OF ROBERT EARL OF ESSEX. 323 



course unto him, and much other practice and de 

 vice ; about the end of that term, towards Christmas, 

 he grew to a more framed resolution of the time and 

 manner, when and how he would put his purpose in 

 execution. And first, about the end of Michaelmas 

 term, it passed as a kind of cypher and watch-word 

 amongst his friends and followers, That my lord 

 would stand upon his guard : which might receive 

 construction, in a good sense, as well guard of cir 

 cumspection, as guard of force : but to the more 

 private and trusty persons he was content it should 

 be expounded that he would be cooped up no more, 

 nor hazard any more restraints or commandments. 



But the next care was how to bring such per 

 sons, as he thought fit for his purpose, into town 

 together, without vent of suspicion, to be ready at 

 the time, when he should put his design in execu 

 tion ; which he had concluded should be some time 

 in Hilary term ; wherein he found many devices to 

 draw them up, some for suits in law, and some for 

 suits in court, and some for assurance of land : and 

 one friend to draw up another, it not being perceived 

 that all moved from one head. And it may be truly 

 noted, that in the catalogue of those persons that 

 were the eighth of February in the action of open 

 rebellion, a man may find almost out of every coun 

 try of England some ; which could not be by chance 

 or constellation : and in the particularity of exami 

 nations, too long to be rehearsed, it was easy to trace 

 in what sort many of them were brought up to town, 

 and held in town upon several pretences. But in 



