THE DE•IREE OF THE Prince His Highneſse, to Sir John Ho­tham.

WHen the Prince with his for­ces drew neer the Town of•ull, He ſent forth a Herauld to Command the Gates to be opened, and to have the town ſurrendred up; But He found the ſame Entertainment which his Majeſty had formerly.

This Anſwer being returned to His Highneſſe, you cannot conceive but at ſo great a Repulle and denyall, he muſt bee very much moved. Wherupon immediat­ly a ſecond Meſſenger was ſent to the town, at which Summons Sir John Ho­tham did preſently attend his Highneſſe from the Walls, to whom his Excellencie did deliver himſelf in this manner.

That it was ſtrange that he againſt his Oath of Allegeance, and muth contrary to the truſt and confidence which his Maje­ſty had formerly repoſed in him, ſhould thus obſtinately both againſt Equity and Juſtice oppoſe his Majeſty, and conſtrain him to uſe ſuch violent means to obtain that, which he thought he might by His Power and Right Command.

And withall enformed him, that now it was no time for diſpute, but walled him to ſurrender up the Town, which he ſo long had detained from his Majeſty, which if he would do, and ſubmit himſelf unto his Royall Clemency, happily His Maje­ſty, out of his tender Aflection which He alwayes bore to the informities of His Subjects, which he is ſenſible may be ſom­times miſled, might indulge theſe his yet Contumelious Errours, and in hope of his future amendment forget, and forgive his former Errours, and reſtore him to all thoſe Liberties and Fortunes he formerly enjoyed.

After His Highneſſe had thus delivered himſelf, Sir John Hotham after ſome ſmall pauſe, but ſerious Conſideration, in all humble manner thus expreſt himſelf un­to his Highneſſe.

Let your Excellence be pleaſed to ſend a patient Ear unto your moſt faithgull ſervants defence, whoſe Loyall intentions have alwayes beene, and ever ſhall be moſt zealous to ſerve your moſt Royall Father, and next ofter him your Excellence.

And I could wiſh both my Life and For­tunes certiople, that by the free Expenſe of them I might teſtifie the Gratitude and Ob­ſervance of Duty, which I owe unto your moſt Royall Father, and my moſt Gracious Sove­reign,

You cannot taxe me of ſuch fowle and hainous Crimes, as the Malignant Party do object againſt me, when you ſhall rightly conſider that all my endeavours have la­boured for the priviledge of the Subject, and the ſecurity of the Kingdom, no wais impugning the Prerogatives which belong to the Crown.

And certain it is, that both your Roy­all Self, and alſo all the world may juſtly condemn me of Infidelity, if I ſhould tre­cherouſly deceive that truſt, which the Supream and Higheſt Court of this King­dom hath entruſted me withall, and in the Breach wherof may inſue the generall Ruine of this Nation.

A truſt of ſo great weight and high Conſequence cannot be deceived, but a heavie diſcredit muſt of neceſſity brand him, who ſhall give the occaſion of that breach.

So far is from me the very thought of diſloyalty, that if it ſhall pleaſe that po­wer, who did firſt commit that truſt to me, to conſent with my ſelf, I ſhall all freedom of mind, and Loyalty of hart give up both the Town, and my ſelf, and all that I may properly call mine unto his Majeſty, and humbly proſtrate both them and my ſelf at His Majeſties feet, not doubting, but upon His juſt and ma­ture conſideration, he may not only for­give my Errours, if any in this caſe have bin committed, but alſo command my fi­delity, and out of his clemency and good­neſſe thinke mee fit to ſerve His Maje­ſty.

Thus Sir John Hotham having delivered himſelf, but keeping the town, the Prince left him for the preſent, and we do expect that His Highneſſe ſhould levie a Batte­ry againſt the town.

The Palſgrave is gone from Yorkſhire, into Lancaſhire, to take up forces, and to repair to Hull with all ſpeed he can.

The King himſelf is gone from us, and with the next Tueſday night be at Newark upon Trent, and from thence he will goe to Lieceſter: Thus I reſt,