Whatever faults Queen Mary had, she was by no means deficient in courage. On the same day (1 Feb.) that Wyatt appeared with his forces at Southwark, she came to the Guildhall(1387) and there addressed a spirited harangue to the assembled citizens.(1388) She plainly told them that her proposed marriage was but a Spanish cloak to cover the real purpose of the rebellion, which was aimed against her religion. She was their queen, and they had sworn allegiance to her; they surely would not allow her to fall into the hands of so vile a traitor as Wyatt was. As for her marriage, it had been arranged with the full knowledge of the lords of the council, as one of expediency for the realm. Passion had no part in the matter. She had hitherto, she thanked God, lived a virgin, and doubted not she could, if necessary, live so still. At the close of her speech, which, we are told, was delivered in a loud voice so that all might hear, she bade the citizens to pluck up heart and not to fear the rebels any more than she did. She then quitted the hall and went up into the aldermen’s council chamber and there refreshed herself, after which she rode through Bucklersbury to the Vintry, where she took barge to Westminster. In the meantime the Spanish ambassadors had taken fright at Wyatt’s approach and had "sped themselves awaie by water, and that with all hast."(1389) Many inhabitants of the city had also deserted their fellow burgesses at this critical time, and their names were submitted to the Court of Aldermen for subsequent enquiry.(1390) They were, according to Foxe, afraid of being entrapped by the queen and perhaps put to death. (M713) In response to the queen’s speech the citizens at once set to work to raise a force of 1,000 men for the defence of the city, the mayor and aldermen each in his own ward taking a muster. So busy was everyone on Candlemas-day (2 Feb.) that the civic authorities omitted to attend the afternoon service at St. Paul’s, and the mayor’s serving-men waited upon him at dinner ready harnessed.(1391) Even the lawyers at Westminster "pleaded in harness."(1392) (M714) (M715)