though, in the beginning of this northern rebellion,
her majesty sometimes uttered some misliking of the earl, yet this day
she, meaning to deal very princely with him, in presence of her council,
charged him with such things as she had heard to cause her misliking,
without any note of mistrust towards him for his fidelity; whereupon he
did with such humbleness, wisdom, plainness and dexterity, answer her
majesty, as both she and all the rest were fully satisfied, and he
adjudged by good proofs to have served in all this time faithfully, and
so circumspectly, as it manifestly appeareth that if he had not so used
himself in the beginning, the whole north part had entered into the
rebellion."

A formidable mass of discontent did in fact subsist among the catholics
of the north, and it was not long before a new and more daring leader
found means to set it again in fierce and violent action.

Leonard Dacre had found no opportunity to take part in the enterprise of
the two earls, though a deep participator in their counsels; for knowing
that their design could not yet be ripe for execution, and foreseeing as
little as the rest of the faction those measures of the queen by which
their affairs were prematurely brought to a crisis, he had proceeded to
court on his private concerns, and was there amusing her majesty with
protestations of his unalterable fidelity and attachment, while his
associates in the north were placing their lands and lives on the hazard
of rebellion. Learning on his journey homewards the total discomfiture
of the earls, he carefully preserved the semblance of a zealous
loyalty, till, having armed the retainers of his family on pretence of
preserving the country in the queen's obedience, and having strongly
garrisoned its hereditary castles of Naworth and Greystock, which he
wrested from the custody of the Howards, he declared himself, and broke
out into violent rebellion.

The late severities had rather exasperated than subdued the spirit of
disaffection in this neighbourhood, and three thousand men ranged
themselves under the scallop-shells of Dacre;--a well known ensign which
from age to age had marshalled the hardy borderers to deeds of warlike
prowess. Lord Hunsdon, the governor of Berwick, marched promptly forth
with all the force he could muster to disperse the rebels; but this time
they stood firmly on the banks of the little river Gelt, to give him
battle. Such indeed was the height of fanaticism