“None would be more loyal and devoted subjects of her Majesty than we, were our rights and liberties respected,” said Osbert: “but we have thrown off our allegiance because we will not submit to be governed by a Spanish king. We will not suffer our preachers and pastors to be burnt at the stake as heretics and infidels, nor our country to be enslaved. But we have not come hither to make known our grievances to your Eminence, or to ask for redress, which we well know we cannot obtain from you. We have not come hither to do you injury of any sort, for we hold you in profound respect, and wish there were many of your creed like you. Our object is to liberate all prisoners for religion, and we therefore require the release of the two persons in your custody.”
“Before you proceed to extremities,” rejoined Pole, “let me counsel you to pause and consider what you are about. You are engaged in a rash enterprise, which will in no way benefit your cause, but will infallibly lead to your destruction. By this outbreak you will give your rulers a plea for further oppression. I do not hesitate to say that I am averse to religious persecution, and would gladly see an end put to it, but this is not the plan to pursue. In a few hours your outbreak will be crushed, and then the party you represent will be worse off than ever. To all such as are peaceably disposed among you, whose families are dear to them, and who would avoid bloodshed and ignominious death, I would say disperse quietly, go to your homes, and come not forth again on a like pretext. To you, Osbert Clinton, who have been unwise enough to place yourself at the head of this insurrection, I must hold other language. Your only safety is in flight. A price will be set on your head, and, if taken, you will die the death of a traitor.”
“I am aware of it,” replied Osbert. “But I have sworn to free my country and my religion, or perish in the attempt. I have no thoughts of flight, neither will my followers desert me. But we have talked long enough. You know our determination. Are we to have the prisoners peaceably, or must we take them by force?”
“I should be loth to provoke you to bloodshed,” replied the Cardinal. “Here are the two prisoners, as you see. I will place no restraint upon them. If they choose to go with you, it is well. If not, you will depart without them.”
“I readily agree to the terms, and thank your Eminence for sparing me the necessity of violence,” replied Osbert. “I do not think they will hesitate. Derrick Carver, you have heard what has passed. We wait for you.”
But, to Osbert’s great surprise, the enthusiast did not move.
“I cannot go unless I am set free by the Cardinal,” he said.
“How?” cried Osbert.
“His Eminence suffered me to go forth on my promise to return,” replied Carver, “and I will now prove to him that I am to be relied on.”
“I cannot prevent your departure,” said Pole; “neither can I set you free.”