[196] Henry VIII. to the Duke of Norfolk: _State Papers_, Vol. I. p. 511. The council, who had wrung these concessions from the king, wrote by the same courier, advising him to yield as little as possible--"not to strain too far, but for his Grace's honour and for the better security of the commonwealth, to except from pardon, if by any means he might, a few evil persons, and especially Sir Robert Constable."--_Hardwicke State Papers_, Vol. I. p. 27. [197] "You may of your honour promise them not only to obtain their pardons, but also that they shall find us as good and gracious lord unto them as ever we were before this matter was attempted; which promise we shall perform and accomplish without exception."--Henry VIII. to the Duke of Suffolk: _Rolls House MS._ first series, 476. [198] Aske, in his Narrative, which is in the form of a letter to the king, speaks of "the articles now concluded at Doncaster, which were drawn, read, argued, and agreed among the lords and esquires" at Pomfret.--_Rolls House MS._ [199] Aske's Narrative: _Rolls House MS._ A 2, 28. [200] Instructions to the Earl of Sussex: Ibid. first series, 299. [201] Scheme for the Government of the North: _Rolls House MS._ first series, 900. In connexion with the scheme for the establishment of garrisons, a highly curious draft of an act was prepared, to be submitted to the intended parliament. Presuming that, on the whole, the suppression of the monasteries would be sanctioned, the preamble stated (and the words which follow are underlined in the MS.) that-- "Nevertheless, the experience which we have had by those houses that are already suppressed sheweth plainly unto us that a great hurt and decay is thereby come, and hereafter shall come, to this realm, and great impoverishing of many the poor subjects thereof, for lack of hospitality and good householding that were wont in them to be kept, to the great relief of the poor people of all the counties adjoining the said monasteries, besides the maintaining of many smiths, husbandmen, and labourers that were kept in the said houses. "It should therefore be enacted: "1. That all persons taking the lands of suppressed houses must duly reside upon the said lands, and must keep hospitality; and that it be so ordered in the leases. "2. That all houses, of whatsoever order, habit, or name, lying beyond the river of Trent northward, and not suppressed, should stand still and abide in their old strength and foundation. "3. That discipline so sadly decayed should be restored among them; that all monks, being accounted dead persons by the law, should not mix themselves in worldly matters, but should be shut up within limited compass, having orchards and gardens to walk in and labour in--each monk having forty shillings for his stipend, each abbot and prior five marks--and in each house a governor, to be nominated by the king, to administer the revenue and keep hospitality.