328 DECLARATION OF THE TREASONS 



ly break the knot, and cause some disunion and se 

 paration amongst them, whereby he might have been 

 left destitute, except he should build upon some more 

 popular number, according to the nature of all usurp 

 ing rebels, which do ever trust more in the common 

 people, than in persons of sort or quality. And 

 this may well appear by his own plot in Ireland, 

 which was to have come with the choice of the army, 

 from which he was diverted, as before is shewed. So 

 as his own courses inclined ever to rest upon the 

 main strength of the multitude, and not upon sur 

 prises, or the combinations of a few. 



But to return : these were the resolutions taken 

 at that consultation, held by these five at Drury- 

 house, some five or six days before the rebellion, to 

 be reported to Essex, who ever kept in himself the 

 binding and directing voice : which he did to pre 

 vent all differences that might grow by dissent or 

 contradiction. And besides he had other persons, 

 which were Cuffe and Blunt, of more inwardness 

 and confidence with him than these, Southampton 

 only excepted, which managed that consultation. 

 And, for the day of the enterprise, which, is that 

 must rise out of the knowledge of all the opportuni 

 ties and difficulties, it was referred to Essex his own 

 choice and appointment ; it being nevertheless re 

 solved, that it should be some time before the end of 

 Candlemas term. 



But this council and the resolutions thereof, were 

 in some points refined by Essex, and Cuffe, and 

 Blunt : for, first it was thought good, for the better 



