To that said another, that had spoken as yet never a word, "I know Commoners in London that have more ready money than some of the Aldermen."
"Soft," quod Wyat, "I pray you in any wise forbear all such talk till we come to the place where we would be. In mean time let us work secretly; and by all tokens and signs shew ourselves to favour and maintain our pretence of Strangers only."
Such and the like communication was between Wyat and two others the Monday [22nd January] before his rising. Whereby it is evident that their final intent was to advance themselves by spoil of other men's goods: although they pretended otherwise.
And to colour [make pretence of] the same, Wyat so fell out with this Gentleman for rifling the Lord Chancellor's House [i.e., the House in Southwark of Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester,] that he made a number believe he would have hanged him out of hand: had not Bret and others entreated for him.
The Lord William Howard, Admiral of England.
When they had lien in Southwark a day or two, and found themselves deceived in London: which (by the great diligence and politic handling of that worthy and faithful Knight, the Lord William Howard, Admiral of England, that had the special charge thereof; with the aid of Sir Thomas Wight, Knight, Mayor of London, his brethren [the Aldermen] and citizens) was so well preserved as the traitors thereby were disappointed of that they looked most certainly for—Wyat, as a man desperate and setting all at sixe and seven, adventuring the breaking down of a wall out of a Wyat's coming into the Porter's Lodge at the Bridge foot. house joining to the Gate at the Bridge foot, whereby he might enter into the leads over the Gate, came down into the Lodge about eleven of the clock in the night: where he found the Care away. Porter in a slumber; [and] his wife with others waking, watching a coal.
But seeing Wyat, they began suddenly to start as greatly amazed.
"Whist!" quod Wyat, "as you love your lives, sit you still! You shall have no hurt!"
Glad were they of that warranty, pardye! What should they do, people better accustomed with the tankard of beer to pass forth the night, than acquainted with target and spear to endure the fight.