d find redress.
Essex in a vehement manner complained of letters counterfeited in his
name,--of designs against his life,--of perfidious dealings towards him:
but the conference was interrupted by the clamors of the crowd, some of
whom threatened violence against the court-emissaries. Without further
parley the earl conducted them into the house, where he ordered them to
be safely kept as hostages till his return from the city, whither he was
hastening to take measures with the lord-mayor and sheriffs.

About ten o'clock he entered the city attended by the "chief gallants"
of the time; as the earls of Southampton and Rutland, lords Sandys and
Monteagle, sir Charles Davers, sir Christopher Blount, and many others.
As they passed Fleet-street, they cried, "For the queen, for the queen!"
in other places they gave out that Cobham and Raleigh would have
murdered the earl in his bed; and the multitude, universally well
affected to Essex, eagerly reported that he and the queen were
reconciled, and that she had appointed him to ride in that triumphant
manner through the city to his house in Seething-lane. The lord-mayor
however received warning from the privy-council to look well to his
charge, and by eleven the gates were closed and strongly guarded. The
earl, though a good deal disconcerted at observing no preparations for
joining him, made his way to the house of sheriff Smith; but this
officer slipped out at his back door and hastened to the lord-mayor for
instructions. He next proceeded to an armourer's and demanded
ammunition, which was refused; and while he was hastening to and fro,
without aim or object as appears, lord Burleigh courageously entered
the city with a king-at-arms and half a score horse-men, and in two
places proclaimed the earl and all his adherents traitors. A pistol was
fired at him by one of the followers of Essex; but the multitude showed
no disposition to molest him, and he hastened back to assure the queen
that a popular commotion was not at all to be apprehended.

The palace was now fortified and double-guarded; the streets were
blocked up with carts and coaches; and the earl, after wandering in vain
about the town till two o'clock, finding himself joined by none of the
citizens and deserted by a great portion of his original followers,
determined to make his way back to Essex-house. At Ludgate he was
opposed by some troops posted there by order of the bishop; and drawing
his sword, he directed si