The zealous adherents of the Romish religion being dissatisfied at the change, formed the design of re-establishing that faith, restoring Mary of Scotland to her liberty, and placing her on the throne of England. The earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland, who possessed great power in the north, having held together several conferences, orders were despatched by Elizabeth to these noblemen to appear at court, and answer for their conduct. This order from the queen precipitated the rising before they were fully prepared, for the leaders had already proceeded so far that they dare not trust themselves in the queen's hands. They determined to begin the insurrection without delay; and committed themselves irrevocably by entering Durham in arms, on the 14th November, 1569. This rising was speedily suppressed, and martial law having been proclaimed, great severity was exercised. The earl of Northumberland and many gentlemen were executed; sixty-six petty constables were hanged; and not less than eight hundred persons are said to have suffered by the hands of the executioner. Between Newcastle and Wetherby, a district of sixty miles in length by forty in breadth, there was not a town or village in which some of the inhabitants did not expire on the gibbet. The following was first printed by Dr. Percy, in 1765, from two MS. copies. Listen, lively lordings all, Lithe and listen unto me, And I will sing of a noble earle, The noblest earle in the north countrie. Earle Percy[111] is into the garden gone, And after him walkes his faire ladie:[112] "I heard a bird sing in mine eare, That I must either fight, or flee." "Now heaven forfend, my dearest lord, That ever such harm should hap to thee: But goe to London to the court, And faire full truth and honestie." "Now nay, now nay, my ladye gay, Alas! thy counsell suits not mee; Mine enemies prevail so fast That at the court I may not bee." "O goe to the court yet, good my lord, And take thy gallant men with thee: If any dare to doe you wrong, Then your warrant they may be." "Now nay, now nay, thou lady faire, The court is full of subtiltie; And if I goe to the court, lady, Never more I may thee see." "Yet goe to the court, my lord," she sayes, "And I myselfe will ryde wi' thee: At court then for my dearest lord, His faithfull borrowe[113] I will be." "Now nay, now nay, my lady deare, Far lever[114] had I lose my life, Than leave among my cruell foes My love in jeopardy and strife. "But come thou hither, my little foot-page, Come thou hither unto mee, To maister Norton[115] thou must goe, In all the haste that ever may bee. "Commend me to that gentleman, And beare this letter here fro' mee; And say that earnestly I praye, He will ryde in my companie."