miles farther from the capital. On the day after Wyatt’s appearance openly in arms at Maidstone, the Queen wrote to Elizabeth:— “Right dear and entirely beloved Sister, We greet you well: And where certain evil-disposed persons minding more the satisfaction of their own malicious and seditious minds, than their duty of allegiance towards us, have of late foully spread divers lewd and untrue rumours; and by that means and other devilish practices, do travail to induce our good and loving subjects to an unnatural rebellion against God, us and the tranquillity of our realm, we tendering the surety of your person, which might chance to be in some peril, if any sudden tumult should arise, where you now be, or about Donnington, whither, as we understand, you are minded shortly to remove, do therefore think expedient, you should put yourself in good readiness, with all convenient speed, to make your repair hither to us. Which we pray you, fail not to do; assuring you, that as you may most surely remain here, so shall you be most heartily welcome to us. And of your mind herein we pray you to return answer by this messenger. And thus we pray God to have you in his holy keeping. “Given under our signet, at our manor of St. James’s, the 26 Jan. in the first year of our reign. “Your loving sister “MARYE THE QUEEN.”[393] Elizabeth returned a verbal answer, saying that she was too ill to travel at that time, but that she would come as soon as she was able. She neither removed to Donnington, in compliance with Wyatt’s letter and Croft’s reiterated entreaties, nor made any attempt to obey Mary’s summons, but fortified herself at Ashridge, and took to her bed, either because she was really ill, or to give some colour to her assertion. De Noailles told Henry II. that she had surrounded herself with people “à sa devotion,” and was suspected. Renard also noted that she had summoned armed men to her defence.[394] The Earl of Devon remained at court closely watched, presenting a pitiable figure, but stoutly maintaining his loyalty and devotion to the Queen.