set me up. For well I know that to make this confession is a
sin; but whether the one shall balance the other only the angels that
are at the gates of Paradise shall assure me.

'In some sort I have done it for your Highness' sake--or, at least, that
your Highness may profit in your fame thereby. For, though all that do
know me will scarcely believe in it, the most part of men shall needs
judge me by the reports that are set about. In the commonalty, and the
princes of foreign courts, one may believe you justified of my blood,
and, for this event, even to posterity your name shall be spared. I
shall become such a little dust as will not fill a cup. Yet, at least, I
shall not sully, in the eyes of men to come, your record.

'And that I am glad of; for this world is no place for me who am mazed
by too much reading in old books. At first I would not believe it,
though many have told me it was so. I was of the opinion that in the end
right must win through. I think now that it never shall--or not for many
ages--till our Saviour again come upon this earth with a great glory.
But all this is a mystery of the great goodness of God and the
temptations that do beset us poor mortality.

'So now I go! I think that you will not any more seek to hinder me, for
you have heard how set I am on this course. I think, if I have done
little good, I have done little harm, for I have sought to injure no
man--though through me you have wracked some of my poor servants and
slain my poor simple cousin. But that is between you and God. If I must
weep for them yet, though I was the occasion of their deaths and
tortures, I cannot much lay it to my account.

'If, by being reputed your leman, as you would have it, I could again
set up the Church of God, willingly I would do it. But I see that there
is not one man--save maybe some poor simple souls--that would have this
done. Each man is set to save his skin and his goods--and you are such a
weathercock that I should never blow you to a firm quarter. For what am
I set against all this nation?

'If you should say that our wedding was no wedding because of the
pre-contract to my cousin Dearham that you have feigned was made--why, I
might live as your reputed leman in a secret place. But it is not very
certain that even at that I should live very long. For, if I lived, I
must work upon you to do the right. And, if that I did, not very long
should I live before mine enemies again did come about me an