Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 3.djvu/607

1543.] rulers, the understanding of your own people, who, perceiving your abuses to their confusion, shall not endure them—fear the number of such as be honest among you, that shall not endure to continue in that public shame with you. For your conspiracy in so vil a quarrel cannot continue long, and the Devil cannot be author of unity, but discord. Wherefore the King's Majesty, with prudent considerations, admonisheth you to avoid the dangers of your own misdemeanour, and, with princely courage, signifieth unto you in what sort he mindeth to prosecute the same, and willeth me thus to close up my message unto you.

'If ye do like noblemen, and observe your covenants, laying in such hostages as ye have promised, ye shall be mercifully received and benignly handled.

'If ye do follow and persevere in your conjurations already commenced to the contrary, the quarrel of truth and honour shall be with force and puissance so maintained against you as shall, with God's help, be shortly to your confusion.

'If, in the prosecution of such as be the authors and causers of the mischief, the innocent shall suffer, the King's Majesty will be sorry

'If such as mislike the conspiracy shall use any ways or means to declare their own dissevering from the rest, the King's Majesty shall be glad to know them and spare them, and help their deliverance from inconvenients.

'To this message I ask answer within four days; after which time, if ye say nothing, your silence must