nent appeared the peril at that moment, that he and the other knights and gentlemen drew their swords and kissed each other's blades, 'according to ancient custom used among men of war in times of great danger.'[1]
Happily for Warwick, the rebels did not instantly follow up their success, and in losing the moment they lost all. On the 25th the Germans came up, and he was safe. The next morning, by a side movement, he cut off the camp from their provisions. They were left 'with but water to drink, and fain to eat their meat without bread;'[2] August 27.and on the 27th the whole body, perhaps 15,000 strong, broke up from Mousehold, set fire to their cabins, and, covered by the smoke, came down from their high ground into Duffindale.[3] They had made up their minds to fight a decisive action, and they chose a ground where all advantages of irregular levies against regular troops were lost.
On the morning of the 27th they were drawn up in open fields where Warwick could attack at his pleasure. Before the first shot was fired he sent Sir Thomas Palmer forward, not now to offer a general pardon, for
- ↑ Holinshed, writing from the report of eye-witnesses.
- ↑ Council to Wotton: MS. French, Edward VI. bundle 8.
- ↑ Relying, it was said, on a fantastic prophecy—The country gruffs, Hob, Dick, and Hick,
With clubs and clouted shoon,
Shall fill up Duffindale with blood
Of slaughtered bodies soon.The extent to which wild 'skimble skamble' prophecies had extended through England, and really affected men's conduct, forms at once one of the most peculiar features of the time, and one of the greatest difficulties in understanding it. In Wycherley's Confession, given above, it was said that Norfolk was rich in prophets, and several were known to be in Ket's camp.
