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attention of government, and measures were taken for obtaining
intelligence of all that passed within its walls. Lord Henry Howard, who
had made a timely secession from the leader to whom, in terms of the
grossest adulation, he had professed everlasting and unlimited
attachment, is believed to have discovered some of his secrets; and a
domestic educated with the earl from childhood, and entirely trusted by
him, had also the baseness to reveal his counsels. On the 7th of
February 1601, the privy-council, being fully informed of his
proceedings, dispatched secretary Herbert to summon the earl to appear
before them. But apprehensive that he was betrayed, and conscious that
the steps which he had already taken were incapable of being justified,
the earl excused himself from attending the council, and summoning
around him the most confidential of his friends, he represented to them
that they were on the point of being committed to prison, and bade them
decide whether they would quietly submit themselves to the disposal of
their enemies, or attempt thus prematurely to carry into effect the
designs which they had meditated.

During the debate which ensued, a person entered who pretended to be
deputed by the people of London to assure the earl of their cordial
co-operation in his cause. This decided the question; Essex, with a more
cheerful countenance, began to expatiate on the affection borne him by
the city, and his expectation of being joined by sheriff Smith with a
thousand of the trained bands whom he commanded. The following morning
was fixed for the insurrection; and in the meantime emissaries were
dispatched, who ran about the town in all directions, to spread among
the friends of the earl the alarm of a design upon his life by Cobham
and Raleigh.

Early on the morrow the lord keeper, the lord chief justice, and sir W.
Knolles comptroller of the household, arrived at Essex-house and
demanded entrance on the part of the queen. They themselves were with
difficulty admitted through the wicket of the gate, which was now kept
shut and guarded; but all their servants, except the purse-bearer, were
excluded. They beheld the court-yard filled with a confused multitude,
in the midst of which stood Essex accompanied by the earls of
Southampton and Rutland and many others. The lord keeper demanded in the
name of her majesty the cause of this unusual concourse; adding an
assurance that if any had injured his lordship, he shoul