ed, however, a manifesto against the
rebels, and an answer to their complaints; in which he employed a very
lofty style, suited to so haughty a monarch. He told them, that they
ought no more to pretend giving a judgment with regard to government,
that a blind man with regard to colors. "And we," he added, "with our
whole council, think it right strange that ye, who be but brutes and
inexpert folk, do take upon you to appoint us who be meet or not for our
council."

{1537.} As this pacification was not likely to be of long continuance,
Norfolk was ordered to keep his army together, and to march into the
northern parts, in order to exact a general submission. Lord Darcy, as
well as Aske, was sent for to court; and the former, upon his refusal
or delay to appear, was thrown into prison. Every place was full
of jealousy and complaints. A new insurrection broke out, headed by
Musgrave and Tilby; and the rebels besieged Carlisle with thousand men.
Being repulsed by that city, they were encountered in their retreat by
Norfolk, who put them to flight; and having made prisoners of all their
officers, except Musgrave, who escaped, he instantly put them to death
by martial law, to the number of seventy persons. An attempt made by Sir
Francis Bigot and Halam to surprise Hull, met with no better success;
and several other risings were suppressed by the vigilance of Norfolk.
The king, enraged by these multiplied revolts, was determined not to
adhere to the general pardon which he had granted; and from a movement
of his usual violence he made the innocent suffer for the guilty.
Norfolk, by command from his master, spread the royal banner, and,
wherever he thought proper, executed martial law in the punishment of
offenders. Besides Aske, leader of the first insurrection, Sir Robert
Constable, Sir John Bulmer, Sir Thomas Piercy, Sir Stephen Hamilton,
Nicholas Tempest, William Lumley, and many others, were thrown into
prison; and most of them were condemned and executed. Lord Hussey was
found guilty, as an accomplice in the insurrection of Lincolnshire, and
was executed at Lincoln. Lord Darcy, though he pleaded compulsion, and
appealed for his justification to a long life spent in the service of
the crown, was beheaded on Tower Hill. Before his execution, he accused
Norfolk of having secretly encouraged the rebels; but Henry, either
sensible of that nobleman's services, and convinced of his fidelity
or afraid to offend one of such extens