In the fourth place there is the evidence of William Collins. Clarencieux King-of-Arms arrived at Kendal on 22 December, bringing the King’s pardon. The farmers of the priory of Cartmell and the restored monks were quarrelling over the rents and corn, and when they heard of the herald’s arrival two of the monks came to him and begged him to write an order for them. The herald would not write himself, but he directed Collins to write, which he did, in the herald’s presence, to the following effect: “Neighbours of Cartmell, so it is that the King’s herald hath made proclamation here that every man, pain of high treason, should suffer everything, as farms, tithes, and such other, to be in like stay and order concerning possessions as they were in time of the last meeting at Doncaster, except ye will of your charity help the brethren there somewhat towards their boards, till my lord of Norfolk come again and take further order therein.”[94] All the monasteries of the north had been restored before the last conference at Doncaster, and putting together Dakyn’s and Collins’ statements it appears that the monks were to be left unmolested, but that the rents, etc., were to remain in the hands of the farmers and grantees of the monasteries, who should, however, make an allowance to the monks. Finally it appears that as soon as he returned home Sir Thomas Hilton, who, like Bowes, had been prominent at Doncaster, insisted on restoring the Friars Observant of Newcastle[95]. From the evidence of all these persons, the majority of them being men who had every opportunity of knowing the truth, it seems certain that Norfolk promised at Doncaster that the monasteries should be allowed to stand, subject to an agreement with the farmers of them, until the promised parliament met. Norfolk had no authority for making any such promise, and in the absence of any proof of his actual words, it is not fair to accuse him of treachery. It is not likely that he pretended to have the power which he did not possess. In all probability he only promised to make suit to the King that the monasteries should stand, although he may have held out strong hopes that the King would grant his suit, while he knew very well that the King would do nothing of the sort.