Thereon the City was all Confusion. Though the 'Prentices had pelted the Spanish Ambassadours with Snow-balls, and elder People had spoken against them under their Breath, yet that natural Loyalty there is in the City, save under the most aggravating Circumstances, drew every one together to make common Cause with the Queen so soon as 'twas bruited that Wyat was up in Kent. Five hundred of the Trained Bands were forthwith sent out against him, and the City began to be kept with harnessed Men.
The Lord Mayor, this Year, was Sir Thomas White, Merchant-taylor; he that founded St. John's College, Oxford. To him, at the Guildhall, cometh my Lord Treasurer, and prayeth him to have at the least two thousand Men in Harness at all Hours, for the Safeguard of the City. Now begin the young Men of every Degree to look out and furbish their Arms and Accoutrements; and the Hum of Preparation is heard throughout the Stretes. Post following hot upon Post bringeth Tidings that the Duke of Suffolk in Warwickshire, having with all his Industry gotten together but fifty Men, had given up the Game and betaken himself to a Tenant of his, who kept him three Days hid in a hollow Oak till he was taken; but that Wyat, with at least four thousand Men, (some made it fourteen thousand,) was marching fast upon Southwark, and the Trained Bands had gone over to him, which caused the Duke of Norfolk, sent against him, to retreat.
Here then was a Prospect for the Bridge! the only Access by which he could command the City. Thou shouldst have seen the Duke ride back, all crestfallen, with his Guard at his Heels, all smirched and tatterdemoiled, without Arrows or Strings to their Bows, or a Sword to their Sides, or a Cap to their Heads. Some of the Urchins cried after them, "A Wyat! a Wyat!" and got well cuffed for their Pains.
Then came the News of a Rising in Hertfordshire. On this the Queen cometh to Guildhall, with the Lord Chancellor and all her Council, guarded by a notable Company of Men at Arms; and, bespeaking the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, she pleaded sore they would stand by her against the Arch-traitor that aimed at removing her Counsellors and having the Custody of her Person; affirming and alleging that she would never once have entertained thought of her Marriage, had it not been infused into her by others that 'twas expedient for the Country. When I heard Master Hewet's Report of her Argument, I remembered the Saying of Master Askew the Draper to Lord Warwick's Man, 'That the City could sometimes better spare the Court than the Court the City.'
They protested they would stand by her—could they do less? And forthwith, Proclamation was made to this Effect:—Now then, let every Man that is disaffected, and every Man that is faint-hearted, and every Man that is of unstable Mind, be off as fast as he can. There's Wyat ready to welcome all Well-wishers, coming along the Kent Road; and London Bridge is just now open to all those that like to join him, which it will not be to-morrow; for the Draw-bridge is going to be sawn asunder and cast into the River, the Gates are going to be shut, the Gate-houses are going to be manned, the Cannons are going to be planted to defend them and to take the Range of the Borough, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs in Harness are going to stand immediately behind the Gate, and every Man on the Bridge will close his Windows and stand in his Door with his 'Prentices armed and ready to do Battle. God save the Queen!
Not many crossed the Bridge after that. Those that did were glad to explain 'twas on necessary and lawful Business, or they got hooted and sometimes pelted. The Lord Mayor went with my Master into every House, to see its Condition and Defence. When they reached the Door of the old Lady that lived all by herself alone with her Cats, they could gain no Entrance, nor hear Sound of Life within save a dismal Mewing. Master Hewet was for departing, saying he believed the House safe enough though its Owner was shy of Strangers; but my Lord Mayor said a silent House was not always the safest, and there might be Spies and even harnessed Men shut up. So they persisted knocking; and at length a skinny old Woman, all trembling with Fear, peered forth and would wit what 'twas all about. When they told her the Bridge was going to be put in a State of Defence for Queen Mary, she cried, "God save her sweet Majesty!" and let them in, shutting and bolting the Door behind them. She sayth, "Oh! Sirs, I see ye be loyal and honourable Gentlemen, well affected to our blessed Queen, wherefore I fear not to trust you with my Secret—howbeit, I am not the only one in this House."
The Lord Mayor gave a quick Look at Master Hewet.
—"I was, you must know," continued she, "Sub-prioress of a small religious House at Mickleham in Surrey ... there were but six of us; we were harmless and happy enough; howbeit, the Eighth Harry, that called himself Defender of our Faith, turned us out Neck and Heels when he put down the lesser Monasteries; and my Father, to whom this House belonged, gave me Shelter in it during his Life, and left it to me at his Death. Whereby I have been enabled to give House-room and Board to my aged Superior, who otherwise would have been cast into the Strete, through all the evil Times; none witting she was under my Roof. And now that better Days are come, she is past any Advantage of them, being long Time bed-rid, as ye shall see."
So she hobbled up-stairs before them, followed by her half-dozen Cats, and led the Way into a Chamber having a bright Wood Fire kindled on the Hearth, but nearly bare of Furniture, beyond a Chair, a Table, a Crucifix, and a Couple of Tressel-beds, on one of which lay an old Woman, sleeping, on the utmost Verge of Life. She mutely pointed to her, then led them over the rest of the House, which was utterly disfurnished and chiefly shut up; she having got rid of the Moveables for what they would fetch, through the Agency of her only Confidant, Sir Tobias. So now you have the Story of the old Lady that was supposed to live all alone by herself with her Cats.
Miles' black Eyes kindled like Coals at the Thought of defending the Bridge.... I confess I felt a Glow within me, and handled my Bill and Bow with exceeding Complacence. The Mayor complimented my Master on having a Couple of such smart Lads, and said his Premises would be well defended. Also he said he wished he had such a fair Daughter as Mistress Anne, who served him with Bread and Wine.