ch enabled
him to travel backwards and forwards across the hostile lines. All these
things he protested that he had done solely in order that he might,
unsuspected, aim a deadly blow at the government, and produce a violent
outbreak of popular feeling against the Roman Catholics. The forged
proclamation he claimed as one of his contrivances: but whether his
claim were well founded may be doubted. He delayed to make it so long
that we may reasonably suspect him of having waited for the death of
those who could confute him; and he produced no evidence but his own.
[558]

While these things happened in London, every post from every part of
the country brought tidings of some new insurrection. Lumley had seized
Newcastle. The inhabitants had welcomed him with transport. The statue
of the King, which stood on a lofty pedestal of marble, had been pulled
down and hurled into the Tyne. The third of December was long remembered
at Hull as the town taking day. That place had a garrison commanded by
Lord Langdale, a Roman Catholic. The Protestant officers concerted
with the magistracy a plan of revolt: Langdale and his adherents
were arrested; and soldiers and citizens united in declaring for the
Protestant religion and a free Parliament. [559]

The Pastern Counties were up. The Duke of Norfolk, attended by three
hundred gentlemen armed and mounted, appeared in the stately marketplace
of Norwich. The Mayor and Aldermen met him there, and engaged to
stand by him against Popery and arbitrary power. [560] Lord Herbert of
Cherbury and Sir Edward Harley took up arms in Worcestershire. [561]
Bristol, the second city of the realm, opened its gates to Shrewsbury.
Trelawney, the Bishop, who had entirely unlearned in the Tower the
doctrine of nonresistance, was the first to welcome the Prince's troops.
Such was the temper of the inhabitants that it was thought unnecessary
to leave any garrison among them. [562] The people of Gloucester rose
and delivered Lovelace from confinement. An irregular army soon gathered
round him. Some of his horsemen had only halters for bridles. Many of
his infantry had only clubs for weapons. But this force, such as it was,
marched unopposed through counties once devoted to the House of Stuart,
and at length entered Oxford in triumph. The magistrates came in state
to welcome the insurgents. The University itself, exasperated by recent
injuries, was little disposed to pass censures on rebellion. Already
some of