OF ROBERT EARL OF ESSEX. 339 



in to him, there was nothing but despair. For 

 having stayed a while, as is said, at sheriff Smith s 

 house, and there changing his pretext of a private 

 quarrel, and publishing, that the realm should have 

 been sold to the Infanta, the better to spur on the 

 people to rise, and called, and given commandment 

 to have arms brought and weapons of all sorts, and 

 being soon after advertised of the proclamation, he 

 came forth in a hurry. 



So having made some stay in Gracechurch- 

 street, and being dismayed upon knowledge given to 

 him that forces were coming forwards against him 

 under the conduct of the lord Admiral, the lieute 

 nant of her majesty s forces ; and not knowing what 

 course to take, he determined in the end to go back 

 towards his own house, as well in hope to have found 

 the counsellors there, and by them to have served 

 some turn, as upon trust that towards night his 

 friends in the city would gather their spirits toge 

 ther, and rescue him, as himself declared after to the 

 lieutenant of the Tower. 



But for the counsellors, it had pleased God to 

 make one of the principal offenders his instrument 

 for their delivery ; who seeing my lord s case des 

 perate, and contriving how to redeem his fault and 

 save himself, came to Sir John Davis, and Sir Gilly 

 Merick, as sent from my lord ; and so procured 

 them to be released. 



But the earl of Essex, with his company that 

 was left, thinking to recover his house, made on by 

 land towards Ludgate ; where being resisted by a 



