The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

358 DECLARATION OF THE TREASON OF ROBERT, EARL OF ESSEX.
openly, yet that then he would impart them pri- brough-.him round again to the place whence he
vately; and then they doubted not to give him or first moved.
procure him satisfaction. For after he had once by Ludgate entered into
Upon this there arose a great clamour among the city, he never had so much as the heart or
the multitude: 6Away, my lord, they abuse you, assurance to speak any set or confident speech to
they betray you, they undo you, you lose time." the people, (but repeated only over and over his
Whereupon my lord keeper put on his hat, and tale as he passed by, that he should have been
said with a louder voice than before, "My lord, murdered,) nor to do any act of foresight or
let us speak with you privately, and understand courage; but he that had vowed he would never
your griefs; and I do command you all upon your be cooped up more, cooped himself first within
allegiance, to lay down your weapons and to the walls of the city, and after within the walls
depart." Upon which words the Earl of Essex of a house, as arrested by God's justice as an
and all the rest, as disdaining commandment, put example of disloyalty. For passing througlh
on their hats; and Essex somewhat abruptly Cheapside, and so towards Smith's house, and
went from him into the house, and the counsel- finding, though some came about him, yet none
lors followed him, thinking he would have pri- joined or armed with him, he provoked them by
vate conference with them, as was required. speeches as he passed to arm, telling them, They
And as they passed through the several rooms, did him hurt and no good, to come about him
they might hear many of the disordered company with no weapons.
cry,,6 Kill them, kill themn;" and others crying, But there was not in so populous a city, where
s Nay, but shop them up, keep them as pledges, he thought himself held so dear, one man, from
cast the great seal out at the window;" and other the chiefest citizen to the meanest artificer or
such audacious and traitorous speeches. But prentice, that armed with him: so as being
Essex took hold of the occasion and advantage, extremely appalled, as divers that happened to
to keep in deed such pledges if he were dis- see him then might visibly perceive in his face
tressed, and to have the countenance to lead and countenance, and almost moulten with sweat,
them with him to the court, especially the two though without any cause of bodily labour but
great magistrates of justice, and the great seal of only by the perplexity and horror of his mind,
England, if he prevailed, and to deprive her he came to Smith's house the sheriff, where he
majesty of the use of their counsel in such a refreshed himself a little, and shifted him.
strait, and to engage his followers in the very But the mean while it pleased God, that her
beginning by such a capital act, as the imprison- majesty's directions at court, though in a case so
ment of counsellors carrying her majesty's royal strange and sudden, were judicial and sound.
commandment for the suppressing of a rebellious For first there was commandment in the morning
force. given unto the city, that every man should be in
And after that they were come up into his a readiness, both in person and armour, but yet to
book-chamber, he gave order they should be kept keep within his own door, and to expect comfast, giving the charge of their custody princi- mandment; upon a reasonable and politic con
pally to Sir John Davis, but adjoined unto him a sideration, that had they armed suddenly in the
warder, one Owen Salisbury, one of the most streets, if there were any ill disposed persons,
seditious and wicked persons of the number, they might arm on the one side and turn on the
having been a notorious robber, and one that other, or at least, if armed men had been seen to
served the enemy under Sir William Stanley, and fro, it would have bred a greater tumult, and
and that bare a special spleen unto my lord chief more bloodshed; and the nakedness of Essex's
justice; who guarded these honourable persons troop would not have so well appeared.
with muskets charged, and matches ready fired at And soon after, direction was given that the
the chamber door. Lord Burghley, taking with him the king of
This done, the earl, notwithstanding my lord heralds, should declare him traitor in the princikeeper still required to speak with him, left the pal parts of the city; which was performed with
charge of his house with Sir Gilly Merick; and, good expedition and resolution, and the loss and
asing these words to my lord keeper, ", Have pa- hurt of some of his company. Besides that,
tience for a while, I will go take order with the the Earl of Cumberland, and Sir Thomas Gerard,
mayor and sheriffs for the city, and be with you knight-marshal, rode into the city, and declared
again within half an hour;"9 issued with his and notified to the people that he was a traitor:
troop into London, to the number of two hun- from which time divers of his troop withdrawing
dred, besides those that remained in the house, from him, and none other coming in to.him,
choice men for hardiness and valour, unto whom there was nothing but despair. For havi
some gentlemen and one nobleman did after join stayed a while, as is said, at Sheriff Smit,
themselves. house, and there changing his pretext of a priv, e
But from the time he went forth, it seems God quarrel, and publishing, that the realm shoi. 1
lid strike him with the spirit of amazement, and have been sold to the Infanta, the better to splur