... one of the principal resources of his [Leicester] faction was the
populace of the cities, particularly of London; and as he had, by his
hypocritical pretensions to sanctity, and his zeal against Rome,
engaged the monks and lower ecclesiastics in his party, his dominion
over the inferior ranks of men became uncontrollable.
Thomas Fitz-Richard, mayor of London, a furious and licentious man,
gave the countenance of authority to these disorders in the capital;
[...]
The queen, who, though defended by the Tower, was terrified by the
neighborhood of such dangerous commotions, resolved to go by water to
the Castle of Windsor; but as she approached the bridge, the populace
assembled against her: the cry ran, "Drown the witch;" and besides
abusing her with the most opprobrious language, and pelting her with
rotten eggs and dirt, they had prepared large stones to sink her
barge, when she should attempt to shoot the bridge; and she was so
frightened, that she returned to the Tower.