preading tables in the streets, which their wives
were loading with fattest capons and choicest wines; there was free
feasting for all comers; and social jealousies, religious hatreds,
were forgotten for the moment in the ecstasy of the common delight.
Even the retainers of the Dudleys, in fear or joy, tore their badges
out of their caps, and trampled on them.[50]

[Footnote 50: Renard to Charles V.: _Rolls House
MSS._ All authorities agree in the general
description of the state of London. Renard,
Noailles, and Baoardo are the most explicit and
interesting.]

At a night session of the council, a letter was written to
Northumberland, which Cranmer, Suffolk, and Sir John Cheke consented
to sign, ordering him in the name of Queen Mary to lay down his arms.
If he complied, the lords undertook to intercede for his pardon. If he
refused, they said that they {p.021} would hold him as a traitor, and
spend their lives in the field against him.[51]

[Footnote 51: This letter is among the _Tanner
MSS._ in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. It was
printed by Stowe.]

While a pursuivant bore the commands of the council to the duke,
Arundel and Paget undertook to carry to Mary at Framlingham their
petition for forgiveness, in which they declared that they had been
innocent at heart of any share in the conspiracy,[52] and had only
delayed coming forward in her favour from a desire to prevent
bloodshed.

[Footnote 52: "Our bounden duties most humbly
remembered to your excellent Majesty. It may like
the same to understand, that we, your most humble,
faithful, and obedient subjects, having always, God
we take to witness, remained your Highness's true
and humble subjects in our hearts, ever since the
death of our late Sovereign Lord and master your
Highness's brother, whom God pardon, and seeing
hitherto no possibility to utter our determination
without great destruction and bloodshed, both of
ourselves and others, till this time, have this day
proclaimed in your city of London your Majesty to
be our true natural sovereign liege Lady and Queen