plausible ende to succede by our sturre otherwise we vndoe our selues For perceiuinge at our entrie y t our myndes runne of spoile who wil not rather resist vs abide the adueÌture of that wherof we beare them in hande then to be in certeine to be spoyled by vs And I see no cause whye you shoulde doubte of want of money seinge ye knowe that suche gentlemen as are confedered with vs keping appointment their souldiours shall come redie furnished to beare theire owne charges for .ix. dayes and our happe shall be verie harde if we be not at London shortlye after we stirre and that with so great a company as shal be oute of daunger to be stopped by any of the shire vpon suche a soden or letted of entrie into London finding halfe the frindes there as we thinke to haue Wyates rekening of y e spoile of the tower and London And being ones in London hauinge the tower in our haÌdes I trust you thinke we shall not lacke money longe after if any be to be had there or in the Aldermens coffers To that saied the other that hadde spoken as yet neuer a worde I knowe commoners in London that haue more redy money then some of the Aldermenne Softe quod Wyat I praye you in any wyse forbeare all suche talke till we come to y e place wher we would be In mean time let vs worke secretly and by all tokens and signes shewe our selues to fauoure and mainteine oure pretence of straungers only Such and the lyke coÌmunication was betwene Wyat and two other the mondaye before his rysing Wherby is euident that theire finall entent was to aduaunce them selues by spoyle of other menâes goodes although they pretended otherwise And to coloure the same Wyat so fell out with this geÌtelman for riffling the lorde Chauncelours house that he made a number beleue he woulde haue hanged him out of hande had not Bret and other entreated for him When thei had lien in Southwarke a day or two and fouÌde them selues deceiued in LondoÌ whiche by the greate diligence and politike handlinge of that worthye and faiethfull knighte the lorde William Haward Admiral of England The Lorde WilliaÌ Haward admiral of Englande that had the speciall charge therof with the aide of sir Iohn Whight knight maiour of LondoÌ his brethern and citezens was so well preserued as the traitours therby were disappointed of that they loked moost certenly for Wyat as a man desperate and setting all the sixe and seuen aduenturing the breaking downe of a wall out of an house ioyning to the gate at the bridge foote Wyates coÌâminge into the porters lodge at y e bridge fote wherby he moughte enter into the leades ouer the gate came downe into the lodge aboute a leauen of the clocke in the night where he founde the porter in a slomber Care away and his wife with other wakinge watchinge a cole But seing Wyat they began sodenly to start as greatly amased Whist quod Wyat as you loue your lyues sit you still you shal haue no hurt Gladde were they of that warrant pardye What should they do people better accustomed with y e tankerd of beere to passe furth the night then acquainted with target and speare to indure to fight Wyat a fewe with him went furthe as farre as the drawe bridge on the further side wherof he sawe the lorde Admirall the lorde Maiour sir Andrewe Iudde and one or two other in consultation for ordering of the bridge wherunto he gaue diligent eare a good time and not seene At length conceiued by their talke moore then he could digest perceauinge the great ordinaunce there bent retorned saiynge to his mates this place is to hotte for vs. And when he was come to his colleges and declaringe vppon this exployte what he had hearde and seene they then altogether fell to a newe counsell what was to be done The rebels at their wittes ende Some woulde then retourne to Grenewiche and so passe by water into Eliex wherby their company as âhey thought shoulde encrease and inter into London by Algate And some woulde to Kingston vpon Teames and so further West And some of the whiche Wyat him selfe was chiefe wold retourne into Kent to meâte with the Lorde Aburgauenâe the Lorde Warden the shyreffe sir Thomas Moyle sir Thomas KeÌpe sir Thomas Finch that were at Rochester coÌming on Wyates backe w t a great coÌâpany wel appoynted falsly persuading him selfe y t he shuld find amonge them mo frendes then enemies But whether his desyre to returne into Kent grew vpon hope he hadde to fynde ayd there or whether it was to shifte him selfe awaye it was much doubted of his owne companye And some of them that knewe him well excepte they were muche deceyued reported not longe before their execution that his desier to retire into Kent was onelye to shyfte hym selfe ouer the sea The Lorde Warden beynge nowe come to Rochester as ye hearde The Lorde Wardens beinge at Rochester towardes Wyat. and verye honourably furnished with horse and men well appoynted to no smale nuÌbre enteringe in consultation with suche gentlemen as were there for the better procedynge in their seruice shewed a great desier to accelerate the onset vpon the traitours least malice shuld impute both his former present staye rather to want of forwardnesse then to good policie Wherefore he desyred to pursue after them with all expeditioÌ Whervnto y e gentlemen then being in armes with him sayde As for your Lordshyps contation hetherto it shal be weyed not as fooles by fansye malice deme but as wyse meÌ shall measure it by theyr discretion of wisdom We see not but vnaduised hardinesse preproperous haste in moste matters haue these two coÌpanions Errour in the beginning RepeâtauÌce in y e end And for this our case who so vnderstandeth the same can not but confesse your lordships deliberate forbearing to haue proceded of great wysdome as wherin hast coulde litel preuayle And wheras your lordshippe is so dâsirous to pursue after Wyat and his bande you see howe they haue lyen in Southworke and within four miles of London these foure dayesâ and yet not medled with by the queenes armie beyng so nere Which is neither for want of men nor of forwardnesse in that noble gentleman the earle of Penbroke the queenes leiuetenant The earle of Penbroke the quenes leuetenaunt but vpon greate policie further respecte no doubt then we seeme to conceyue Wherfore your lordshippe may doe better to pause and fyrst to aduertise the queenes maiestie and the lord leiuetenaunt both what your lordeshyppe vpon graue and depe consideration hath conceyued in this doubtfull time and also in what readinesse your lordshippe is and other gentlemen with you whose pleasures knowen we maye then happelye procede in seruice bothe with good conteââtacion to them aboue and best suertie for our selues Otherwise if fortune shoulde not fauour our iourneye
diÌmed with such a fond mist. For if they ment to resist straÌgers as thei mind nothing lesse thei wolde theÌ prepare to go to the sea coastes not to the quenes most roial person with such a coÌpany in armes weapoÌ Ye can coÌsider I trust this noble geÌtlemaÌ the lord Aburgaueny here preseÌt being of an auÌcieÌt great pareÌtage born amoÌg you such other gentlemeÌ as you se here which be no straÌgers vnto you my selfe also although a pore geÌtlemaÌ who I trust at no time hath abused you hath soÌwhat to lose aswel as thei wold be as loth to be ouer run with staÌgers as thei if any such thing were ment But for that we know most certeÌly that ther is ment no maner of euil to vs by those straÌâgers but rather aide profit coÌfort against other strangers our auÌcient enemies with whoÌ they as most arraÌt degenerate traitors do in dede vnkindly vnnaturally ioine we in her graces defeÌse wil speÌde both life what we haue beside to the vtter most peny against theÌ Wel I can no more now sai vnto you but vnderstaÌding y e quenes highnes as a most merciful priÌcesse to be ones again determined to pardon as many as by their traiterous deceitfull proclamatioÌs other illusioÌs wer allured to this last treasoÌ so they repaire to their habitations within xxiiii houres after her graces proclamation read become true subiectes to her graâe to aduise such as hath taken part with those traitours or haue withdraweÌ them selues coÌtrary to their allegiauÌce froÌ the aiding seruing of their soueraigne accordiÌg to their duties against her enemies thaÌkefullye to accept imbrace her most gracious pardoÌ vse meanes of theÌ selues to apprehend those arrant and principall traitours and make a present of them to the quenes highnes or leaue theÌ to theÌ selfes as most detestable traitors who beiÌg once so graciously mercifully forgeueÌ could not but cary the clemââcie of the same in their hartes to the furtherance of all obedience whiles thei liued if ther had been any spark of grace in theÌ And further I haue to say vnto you y t as these traitors by their proclamatioÌs w tout authoritie haue moued you to styr against the quene your soueraigne apointed you placê wher to mete coÌsult for y e furtheraÌce of their traiterous purpose to briÌg with you such aid as you caÌ so shal I require you in her graces name charge you that be here present not to come there but that you such as be absent taking knowledge herby repair to such places as I the quenes shireffe officer shal appoint you with such ayde as you can bring for the better seruice of the quene the shyre where you shal be assured to receyue comforte thankes and honestie to th ende of your liues and your posteritie And thother waye but endles shame and vtter vndoinge to you and yours whiche shall be worste to your selues and yet a greate griefe to vs your neyghbours whose aduise in al other your priuate causes you haue been content to folowe nowe in this waightiest that hathe or maye happen to you wyll refuse vs and folow them that hathe euer abused you to your and thei vtter confusion At Mallynge the seuen and twenteth daye of Ianuarye Anno Mariae primo God saue Queene Marye and all her well wyllers The shiriffe reading this exhortation caused one Barrham a gentilman and seruaunt to the lord Aburgauâny to pronounce it as he reed it so loude and soo distinctlie as the people assembled rounde aboute him to a verie great nomber in maner of a ring mighte easlie here and vnderstand euerie word proceding froÌ Barrham who of his owne head cried out vnto them You maye not so muche as lyfte vp your finger against your kinge or quene And after the people had heard the Shiriffes exhortation cried God saue quene Marie whiche they did moost hertely spending therin a conuenient tyme the shiriffe vsed these wordes vnto them Maisters quod he althoughe I alone did speake vnto you yet what wordes were spoken too you by me were also spoken to you by the lorde Aburgauenye and all the gentilmen here present The shâriffes spech to the multitude in whose persons I then spake and now require at your handes a plaine and resolute aunswere Will you nowe therfore ioyne with suche as you sâe euidentlie to be arraÌt traitors orels with the lorde Aburgauenie and suche gentilmen as you see here present that wil lyue dye with you in defense of oure rightfull quene againste these traitors The people with one voice defied Wyat and his complices The peoples aÌsweeâ to the sheriffe as arrant traitours and saied that they nowe well espied they hadde but abused them Wherfore in defense of quene Marie they woulde dye vpon them expressinge their mindes with suche earnest shoutes and cries as shewed to procede vnfainedly froÌ their hartes which after was confirmed by a better experience the day folowing as ye shall anone here But by the waye ye shall vnderstande that Wyat heringe of this proclamation saied I knowe that Barram well Wyates promise of barrams rewarde but yet I neuer tooke him to haue so wyde a throte if I lyue I maye happen to make him crowe a higher note in a nother place What trowe ye should then haue become of the authour In the Sundaye followinge the lorde Aburgaueny the shiriffe and the rest of the gentilmen were determined to haue merched in the morninge earelye towardes Rochester to haue aided the duke of Norfolke and sir Henrye Gerningham captain of the garde then being at Grauesend towardes Wyat with a certain bande of whitecotes to the nomber of .vi. C. sent vnto them froÌ London The duke of Norf sir Henrye GerniÌghaÌs comminge to Grauesende wherof Breet and others were their captaines Roger Apâulton and Thomâs Swaâârustie geÌtilmeÌ Roger Appulton gentilman was also at Grauesende with the duke attendant to serue where in lykewyse was Thomas Swan gentilman This satterdaye at night the lorde Aburgaueny suspectinge that Wyat and hys complices liynge within foure myles of them and beinge so muche prouoked in that they were in the day so rightly set forthe in their coloures at Malling would for reueÌge worke some anoyauÌce to theÌ or his bande y t nighte either by a caÌmasado or by some other meane did therfore to preuent the same set a strong watche in in the market place at Malling and other partes of entrie into the towne The lorde Aburgaueny set the watch iÌ persone and gaue the watch word him selfe before he would take any rest But betwene one two of the clocke in the night when euerie bodye was taken to rest sauing the watche there happened a larom A larom at Malling sundry cryeng treason treason we are all betraied in such a sort that such as were
fiue captaynes Bret chiefe captain of y e whitcotes who with theyr bande beinge sixe hundred all in whight cotes taryed behinde at a hyll called Spittell hyll ãâã vnto strowde whiles the Duke went to strowde to see the planting of the ordinaunce Whiche beinge readye charged and bent vpon the towne of Rochester and perceyuynge Wyat and the other traytours by hangynge out of theyr flagges vpon the bridge wall to be in great brauerieâ whiche consideryng the miserable state they were in the nyght before coulde not be hadde they not receyued some newe comforte by some trayterous meane the Duke commaunded one of the peces to be fired for shotte into Rochester And as the gunner was fyeringe the piece syr Edwarde Braies eldest sonne came in all the hast to the duke saying Sir did not I tell your grace this morninge âhat yondeâ false wretches wold deââiue youâ How knowe you that quod the Duke why syr que Braye you maye see them as false trayrours bent against you And immediatly Bret and other captaines of the whitcoates with their bande beinge vpon the hyll and at the backe of the Duke made greate and loude shoutes sundrie times criynge The reuolt of the captaines to y e whight cotes theyr bande we are all Englishe men we are al Englishe men fashionynge them selues in araye readie bent with their weapons to set vpon the Duke if he had made any resistaunce Wherevpon the Duke and the Captaine of the Garde commaunded the pieces that were bent vpon the towne to be tourned vpon Bret and hys âande But vpon further consiâââation the shotte was spaââdâ And the Dukes grace with the câptayne of âhe garde syr Henââe Geââingham consideriâg not without bleding hearââs their âhiefe strengthe thus âââened vppon them so that they were now inuironed both behindâ anâ before with tâayterous enemies shâfted tâem selues awaye as did alsâ their ââmpaâie After whose departure Wyat accompanied with ãâã or thââ and not many moe came oât of Rochester halfe a mile from the towne aâ the left to mâte the sixe captaines of the whyt coatâs Amongest whome was Harper Harper retourned to his olde mate notwithstandinge his crouchynge and knelinge before the Duke and faire prâmises that he wouldâ vndertake that Wyat shoulde haue yelded Who fâtinge afore the other captaynes with his sworde drawen sayde to Wyat. I promised you a good tourne and saye not nowâ but I haue paââed it Who had sâen the imbraâynge âââippynge and congratulaâiân vâed at thiâ metynge from traytour to traytour mightâ iustlye wonder therat Shortly after they had wel claweâ one another they went together like them selues into Rochester When this of all other mosâe infortunate channce came to the knowledge of the Lorde Aburgauenyeâ the shâreffe their frendes they weâe not a lytle troubled with the straungenes of the case muchâ doubtinge that the people whiâââ before seemed to be brought to good frame woulde be impaââed by this alteration and suche as were afore euill disposed âoulde not be greatlye amââded thereby The shireffe beinge the same night at Maydstone The shireffes being at Maydston that had come the âame daye from Oââorde fourtene myles distaunt âo mete with Thomas Guilsââde Steuen Dorrell Edâââd Horden Iohn Robartes and Iohn Finche Esquiers to matche towardes the Duke and in the mornynge so farre from any mistrust of that whiche folowed the same dayâ at Rochester as hauinge no sure place to conueye the prisoners taken the dai before in the skirmishe with Isleye He left the chiefest and trustiest of his seruauntes and frendes bothe gentlemen and yomen of al his bande at Malling for the sauegarde of the prisoners where also laye the Lorde Aburgauenye and his bande doubtinge that Isleye and the rest that escaped woulde haue made some meane that night to haue recouered the prisoners sundrye of them being men of good welth and well frended and liynge within foure miles of Wyat. The sheriffes secrete returne to Mallinge Upon these newes whether it were for the absence of the lord Aburgaueny and his strength or mistrusting false measure in the towne or moued with example of the reuolte of the whitcotes he thought it shuld seeme Maydston no meâe place for him to make any abode nor yet good policie al partes coÌsidered to disclose the time of his remouynge but iudginge playnly him selfe thonly marke of these partes whereat the traitours shotte or falling any wayes into their handes so newly after the case of the duke one part of y e tragedie to be theÌ ended he retourned to his strength geuing knowledge to the gentlemen remayninge in Maydstone to repaire to his house for consultation what was to be done for the redubbinge of that vnhappie chaunce In whiche consultation there did rise so manye different opinions some saying they would to the Queene and some to the Earle of Penbroke being her graces LeuetenauÌt that y e shiriffe without further debatinge intreating the lorde Aburgaueny and certen gentilmen to remaine and entertaine suche of their bandes as they coulde holde till his retourne whiche he promised shoulde bee without delay went to the couÌsell for knowledge of their pleasure where he taried vneth two houres but retourned in post y e same night And at his coÌming the lord Aburgaueny and he assembled as many of their force as they could call together The traitours and their frendes were growen as men reuiued from deathe to life flattering them selues that a thynge so farre aboue mennes expectation coulde not haue happened to them so fortunatlye but by Gods miraculous prouision as fauouring greatly their case so blewe it abrode as well by winde as by writinge the more parte of the people being ready to beleue it as the case in the heades of the multitudes was woÌderfully chaunged bothe for strength and opinion Wyat aduertised by his letter the duke of Suffolke of his victorie by Gods prouision as he termed it Wyaâ ãâ¦ã âo the ãâã of Suff. Whose letter was intercepted in Essex as the messenger passed the ferie by a seruaunte of sir Robert Southwels and brought to the counsell He wrote also to the duke of Norffo but in another stile his letters being open importing suche matter as foloweth Be it knowen to al men and speciallye to the duke of Norffolke that I haue taken nothing in hand Wyats letter to the Duke of Norffolke but that I will maintaine with the exspense of my life which before it departe out of my body shal be folde full dere et ce An inuictiue against y e neuters Such of those partes as honge in the wind as neuters wherof were no small nomber that had lurked in caues al the tempest watching but where shold become the victorie that for example of the euill were nothing inferiour to the arrantest traytours but rather for a number of respectes muche worse began to appeere verie cherefull geuing them selues great thankes for handling the matter so finely
being his leude guyde âe marcheth forward coÌmeth within the power of sir WilliaÌâerberd earle of Penbroke being that daye the queenes leiuetâuant generall in y â fieâde Who yet with diuers other noble meÌ and faithfull subiectes beynge tâen in armes with him prest and readie to receaue so impudent a race of traytourous rebels to their deserued breakefâst vnderstandinge partlye by âure spiall partly by their owne vewe that the rebels exceded not the numbre of foure thousande and most of them naked voyde of al policie and skyl considering with al that thei could not set vpoÌ Wyat his whole band but great effusioÌ of bloud shoulde folowe the queenes armie beinge so gredie to be reueÌged the other so impotent to âesist determined rather by pollicie to atcheue the victorie then by bloude shedde to confounde the rebels Wherin they shoulde please God aunswere the quenes mercifull expectation and purâhase vnto theÌ selues moste renowne and honour of that dayes seruice Upon these resolutions they permitted Wyat with the fore part of his bande to passe quietlye alonge and throughe betwene the queenes maiesties horsmen the lord Clynton being marshall of the ââeâde and captayne of the barâed horses and dimilaunces on the South side Iacke of Musgraue beinge captayne of the âighte horsemen on the Northe side The great ordinaunce beââge charged to shute full vpon the breast of the rebels coÌming ââstwarde The earle of Penbroâe with the maine battell of fotemen aswel for handgunnes morishe pikes bowes and byls standyng in goodly aray on the âortheast syde behind the sayd ââeat ordinaunces ready to set vpon the rebels in the face comââing towardes Holborne Wyââ comminge in the forefront of his bande perceiuinge that he was thus beset with horsemen on bothe sides the great ordinauÌces and the fotemen before his face Northeastward so that he could no wayes escape but necessarilye muste fall into their handes althoughe for pollicie he was suffered and a greate part of his men to passe so farre quietlye and with out resistauÌce through the horsmen he sodenlye forsooke hys waye intended thorowe Holborne with might maine as faste as they coulde he and his mates ranne down vnderneth the parke wal of bricke adioyninge to the Queenes manour house called sainte Iames. The lorde Clinton obseruinge his time firste with hys dimylaunces brake their araye deuided Wyates bande in .ii. partes Then came âhe light horsemen who so hardly persued the tayle of his baÌde tâat they slewe many hurte more and toke moost of them Whiles the sayd horsmen were ââus in fyght with the âaile of his bande Wyat him selfe and v. C. men or there aboute peked on still all alonge vnder sainte Iâmes parke wall vntill he ââme to Charinge crosse where dââers of the queenes houshold sâruauntes and others fought wâth them and in the ende killed .xvi of the rebelles Neuertâelesse Wyat hauinge escaped with a part of his company mercâinge a longe in battaile raye ââtred into Fletstrete and came ãâã Flete brigge toward Ludgâte And althoughe noman resâââed his passage throughe the âârâetes thus farre yet when at length he perâeiued that he had no helpe of frendes in London and the suburbes as he loked for lefte his men standinge still in battail araye and rode backe as âarre as the teÌple barre gate with a naked sword in his haÌde the hiltes vpwarde as some report at whiche gate he woulde haue gone throughe towardes Charinge crosse to the residue of his meÌ but he was then stopped by force of the queenes true subiectes who wolde not suffer him to passe with out teÌple bar At the length came one sir Morryce barkley knight vnto him requââed him to consider that he coulde not preuaile in thys wicked pourpose and that hys men weare all taken and slayne in the filde and therfore willed him to cease of froÌ any further ocâasion of bloude shed exhorâing him to yelde him selfe prisoner to stande to the queenes mârcie Whiche to doe Wyat refused and saied that he woulde rather be slain then yelde to any âan And yet neuerthelesse as it chaunced there came a Harrold of armes immediatlye ryding in the quenes coote Armor to this place to whose cote shortlye after Wyat submitted hym selfe prisoner so went to the court at West minster and ther was brought before the priuye Counsell shortlye after with in one houre sent from thense to the Tower of LondoÌ prisoner Amongest other thinges this is to be remeÌbred that whiles the saied Wyat and certein of his men as afore saied were cominge thus towardes Flerestrete a certein Captayne of the said rebelles with diuers of his souldiers retourned from Charinge crosse downe to the court gate at white halle and gaue a larme before the gate and shorte diuers arrowes into the saied courte the gate being open in so muche that one maister Nicolas Rockewood being a gentilman of Lyncolnes inne and in armour at the said court gate was shorte throughe his nose with an arrowe by the rebelles For the comminge of the said rebelles was not loked for that way but thought that the Queenes Armye shoulde haue ioyned battell with them in the ãâã accârding to promise madâ ãâã theÌ sayd Wyat on this hehalf ãâã promised that he would ãâã to the quenes fotebattel ãâã with theÌ pyke against pyke ãâã maÌ to man Which when it ãâã to the verie point he refuââd â shranke a bye way by saiât ââmes parke walle for his reââge as you haue heard before where many of them were slain ãâã horsemen so that they came âot ââe the quenes power of the ãâã battel Which increased some ââsperate boldnes in the despaiâing rebelles not without great disâoÌâeâure to all the court the ââtie of London perceiuing that he was himselfe and so many rebeles with him come through the ãâã armye thus farre wheruâoÌârewe great admiration amoÌgest who will not deceaue me And ãâã dede shortlye after newes ãâã all of victorie howe that âyat was taken Thâs daye the Iudges in the ââmen Place at Westminster ãâã in armoure The Maiour âldermen and the housholders ãâã the Citie by .iiij. of the clocke ãâã the morning were in armor The lorde Wyllyam Hawarde ââghe Admirall being emongest ãâã Who as I haue tofore said ââs by the Quenes maiestie ââpointed Captaine generall âiuetenaunt for the time to coÌâââre in counsell and ioyne in ââecution with the lorde Maiour his brethren for the sure and spedie gardinge and warding of the Citie to the preâerââtion whereof the Queenes ãâã ensigne of God whââ ãâã âede alone gaue this victoââ and alone with out pollycie ãâã might of man ouerthrewe her âânemies Yet so that he therw t ââââared his special fauor pleaââââe towardes his seruauÌt that ââble knight the Erle of Penâââke in appointing him cheife âââmpion this daye to defende ãâã chosen and electe virgin âhose faieth hath not bene waââring in this catholike religion nor his truth seruice doughtââll
at any time towardes hys prince Wyat as is said was coÌâmitted to the Tower So were diuers other gentlemen as sone âfter was Henrye Graye duke of Suffolke his .ii. bretherne the duke being so hardly pursued by the lord Hastinges erle âââtingdon was by him apprââhended in Leycetershire The duke of Suffolkes apprehension by the Erle of HuÌtiÌgdon wherby he declared him selfe as wel in honour and vnspotted loyaltie as in parentage patrimonie to sucâede his great grandfather y e lord Hastinges whose fidelite and stedfast trueth towardes kinge Edwarde the fourthe and his chyldren the Cronicles reporte to his immortall honâure Of the common people there were suche a numbre taken in the chase by the Earle of Penbroke that besides the vsuall gailes sundrie churâhes in Lonâdon were made places for their sauâgarde tyl order was taken for their enlargement The duke was arrayned by his Perres and by verdit fouÌde âââtie of treâson before the duââ ãâã Norff. beinge lorde Cunstaâââ and that daye his Iudge ãâã he and his brother Thoââs at seuerall dayes made ãâã ende at Tower hyll by ãâã of their heades Sundrie ãâã of Wyates complices beââge arrained and condemneâ ãâã their confession of treaâââ suffered in diuerâ partes of ãâã âhyre aâ Henâye ãâã âââghte Thomas Iâleye hys ãâã and Water Mantel at ãâã where Wyat firste ãâã his sâanderde ãâã ââeueâ William his broâââr with another of the ãâã ât Seuenockes Bret at ãâã haââinge in âhaynesâ ãâã of the common sorte verye ãâã were executed saue onely ãâã he ââslyked the saâe and ãâã howe âenitent and sârowââââ he was therfore Certayne wordes proceding from Wyat at hys arraynemâât My Lordes I muste confesse my selfe giltie as in the ende trueth must ââforse me to saye and that I ãâã iustly plagued for my siÌnes ãâã mâst greuouslye I haue ãâã agaynât God who ãâã suffeâed me to fal into this beastlye brutiâhânesse and horriââe offense of treason And loe in me the like ende as all sorthe that haue atteÌpted like enterprises from the beginning haue ãâã For peruse the Cronicles throughout and you shal finde ãâã rebellioÌ neuer from the beginning ãâã ânderââandyng the greââ ãâã âânour and suerty ãâã this realmâ shall receyue ãâã maâââge if it shal please ãâã Queânâ to be mercyfull to ãâã âhâre is no man liuing thââ ãâã more trustie and saythâââââ ãâã âârue her grace no noâ ãâã rââdie to die at her highâââââoteâ what so euer the quââââ ãâã âhus âârre touchinge Wyââs wordes at his arrayneââât I thought not superââuâââ hereto reporte to the ende thât all other blindly fallen intââhe ââââe errour woulde by the example of Wyat ãâã also ââth âim to repentaunce aswel ââââssânge to the worlde with ââen voyce their detestable miscâââfe as also from the verâe âârge suche as were in prison in ãâã countrey for that offense ââinge of no smale numbre but ând to compouâde by their disâââtion with the offenders accordinge to the qualitie of their offenses Which maner of order ââing not hard of in y â like case or at the leaât verye rarelye declared a singular clemencie and âenignitie in the queene that âeing folowed so cruelly wolde yât be so moued with pitie as tâ vouchsafe to answere them with suche lenitie in the executinge of so fewe in comparison to so great a nuÌbre so large a âause beinge all in her graces mercy to dispose at her plesure â beside suffre the rest to escape with so smale abashement of âheir countenaunce after so hainous âffense ãâã thât shall peruse this storye diligentlye and coâsider al partes therof exactlye with remembraunce of thinges past sithence the beginning of the queenes moste happye raygne must of force recogniâe of what condition so euer he be the magnificence mercie and fortitude of this moste noble princesse as from time to time with such pacience to indure so great malice of her owne subiectes with suche lenitie to forbeare the reuenge of so intollerable outrage with suche mercie in the ende to pardon and remit âo haynous and great offendours Happie was it w t those haynous offendours that her graces moste worthie and honourable counsell were so agreable to her vertuous inclination as inclined rather to pursue mercifull pardon for continuaunce of life then to prosecute reuenge by âxecution of death It is to be wââhed by all good men with one assent that prouoked with so great clemencie these degenerates reforme theÌ selues and forbeare thus to attempt so gracious a princesse vnto whom by gods authoritie the sworde is not vaynly committed leste thereby they procure to theÌ selues damnation in sekinge by suche outrage theyr owne deathe and confusion From the desier wherof we see by a numbre of euident argumentes the queenes highnes and her honourable counsell to be so farre as by all meanes they can imagine they seeke tâ eââhewe that they by moste wylfull and malicious meanes folowe to their subuersion ¶ An earnest conference with the degenerates and sedicious for the searche of the cause of their greate disorder HEre I purpose to shut vp this tragicall treatise touchinge the displayinge of Wyat and hys aduenture and yet not to ende my trauel concerninge the same but shall gladlye debate and conferre with thee louinge countreeman suche speciall and necessarie matter as further riseth therof tending as well to our mutual comfort presently as also to a generall doctrine to indure to oure posteritie not without presente terror to the wicked race whose hertes broile in desire to rebel Al which pointes this present storie doeth pleÌteouslye performe to him that listeth to learne Wherby first y â good and godly may be comforted as by this experimente to consider howe God alwayes defendethe his chosen and electe vessell our moost gracious and mercifull princesse against the malitious and cruell assaultes of her ennemies be they neuer so craftie neuer so stronge And secondlye a generall doctrine therewith taughte or rather by newe experience renued so many times taughte before that the ineuitable end of rebellion is certein confusion to the rebel Of these two y e thirde necessarely springeth as a terrible prohibition in the heartes of the ââcked neuer after to attempte ââe lyke villanie against Gods âânoynted wherof they can at âo tyme skamble other part theÌ small confusion linked to perpetuall infamie And to make perfite impression herof in your âeartes you degenerates that âannot satisfie your selfes with so vertuous a priÌcesse but thus ârom time to time moleste her highnes w t seditious rumours vprores and rebellion I here âppeale to you chiefly require you to enter into the secrete cloâet of your owne heart and to âonder with me in egall ballaunce of due consideration the incomparable vertue mercie and benignitie of this most worthy princesse oure queene with your owne mischiefe crueltie and intollerable malice And then let truth giue sentence whether this disorder groweth of â lack in y e head or of a malicious corruptioÌ iÌ the meÌbres Can
that conueing theÌ selues out of the waie by their pollicie could auoide charge and perell so wittely And as they met w t suche as had serued faiethfully with whoÌ they durst be fraÌke thei spared not to opeÌ their mouthes largely powring out such language as coulde be but lamentable or rather odible to euerie true eare tunderstande any subiecte so farre peruerted from his allegiauÌce and duetie that for gaine or securitie of their owne persones would reioyce in sittinge still as indifferent where the crown is a âârtie or to persuade securitie to them selues be they neuer in so stronge a holde where their soueraigne is in perill Which all thinges rightly weyed semed a straunge persuasion taccompte either gaine or sauinge in sparing some parte of the accidentes by sitting still to aduenture the losse of the principal whervpon life the wholle depeÌdeth or by affecting a litle corruption inordinatly to lose bothe honest fame and good opinion of his countree whiche euerie honest man oughte to seke to preserue as tenderly as the wel doinge of him selfe and his wholle posteritie Thus maye we euidentlye se the diuers effectes of diuers inclinations accordinge to trueth vntrueth of perfite obedience preuailing in mennes heartes These neuters or couÌterfetes that woulde be neither open foes nor adueÌturous frendes but as wyly vultures houeringe in the winde to catch and gripe some parte of the pray althoughe they would no parte of the fray persuaded them selues to saue that whiche in their opinion the true heartie subiecte should lose by geuing suche aduenture that was securitie of bodie goodes whiche graunt they saued yet in the iust iudgemente of the honest they deserued therby the same blotte of infamie that is due to the open enemies On thother side the true and faiethful whose hartes and handes such dimme colour of vnthankefull policie coulde not witholde froÌ the vtteraunce of nedefull seruice in such generall case of daunger thought it rather a gaine to aduenture bodye and goodes wherby either to preserue the heade and the wholle which was cruelly pursued or at least by defense of the same to purchace vnto them their names the honest opinion of vnspotted membres and the imortalitie of good fame wherwith trueth alwaies rewardeth vnfained seruice For such an in comparable vertue is faiethfull loyaltie so muche abhorring all corruptible allurementes that whose hartes shee hathe in gouernaunce with suche neither sauour of gaine nor hope of securitie neyther persuasion of frendeshippe ne other intisement can so muche preuaile as for any respect they wil digresse from the right course of true seruice Where the contrarie wanting that perfection to tast the gaine of fortunes corruptible membres wherafter they gape to obtaine quiet to the restyue carcase and lucre to theÌ selues the thinge they onlye seke are easly drawen to Runne a cleane contrarie race This naughtie broode therefore of counterfetes of al other not tollerable in a common weale are speciallye to be loked to in their beginninge leaste their euill example by long sufferaunce growe to suche a president at the last that the common saiynge Good to slepe in a whole skinne beinge espied to escape without daunger or reprehension be taken vp for a pollicye A consultation of the rebels after the reuolte by the whit cotes and thereby outeweye the iuste pâize of bounden duetye After this moste vnhappye chaunce the traytours wyth their newe adiunctes fell to a great and solemne counsel that same nyghte at Rochester for their procedinge in their pretensed treason In discourse whereof proceded suche vnsittinge talke as well towardes the Queenes highnes as her honorable counsell tendyng to the alteratioÌ of the whol state as abhorred the eares of some of the selfe traytours that vnderstandynge by that talke the ende of their purpose whereof before they were ignoraunte wished them selues vnder the earthe for beynge so vnhappy as to be so much as acquainted with so damnable an enterprise Such an opinioÌ had thei as they demed very fewe counsellers or officers of authoritie or of nobilty within the realme worthie the place wherevnto they were called And persuadinge great choyse to be amongest them selues for the suppliynge of that want suche ouerweninge had they oâ them selues and made so sure a rekeninge of the victorye as they disposed the honourable offices of the realme amoÌg theÌ selues Wyat thought him selfe now so sure of the victory as seing him that offered to sell his spones and all the plate he had rather then his purpose should quaile and suppe his potage with hys mouth warranted him that he shoulde eate hys potage wyth siluer as he did England when good counsâll shoulde stande it in moste auaylable stede neded no better counselours then such as they were yf they had halfe the witte they thought them selues to haue coupled with grace and honestie But what they had in dede their actes declare playnly to their owne confusioÌ as it hath alwaies euer herafter shall to as many as be of like disposition One of them that had some witte in dede althoughe he wanted grace perceyuing by theyr talke in what fonde frensie they were entred to interrupte them therein he sayde that suche matters were good to be treated of at further oportunitie But for the present it were mete to diuise vpon their nexte iourneye and whether it shoulde be good policie in them mindyng to march towardes London to leaue the Lorde Aburgauenye and the shireffe at libertie that annoyed their frendes by al likelyhode woulde not so ceasse as they maye or dare at theyr blacke beinge left at large One of them takinge vpon him firste to answere thought nothinge more necessarie then their sequestration And if his aduise myght haue ben heard in y e beginning the shireffe should haue been in hold as I haue heard before any thing shuld haue been atteÌpted A deuise to apprehende the shyreffe But the captaynes to the whitcotes mete couÌselours for suche an enterprise hauyng the spoyle of London in theyr eyesâ woulde not dispute that was paste but for the present they persuaded cleane contrarye to the former opinion saiyng that their goynge aboute thapprehension of the shireffe shoulde be but a losse of time For London sayde they longed soore for theyr commynge The misrekening of y e rebels vpoÌ London whyche they coulde by no meane protracte without bredynge great peryll and wâikenes to them selues And hauing London at their commaundement wherof they wer in no maner of doubt yf it were not loste by their slouth their reuenge to the lord Aburgaueny the shireffe with other their enemies wold easly folow Wyat sauoring ful well their disposition vnderstanding their meaing by their argââmentes and knowing also that without his assentynge therevnto he coulde not longe haue ãâã companye yelded to their coânsell And so beyng out of mâasure exalted into hault corage and pryde by the reuolt of the white cotes he marched the daye after beyng Twesday in great
pompe and glory cariyng with him vi pieces of ordinauÌce whiche they had gotten of the quenes besides their owne to Cowling castle a holde of the Lorde Cobhams foure myles distant from Rochester and not much out of their way towards London where the lord CobhaÌ was Wyat at his comming to Cowling castle bent his ordinaunce against the gate with great and sundry shottes fyre ârake and burned vppe a waye âhrough the gate The Lorde Cobham defended his castle as stoutly as any man might do hauing so fewe against so great a numbre and so litle munition him selfe discharging his gunne at suche as approched the gâte right hardely And in that assault two of his own men were slaine After this assault talk with the lorde Cobham Wyat marched to Grauesende where he reposed that night wyates marchiÌg to Dartforde From Grauesende he his bande marched the wednesday nexte after to Dartford where he reposed that night whether came sir Edwarde Hastinges maister of the Quenes horse and sir Thomas Cornewalles knightes The comming of the maister of the horse sir Thomas Cornewalles to Wyat. both of her graces honorable preuie counsell sent froÌ the qnene to Wyat tunderstand the cause of his commotion and âlso as it was sayde finding any repentant submissioÌ in him to promise pardon or at the lest great hope therof Wyat vnderstaÌding their coÌming taking with him certen of his baÌd weÌt to the weast ende of the towne where he had planted his ordinauÌce at the lighting of maister Hastinges sir Thomas Cornewalles froÌ their horsse Wyat hauing a parte sin in hys haÌd aduanced him selfe soÌwhat afore suche gentlemen as were with him Pridââ vsing but litle reuerence due froÌ a subiect to couÌselours traced nere them to whoÌ the maister of the horsse spake in substaunce as foloweth The quenes maiestie requireth to vnderstand the very cause wherfore you haue thus gathered together in armes her liege people whiche is the part of a traitour and yet in your proclamations and persuasions you call your selfe a true subiecte which can not stande together I am no traitor quod Wyat the cause wherfore I haue gathered the people is to defend the realme froÌ oueruÌning by straungers whiche muste folowe this mariage takinge place why ê the queenes agentes there be no strangers yet come whome eyther for power or nuÌbre ye nede to suspect But if this be your only quarrell because ye mislike the mariage wyl ye come to communication touching that case and the quene of her gracious goodnes is content ye shal be hearde Wyates arrogant aunââââââ To whom Wyat shaped ãâ¦ã declare his malicious entent traiterous heart to the quenes owne person and royall estate I yelde therto quod Wyat but for my suertie I wyl rather be trusted then trust And therfore I demaunde the custodie of the tower her grace in the tower the displacing of certen couÌsellers and placing other in their rowmes as to me shall seeme best Upon this leude answere long stout coÌference was betwene them In so muche that the maister of the horsse said vnto him with a sâout corage wyat before thou shalt haue that thy traiterous demauÌde grauÌted thou shalt die and xx M. with thee Shortly after the maister of y e horsie with maister Cornewalles finding him an arrant traitour desperatly set to al mischiefe retourâed to the quenes maiestie The coÌmoÌ people being with him calling to their remeÌbrance how Wyat in al apparance made his whol matter of styr for straÌgers no waies against the quene perceiuing how vnreuerently he vsed him selfe aswel to y â quenes harrold at Rochester as to y â priuie couÌsel at Dartford coÌsidering w t theÌ selues also that he wold suffer none of the quenes proclamatioÌs to be read amoÌg them their heartes began to rise against him And among theÌ selues suÌdrie of theÌ much murmured wisshinge with the losse of al thei had thei had neuer been acquainted with Wyat nor his doinges and in dede sought as âany waies as thei could to be rid of him Whiche perceiued by ââat and his mates they deuisâd a brute to be sounded in his hande that the lorde Aburâaueny A craftie policie the shireffe did cause to be hanged as many as they cââlde take coming froÌ Wyates âânde Wherewith the people sââââing in a great mase what tâ do were wonderfullye perââââed The queene vnderstanââââ by the master of the horsse ând sir Thomas Cornewalles the arrâgancie of Wyat and âotwithstanding that she perceyued her merciful inclination rather to prouoke him then otherwise yet semed she nothing willinge euen then by violence and force as she easly mought tâ suppresse him But yet a longer time to suffer and abide by delay and mercy her enemy mought be wonne to reconciliation The nobilitie whiche werâ at that time with her grace The suit of the nobles to the quene peââceiuinge such surmounting mercie rather to increase then anyâ wayes to abate courage malice in the insolent and proudâ heart of thâ traytours and further vnderstandinge that the traitours demed the conâation or forbearing to procede ratheâ of debilitie feare then oâ mercye and clemencye counselled with her grace that wiââ her gracious leaue and licence they mought seâ vpon him and his baÌde before he should passâ Blacke heath declaring that to suffre suche an arrogant traytour beinge but a meane ââmâer to approche thus contempâââuslye so nere her royall perâon as it were in defiaunce of âer grace her true subiectes âhoulde greatlye redounde to their dishonours in the opinion of all faithfull men thoroughout the world The Quenes answer to the nobles The quene gaue them all moste heartie and louing thankes sayinge that she nothinge doubted of their true heartes towarde her Yet was she lothe to make anye profe or triall therof in suche quarell as shoulde be with losse of bloude For to represse them with violence and subdue them by the sworde coulde not haue so happie successe but manye of my pore subiectes quod she should derelye bye it with the losse of their liues Wherfore she determined to suffer as longe as she mought and to forbeare that practise tyl there were no other hope ne remedie For albeit in the capitall traytours therâ coulde be but great default yet in the multitude she was persuaded to be no malice but onlye misled by their captaynes and rather seduced by ignoraunce then vpon any euyl purpose ment to her grace Wherfore she desired them to be contented for she was fully determined to continue her mercifull sufferaunce and other her gentle meanes soo longe as shee mought and vanquish her enemies without the sword if any sparâle of obedience or naturall zeale remaine in their heartes Notwithstanding she required ãâã to prepare and retayne ãâã force in a readines if their ââââe heartes should driue her ãâã vse extremitie But her highnes