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THE HOXHAMS. 193
and the men to stand to their arms, and sent a messenger to the King
beseeching him to forbear coming.
However, Charles arrived at the Beverley gate about eleven o'clock,
and summoning the governor, demanded admittance. What actually took
place has been variously reported. There can be no doubt of this, that
Sir John declined to open the gates, but whether because he said it would
be a breach of his trust to both Houses, or because the King had too great
a train, it is difficult to say probably in the excited, nervous discussion
;
he said both. There is also a difference of opinion
as to whether he
offered to admit the King with twenty horses only, and the King stipulated
for thirty. No doubt it is true that " the gentleman, with much
" distraction in his looks, talked confusedly of the trust he had from the
" Parliament, and then fell on his knees, wished that God would bring
" confusion upon him and his, if he was not a loyal and faithful subject to
"his Majesty; but in conclusion declined to suffer his Majesty to come
"into the town."*
Clarendon adds " The man was of fearful nature and perplexed
" understanding, and could better resolve upon deliberation than on a
" suddain and :
many were of opinion that if he had been prepared
" dextrously beforehand, and in confidence, he would have conformed to
" the King's pleasure : for he was master of a noble fortune in land, and
" rich in money, of a very ancient family, and well allied : his affections to
" the government very good, and no man less desired to see the nation
" involved in a civil war than he : and when he accepted this employment
" from the Parliament, he never imagined it would engage him in
" rebellion : but believed that the King would find it
necessary to comply
" with the advice of his two Houses, and that the preserving that magazine
"from being possessed by them would likewise prevent any possible
" ruptures into armes." All this may be very true, but I cannot conceive
any position more difficult than that in which he was placed.
However, the King then summoned the mayor and demanded
admittance, but he " with a heavy heart drew near, fell upon his knees,
" and, shedding tears, answered that he could do no more ;
protesting that
" he would let him in if it was in his power, but that he could not do it,
" there being a guard over him, the inhabitants, and at the gates, which
" were kept by the soldiers ready armed, with orders to put any to death
"who should attempt to open them.f
After this the duke and his party, who were still in Hull, passed
out and joined the King; and at five o'clock the King, having again
made an ineffectual appeal to the governor to open the gates, proclaimed
him a traitor by two heralds he had brought with him, commanded the
corporation to reject his jurisdiction, and finally ordered those within to
* Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. i. p. 397. t Hadley's History of Hull.