"A way must be found. And let it not be that easy way which will most
utterly defeat your honest purpose. The knots of the State are to be
unravelled, not cut with the sword."
Cromwell smiled sadly, and his long face had for
the moment a curious look of a puzzled child.
"I believe you to be a godly man, friend Nicholas. But I fear your soul is
much overlaid with worldlythings, and you lean too much on frail
understanding. I, too, am without clearness. I assent to your wisdom, but I
cannot think it concludes the matter. In truth, we have come in this dark
hour to the end of fleshly reasonings. It cannot be that the great marvels
which the Lord has shown us can end in barrenness. His glorious
dispensations must have an honest fruition, for His arm is not shortened."
He rose to his feet and tightened the belt which he had unbuckled. "I await
a sign," he said. "Pray for me, friend, for I am a man in sore perplexity.
I lie o' nights at Whitehall in one of the King's rich beds, but my eyes do
not close.
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