sort, that she, upon the king's motion, will be, I doubt not, right glad and agreeable to the same.' 'Sir,' quoth the Lord Percy, all weeping, I knew nothing of the king's pleasure therein, for whose displeasure I am very sorry. I considered that I was of good years, and thought myself sufficient to provide me of a convenient wife, whereas my fancy served me best, not doubting but that my lord my father would have been right well persuaded. And though she be a simple maid, and having but a knight to her father, yet is she descended of right noble parentage. As by her mother she is nigh of the Norfolk blood: and of her father's side lineally descended of the Earl of Ormond, he being one of the earl's heirs general. Why should I then, sir, be anything scrupulous to match with her, whose estate of descent is equivalent with mine when I shall be in most dignity? Therefore I most humbly require your Grace of your especial favour herein; and also to entreat the king's most royal majesty most lowly on my behalf, for his princely benevolence in this matter, the which I cannot deny or forsake.' 'Lo, sirs,' quoth the cardinal, 'ye may see what conformity or wisdom is in this wilful boy's head. I thought that when thou heardest me declare the king's intended pleasure and travail herein, thou wouldest have relented and wholly submitted thyself, and all thy wilful and unadvised fact, to the king's royal will and prudent pleasure, to be fully disposed and ordered by his Grace's disposition, as his Highness should seem good.' 'Sir, so I would,' quoth the Lord Percy, 'but in this matter I have gone so far, before many so worthy witnesses, that I know not how to avoid myself nor to discharge my conscience.' 'Why, thinkest thou,' quoth the cardinal, ‘that the king and I know not what we have to do in as weighty a matter as this? Yes,' quoth he, 'I warrant thee. Howbeit I can see in thee no submission to the purpose.' Forsooth, my Lord,' quoth my Lord Percy, 'if it please your Grace, I will submit myself wholly to the king's majesty and grace in this matter,

my conscience being discharged of the weighty burthen of my precontract.' 'Well then,' quoth the cardinal, 'I will send for your father out of the north parts, and he and we shall take such order for the avoiding of this thy hasty folly as shall be by the king thought most expedient. And in the mean season I charge thee, and in the king's name command thee, that thou presume not once to resort into her company, as thou intendest to avoid the king's high indignation.' And this said, he rose up and went into his chamber.

Then was the Earl of Northumberland sent for in all haste, in the king's name, who, upon knowledge of the king's pleasure, made quick speed to the court. And at his first coming out of the north he made his first repair unto my Lord Cardinal, at whose mouth he was advertised of the cause of his hasty sending for; being in my Lord Cardinal's gallery with him in secret communication a long while. And after their long talk my Lord Cardinal called for a cup with wine, and drinking together they brake up, and so departed the earl, upon whom we were commanded to wait to convey him to his servants. And in his going away, when he came to the gallery's end, he sat him down upon a form that stood there for the waiters some time to take their ease. And being there set called his son the Lord Percy unto him, and said in our presence thus in effect: 'Son,' quoth he, 'thou hast always been a proud, presumptuous, disdainful, and a very unthrift waster, and even so hast thou now declared thyself. Therefore, what joy, what comfort, what pleasure or solace should I conceive in thee, that thus without discretion and advisement hast misused thyself, having no manner of regard to me thy natural father, nor in especial unto thy sovereign lord, to whom all honest and loyal subjects bear faithful and humble obedience; nor yet to the wealth of thine own estate, but hath so unadvisedly ensured thyself to her for whom thou hast purchased thee the king's displeasure, intolerable for any subject