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342 YORK.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A GREAT amount of sympathy was felt at this time,
on the part of those who clung to the old religion,
for Mary, Queen of Scots, whose misfortunes attracted
no little share of attention. The Duke of Norfolk,
the head of the ancient nobility of England, had
been sent to the Tower. His main offence was
his aspiring to the hand of the Queen of Scotland.
The Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland were
in favour of this alliance. Elizabeth, having some
suspicion as to their ulterior views, summoned them
both to Court. This caused great apprehension in
the minds of the two earls, who became impressed
with a conviction that the queen was really aiming
at their lives and the confiscation of their property,
for it was reported ihat the queen's troops were on
their way to seize them. Upon this they hastily armed
their retainers and marched southwards, gathering up
recruits as they advanced. Their force became considerable.
Sir Ralph Sadler, writing on the 26th
November, 1569, reports to the queen that the
number of the rebels was estimated at about 6,000
foot and 1,000 horse. They made their way to
Durham without opposition, entered the cathedral,
destroyed the English service-books, and caused
mass to be celebrated. They did the like in many
of the parish churches. A detachment of the in-