but refusing the money said vnto her Mistresse sinâ—… 〈◊〉 were agaynst good manners to refuse a Gentlewomans New-yeares gift I am content to take your Gloues but for your Money I vtterly refuse it much against her mynd he restored her the Gold backe agayne Another tyme also one 〈◊〉 Gresham hauing a cause â—…ding before him in the Châ—…ncery sent him for a New 〈◊〉 gift a fayre Gilded cup The â—…shon whereof he very well â—…king caused one of his owne cups though not to his mynd of so good a fashon yet much better in value to be brought forth of his Chamber which he willed the Messenger in recompence to redeliuer vnto his Mistresse for with other condition he would in no wise receiue it Now when the King plainly saw that he could not by any meanes wyn Syr Thomas More to his syde he went about by terror and threates to inforce him thereunto the beginning wherof was occasioned in this manner There was a certaynâ—… Nunne dwelling in Canterbury commonly called The holy Mayd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who for the exteriour shew of her Vertue and Holinâ—…e grew into great esteeme amongst the common People first and then amongst others and for that cause many Religious persons many Doctors of Diuinity and diuers others of very great accompt of the Layty vsed to resort vnto her This holy woman affirmed to haue had a Reuelation from heauen to giue the King warning of his wicked life and of the abuse of the Sword and Authority committed vnto him by God and vnderstanding the Bishop of Rochester Doctour Fisher to be a man of notable vertuous life great learning she repayred to Rochester and there disclosed to him her sayd Reuelation desiring his aduice and counsell therein which the Bishop well perceiuing might stand with the lawes of God and holy Chuâ—…h â—…uised her as she before intenâ—…ed and had warning to do to 〈◊〉 vnto the King herselfe and â—…are vnto him all the cirâ—…stances therof Whereupon 〈◊〉 wâ—…nt and told vnto his Maâ—… her said Reuelation and so 〈◊〉 home to Cantâ—…rbury Within a short tyme after this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…oly Nunne made a â—…orney to the Monastery of Sion 〈◊〉 vpoÌ„ the Thames a litle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by meanes of 〈◊〉 M. Râ—…old a Father of the â—…ame house 〈◊〉 the Religious â—…erof At which tyme it hapâ—… Syr Thomas More to be at 〈◊〉 visiting some of his aquainâ—…ance there talking with the â—…nne about some of her Reâ—…lations especially that which did concerne the Kings Supremacy and Marriage which he said he might freely and safely do without any daunger of the law by reason the same was then neither established by Statute nor confirmed by Oath as he himselfe had loÌ„g before prognosticated neuerthelesse in all the discourse and passages of speach which he had with the said Nunne as it after ward appeared he had carried himselfe so discreetly that he rather deserued coÌ„mendatioÌ„s theÌ„ blame At the Parlament following there was a bill put vp for the attaynting of the forsaid Nunne of Cantâ—…ury of some other Monasticall persons of High Treason as also Bishop Fishâ—… of 〈◊〉 Sâ—…r Thomas More and diuers others of 〈◊〉 of Treason With which the King veriâ—…y thought Syr Thomas More would be so terrified that it would inforce him to relent coÌ„descend to his purpose wherin as it seemed his Grace was much mistaken To this Bill Syr Thomas More was sâ—…ter to be receiued personâ—…ly to make answere for himâ—… in his owne defence But the King not liking that assignâ—…d the Bishop of Canterbury 〈◊〉 Lord ChaÌ„cellour the Duke of No folke and M. Cromwell at a day and place appoynted to 〈◊〉 Syr Thomas More before them At which tyme M. Roper thinking his Father had now fit opportunity aduised him to labour thâ—…se Lordes for the help of his dischaâ—…ge forth of the Parlament Bill who answered M. Roper that he would At his comming before the Lordes according to theyr appoyntment they intertaâ—…ned him very â—…iendly and willed him to 〈◊〉 downe with them which in no wise he would 〈◊〉 began the Lord Chancellour to declare vnto him how many wayes the â—…ing had sheweâ—… his loue and fauour towards him how gladly he would haue had him continue in his Office and how willing he would haue ben to haue heaped more Benefits vpon him how he could aske no worldly Honour or Profit at the Kings handes that was likely to be â—…enyed him hoping by this declaration of the Kinâ—… fauours towards him to 〈◊〉 â—…im to fauour his Highnes buâ—… of the mariage And lastly he requested his consent vnto no more but what the Parlament the Bishops and 〈◊〉 had allready admitted and 〈◊〉 To this Syr Tâ—…omas Mâ—…re 〈◊〉 maâ—…e answere sâ—…ying There is no man liuâ—…ng my Lordes that would with better will do the thing that might be aâ—…table to the Kings Highnes then my selfe who neeâ—…es must coÌ„fesse his manifold gooâ—…nesse and bountifull benefits mâ—…st 〈◊〉 bestowed vpon me Howbeit I verily thought that I should neuer haue heard more of this matter considering that from time to time euen from the first beginning heer of I haue declareâ—… my mind playnly truly to his 〈◊〉 which his â—…ighnes eueâ—… 〈◊〉 to me like a most graciouâ—… 〈◊〉 very well to aâ—…ept â—…uer mynding as he said to 〈◊〉 me further therewith â—…nce 〈◊〉 tyme I could neuâ—…r 〈◊〉 further matter that was 〈◊〉 to moue me to any other 〈◊〉 whâ—…ch if I could there is nâ—…t a man in all the word that would haue bâ—…ne more glad thâ—…of then my selfe Mâ—…ny thinges more of like sort were heere vttered on both sides and in the end when they saw they could not by any manner of persuasion remoue him from his former determination then they began to touch him more neâ—…rely telling him that â—…he Kinges Maiesty had giuen â—…hem in commandemet 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 by no gentle meanâ—…s wyn 〈◊〉 to charge him in his Name with great â—…gratitude that â—…here was neuer found seruant â—…o his Soueraigne so vngrateâ—… nor subieâ—…t to his Prince so 〈◊〉 as he for tâ—…at by his 〈◊〉 sinister 〈◊〉 he had moâ—…t vnnaturally vrged procuâ—…ed his 〈◊〉 to set forth â—…a Booke Of the Asertion of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and maynâ—…nance of the Popes Authoriâ—… and therby caused him to 〈◊〉 great dishonour throughout 〈◊〉 to put a sword into the Popâ—…s handes to fight agaynst himselfe Now whâ—…n thâ—…y had thus laid 〈◊〉 these and all other such like terrours 〈◊〉 which they cold imagine agâ—…ynst him My Lordes quoth he these be but Bugbeares only to 〈◊〉 Children and not me Bâ—…t to answere that wherewith you do 〈◊〉 accuse me I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Kings 〈◊〉 out of his Honour wilâ—…â—…euer lay any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to my châ—…rge for thâ—…e is no man in the world thâ—…t can in that 〈◊〉 sâ—…y 〈◊〉 in my excuse thâ—…n his 〈◊〉 himselfe who knoweth right well that 〈◊〉 uer was his procurer or Counsellour therevnto but after it was
deuised to allure his Maiesty who was alâ—… ready contrary to the Cardinaâ—… mynd and knowledge fallen iâ—… loue with the Lady Anne Bullen to affect the French Kings Sister Which thing because of thâ—… wars and hatred that was theâ—… â—…etweene the French King and â—…e Emperour whome the Carâ—…inall now mortally hated he eryâ—… earnestly indeauoured to â—…rocure And for the better furâ—…ering this his purpose he reâ—…uested one Langland Bishop of â—…incolne and Ghostly Father to 〈◊〉 Henâ—…y to put a scruple into â—…he K. head that it was not lawâ—… for him to mary his Brothers â—…ife which thing the King not â—…ry to heare of related first to 〈◊〉 Thomas More required his â—…ounsell therein and with all â—…ewed himsome places of Scriture which seemed somewhat 〈◊〉 serue his purpose Syr Thomaâ—…â—…ore perusing the said places â—…ereupon as one that had neâ—…r professed Diuinity excused â—…mselfe vnto his Maiesty and said he was farre vnfit to meddle with such affaires The King not satisfied with this answere pressed and vrged him the more which he perceauing said vnto his Maiesty that for asmuch as such a busines required good aduise and deliberation he besought his Highnes to giue him sufficient respit to coÌ„sider aduisedly of the same Wherwith the King well contented replyed That Tonstall Clark Bishops of Durham Bath with others learned of his priuy CouÌ„sell should also be dealers therin So Syr Thomas More departed and conferred those places of Scripture with the Expositions of diuers of the ancient Fathers and Doctours of the Church and at his comming to Court talking with the King of the aforesaid matter he said To be playne with your Grace neither my Lord of Durham nor my Lord of Bath though I hold â—…hem to be both learned verâ—…uous holy Prelates nor my â—…elfe with any other of your Counsell being all your Maieâ—…ties owne seruants so greatâ—…y bound vnto you for your maâ—…ifold benefits dayly bestowed vpon vs be in my iudgment fit Counsellors for your Grace heâ—…ein But if your Maiesty desyre â—…o vnderstand the Truth such Counsellors may be found as â—…either for respect of worldâ—… commodity nor for feare of â—…our Princely authority will â—…ny way be drawne to deceiuâ—…â—…ou And then he named vnto the King S. Hierome S. Augustine and diuers others auncient Fathers Doctors of the Church both Greeke an Latin and further shewed his Maiesty what authority he had gathered forth of them of which although the King as not fitting to his purpose did not very well like yet were they by Syr Thomas Moreâ—… so wisely alleaged and so tempred with discretion that the King at that tyme tooke it in good part and had oftentimes conference with him againe about the same matter After this there were certayne questions propounded to thâ—… Kings Counsell whether in this case the King needed to haue any scruple at all and if he had what was the best way to freâ—… him of it The greater part of the Counsell were of opinion that there was good cause of scruple and that for his Maiesties discharge therin it was fit suite should be made vnto the Sea of Rome where the King thought that by his liberality he might with ease obtayne his purpose TheÌ„ was there procured from Rome a commission for the try all of this Mariage wherein Cardinall Campegius and Cardinall Wolsey were ioyned commissioners who for the determination therof sate at the Blacke-Fryers in London where a Libell was put in for the anulling of the said Mâ—…triomony affirming the Mariage betweene the King and Qâ—…eene to be vnlawfull Then againe for proofe therof to be lawfull there was produced 〈◊〉 dispensation in which after diuers disputations thereupoÌ„ holden there appeared an imperfection which notwithstanding by an other instrument or Breuâ—… found out vpon search in thâ—… Treasury of Spayne sent oueâ—… to the commissioners in EnglaÌ„dâ—… was supplyed so should iudgmeÌ„t haue ben giuen by the Popâ—… accordingly had not the King vpon intelligence therof beforâ—… the same Iudgment appealed to a Generall CouÌ„cell After whose Appellation the Cardinalls satâ—… no more vpon that businesse It happened before the saâ—… matter of Mariage brought in Question that M. Roper being one day in discourse with Syâ—… Tho. More did with a kind of â—…oy congratulate with his said Father for the happy Estate of the Realme that had so Cathoâ—…ique a Prince as no Heretique durst shew his face so vertuous and learned a Clergy so graue and sound a Nobility and so loâ—…ing and obedient Subiects all â—…n one fayth agreeing togeather Troth it is so indeed Sonne Roâ—…er quoth he and then commended all degrees and estates of the same far beyond M. Roper And yet Sonne Roper quoth he I pray God that some of vs as high as we seeme to sit vpon the Mountaynes treading Heretiâ—…ques vnder our feete like Ants â—…ue not to see the day when we gladly would wish to be in league and composition with those whome you call Heretiques to let them haue their Churchâ—… quietly to themselues vpon coÌ„â—… dition that they would be content to let vs haue ours quieâ—… to our selues Then M. Roper produceâ—… many reasons to the contrary saw no cause why any shoulâ—… say so Well well Sonne Ropâ—… quoth he I pray God some 〈◊〉 vs liue not till that day and 〈◊〉 no more To whome M. 〈◊〉 replyed By my troth Syr thâ—…s 〈◊〉 desperatly spoken seeming 〈◊〉 be halfe angry with Syr 〈◊〉 More who perceiuing the 〈◊〉 said merily vnto him Well 〈◊〉 SoÌ„ne Ropâ—…r It shall not be then since you will not haue it soâ—… Thus was he of so excellent 〈◊〉 temper that those who liued were coÌ„tinually coÌ„uersant with him in his house for the space 〈◊〉 twenty yeares and vpwardes â—…ould neuer perceiue him to be â—…nce moued or to make the â—…ast shew of anger But to returne agayne where â—…eft After the supplying of the â—…spensation sent vnto the comâ—…ioners into England as is â—…efore rehearsed the King taâ—…ng the businesse to himselfe as â—…t then mynding to proceed â—…y further in the matter assiâ—…ed the Bishop of Durham and 〈◊〉 Thomas More to go Embassaâ—…urs to Cambray a place neiâ—…er Imperiall nor French to â—…eat a Peace betweene the Emâ—…rour the FreÌ„ch King himâ—…fe in the concluding wherof â—…r Tho. More so worthily manâ—…ged the busines that he procured therby much more benefit for the Kingdome then was at that tyme by the King and his CouÌ„sell thought possible could be coÌ„passed For whose good seruice in that Embassy the King when he after made him Lord Chauncellour caused the Duke of Norfolke to declare openly to the people how much all â—…ngland was bounden vnto him as you shall see heeâ—…after more 〈◊〉 large Now vpon the coÌ„ming home of the Bishop of Durham and Syâ—… Thomas More from Cambray aforsayd the King began to reneâ—… agayne his old suite and waâ—… very earnest in persuading Syâ—… Thomas More to agree vnto thâ—…
matter of his marriage vsinâ—… all the wayes and meanes 〈◊〉 could deuise to draw him to his part and as it was thought did the rather for that end soone afâ—…er create him Lord Chauncelâ—…our of England And the King said further vnto him that alâ—…hough at his going to Cambray he was in vtter despaire to obâ—…ne dispensation thereof yet â—…ow he had conceiued some goâ—…d hope to coÌ„passe the same â—…eaging that albeâ—…t his Marâ—…iage as being agaynst the posiâ—…ue Law of the Church the â—…itten Law of God was holâ—…en by the dispensation yet is â—…here another thing found out â—…flate quoth the King wherby â—…his Marriage appeareth so direâ—…tly agaynst the law of Nature â—…hat it can in no wise by the Church be dispensable as Doâ—…or Stokesley whome he had then preferred to the Bishopricke of London can well instruct you with whome vpon this point I would haue you to confer So they conferred togeatherâ—… But for all this Conference Syr Thomas More could not be induced to change his opinion therein Yet notwithstanding did the Bishop in his Report oâ—… him to the King affirme falsely that he found Syr Thomas More in the Kings cause very forward as being desirous to find some good matter wherewith he might serue the Kings contentment in that case Now this Bishop Stokesley hauing a litle before byn by Cardinall Wolsey openly rebuked in the Sarre-chamber awarded 〈◊〉 the Flecte he not well brooâ—…ing this contumelious vsage â—…nd knowing that forasmuch 〈◊〉 the Cardinall for his backeâ—…ardnes in pursuing the Kings â—…uorse was falling out of his â—…ghnes fauour and that he had â—…ow espied a fit opportunity to â—…euenge his quarell agaynst the â—…ardinall and to incense the â—…ing further agaynst him at â—…ast preuayled so far that the Cardinall was soone after disâ—…laced from his office of high Chancellorship and the same was conferred vpon Syr Thomas â—…ore hoping therby so to win â—…im to his syde that he would â—…ield his consent for the matter â—…f diuorse Then was Syr Thomas More betweene the Dukes of 〈◊〉 and Nâ—…rfolke brought througâ—… 〈◊〉 Hall to his place 〈◊〉 the Chancery and the Duke 〈◊〉 Norfolkâ—… in the audience of 〈◊〉 the people there assembled 〈◊〉 wed that he was from the 〈◊〉 himselfe straitley charged 〈◊〉 speciall commiâ—…ion to 〈◊〉 theâ—…e openly in the presence 〈◊〉 them all how much all 〈◊〉 was beholding to Syr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for his good seruice anâ—… how worthily he deâ—…erued thâ—… highest roome in the Kingdom and further how deere his Maiesty loued trusted him wherâ—…in quoth the Duke he hatâ—… great cause to reioyce praysâ—… Almighty God Whereunto Syr Thomas Morâ—… amongst diuers other wise and â—…arned speches made answere â—…nd replyed that allthough he â—…ad good cause to take comfort 〈◊〉 his Highnes singular fauour â—…wards him to whome thereâ—…ore he acknowledged himselfe â—…ost deeply bounden yet neâ—…erthelesse he must for his owne â—…art needes confesse that in all â—…ose things by thâ—… Duks Grace â—…here alleaged he had done noâ—…hing but what was his duty â—…nd furthermore said That he â—…as very vnfit for that dignity â—…herein considering how wise â—…nd worthy a Prelate had lately â—…efore taken so great a fall he â—…aid he had no great cause to reâ—…oyce And as they had before in â—…he Kings behalfe charged him 〈◊〉 minister Iustice vprightly â—…ndiffereÌ„tly to the people without corruption or affection 〈◊〉 did he likewise charge them agayne that if they saw him at any time to digresse in the least thing touching any part of hiâ—… duty in that honourable Office euen as they would discharg their owne duty and fidelity 〈◊〉 God and the King they would not fayle to declaâ—…e the same to his Maâ—…esty who otherwise might haue iust caùse to lay the fault wholy vpon them and to their charge Now when he was Lord Chauncellour on a tyme being at leasure as seldome he was a Sonne in law of his who had marryed one of his daughters spake merrily vnto him saying When Cardinall Wolsey was Lord Chancellour not onely â—…iuers of his priuy ChaÌ„ber but â—…uch also as were but his very â—…oor-keepers got much proffit â—…nd now sith I haue maryed one â—…f your daughters and giue my â—…ayly attendance vpon youâ—… I â—…hinke I might of reason looke â—…or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…oyle all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you be so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to heare euery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pâ—…re as rich beâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no doores shut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to me no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and discouraâ—…eÌ„t whereas otherwise some â—…or friendshippe some for kynâ—…red but most for profit would 〈◊〉 glad to haue my furtherance 〈◊〉 bring them to your presence And now as the case stands if 〈◊〉 should take any thing of them know I should do them much wrong for that they may do 〈◊〉 much for themselues as I 〈◊〉 able to do for theÌ„ Which thinâ—… though it be in you very comâ—… mendable yet to me your Sonâ—… I find it nothing profitable You say well Sonne quoâ—… Syr Thomas More I do not mâ—… like that you are so scrupuloâ—… of conscience for there be mâ—…ny other wayes wherein I maâ—… both do you good and pleasurâ—… your friend also for sometymâ—… may I by my word stand yoâ—… friend insteed and sometimâ—… I may by my letters help hiâ—… or if he haue a cause dependiâ—… before me at your request I mâ—… heare him before another oâ—… his cause be not altogether 〈◊〉 the best yet may I moue the paâ—… tyes to fall to some reasonabâ—… end or compound by arbitrement Howbeit this one thing Sonne I assure thee on my Fayth that if the parties will at my hands call for iustice then if â—…it were my Father that stood on the one side and the Diuell on the other side his cause being good the Diuell surely should haue right So offered he to his Sonne as much fauour as he thought he could in reason require And that he would for no respect digresse neuer so litle froÌ„ iustice did plainely appeare by another of his Sonns in law one M. Giles Hâ—…ron who had a sorry suite depending before him in the ChaÌ„cery yet presuming much vpon his Fathers fauour would in no wayes be perswaded by him to come to an indifferent compositioÌ„ with his aduersary wherevpon in triall of the matter Syr Thomas Mâ—…re pronounced sentence agaynst him He vsed euery afternoone to sit in his open Hall to the end that whosoeuer had any suit vnto him they might the more boulder come to his presence and there to open theyr Complayints before him Also his manner was to read euery Bill himselfe before he would grant any Sub poena and hauing read it he would either set his hand vnto it or else cancell it Whensoeuer he passed throgh Westminster Hall to his place in Chancery by the Court of Kings BeÌ„â—…h if his Father one of the Iudges therof had bin there set before he came he would go into the same Court there most reuerently vpon his
knees before the whole Assembly aske his Father blessing As likewise if his Father and he chanced to meet at the Lecture in Lincolnes Inâ—…e as oftentymes they did yet notwithstanding his high place Office would he offer in Argument the preheminence vnto his Father nor would himselfe accept thereof vntill his Father had refused it And for further declaration of his naturall affection loue towardes his Father when he lay sicke vpon his death bed he did not only according to his duty oftentymes come and visit him with all manner of comfort but also at his departure out of the world he tooke him about the Necke kissed imbraced him commending his soule into mercyfull hands of Almighty God and so departed Whilest he was Lord Chancellour he graunted but few Iniunctions yet were they by some of the Iudges of the Law misliked which M. Roper vnderstanding declared the same vnto Syr Thomas More who answered that they should haue litle cause to find fault with him therfore Whereupon he caused one M. Crooke chiefe of the six Clarkes to make a Docket conteyning the whole number and causes of all such Iniunctions as either in his tyme had already passed or at the present depended in any of the Kings Courts at Westminster before â—…im which done he one day inâ—… all the Iudges to dinner with him in the Counsell ChaÌ„â—…er at Westminster and after â—…ynner when he had broken with them what coÌ„playnts he had heard of his Iniunctions moreouer had shewed them the â—…umber and causes of euery one â—…n order truly playnely they were all inforced to confesse â—…hat themselues in like cases could haue done no otherwise Then made he this offer vnto â—…hem That if the Iudges of eueâ—…y Court vnto whome the reformation of the rigour of the Law by reason of their Office most especially appertayned would vpon reasonable considerations in their owne discretions as he thought they werâ—… bound to do in conscience mitigate and reforme the rigor of the law themselues there should from thenceforth be no more Iniunctions graunted out by him Whereunto when they refused to condescend then said he vnto them For asmuch as your selues my Lordes force me to that necessity of granting out Iniunctions for reliefe of the peoples iniuries you cannot hereafter any more iustly blame me After that he spake priuatly to M. Roper saying I perciue why they liked not so to do for they see that they may by the verdict of the Iury cast all quarrels vpon those whome they account their chiefe defence and therefore am I compelled to abide the aduenture of all such Reports Now in the tyme of his Chancellourshippe allthough he had but litle leasure to busy himselfe in the study of holy Scriptures and Controuersies in Religion with other such like Exercises being in a manner continually imployed about the affaires of the King and Kingdome yet did he take many watchfull paines in setting forth diuers profitable workes in the defence of Christian Religion agaynst Heresies that then were blowne abroad In so much that the Bishops to whose Pastorall care that Reformation chiefly beloÌ„ged seeing themselues by his trauell wherein by their owne confession they were not any way able to compare with him in great part discharged of theâ—…r dutyes in that behalse considering that for all the Princes fauor his great Office he was no rich man nor had in yearly reuenewes aduaÌ„ced himselfe as his worthynes deserued therefore at a Conuocation holden amongst themselues and others of the Clergy they agreed to recompence him with a summe of fiue thousand pounds for his paynes taken in their behalfe To the payment wherof euery Bishop Abbot and others of the Clergy according to the rates of their abilityes became liberall Contributaries hoping that this their liberality would giue him good content Wherevpon Bishop Tonstall of DurhaÌ„ Bishop Clarke of Bath D. Voysey Biâ—…hop of Exceter repayred vnto 〈◊〉 Tho. More declaring how â—…hankefully to their discharge â—…n Gods cause they reckoned â—…hemselues vnto him and albeit â—…hey could not according to his deserts so worthily requite his â—…ours therefore must refer â—…he same to Gods gracious goodâ—…esse yet for a small gratuity in â—…espect of his Estate so vneqúall â—…o his Worth in the Name of their whole Conuocation they presented vnto him the forsaid â—…umme desiring him to accept of it in good part But Syr Thoâ—…as More refusing this their tenâ—…er said vnto them That as it was no small comfort vnto him â—…hat so wise and learned men accepted of his weake labours for which he neuer intended to receiue any other reward but at the hands of God to whome alone all the thankes therof were chiefly to be ascribed So gaue he most humble thankes vnto all their Honours for their so friendly and honourable consideration and earnestly intreated them to returne euery man his money agayne Wherfore when after much pressing him to accept therof cold not preuaile they besought him that they might bestow it vpon his Wife and Children Not so my Lords quoth he had rather see it cast into the Thames then either I or any 〈◊〉 myne should haue the value 〈◊〉 one penny therof For my Lordes though your offer indeed be very fayre and friendly yet set I so much by my pleasure so litle by my profit that I would not in good fayth for so much and much more to haue lost so many a good nights sleepe as I spent vpon the same And yet I would wish for all that vpon conditioÌ„ that Heresies were suppressed that all my Bookes were burned my labour lost Thus departed they from him and were driuen to returne euery man his owne money agayne This Lord Chancellour although he was well knowne both to God and the world to be a man of most eminent Vertue though not so considered of euery man yet for the auoyding of singularity would he appeare to the ey of the world no otherwise then other men as well in his apparell as behauiour And albeit he appeared outwardly Honourable like to one of his Dignity Calling yet inwardly did he esteme all such thingâ—… for meere vanity for next to hiâ—… naked body he wore almost coÌ„tinually a shirt of hayre the 〈◊〉 a young Gentlewoman named M. rs More by chance on day 〈◊〉 pying as he sat in his doublet hose at dynner in the soÌ„mer tyme and seemed to smile therat his daughter Roper perceiuing the same being not ignorant of this his austerity gaue him priuate notice thereof and he did presently amend the fault seeming withall sorry that she had feene it He also wore another playne course shirt without ruffe or collar vpon his shirt of hayre And many tymes he likewise punished his body with whips made of knotted cordes the which thing was only knowne to his daughter Roper who for her secresy aboue all the râ—…st he especially trusted for that as need required she did alwayes wash