As innocent a Matter, touching the offering him a Pair of Gloves containing Forty Pounds, and his taking the first and returning the last, saying he preferred his Gloves without Lining, hath been made publick with like Triumph to his own good Fame; but alack! these Feathers show which way sets the Wind.
April 13th.
A heavier Charge than either of the above hath been got up, concerning the wicked Woman of Kent, with whom they accuse him of having tampered, that, in her pretended Revelations and Rhapsodies, she might utter Words against the King's Divorce. His Name hath, indeed, been put in the Bill of Attainder; but, out of Favour, he hath been granted a private Hearing, his Judges being, the new Archbishop, the new Chancellor, his Grace of Norfolk, and Master Cromwell.
He tells us that they stuck not to the Matter in Hand, but began cunningly enow to sound him on the King's Matters; and finding they could not shake him, did proceed to Threats, which, he told 'em, might well enow scare Children, but not him; and as to his having provoked his Grace the King to sett forth in his Book aught to dishonour and fetter a good Christian, his Grace himself well knew the Book was never shewn him save for verbal Criticism when the Subject-matter was completed by the Makers of the same, and that he had warned his Grace not to express soe much Submission to the Pope. Whereupon they with great Displeasure dismissed him, and he took Boat for Chelsea with mine Husband in such gay Spiritts, that Will, not having been privy to what had passed, concluded his Name to have beene struck out of the Bill of Attainder, and congratulated him thereupon soe soone as they came aland, saying, "I guess, Father, all is well, seeing you thus merry."
"It is, indeed, son Roper," returns Father steadilie; repeating thereupon, once or twice, this Phrase, "All is well."
Will, somehow mistrusting him, puts the Matter to him agayn.
"You are then, Father, put out of the Bill?"
"Out of the Bill, good Fellow?" repeats Father, stopping short in his Walk, and regarding him with a Smile that Will sayth was like to break his Heart.... "Wouldst thou know, dear Son, why I am so joyful? In good Faith, I have given the Devil a foul Fall; for I have with those Lords gone so far, as that without great Shame I can ne'er go back. The first Step, Will, is the worst, and that's taken."