If the rebels would conform themselves absolutely and surrender the aforesaid ringleaders they might be permitted to receive the King’s answer “in a much more certain sort than the articles were proponed so that all indifferent men must be content.”[5] If they would submit, Norfolk was to administer to them the oath of the Lincolnshire men; if they refused he was to gain as much time as possible by discussion, and at the first favourable opportunity he must break off the negotiations and straightway attack the rebels[6]. With these instructions Norfolk and Fitzwilliam set out. On 27 November the King wrote to them at Leicester. The rebels’ attitude was still very threatening, and he seems to have thought that there was little prospect of peace, but he was still determined not to yield a single point; he would not give hostages for Aske; he would not grant fourteen days’ truce for the appointment, “our instructions treat of a time to be won by policy, and not of an abstinence by pact, which would give them time to fortify themselves.”[7] These letters and instructions must have been very painful reading for Norfolk and the Admiral. It was abundantly evident by this time that there was no chance of winning over Darcy, and as far as could be discovered the other leaders were equally unapproachable. For a short while the royalists entertained some hope of winning over Aske, owing to the report of a spy. This man was called Knight, and was a servant of Sir Francis Brian[8]. Knight went into the rebels’ country about 14 November[9], to learn what he could about their strength. When he was in York, his appearance aroused suspicion, but he escaped by saying that he was a servant of Sir Peter Vavasour. On 15 November, however, he was recognised as Brian’s servant and taken before Aske. With great presence of mind and some humour Knight told the captain that Sir Francis had sent him in pursuit of his chaplain who was a thief[10]. Aske sent Knight back to his master with a letter to request a description of the missing chaplain, as he was determined not to protect bad characters[11]. It was Knight who told Sir Francis that Aske had only one eye. He had returned to his master by 18 November[12]. Apparently Knight had had some communication with Sir Peter Vavasour, whose name he had used as a protection, although Sir Peter was with the Pilgrims[13]. Knight told Sir Francis Brian that, according to Sir Peter, Aske had been heard to say that some men who were not suspected were worse than he, and that he would gladly accept the King’s pardon. Brian repeated this to Sir Anthony Browne, who sent the report on to Norfolk and Fitzwilliam. The King’s deputies reached Nottingham on Wednesday 29 November, and there they wrote to Sir Peter Vavasour[14]. They stated that it had been represented to them that Aske was wavering. If he would, he could do more service than a greater man, and Sir Peter must urge him to throw himself on the King’s mercy.