“Ah! traitor!” exclaimed the queen. “And how was the proclamation received? Speak out, and fear not.”
“With universal acclamations,” replied the messenger, “and shouts of ‘A Wyat! A Wyat! No Spanish match—no inquisition!’ and such treasonable vociferations. Sir Thomas had fifteen hundred men in arms with him, but before he quitted Maidstone, above five hundred more joined him, and multitudes were flocking to his standard when I left the place.”
Scarcely had the messenger concluded his recital, when another was introduced.
“What further news hast thou, good fellow?” demanded the queen.
“I am come to inform your highness,” replied the man, “that Sir Thomas Wyat and his followers have taken possession of the castle of Rochester, and fortified it as well as the town. Moreover, they have broken down the bridge across the Medway, and stop all passengers, by land or water, taking from them their arms.”
“Now by our lady!” exclaimed the queen, “this Wyat is a hardy traitor. But he shall meet with the punishment due to his offences. Your grace,” she added, turning to the Duke of Norfolk, “shall march instantly against him with a sufficient force to dislodge him from his hold. And for your better defence, you shall take with you the trained bands of our good city of London, under the command of Captain Bret.”
With this, she quitted the chapel, and returned to the palace.
As soon as he could collect his forces, amounting to about a thousand men, the Duke of Norfolk, accompanied by Bret and the trained bands, set out on his expedition, and arrived at Stroud the same night, where he made preparations to besiege Rochester Castle at daybreak.
Meantime, the utmost anxiety prevailed within the Tower, and tidings of the issue of the expedition were eagerly looked for. Towards the close of the day after Norfolk’s departure, a messenger arrived, bringing the alarming intelligence that Bret and his band had revolted to Wyat, shouting, “We are all Englishmen! we are all Englishmen! We will not fight against our countrymen.” It was added, that the duke, who had just planted his cannon against the castle, seeing how matters stood, and being uncertain of the fidelity of the troops remaining with him, had made a hasty retreat, leaving his ammunition and horses in the hands of the enemy.
This intelligence struck terror into the hearts of all who heard it, and it was the general impression that the insurgents would be victorious, an opinion considerably strengthened, a few hours afterwards, by the arrival of other messengers, who stated that Wyat had besieged and taken Cowling Castle, the residence of Lord Cobham, and was marching towards London. It was also affirmed that he had been joined by Lord Guilford Dudley, the Duke of Suffolk, Lord Thomas Grey, and others, with a considerable force, and that their object was to depose Mary, and replace Jane upon the throne. Rumours of insurrections in other parts of the country as well as in London were added; but these could not be so well authenticated.
On the following day, it being ascertained that the rebels had reached Dartford, Sir Edward Hastings and Sir Thomas Cornwallis were sent to hold a parley with the rebels. The army of the insurgents was stationed at the west of the town, before which their ordnance was planted. Dismounting, the two knights sent forward a herald to Wyat, who was standing with Dudley, Suffolk, and Bret, near the outworks; and on learning their business, he immediately advanced to meet them. After a haughty salutation on both sides, Sir Edward Hastings spoke.
“Sir Thomas Wyat,” he said, “the queen desires to know why you, who style yourself, in your proclamations, her true subject, act the part of a traitor in gathering together her liege subjects in arms against her?”
“I am no more a traitor than yourself, Sir Edward Hastings,” replied Wyat, “and the reason why I have gathered together the people, is to prevent the realm from being overrun by strangers, which must happen, if her highness’s marriage with Philip of Spain takes place.”
“No strangers are yet arrived,” replied Hastings, “and the mischief you apprehend is yet far off. But if this is your only grievance, are you content to confer on the matter with the council?”