Did you not say to me when the guests had gone, that King Henry was a heretic, a tyrant, and an infidel whom the Pope would do well to excommunicate and depose?
Did you not, when I led you on, ask me if I could not bring about a rising of the common people in these parts, among whom I have great power, and of those gentry who know and love me, to overthrow him, and in his place set up a certain Cardinal Pole, and for the deed promise me the pardon and absolution of the Pope, and much advancement in his name and that of the Spanish Emperor ?" "Never," answered the Abbot.
"And did I not," went on Sir John, taking no note of his denial, "did I not refuse to listen to you and tell you that your words were traitorous, and that had they been spoken otherwhere than in my house, I, as in duty bound by my office, would make report of them?
Aye, and have you not from that hour striven to undo me, whom you fear ?" "I deny it all," said the Abbot again.

"These be but empty lies bred of your malice, Sir John Foterell." "Empty words, are they, my Lord Abbot! Well, I tell you that they are all written down and signed in due form.

I tell you I had witnesses you knew naught of who heard them with their ears.

Here stands one of them behind my chair.

Is it not so, Jeffrey ?" "Aye, master," answered the serving-man.