among the rest to the Earls of
Northumberland and Westmoreland, two noblemen very powerful in the
North. As it seemed to promise a speedy and safe conclusion of the
troubles in Scotland, with many advantages to the crown of
England, they all consented to it, provided it should prove
agreeable to Queen Elizabeth. The Earl of Leicester (Elizabeth's
favourite) undertook to break the matter to her, but before he
could find an opportunity, the affair had come to her ears by
other hands, and she was thrown into a violent flame. The Duke of
Norfolk, with several of his friends, was committed to the Tower,
and summons were sent to the Northern Earls instantly to make
their appearance at court. It is said that the Earl of
Northumberland, who was a man of a mild and gentle nature,[XX] was
deliberating with himself whether he should not obey the message,
and rely upon the Queen's candour and clemency, when he was forced
into desperate measures by a sudden report at midnight, Nov. 14,
that a party of his enemies were come to seize his person. The
Earl was then at his house at Topcliffe in Yorkshire. When, rising
hastily out of bed, he withdrew to the Earl of Westmoreland at
Brancepeth, where the country came in to them, and pressed them to
take up arms in their own defence. They accordingly set up their
standards, declaring their intent was to restore the ancient
Religion, to get the succession of the crown firmly settled, and
to prevent the destruction of the ancient nobility, etc. Their
common banner (on which was displayed the cross, together with the
five wounds of Christ) was borne by an ancient gentleman, Richard
Norton, Esquire, who, with his sons (among whom, Christopher,
Marmaduke, and Thomas, are expressly named by Camden),
distinguished himself on this occasion. Having entered Durham,
they tore the Bible, etc., and caused mass to be said there; they
then marched on to Clifford-moor near Wetherby, where they
mustered their men.... The two Earls, who spent their large
estates in hospitality, and were extremely beloved on that
account, were masters of little ready money; the E. of
Northumberland bringing with him only 8000 crowns, and the E. of
Westmoreland nothing at all, for the subsistence of their forces,
they were not able to march to London, as they had at first
intended. In these circumstances, Westmoreland began so visibly to
despond, that