Sir John Hotham's Letter to a worthy Member of the House of Commons, concerning the late discovery at Hull; Together with Master Bardolph's Letter, a Recusant, to lieutenant Fooks his son in law, in service at Hull, under Sir John Hotham's command, who was a great Actor in that dangerous business.  
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 Beverley, 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 this May, he had the guard at the Northgate, 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 Mr Percie's 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 Lord 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 Dutch man (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, what ever 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 though 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 to 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 h〈…〉 s sent hither by Trist (under colour to carry Arms) to give Intelligence: and I find he had endeavoured to send to York 〈…〉 of my soldiers. This morning I received a Letter from Mr Major of Beverley, the Copy of which I send you, of divers assembled at Mr 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 Major of Beverley to search Mr 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 inspition, 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 non● 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.   

London, Printed for Edward Husbands, and are to be sold at the next door to the Kings-Head in Fleetstreet. 1642.