An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

Now when they in the City were come into this case, that diverse of them daily died for hunger, and that many also departed from thence, and came out so weak and feeble that the enemies had pity upon them, the captain sent word to the towns men that if they would deliver to them the king & certain others, they them selves should be pardoned. The citizens, although they had good will so to do, yet durst they not go about it, the cruelty of the king was so great, and the watch was kept so strictly: for the king was so obstinate, that as long as there remained any thing for him to eat and a few others, he was fully bent not to yield. for which cause the captains sent word again and commanded them that from thence forth, they should not send any forth of their city, not so much as children or women. This was in the calends of June, the day following they made unjust complaining that their cause might not lawfully be heard, and that they were wrongfully afflicted above measure, also proffering them selves to submission, if any could show them wherein they offended: further more they expounded a certain place of Daniel, as of the fourth beast much more cruel then the others, the conclusion of their letters was this: That God aiding them they would stand to the trueth which they had confessed, but all this was written at the kings commandment. Now when all things were come to the extremity in the City, there were two that fled from thence, of which one was taken of the soldiers, the other came to the Bishop under safe conduct, both these showed, how the City might be taken. The Bishop & the general captain hearing the words of these two fugitives, and weighing the matter, the xxii ⟨p. 443⟩of June they talked with them of the City, advertising them to yield them selves into their hands, and to save the multitude, which perished with hunger. Answer was made in the presence of the king, by Roteman, that in no wise, they would give over from that which they had begun. Two days after about the• xi hour in the night the army came near to the City without making any noise: by the advice of the two fugitives, certain chosen soldiers passed the ditch, and came to the trench, killing the watchmen: other followed after these, which found a little gate open through which they entered into the City to the number of five hundred with certain captains and standards.

Now when they in the Citie were come into this case, that diuerse of thē daily died for hunger, and that many also departed from thence, and came out so weake and feble that the ennemies had pitie vpon them, the captaine sent worde to ye townes mē that if they wolde deliuer to them the king & certen others, they them selues should be perdoned. The citezins, althogh they had good will so to do, yet durst they not go about it, the crueltie of the king was so great, and the watch was kept so streitly: for the king was so obstinate, that as long as there remained any thing for him to eate and a few others, he was fully bent not to yelde. for which cause the captaines sent word againe and commāded them that from thēce furth, they should not send any furthe of their citie, not so much as children or women. This was in the calēdes of Iune, the day folowing they made vniuste compleining that their cause might not lawfully be heard, and that they were wrōgfully afflicted aboue measure, also profering them selues to submission, if any could shew them wherein they offended: futher more they expounded a certen place of Daniel, as of the fourth beast much more cruel then the others, the conclusion of their leters was this: That God aiding them they wold stand to the trueth which they had confessed, but all this was written at the kings commādement. Now when all things were come to the extremitie in ye Citie, there were two that fled from thence, of which one was taken of the soldiours, the other came to the Bishope vnder safe conducte, both these shewed, how the Citie might be taken. The Bishope & the general captain hearing the words of these two fugitiues, and weying the mater, the xxii