AN EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM YORK.  
Dated on FRIDAY night, August 5, 1642.  
August 9 London Printed for Abel Roper. 1642.   

An Extract of a Letter from York, dated on friday right, being the 5 of August, 1642.  
NOtwithstanding his Majesty's warrant commanding a strict appearance of Horse and Foot of all the Trained Bands of this County, which are near upon 12000, yet not one in sixty appeared, and those that did, were such as are professed enemies to the Parliament, and to make their number the more, their Brethren in Confederacy against the Parliament, the Papists, appeared with good store of Horse, but their Riders, as was desired, were of the Protestant Profession, an expression that much enlightens our eyes, as it hath Relation to Papists, which next to the fear of having our Arms taken from us, caused so slender an appearance: look to yourselves in the South, for they will suddenly appear there also in Arms, with Riders of the Protestant profession. To digress no further, let me return to our Thursday meeting, and be pleased to peruse this enclosed speech of his Majesties, a part of that day's work, wherein his Majesty declares that he takes it as a reproach cast upon him, that any should say he hath laid siege against Hull, and yet such is the impudence of some of the Members of Lords and Commons in Parliament, as after that Speech made in their presence, to fram & conclude a Petition to the Parliament, wherein they express the King laid siege to Hull, and hath now raised the same, I hope his Majesty for this offence will make them examples, I mean the L. Faulckonbridge, M. Bellasis, Sir William Savile, and divers others, I may add this further, concerning that Petition, if they have not altered it since it was engrossed, it is the most daring Challenge, the most insolent language that ever was used to Parliament, indeed a thing insufferable, and was subscribed by the aforenamed persons, and also by the Lord Savile, the L. Darcy, S. George Wentworth, Sir Tho. Denby, Sir Wil Penniman, M. Mallorie, M. Al●brough, M. john Bellasis, Members of Parliament, and also by Sir john Mallorie, who was drawn to it against his will, and by Sir Marmaduke Langdale, formerly well affected, who hath the Straffordian slavery still in his memory, having never indeed beer in his right wits since his Lordship frighted him it is signed as I hear by none bu● by Sir john Gothericke, Sir Francis Wortley, and that Crew, that under preence of a Guard, have endeavoured to raise an Army (as you now see) in this County, if they could: Let not the Parliament think that this handful of illaffected and malcontented persons, have such power in this County, as to be seconded by the Commons in this Boldface Petition; As soon as the Cavaliers are gone (till then we will be silent) they shall know our minds are contrary to theirs; they fear it; And therefore they are raising 800. Horse, (Master Benson their Clerk can tell you; he hath the list) to be a Guard to this County, but is indeed to disarm the Roundheads, and Separatists, a● they call them, and under that name to leave naked all religious and well-affected persons, and arm none but Papists and Malignant Spirits; and this is the design through the Kingdom: and look to the arms of your Trained-bands betimes, or it will be too late. The design of the  Horse will be executed by these men, they often vow they will all die but the Act that this Parliament shall not be dissolved without consent of both Houses shall be made void, and then they say there shall be a tryenniall Parliament, and dissolved as soon as it is called, if they continue to oppose the King. They are much perplexed here, that Sir john Hotham caused a Drummer of the Cavaliers to be hardly used as they say; whereas it is a misreport, the affront he gave in the garrison was great, his punishment but a sport. There are divers of the Trained-bands at Beverley, guarding the Magazine which is to follow the Cavaliers (but I had like to have erred, and said the Siege is raised) the Trenches are cast down, the Ordnance at Paul and Hasell, that endeavoured to stop all passages by water to Hull, are removed; the Proclamation on pain of death, that no provision should go to Hull, is not in force, or not observed, for they keep open Market, there is no burning of windmills nor other hostile acts, here is a Proclamation in Print, of which also I send you a Copy, that the Commissioners of Array should attach the Lord Brooke, as a Traitor, but it is since called in again: ten Earls, five Lords, one Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Master Controller, Sir jacob Ashley, and eight Cavaliers, are all of the Council of War, they follow it close; especially since news came that Portsmouth is in a posture of opposition to the Parliament, they swear as soon as they come to Portsmouth, they will have Goring out by head and shoulders, for that he that betrayed the King before, and the trust of the Parliament now, will be true to neither King nor Parliament, but turn like a Weathercock. The Earl of Essex is slow in appearance, Counties will be overawed with Horse, before supplies come, the Cavaliers Horse are on their march. There is news newly come of the roaring of Cannon at Newcastle, the Fort at Tinmouth shooting at the King's Ships, which have seized of some arms coming out of Holland, the prebend's and some of the Gentry of the Bishopric of Durham are here, and are so ready to advance moneys, to raise force against the Parliament, that they part with the Billet-money due to the County.  
FINIS.