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Primary sourceDocument22 April 1642

The Humble Petition of the Gentry and Commons of the County of York, 1642

Printed by Robert Barker, and by the assignes of John Bill · 22 April 1642

A printed 1642 petition presented to Charles I at York, concerning Sir John Hotham's refusal to let him into Hull.

This petition was presented directly to Charles I at York, capturing the struggle for loyalty just before civil war broke out.

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Scan of a 1642 printed broadside title page with decorative woodcut borders. The text reads The Humble Petition of the Gentry and Commons of the County of York, with lines about Sir John Hotham refusing entrance to Hull, and an imprint for London, Robert Barker, 1642. A catalogue number appears at the bottom left.
The Humble Petition of The Gentry and Commons of the County of York, printed by Robert Barker, 1642. Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University.

About this source

What it is

This is a printed broadside titled The Humble Petition of the Gentry and Commons of the County of York, presented to Charles I at York on 22 April 1642, together with his message to Parliament about Sir John Hotham's refusal to admit him into Hull. It was printed in London by Robert Barker.

Why it matters

This document comes from the tense months just before the English Civil War began. It shows local gentry and commoners of Yorkshire appealing directly to the king, while Hotham's refusal to open the gates of Hull to Charles was one of the sparks that pushed England toward armed conflict.

Look closer

  • Why would local gentry and commoners want to be seen petitioning the king directly?
  • What does Hotham's refusal to let the king into Hull suggest about the breakdown of royal authority?
  • What does the printing and publishing of this petition tell you about how political disputes were made public in 1642?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Charles I on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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