When they had lien in Southwark a day or two, and found themselves deceived in London: which (by the great diligence and politic handling of that worthy and faithful Knight, the Lord WILLIAM HOWARD, Admiral of England, that had the special charge thereof; with the aid of Sir THOMAS WIGHT, Knight, Mayor of London, his brethren [the Aldermen] and citizens) was so well preserved as the traitors thereby were disappointed of that they looked most certainly for--WYAT, as a man desperate and setting all at sixe[s] and seven, adventuring the breaking down of a wall out of a house joining to the Gate at the Bridge foot, whereby he might enter into the leads over the Gate, came down into the Lodge about eleven of the clock in the night: where he found the Porter in a slumber; [and] his wife with others waking, watching a coal. But seeing WYAT, they began suddenly to start as greatly amazed. "Whist!" quod WYAT, "as you love your lives, sit you still! You shall have no hurt!" Glad were they of that warranty, pardye! What should they do, people better accustomed with the tankard of beer to pass forth the night, than acquainted with target and spear to endure the fight. WYAT and a few with him went forth as far as the Drawbridge [in the middle of London Bridge]: on the further side whereof he saw the Lord Admiral, the Lord Mayor, Sir ANDREW JUDD, and one or two others in consultation for ordering of the Bridge: whereunto he gave diligent ear a good time, and [was] not seen. At length [he] conceived by their talk more than he could digest; and, perceiving the great ordnance there bent, returned, saying to his mates, "This place is too hot for us." * * * * * And when he was come to his colleges [_colleagues_], and declared upon his exploit what he had heard and seen; they then all together fell to a new council what was to be done. [Sidenote: The rebels at their wits' end.] Some would then return to Greenwich, and so pass the water into Essex (whereby their company as they thought should increase), and enter into London by Ald Gate. And some would to Kingston-upon-Thames, and so further west[ward]. And some, of the which WYAT himself was chief, would return into Kent to meet with the Lord ABERGAVENNY, the Sheriff, Sir THOMAS MOYLE, Sir THOMAS KEMP, Sir THOMAS FINCH, that were at Rochester, coming on WYAT's back with a great company well appointed: falsely persuading himself that he should find among them more friends than enemies. But whether his desire to return into Kent grew upon hope he had to find aid there; or whether it was to shift himself away; it was much doubted of his own company. And some of them that knew him well, except they were much deceived, reported not long before their execution, that his desire to retire into Kent was only to shift himself over the sea. * * * * * [Sidenote: The Lord Warden's being at Rochester towards WYAT.]