An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (8 of 8)
History
An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (8 of 8)
English literature
Amongst other things this is to be remembered, that whiles the said
WYAT and certain of his men, as aforesaid, were coming thus towards
Fleet street; a certain Captain of the said rebels, with divers of
his soldiers, returned from Charing Cross down to the Court Gate at
Whitehall, and gave a larum [_an alarm_] before the Gate: and shot
divers arrows into the said Court, the Gate being open. Insomuch that
one Master NICHOLAS ROCKEWOOD, being a Gentleman of Lincoln's Inn and
in armour at the said Court Gate, was shot through his nose with an
arrow by the rebels. [_See EDWARD UNDERHILL's account of this fright
at_ Vol. IV., p. 92.]
For the coming of the said rebels was not looked for that way: but
[it was] thought that the Queen's army should have joined battle with
them in the Field; according to promise made by the said WYAT on his
behalf: who promised that he would come to the Queen's Foot Battle
[_Infantry_], and fight with them pike against pike and man to man.
Which, when it came to the very point, he refused; and shrank [by]
a bye way by Saint James's Park Wall for his refuge, as you have
heard before: where many of them were slain by Horsemen, so that they
came not nigh the Queen's power of the Foot Battle. Which increased
some desperate boldness in the despairing rebels: not without great
discomfiture to all the Court and the city of London; perceiving that
he was himself, and so many rebels with him, come through the Queen's
army thus far.
Whereupon grew great admiration [_wonderment_] amongst them that knew
not their doings in the Field: how for policy, and to avoid much
manslaughter, WYAT was suffered purposely to pass along. Insomuch
divers timorous and cold hearted soldiers came to the Queen, crying,
"All is lost! Away! Away! A barge! A barge!"
Yet her Grace never changed her cheer, nor removed one foot out of
the House: but asked for the Lord of PEMBROKE, in whom her Grace had
worthily reposed great confidence.
Answer being made, That he was in the Field.
"Well then," quod her Grace, "fall to prayer! and I warrant you, we
shall hear better news anon. For my Lord will not deceive me, I know
well. If he would, GOD will not: in whom my chief trust is, who will
not deceive me." And indeed, shortly after, news came all of victory,
[and] how that WYAT was taken.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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