Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/126

 112 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 53. Confederates were to raise the East and the South. 1 Confident in their own strength, confident in the seem- ing union of three quarters of the nobility, confident in the provisions which the Spanish ambassador had made in Alva's name and which Alva intended to observe so far as he might find expedient, they believed that they had but to show themselves in arms, for all opposition to go down before them. The whole scheme had been thrown into confusion oy the irresolution of Norfolk. Leonard J)acres, West- moreland, old Norton, and a number of gentlemen, were collected at Lord Northumberland's house at Top- eliff, waiting for news from London. The Duke, in the short fit of courage which returned to him at Kening- hall, had sent to Northumberland to say ' that he would stand and abide the venture and not go up to the Queen/ 2 They were expecting every moment to hear that the Eastern Counties had risen, when one mid- night, at the end of September, they were roused out of their sleep to be told that a messenger had come. It was a servant of Norfolk's. He would not come to the house, but was waiting ' a flight shot from the park wall.' Westmoreland went out to him and came back presently to say ' that the Duke, for the brotherly love they bore him, begged them not to stir or he would be in danger of losing his head.' The preparations for the rising were so complete that there was scarcely a hope that their intentions could 1 Confession of Thomas Bishop, I 2 Confession of the Earl of May 10, 1570: MSS. Hatfield. I Northumberland : MSS. Border.