The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part D.: From Elizabeth to James I.
David Hume · en
The summons sent to the two earls precipitated the rising before they
were fully prepared; and Northumberland remained in suspense between
opposite dangers, when he was informed that some of his enemies were on
the way with a commission to arrest him. He took horse instantly, and
hastened to his associate Westmoreland, whom he found surrounded with
his friends and vassals, and deliberating with regard to the measures
which he should follow in the present emergence. They determined to
begin the insurrection without delay; and the great credit of these two
noblemen, with that zeal for the catholic religion which still prevailed
in the neighborhood, soon drew together multitudes of the common people.
They published a manifesto, in which they declared that they intended
to attempt nothing against the queen, to whom they vowed unshaken
allegiance: and that their sole aim was to reëstablish the religion of
their ancestors, to remove evil counsellors, and to restore the duke
of Norfolk and other faithful peers to their liberty and to the queen’s
favor.[*] The number of the malecontents amounted to four thousand foot
and sixteen hundred horse; and they expected the concurrence of all the
Catholics in England.[**]
The queen was not negligent in her own defence, and she had beforehand,
from her prudent and wise conduct, acquired the general good will of
her people, the best security of a sovereign; insomuch that even the
Catholics in most counties expressed an affection for her service;[***]
and the duke of Norfolk himself, though he had lost her favor, and lay
in confinement, was not wanting, as far as his situation permitted, to
promote the levies among his friends and retainers. Sussex, attended
by the earls of Rutland, the lords Hunsdon, Evers, and Willoughby of
Parham, marched against the rebels at the head of seven thousand men,
and found them already advanced to the bishopric of Durham, of which
they had taken possession. They retired before him to Hexham; and
hearing that the earl of Warwick and Lord Clinton were advancing against
them with a greater body, they found no other resource than to disperse
themselves without striking a blow. The common people retired to
their houses: the leaders fled into Scotland. Northumberland was found
skulking in that country, and was confined by Murray in the Castle of
Lochlevin. Westmoreland received shelter from the chieftains of the Kers
and Scots, partisans of Mary; and persuaded them to make an inroad into
England, with a view of exciting a quarrel between the two kingdoms.
After they had committed great ravages, they retreated to their own
country. This sudden and precipitate rebellion was followed soon after
by another still more imprudent, raised by Leonard Uacres. Lord Hunsdon,
at the head of the garrison of Berwick, was able, without any other
assistance, to quell these rebels. Great severity was exercised against
such as had taken part in these rash enterprises. Sixty-six petty