Note A. In the Letters and Papers this passage runs “if we shall trust either to treat or do, we shall be deceived,” but in the State Papers it is printed “either to Trent or to Don” and a reference to the original shows this to be correct. Note B. These instructions are undated and are printed among the letters of 2 December[101]. They seem, however, to belong to 4 December. Possibly they were first drawn up on the 2nd but held back and modified after Norfolk’s letter from Welbeck was received. Note C. Henry attached great importance to the point that there should be no diversity of handwriting in the pardons and safe-conducts; the reason for this anxiety is not apparent. Note D. The question of the hostages aroused a great deal of interest at the time. The Spanish Chronicler says[102] that the King sent as hostages for Aske the Earl of Surrey, Lord Darcy, the Earl of Rutland, Lord William Howard Norfolk’s brother, the Marquis of Exeter and Lord Thomas Howard Norfolk’s second son. This account of the insurrection is interesting as showing the rumours current in London, but it is quite without authority as evidence of what occurred. Note E. This date is written and then cancelled. In his letter to Suffolk[103] the King mentions Michaelmas as the date of the parliament, but in the end the date was left open. CHAPTER XVI THE KING’S POLICY After the conference at Doncaster had concluded on Saturday 9 December 1536 there was a general dispersal of the gentlemen and nobles who had been together for so long. The commons had already gone home, rather disappointed that there had been no fighting, and half-suspicious that they had been betrayed after all. Norfolk and his colleagues set off for London to make their report to the King[104]. Shrewsbury returned to Sheffield to keep an eye on the disaffected region[105]. Suffolk, who had been petitioning for some time to be recalled to court, dismissed all his men but five hundred to guard the ordnance and prisoners, and went up to London[106]. The northern gentlemen departed to their homes, where they endeavoured to keep order and to adjust the disputes between the monks and the farmers of the monasteries.