“Because it was a treason to the Church.”
“Then thou wilt not renew it?”
“Never.”
“That is enough to hang thee, proud Abbot, but thy talk interests me, and I would fain hear a little more from thee; what dost thou think of the King’s divorce?”
“I am not fain to answer thee on that matter.”
“But the law enables us to compel an answer from every man, and construes silence as treason; loyal men need not conceal their thoughts, and there is no room in England for disloyalty.”[14]
“Construe my silence as treason if thou wilt, I have naught to say on the matter.”
“There is something more for me to say. Dost thou love life, Master Abbot? For if so, in spite of thy treasons just uttered, thou mayst save it; we know full well that the names of the men who supplied money and arms for the late most unnatural and parricidal rebellion in the north, which men call the Pilgrimage of Grace, are known to thee, only reveal the secret, and thou art safe.”
“Get thee behind me, Satan; dost thou think I would save my life at the expense of others, and take reward to slay the innocent?”