Sir John Hotham's Alarm

Let us plead that we Fight, for the King and his Right,

But if he desire for to enter,

Let us Armed appear, and let us all sweare

Our lives for his sake we will venter.

But if he give Command, to disarm out of hand,

As we our Allegiance do tender,

Let us presently Sweare, that Commanded we are

By the Parliament not to surrender.

If he desire for to see, what Command that may be,

We then will resolve him no further,

But intreat him to stay, while we send Post away,

He shall have a Copy of the Order.

But if he Proclaime, me a Traytor by Name,

And all you that adhere to my Faction,

What an Honour it will be, when my Country see me,

Second Pym in a Trayterous Action.

But when the King sends, to require amends

Of the Parliament for such denyal;

Whether Treason or no, the Law shall ne’re know,

I must be put to your Vote for a Tryal.

And to put it to the Voice, or the Parliaments choice,

The House being now so empty;

If there be such a thing, as God or a King,

We’ll carry it by five in the twenty.

If so please the Fates, as to change our Estates,

That the King his own Rights doth recover,

We will turn to their way, and the Town will betray,

Though a Ladder for our pains we turn over.