who are ready to join in tumults and seditions; and like enough, if the
rioters come here, they will take part with them, while the burgesses will
be only too glad to put up their shutters and do or say naught that would
give the mob an excuse for breaking into their magazines.

"Would that Lancaster were here with a thousand or so of men-at-arms," he
went on, gloomily; "there is no one at the Court who can take command. The
king this morning asked me if I would undertake the defence of the palace;
but I said to him: 'I am but a simple knight, your Majesty, and neither
the young lords of the Court nor the citizens would pay any heed to my
orders; moreover, I am not one of those whose head is good to plan
matters. I would die in your Majesty's service, and would warrant that
many of your enemies would go down before I did. I could set a host in
battle array, were there a host here; but as to what course to follow, or
how it were best to behave at such a pinch, are matters beyond me. As to
these, it were best that your Majesty took counsel with those whom the
Duke of Lancaster has appointed, and to whom such business appertains.

"'If you will give me orders I will carry them out, even if I am bade to
defend London Bridge with but half a dozen men-at-arms, and at such work I
might do as well as another; but as to counsel I have none to give, save
that were I in your place I would issue a proclamation to these knaves
saying that you would hold no parley with men having arms in their hands,
but that if they would peacefully disperse you would order that a
commission be appointed to examine into their complaints, and that any
ills that proved to be justified should be righted, but that if forced you
will give nothing, and that if they advance against London their blood
must be on their own heads.

"'Should they still come on I would shut myself up in the Tower, which has