July 1643: Ordinance for Indemnity of the Mayor of Hull, and also for seizing the Forts, and the Persons of Sir John Hotham.

July 1643

[10 July, 1643.]

Whereas Thomas Rakes, Mayor of Hull, Sir Mathew Boynton Knight and Baronet, Sir William St. Quintin Baronet, Sir Richard Darley Knight, Sir John Bourchier, and Sir William Allinson, Knights, Lancelott Roper, Nicholas Denman, John Barnard, and Will. Pople, Aldermen, John Penrose Gentleman, Robert Johnson Clerk, having received Information that there was a Design for the betraying of the Town of Hull, which, in their Opinions, could not be prevented, but by a speedy seizing of the Block-houses and other Places of Strength in the Town, as also of the Persons of Sir John Hotham, Sir Edward Rodes, and Captain Hotham; and whereas accordingly they, with others, seized on the said Places of Strength for the Preservation of the said Town, and also of the Persons of the said Sir John Hotham, Sir Edward Rodes and Captain Hotham, and of the Treasure, Plate, Trunks, Writings, and other Things, of the said Sir John Hotham's and Captain Hotham's, to be in safe Custody till further Directions from the Parliament; and whereas the said Mayor of Hull, Sir Mathew Boynton, and the rest of the Persons first abovenamed, did issue out their Warrants and Directions, commanding Captain Searth to march from Skarborough, with his Soldiers, Arms, and Ammunition he had there, to Beverley, for the Defence of that Place, and with the Goods there of Consequence to be preserved in Beverley till further Directions from the Parliament, and whereas they did issue out their Warrants and Directions unto divers other Captains for to march, with their Soldiers, from Hull to Beverly, for the Defence of that Place: The Lordsand Commons do Declare, That it was an acceptable Service to the Kingdom and Parliament, in that which the said Mayor of Hull, Sir Mathew Boynton, and the rest of the Gentlemen abovenamed, and all others, have done herein; and that the Lords and Commons will keep them, and all others that have assisted them therein, indemnified and saved harmless.