A Learned SPEECH Made by the Right Worshipful Sir John Hotham, A Member of the House of Commons, At a meeting of several Knights and Gentlemen in the said County, on the 33. of May. 1642.  
Wherein is manifested the manifold Reasons why the Subject being commanded by the Parliament; ought not to disobey, but to venture life and estate in the maintenance and performance thereof, With a Remarkable Passage concerning the Lord Littleton, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and many other persons of Note.  
LONDON, Pri●●●● 〈…〉   

A Learned Speech made by that much honoured and renowned Gentleman, Sir John Hotham, a Member of the honourable House of Commons.  
ON the 23 day of this instant month, Sir John Hotham summoned some particular Knights and Gentlemen to Hull, to advise with him concerning the present estate of the Town in regard his Majesty was so highly incensed against him, likewise the Major, Aldermen, and all other men of good Rank and Quality were at that time assembled to whom Sir John Hotham (after an affable salutation to all) began to address himself to speak, which being observed a general silence covered all the place, each man with attentive admiration catcht every syllable as soon as it uttered, fearing the air delight with that Candour should snatch them up and rob them or their only happiness, since 'twas a comfort to all Loyal Subjects to hear and learn their duties from him that had given an ample Testimony, how well he knew his own.  
The substance of his Oration as near as could be gathered, is set down in this ensuing Treatise.  

My Loving Friends,  
You may perhaps expect that I intent to make a large Narration with intent to clear your doubts and make my Actions to His Majesty seem (as they are) fair, Legal and Loyal.  
But it is not my intention, nor will I wast so much time in that business, but leave it to the end, not doubting but when my Actions shall define their wished event, that the end shall crown the bad that is passed with a more full renown. The Scope of my words at this time shall be confined to these two heads, which indeed are twins not to be separated.  
The first is an encouragement to gain perfect Honour from your Sovereign.  
Let Loyalty be the rule of all your actions, if you intent to be truly Honourable, for honour no grounded on Loyalty, is like Friendship without Love, lost in a moment, and oft times grows the greatest Enemy, so the greatest Title, the vastest Wealth the greatest Wisdom, if not guided by Virtue, and so employed, proves ruin to the injoyer; Next, let your Loyalty take its limit from Law, otherwise, in doing things seemingly good, the end may prove dangerous, and your Loyalty prove worse than disloyalty; Therefore the next thing that I insist upon, is Obedience to the Parliament, that pious and judicious Council whom you in particular, and all the Kingdom in general, have chosen as fit men to discuss and examine all causes that have dependency on his Majesty's safety, and the Kingdom's security: Now to disallow of what is by them thought convenient both for his Majesty and the Kingdom's security, is to condemn yourselves of folly, that you have chosen men in whom you cannot confide, but I presume (though there be many that these words may and do concern in this Kingdom) that there is no one here that would not lay down his life for the defence of his Majesty and the Parliament, neither are there any, I suppose, that need this motive to Obedience to the Honourable Houses of Parliament, their own safeties depending on the happy issue of their religious Counsels.  
Only my aim is to give you one general reason and apparent Testimony, why the Subject being Commanded by the Parliament ought not to disobey their Commands, though by the King commanded the Contrary.  
Because the Parliament being called and established by the Authority of the King and consent of the Kingdom, has power to Command and effect all things that are agreeable to Law, tending to the preservation of his Majesty's Peace and welfare, and the general good of the Subject, they being by King and People, entrusted with that weighty and great charge, and if they should foresee an imminent danger threaten his Majesty's Person, or the general good, and should not take speedy care to prevent it, they should make a violation of that Faith and Trust reposed in them, so on the contrary part, if they, foreseeing a darger, by their Counsels and Commands endeavour to prevent it, and the Persons by them commanded falsify their trust, they are traitors both to their Royal Sovereign, and destroyers of the Kingdom, This is the truth, & this is my glory, that God has so fare enabled me to undergo so great a task, and this is my hope that all of you will manifest your Loyalties to his Majesty and Obedience to the Parliament.  
Many other matters I have to tell you concerning an Information of the Lord Keepers having le●t the Parliament.   
FINIS.