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194 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
" Of all which there was no notice
throw the traitors over into the ditch.
" taken, except some expressions of disloyalty and contempt expressed by
" Sir John Hotham to the King, who then withdrew to Beverley," and from
thence the following day returned to York. The Lords and Commons
declared the said proceedings to amount to a high violation of the privileges
of Parliament, and indemnified that worthy person employed by them.
The gentlemen of the north offered to raise a force and take Hull by
assault, but the King preferred to make Sir John Hotham and his conduct
the subject of an acrimonious correspondence between the Parliament and
himself.
On the 1 2th of May, 1642, however, the King summoned the gentry
of Yorkshire, represented to them that, from the late action of Sir John
Hotham, countenanced by Parliament, he had reason to apprehend danger,
and desired them to form a guard for his person, which they did to the
extent of a troop of horse and a regiment of 600 foot taken from the
militia, which were placed under the command of the Prince of Wales.
Soon after, he determined on a fresh attempt on Hull, and removed to
The town was closely blockaded,
Beverley with 3,000 foot and 1,000 horse.
the water supply diverted into the Humber, and 200 horse sent into Lincolnshire
to intercept all provisions and two forts were built at Hassel Cliff
;
and Paul, to guard the Humber.
Sir John, on the other hand, took every precaution for the safety of
the town ; and, his messengers to Charles, requesting him to desist from
his purpose, being detained, he ordered the sluices to be drawn, the banks
of the Humber and the Hull to be cut, and thus flooded the country. The
contest was now actively carried on by both A sides. ship with reinforcements
and provisions evaded the blockade and reached the town ; some
Royalist officers were captured in an open boat and imprisoned ; the
cannon of the Royalists played on the town, and were answered by the
guns on the walls. Anlaby was attacked, the Royalists expelled, and their
magazine in the great barn of Mr. Legard blown up, the Earl of Newport
being knocked senseless off his horse into a ditch by a cannon ball, and
nearly drowned. Sir John on the one hand did his best to inflame the
minds of the Parliamentarians by reports of intended incendiarism and
cruelty, and the King, on the other hand, inveighed against Sir John in
the remonstrances which he addressed to the neighbouring country.
However, it soon became evident to the King that his forces were
inadequate for the object which he had undertaken, and it was desirable
to find some other way. This was brought about by accident. Lord Digby
had come over from the Queen in Holland, disguised, with communications
to the King. On his return he was captured with Colonel Ashburnham
in a "fly boat" by one of the Parliament ships, and carried into Hull.