant.  
Son, the Iron is hot, I guess at the sense of your Letter, that all is right as was intended, for more security, in the morning, I expect strong here. My son went yesternight to York, comes with great ones this night Lord: I send what I have from you this night thither: if it may breed suspicion, let your friend believe well, and not come to morrow; If I could send safe, I would, but the trust holds on our part, as I shall be advised by your father's Master to morrow, I must work; yet this Boy is a fine way to come and return: Your Letters are so wasted in his shoe, as I guess at the sense; yet send it broken with my exposition, for I dare not bogle with promises, no doubt is to be made of any thing promised; I write more confidently, because I know your hand, I name none but yourself, he cannot come to morrow I fear, without suspicion; But I refer all to yourselves, wishing to see him, I mean (in the morning) it will be better satisfaction to him, to all here.  
T. B.   

❧ By the King.  
WHereas the High and Mighty Prince, John the fourth, King of Portugal, &c. hath lately sent his ambassadors to the Kings most Excellent majesty; declaring his desire to renew the ancient Confederation and Amity between their royal predecessors, Crowns, and Subjects; His majesty out of His royal Care of the Peace and tranquillity of His kingdoms, and the freedom of Trade and Commerce of His loving Subjects, by the advice of His privy council, hath been pleased to yield thereunto, and doth make known to His loving People That the said Peace and Confederation is concluded and established between the said Kings, their crowns, kingdoms, Territories and Subjects: And the Kings most Excellent majesty, for the direction of His Merchants in their Trade and Commerce, hath given Command, That the Articles of this Treaty of Peace shall be published, straightly charging and commanding all His loving Subjects of whatsoever degree and estate to observe the same.  
Given at the Court at York the two and twentieth day of May, in the eighteenth year of His majesty's Reign▪ 1642. God save the King.   

A Proclamation by the King.  
WHereas by the Statute made in the seventh year of King Edward the first, The Prelates, Earls, Barons, and Commonalty of the Realm affirmed in Parliament, That to the King it belongeth, & his part it is by his royal Seigniority, straightly to defend wearing of Armour, and all other Force against the Peace, at all times when it shall please Him, and to punish them which shall do contrary, according to the laws and usages of the realm; and hereunto all Subjects are bound to aid the King, as their sovereign Lord at all seasons, when need shall be. And whereas We understand, That expressly contrary to the said Statute, and other good laws of this Our kingdom, under colour and pretence of an Ordinance of Parliament, without Our consent or any Commission or Warrant from Us. The Trained Bands, and Militia of this kingdom have been lately, and are intended to be put in arms, and drawn into Companies in a warlike manner, whereby the Peace and Quiet of Our Subjects is, or may be disturbed: We being desirous by all gracious and fair admonitions to prevent, That some malignant Persons in this Our kingdom, do not by degrees seduce Our good Subjects from their due obedience to Us, and the laws of this Our kingdom, subtly endeavouring by a general Combustion or Confusion, to hide their mischievous designs and intentions against the Peace of this Our kingdom, and under a specious pretence of putting Our Trained Bands into a Posture, draw, and engage Our good Subjects in a Warlike Opposition against Us, as Our town of Hull is already by the Treason of Sir John Hotham, who at first pretended to put a Garrison into the same, only for Our Security and Service.  
We do therefore by this Our Proclamation expressly charge and command all Our sheriffs, and all Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, sergeant Majors, Captains, Officers, and soldiers belonging to the Trained Bands of this Our kingdom, and likewise all high and petty Constables, and other Our Officers and Subjects whatsoever, upon their Allegiance, and as they tender the peace of this Our kingdom, Not to Muster, Levy, Raise, March, or to summon, or warn upon any Warrant, Orders or Ordinance from one or both Our Houses of Parliament, (whereto We have not, or shall not give Our express Consent) any of Our Trained Bands or other Forces to Rise, Muster, March, or Exercise, without express Warrant under Our Hand, or Warrant from Our sheriff of the County, grounded upon a particular Writ to that purpose, under Our great seal. And in case any of Our Trained Bands shall rise or gather together, contrary to this Our Command, We shall then call them in due time to a strict account, and proceed legally against them as violaters of the Laws, and disturbers of the Peace of the kingdom.  
Given at Our Court at York the 27 day of May. 1642.   

❧ By the King.  
OUr Will and Pleasure is, That the Ministers, Freeholders, Farmers, and substantial Copy-holders of this Our County of York, do assemble and meet together at Heworth Moor, near Our County of York, upon Friday in Whitsun week, according to former summons by nine of the clock in the morning. For that We are informed there are divers fairs to be kept in this Our County the day following, at which time many of them may have necessary occasions to be absent: and therefore out of Our tenderness and care of Our good Subjects, We have thought fit to give this early notice, to the end the said Inhabitants may be put to as little prejudice as may be. And this Our pleasure We require to be forthwith Printed, and Copies thereof to be speedily published and dispersed by the sheriff of this County: For which this shall be sufficient warrant.  
Given at Our Court at York the 27 day of May. 1642.  
FINIS.