“When he [Aske] arrived where the King was, as soon as the King saw him he rose up, and throwing his arms around him said aloud that all might hear: ‘Be ye welcome, my good Aske; it is my wish that here, before my Council, you ask what you desire and I will grant it.’ Aske answered, ‘Sir, your Majesty allows yourself to be governed by a tyrant named Cromwell. Everyone knows if it had not been for him the seven thousand poor priests I have in my company would not be ruined wanderers as they are now. They must have enough to live upon, for they have no handicraft.’ Then the King with a smiling face and words full of falseness, took from his neck a great chain of gold, which he had put on for the purpose, and threw it round Aske’s neck, saying to him: ‘I promise thee, thou art wiser than anyone thinks, and from this day forward I make thee one of my Council.’ And then on the spot he ordered a thousand pounds sterling to be given to him, and promised him the same amount every year as long as he lived. “The unhappy Aske, carried away with the chain and the thousand pounds and grant of annual income, was quite won over, and the King said to him, ‘Now return to the north, and get your people to disperse and go to their houses, and I will grant a general pardon for all. In order that the priests may have enough to live upon I will divide them among the parish churches and give them an allowance. Let them come at once, that this may be done. I order that in York each of the parishes shall take two of these priests, and give them £10 a year to live upon, but the others I will divide amongst all the towns and villages.’ When Aske saw the good tidings he had to take back he determined to return at once; and the King ordered that after all was pacified he should come to court, and he promised to make him one of his Council.”[171]