so low an estate Honourable pouerty of so great 〈◊〉 personage 8. How 〈◊〉 and confidently he deposed his office An excellent letter to 〈◊〉 shop 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 parpose Great offices 〈◊〉 vndertaken and as dangrous to be given ouer A 〈◊〉 valuar 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S 〈◊〉 Mores humble estimation of himself He sends his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 His innocence in his office Testified in priuat and publik by the King The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of As thaÌ„kfull to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for as for the office itself Another 〈◊〉 for his weak health ConteÌ„pt of all vaioglory 1. His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 1 Hatred to heresie Yet in his 〈◊〉 no heretik pur to death 2. Continuall talk of spirituall matters 3. Desire to suffer for Christ 〈◊〉 A notable lesson for all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to M. r 〈◊〉 But not kept by the sayd M. CroÌ„well Bad Counsellours make bad Princes The reward of bad couÌ„sel exaÌ„plified in CroÌ„well Of good Counsellours in S. Tho. More 3. The 〈◊〉 of Q. Anne 〈◊〉 CraÌ„mers good qualities He concludes the mariage to be lawful The cause of EnglaÌ„ds separation froÌ„ Rome Sir Tho. Mores propheticall ghesse of the oath of supremacy 4. Sir Tho. M. refused to be at Q. Annes coronatioÌ„ His couÌ„sel and predictioÌ„ to the Bishops his good fâ—â—nds A notable story wonderfully and prophetically applied His purpose rather to be denoured then 〈◊〉 Q Annes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas And the kings displeasure Sir Thomas disposeth him self more immediatly to suffer death A ChristiaÌ„ 〈◊〉 5. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occasioÌ„ of calling into question for Q. Anne The holy Nunne of Kent Warned by reuelation to rebuke K. HeÌ„ry Conferreth her reuelations with B. Fisher Her talk with Sir Thomas More Waryly handled by him Accusations pronounced against Sir Thomas That he impugned the K. mariage Quarrels picked against his ChauÌ„cellourship A supposed bribe pleasantly consuced A contteous refusall of an honest reward Another of like nature Sir Tho. More a wise marchaÌ„t traffiking for heauen 7. Sir T. M. his first 〈◊〉 A parlament to attaint true 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The Kings deputies 〈◊〉 examin Sir Tho. M. The 〈◊〉 saires words 〈◊〉 winne Sir Tho. Fairly answered with a mild and constant refusall The Deputies threats Sir T. M. accused for autour of the kings book for the Pope His constant reply and euident 〈◊〉 Wise 〈◊〉 wary counsel of Sir Tho. to the King The king acknowledgeth obligatioÌ„ of his crowne to Rome 8. His merry hart after his examination A fail giuen to the 〈◊〉 The Kings indignatioÌ„ against Sir Tho. Prndent and politikaduise in so bad a cause Proceeding against Sit Tho. M. disterred A braue answer to a frinds feare 1. The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. M. cited to takesit His preparation before his going His discreet behaue our in that cause He refuseth the sath for conscieÌ„co sake All the clergy but Bishop fisher and D. Wilson did take the oath Vnder what coÌ„ditioÌ„s Sir T. M of 〈◊〉 to set 〈◊〉 his reason of refusall Sir T. M offer proceede h not of uncertaly but because he was certain his reasons were unanswerable All Christendom of more autority then all england The oath of 〈◊〉 2. Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prisonmeÌ„t First in Westminster Then by Q. Anne importunity in the Tower His vvillingnesse to leese all for Christ. The vpper garment the porters fee. His mans oath His wonderfull courage 3. His 〈◊〉 with his daughter 〈◊〉 PreueÌ„ted with prayers The coÌ„fort he found in his emprisonment Fiue reasons vsed by his daughter to make him 〈◊〉 1. Obedience to the King 2. Autority of wise meÌ„ 3 Only B. Fisher of his mind 4. Him self a lay man 5. against a pariament Sir T. M. answers All the saints of God acknowleged the Popessupremacy Why he 〈◊〉 touche i that point in his writings 〈◊〉 with which many deceaue their owne coÌ„sciences He knew not of B. Fishers mind The Doctours of the Church greater then Doctours of England And generall CouÌ„cels then a ParlameÌ„t His trust in Gods mercy against the fear of death A heaueÌ„ly resignation 4. Sir T. M. Prophecieth Q. Annes death His plesant answer to his 〈◊〉 honest excuse The 〈◊〉 constaÌ„cy andignorance of the oath makers His meditation vpon the martyrdom of 24. religious meÌ„ Maister Secretary Cromwells visit Sir T. M. writ in the tower his book of comfort 5. A prety dialogue between Sir T. M. and his wife Her worldly obiectioÌ„ His heauenly answer Prison as neer heauen as our owne house Eternity to be preferred before temporallity An other visit 6. M. Rich his sophisticall case A poor ground for an inditement of treasoÌ„ 7. A remarkably accident at the taking away his bookes His mery ieast vpoÌ„ it 8. How great care he took not to offend the king The substance of his inditement 1. The arrangement of Sir Th. More His Iudges His 〈◊〉 The iudges chargos His Christian resolution 2. Sir Th. his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 1. How sincerly he had always told the K. his mind touching the 〈◊〉 The durance of his emprisonment and afflictioÌ„s 2. Why he refused to tell his iudgemeÌ„t of the law of supremacy Lay men not touched withthat law No law can punish fileÌ„ce that is without malice 〈◊〉 his silence were malicious ObedieÌ„ce first to God and then to man 3. That he neuer counselled or induced B. Fisher. The contents of his letters to the said Bishop 4. The law of supremacy like a two ed ged sword 3. M. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against Sir T 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Sir Tho. Mores oath to contrary By iust exceptioÌ„ against the witnesse vnworthy of credit Yf it had been true that had been no malice Malice in law The improbability of M. Rich his deposition M. Rich his witnesses do faile him 4. The Excepted against by Sir Thomas The act of parlament against Gods law No lay man can be head of the churche Against the lawes of the realme Against the kings owne oath Against the peculiar obligation of England to Rome Against all Christendom that euer 〈◊〉 5. The 〈◊〉 of S. Tho. More By yfs ands 〈◊〉 no proofes The sentence Mitigated by the king 6. Sir Thomas fully deliuereth his iudgement of the act of suoremacy to be vnlawfull Against all the churche of God 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. Mores blessed charity to his Iudges The truth of this relation froÌ„ present witnesses of credit 1. The manner of Sir Thomas his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 His soÌ„ne asketh him blessing Great costancy courtesy and 〈◊〉 2. His childrens 〈◊〉 to him His daughter Matgarets laudable passion A ponderation vpon this mutuall passioÌ„ of Father daughter Cardinal Pooles estimatio of Sir Thomas his death 3. How deuoutly cheerfully he 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 A pleasaunt coÌ„ceipt vpoÌ„ a leight courtyer His last letters To Antony BoÌ„uise To his daughter Margaret His desito dy vpoÌ„ the octaue of S. Peter which was also S. Thom. of Canterburys commemoratioÌ„ An blessing to his heire God graÌ„ted him his desires to dy the day he wished His heir-shirt and discipline 4. Aduertisment giuë him of the day of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the K. Most welcome vnto him The K. willed him to vse but few words at his exequution His wise childreÌ„ permitted to be at his 〈◊〉 His com fortable courage He put on his best apparell that day Liberally to his executioÌ„ 5. The for me of his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Persons hired to disgrace him A good 〈◊〉 He freeth one from the teÌ„tation of despairo by his prayers His 〈◊〉 at his death His prayers 〈◊〉 couereth his eyes himself His happy 〈◊〉 6. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 The place of his buriall A notable accideÌ„t about his windnig sheet His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His head His martyrdom encouraged many other to the like M. r Gardiner Euen his 〈◊〉 Parish priest 7. A 〈◊〉 vpon the blessing which he gaue to his 〈◊〉 children A praisa of M. Iohn More sonne heire to Sir Thomas The 〈◊〉 dealing of K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. Mores heires With the Lady his widow M. Iohn More coÌ„mitted to the tovver for denial of the oath The imprisonment of his daughter Margaret 8. The fauour and physiognomie of 〈◊〉 Tho. 〈◊〉 1. Cardinal Pooles lamentatioÌ„ vpon Sir Tho. Mores death 2. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 3. Doctour Cochleus of Germany Iob 12. 4. Bishop Iouius of Italy 5. W Paradin a 〈◊〉 historiaÌ„ of France 6. Riuius a ProtestaÌ„t 7. Charles the Emperour 8. Circumstances notable in the death of Sir Tho. More From the kings part From Sir Thomas Mores part Nota. An apology for his mery 〈◊〉 A fit coÌ„parison between 〈◊〉 seuerity and Sir T. M. his pleasauÌ„t disposition 10. Sir Tho. More a lay man martyr for Ecclesiasticall autority neuer before questioned Epigrammes History of K. Richard the 3 in English and Latin His 〈◊〉 Many deemed Vtopia to be a true nation and country Sheep deuour men in England Sir Tho. More his book against Luther His epistle against Pomeranus His English writings The dialog with the messinger Great sincerity in his writing and loue of the truth He writt neither for 〈◊〉 nor report His 〈◊〉 almost incredible in so greate a man Sir Tho. M no partiall 〈◊〉 to the clergy Tindals false traÌ„slation of the scripture CoÌ„suted learnedly by Sir Th. M. The wilfulnes of heretikes Tindal falsifieth Sir T. M. words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The notable disagreemeÌ„t of heretikes among theÌ„acute selues Hereticall scoffing Heretikes Hypoctisy Against the supplication of beggars Against Iohn Frith Sir Tho. Mores Apologie How heretikes recite the catholik argumeÌ„ts Touching the length of Sir Tho. Mores bookes Heretiks blaspheming the fathers would theÌ„selues be reuerently handled WheÌ„ heretikes railings are to be neglected Heretikes excellent railours The pacificatioÌ„ CoÌ„futed by Sir T. M. The debellation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Bizance How the Pacifier 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in controuersy Sir T. M. his book of the blessed Sacrament The heretiks supper of the Lord wants the best dishe Sir Tho Mores bookes written in the tower Comfort in tribulation Of CoÌ„munion Of the Passion The 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of Comfort The said book a preparation against the persequutioÌ„ which he did forsee Written when 〈◊〉 had no book about him Written with 〈◊〉 Like Esaias his cole that purified his lippes
to giue ouer all care of husbandrie and lett out our farme to others vntill vve haue better and at more leasure considered of it yet if vve haue more vvorkemen in our house then vve haue neede of such may be dismissed if they can be cōmodiously placed vvith other maisters but I vvill not suffer anie to be sent avvay to runne at randon vvithout a place to dvvell in At my returne to the king I see things go so as it is likelie I shall stay vvith him a good vvhile yet because of this misfortune perhaps I shall gett leaue to come and see you some time this next vveeke vvhen as vve vvill cōferre more at leasure about these our housholde affaires Farevvell from the Court. At Woodstock 13. Sept. 1539. But marke how God rewarded this his patience for it was in October next that he was made Lo Chancellour by which office he might easily haue purchased manie faire houses if his minde had aymed at worldlie riches and not rather thirsted after heauenlie rewards Some haue not stucke to say that if Sir THOMAS had bene so happie as to haue dyed of his naturall death about this time he had bene a very fortunate man liuing and dying in all mens fauour in the highest iudgements of the world and prosperous also to his posteritie for he had left them a fayre and great inheritance especially by the king's gracious guift But in my minde they are all carnally wise that affirme this and no way haue tasted of heauenlie wisedome For the last Scene of this Tragedie is the best and not to be wished to haue bene omitted for all the land king Henry enioyed though you adde the abbeylands and all after which now his fingars endes beganne to itche For that Card. Wolsey had shewed already a president thereof by getting leaue of the Pope to dissolue certaine small Abbyes for the building and maintenance of that great College of Christ-Church in Oxford which for that cause as I thinke is S. Peter's worke and lieth still vnfinished 6. Though in all his life time Sir THOMAS had shewed liuelie examples of manie excellent vertues as pietie zeale of God's honour wisedome Iustice liberalitie contempt of the world riches yea what not yet his most heroicall vertues towards his ende he hath expressed more liuely and exactly as his magnanimitie cōtempt of honours of wife children possessions life it selfe and whatsoeuer can be of vs desired and in steede thereof hath chosen disgraces extreame aduersities imprisonment losse of dignities goods and inheritance and hath taken vp his Crosse and followed Christ in sheding of his bloud to his honour no champion is crovvned till he hath gotten the victorie And beholde he most gloriously triumpheth ouer the flesh by forsaking his life and leauing it the world by despising it and the diuell by resisting manfully all his temptations When Sir THOMAS had behaued himselfe in his office of the Chācelour-shipp for the space of two yeare and a halfe so wisely that none could mende his doings so vprightly that none could take exception against him or his iust proceedings and so dexterously that neuer anie man did before or since that which he did For he had taken such order for the dispatching of all mens Causes that on a time sitting as ludge there and hauing finished one cause he called for the next to be heard whereto was answered that there was not one Cause more depending This he caused to be sett downe vpon recorde whereas at this day there are little fewer then a thousand if not more whereof some lye in the suddes by the space of diuerse yeares When as I say Sir THOMAS had deserued high commendations of euerie one and now perceaued that the king was fully determined to proceede to the vnfortunate marriage of Anne Bullen and for that cause a Parlement was called wherein Sir THOMAS being the chiefe Officer of the higher house was with diuerse Bishops and Noble men commaunded by the king to goe downe to the lower house to shew vnto them both what manie vniuersities beyond the seas Oxford and Cambridge at home had donne in that behalfe with their publike zeales testifying the same All which matters at the king's commaunde he opened to the Lower house not shewing his minde therein yet doubting as good cause he had least further attemps should after follow which contrarie to his conscience by reason of his office he was likelie to be putt vnto he made great suite to the Duke of Norfolke his singular good friēd that he would be a meanes to the king that he might be discharged with his Maiesties fauour of the Chancellourshipp wherein for certaine infirmities of his bodie he pretended himself vnable anie longer to serue The Duke being often thereto by Sir THOMAS sollicited at length obtayned of the king when at a time cōuenient by his Maiestie appointed Sir THOMAS repaired to the king to yeelde vp vnto him the great Seale of England which his Maiestie courteously receaued at his hands with greate praise thankes for his worthie seruice in that office at which time it pleased his highnesse to say thus vnto him That for the seruice he had hitherto done vnto him in anie suite that he should hereafter haue vnto him that either should concerne Sir THOMAS his honour that very word it liked his Highnesse to vse vnto him or that should appertaine to his profitt he should not fayle to finde him a good gracious Lord. But how true these wordes proued lett others be ludges when the king not only not bestowed vpon him the value of one pennie but tooke from him and his posteritie all that euer he had either giuen by himselfe or left him by his father or purchased by himselfe The next morning being holieday few yet knowing what had bene donne he went to Chelsey church with my Ladie and his children and familie after masse was donne because it was a custome that one of my Lord's gentlemen should then goe to my Ladie 's pewe and tell her my Lord was gone before then did he himselfe come making vnto her a courtesie with his cappe in his hād sayd may it please your Ladieshipp to come forth now my Lo is gone whereto she imagining it to be but one of his ieastes as he vsed manie vnto her he sadly affirmed vnto her that it was true for he had resigned vp his office and the king had graciously accepted it This was the way that he thought fittest to breake this matter vnto his wife who yet was full sorie to heare it it may be she spoke then those wordes which I haue rehearsed before Tillivally what will you doe M. r MORE will you sitt and make goslings in the ashes it is better to rule then to be ruled But to requite her braue minde he beganne to finde fault with her dressing for he saw a greate fault about
and mortall enmitie betweene the French king and Charles the Fift For the better compassing whereof the Cardinal requested Longland Bishopp of London who was the king's ghostlie father to putt a scruple into king Henrie's head that he should as it were another S. Iohn Baptist though the case were nothing like tell his Maiestie that it was not lawfull for him like another Herode to marrie his brothers wife And although K. Henrie's conscience had bene quiett now aboue twentie yeares togeather yet was he not vnwilling to hearken herevnto but entertayning it opened his scruple to Sir THOMAS MORE whose counsell he required herein shewing him certaine places of Scripture that somewhat seemed to serue the turne and his appetite VVhich when Sir THOMAS had seriously perused and had excused himself saying he was vnfitt to meddle with such matters being one that neuer had professed the studie of Diuinitie The king not satisfyed with this answer knowing well his iudgement to be sound in whatsoeuer he would apply himselfe vnto pressed him so sore that in conclusion he condescended to his Maiesties request being as it were a commaunde and for that the cause was of such weight and importance hauing neede of greate deliberation he besought his Maiestie to giue him sufficient respite aduisedly to consider of it with which the king very well satisfyed sayd that Tunstall and Clarke two worthie Bishops one of Durham the other of Bathe with others the learnedest of his priuie Councell should also be his Coadiutours Sir THOMAS taking his leaue of the king went and conferred with them about those places of Scripture adding thereto for their better meanes to search out the truth the expositions of the ancient Fathers and Doctours of the Church and at his next coming to the Courte talking with the king about this matter he spake thus To deale sincerely with your Maiestie neither my Lo of Durham nor my Lo of Bathe though I knowe them both wise vertuous learned and honourable prelates nor my self with the rest of your Councell being all your Grace's owne seruants and subiects for your manifolde benefitts daily bestowed vpon vs so much bound vnto your Highnesse none of vs I say nor we all togeather are in my iudgement meete counsellers for your Maiestie herein but if your princelie disposition purpose to vnderstande the verie truth hereof you may haue such counsellers as neither for respect of their owne worldlie commoditie nor feare of your princelie authoritie will beenclined to deceaue you and then he named S. Hierome S. Austine and diuerse others both Greeke and Latine Fathers shewing him moreouer what authorities he had gathered out of them that he neede not haue anie further scruple thereof and that marrying of a new wife whilst his owne was aliue was wholy repugnāt to their doctrine and the meaning of the Scriptures All which though king Henrie did not very well like of because it was disgustfull to his passionate lust yet the manner of Sir THOMAS his discourse and collection was so wisely tempered by his discreete communication that he tooke them at that present in good parte and often had conference of them againe By which manner of Sir THOMAS his counsell and sincere carriage one may easily gather what vnspotted conscience this vpright man had who for no hope of gaine or anie feare of disgrace would once swarue from the true dictamen of his Conscience and if the rest of king Henrie's counsell had bene as backward to hinder this beginning of dissolution as Sir THOMAS was no alteration of religion had by all likelyhood happened in England for from this onlie spring of K. Henrie's intemperance proceeded all the succeeding calamities which haue daily increased yet haue not anie hope of amendement All which change Sir THOMAS MORE either like a very wise man foresawe long before or rather like a prophete prophecied thereof to my vncle Rooper who on a time of a certaine ioy beganne to commende to his father-in lawe the happie estate of this realme that had so Catholike and zealous a prince that no heretike durst shew his face so learned and vertuous a Clearg e so graue and sounde a Nobilitie such louing and obedient subiects all agreing togeather in one faith and dutiefulnesse as though they had cor vnum animam vnam but one hart and one soule Sir THOMAS thus replyed againe Truth it is indeede sonne Rooper as you say and going through all estates with his commēdations of them he went farre beyond my vncle and yet sonne quoth he I pray God that some of vs as high as wee seeme to sitt now vpon the mountaines treading heretikes vnder our feete like auntes doe not liue the day that we gladly would wish to be in league with them to suffer them to haue their churches quietly to themselues so that they would he content to lett vs haue ours peaceably to our selues VVhen mine vncle Rooper had tolde him manie reasons why he had no cause to say so well sayd he I pray God some of vs liue not till that day and yet shewed he noe reason for all these his speaches whereat my vncle sayd in a choller By my troath Sir it is very desperately spoken I cry God mercie saith my vncle I vsed vnto him that very word By which speach Sir THOMAS perceauing him to be some what angrie sayd merrily well sonne Rooper it shall not be so it shall not be so But yet himself founde the predictiō too true for he liued vntil the fiueteenth yeare of Q. Elizabeth's raigne when he saw religion turned topsie turuie and no hope of anie amendement This spiritt of prophecie no doubt was a signe of Gods loue vnto Sir THOMAS being so deare in his sight that he would make him partaker of some parte of his secretts but that which he wrought in the conuersion of this his sonne in lawe was not a signe only but an euident demonstratiō of God's great fauour vnto him For when M. r VVilliam Rooper was a yong man he vsed austeritie to himselfe more then discretion afforded and by this meanes he grew wearie of the Catholike fasts and religious discipline and hearing of a new and easie way to heauen which the preachers of nouelties did promise to their followers he beganne to reade diligently the bookes of heresies which came ouer and were spread in euerie place of England in so much that being wearie of Auricular Confession fasting the lent and vigiles he grew vehement in his new opinions and zealous in breaking of them to others so as that he would be alwaies talking what a readie way to heauen was now found out no bodie needing to sue to Saints or mens prayers but Gods eare was open still to heare and his mercie readie to forgiue anie sinner whatsoeuer when he shall call to him by fayth which was only necessarie to saluation and hauing that only which he assured himself of he needed not
vvhat notable experience vvhat a prosperous and fauourable fortune he had for a great space and hovv at the last he had a most grieuous fall and dyed inglorious I haue cause enough by my predecessours example to thinke honour but slipperie and this dignitie not so gratefull to me as it may seeme to others for both is it a hard matter to follovv vvith like paces or praises a man of such admirable vvitt prudence authoritie and splendour to vvhome I may seeme but as the lighting of a candle vvhen the sunne is dovvne and â—â—â—â—â—he sudden and vnexpected fall of so great a man as he vvas doth terribly putt me in minde that this honour ought not to please me too much nor the lustre of this glistering seate dazel mine eyes VVherefore I ascende this seate as a place full of labour and danger voyde of all solide and true honour the vvhich by hovv much the higher it is by so much greater sall I am to feare as vvell in respect of the verie nature of the thing it selfe as because I am vvarned by this late fearefull example And truly I might euen novv at this verie first entraÌ„ce stumble yea faynte but that his maiestie's most singular fauour tovvards me and all your good vvills vvhich your ioyfisll countenance doth testifye in this most honourable assemblie doth somevvhat recreate and refresh me othervvise this seace vvould be no more pleasing to me then that svvord vvas to Damocles vvhich hung ouer his head tyed only by a hayre of a horse's tale vvhen he had store of delicate fare before him seated in the chayre of state of Denis the Tirant of Sicilie this therefore shal be alvvaies freshin my minde this vvill I haue still before mine eies that this seate vvill be honourable famous and full of glorie vnto me if I shall vvith care and diligence fidelitie and vvisedome endeauour to doe my distie and shall persvvade myself that the enioying thereof may chance to be but short vncertaine the one vvhereof my labour ought to perfourme the other my predecessour's example may easily teache me All vvhich being so you may easily perceaue vvhat great pleasure I take in this high dignitie or in this most noble Dukes pruising of me All the world tooke notice now of Sir THOMAS'S dignitie whereof Erasmus writeth to Iohn Fabius Bishopp of Vienna thus Concerning the new increase of honour lately happened to THOMAS MORE I should easily make you belieue it if I should shew you the letters of manie famous men reioycing with much alacritie and congratulating the king the realme himself and also me for MORE' 's honour in being made Lo Chancellour of England 5. Now it was a comfortable thing for anie man to beholde how two great roomes of VVestminster hall were taken vp one with the sonne the other with the father which hath as yet neuer bene heard of before or since the sonne to be Lo Chancellour and the father Sir Iohn More to be one of the ancientest Iudges of the king's Bench if not the eldest of all for now he was neare 90. yeare olde Yea what a gratefull spectacle was it to see the sonne aske the father blessing euerie day vpon his knees before he sate in his owne seate a thing expressing rare humilitie exeÌ„plar obedieÌ„ce submissiue pietie Shortly beganne euery one to finde a great alteration betweene the intolerable pride of the precedent Chancellour VVolsey who would scarce looke or speake to anie and into whose onlie presence none could be admitted vnlesse his fingars were tipped with golde and on the other side this Chancelour the poorer and the meaner the suppliant was the more affably he would speake vnto him the more attentiuely he would hearken to his cause and with speedie try all dispatche him for which purpose he vsed commonly euerie afternoone to sitt in his open hall so that if anie person whatsoeuer had anie sute vnto him he might the more boldely come vnto him and there open to him his complaints VVhich his open manner of extraordinarie fauour to all my vncle Dauncy his sonne in law seemed merrily on a time to finde faulte with saying that when Card VVolsey was Chancellour not only diuerse of his inner chaÌ„ber but such as were but his doorekeepers got great gaines by him and sith I haue married one of your daughters I might of reason looke for some commoditie but you are so readie to doe for euerie poore man and keepe no doores shutt that I can finde no gaines at all which is to mee a great discouragement whereas else some for friendshipp some for profitt some for kindred would gladly vse my furtherance to bring theÌ„ to your presence now yff I should take anie thing of them I should doe them great wroÌ„g because they may freely preferre their causes to you themselues which thing though it is in you Sir very commendable yet to mee I finde it nothing profitable which word Sir THOMAS answered thus I do not mislike sonne that your conscience is so scrupulous but there be manie other waies wherein I may both doe yourself good and pleasure your friends for sometimes by my worde I may stand your friend in steede sometime I may helpe him greately by my letter if he hath a Cause depending before me I may heare him before another man at your intreatie yf his Cause be not all the best I may moue the parties to fall to somereasonable ende by arbitrament but this one thing I assure thee on my fayth that if the parties will at my hands call for iustice and equitie theÌ„ although it were my father whome I reuerence dearely that stoode on the one side and the diuell whome I hate extreamely were on the other side his cause being iust the diuel of me should haue his right What saying was this to expresse the loue to Iustice which he alwaies bore and his deedes shewed it so that no malitious toung euer could picke the least quarrell against him for the least toach of iniustice as shal be more at large spoken of when euerie light matter came to be sifted narrowly after he fell from the king's fauour and that he would for no respect of alliance digresse one iotte from equitie well appeared by another sonne in law of his my vncle Heron for when he hauing a Cause in the Chancerie before Sir THOMAS and presuming to much on his fauour because he euer shewed himself the most affectionate father to his children that was in the world by reason whereof he would by no meanes be perswaded to agree to anie indifferent order at last Sir THOMAS made a flatt decree against him Wherein he liuely expressed the practise of his former saying Now at his coming to this Office he found the Court of Chancerie pestered and clogged with manie and tedious Causes some hauing hung there almost twentie yeares Wherefore to preuent the like which was a
authoritie and sweare also to the succession of Q. Anne's children accounting the Ladie Marie illegitimate within a moneth or thereabouts after the enacting of this statute all the Clergie as well Bishops as priests yet no lay man but Sir THOMAS MORE were summoned to appeare at Lambeth before the Lo Archbishop Cranmer the Lo Chancelour Audley M. r Secretarie Cromevvell the Abbott of Westminster with others appointed Commissioners by the King to tender this oath vnto them On the same morning that Sir THOMAS was to goe thither as he was accustomed before he tooke anie matter of importance in hand he went to Chelsey church and there was Confessed and receaued at masse deuoutly the blessed Sacrament and whereas euer at other times before he parted from his wife and children they vsed to bring him to his boate and there kissing them bad them Farewell at this time he suffered none of them to follow him forth of his gate but pulled the wickett after him and with a heauie hart as by his countenance appeared he tooke boate with his sonne Rooper and their men in which sitting sadly a while as it were with Christ in his agonie in the gardin at the last sodainely he rounded my vncle in the eare and sayd I thanke our Lord sonne the field is wonne whereto my vncle answered at randon as not knowing then his meaning I am very glad thereof But one may easily knowe what he meant and so my vncle afterward perceaued that the burning loue of God wrought in him so effectually that it now had conquered all carnall affections trusting to that saying of our Sauiour Beholde and haue confidence I haue conquered the vvorld How wisely he behaued himself at Lambeth may beseene in a letter of his sent after to my aunte Rooper which is sett out in printe in the latter ende of his English Workes with others his most singular letters wherein he liuely describeth to his children all his troubles sheweth what a heauenlie spiritt he had to endure all for Gods sake trusting still chiefely to Gods goodnesse not to his owne strength the effect whereof is this After he vvas called before them he requested of them to see the oath vvhich vvhen he had read vnto himselse he ansvvered that he neither vvould finde faulte vvith the oath nor with the authors of it nor vvould blame the conscience of anie man that had taken it but for himselfe he could not take it vvithout endangering his soule of eternall damnation vvhich if they doubted of he vvould svveare vnto them that that vvas the chiefe cause of his refusall in vvhich second oath if they doubted to trust him hovv then could they trust him in the former Which he hauing sayd my Lo Chancelour replyed that all there were hartily sorie he should make such an answer for they constantly affirmed that he was the first mā that denyed to take it which would greatly aggrauate the king's displeasure against him and forthwith they shewd him a Catalogue of the Nobilitie and manie others who had taken it and had subscribed their names therevnto Yet because he would not blame anie man's conscience therein he was commaunded to walke into the gardin a while and presently all the Clergie men some Bishops manie Doctours and priests were called in who all tooke it except Bishop Fisher and one Doctour Wilson without anie scruple stoppe or stay the vicar of Croyden saith Sir THOMAS called for a cuppe of beere at the butterie barre quia erat notus Pontifici and he drunke valde familiariter After all these had soone dispatched the matter for which they were sent for Sir THOMAS was called in againe and the names of all that had taken the oath were shewed him whereto for himselfe he answered as before then they often obiected vnto him obstinacie because he would neither take it nor giue anie reason why he refused it to which he replied that his deniall only would prouoke the King's indignation sufficiently against him and therefore he was loath anie further to aggrauate his displeasure shewing what vrgent necessitie drew him vnto it howbeit if his Maiestie would testifye that his expressing the causes wherefore he refused it would not prouoke against him his further anger he would not sticke to sett them downe in writing and if anie man could satisfye those reasons to the content of his conscience he would take the oath most willingly Then Cranmer my Lo archbishop vrged him that seing he was not certaine of his conscience but that it was a thing certaine that he must obey his Prince therefore was he to reiect that doubtfull conscience of his and sticke to the latter which was vndoubted Yet if this argument were of anie force then in all controuersies of religion we may soone be resolued to to follow whatsoeuer anie king commaundeth vs. And when the Abbott of Westminster had sayd that he might very well suspect his owne conscience to be erroneous because he alone would seeme to controle all the wisedome of the whole realme who had made and taken it Thereto Sir THOMAS answered that if he alone should stand against so worthie a kingdome he had great cause to feare his owne conscience but if that of his side he could produce a farre greater number of a learned men as they he thought himselfe not then bound to reforme his conscience by follovving the consent of one kingdome against the generall receaued opinion of the vvhole Christian vvorld When M. r Secretarie seemed greately to pittie him Sir THOMAS added yf anie hard thing happened vnto himselfe he could not preuent it without he should endanger his owne soule Then asked they him whether he would sweare to the succession to which he answered that he was willing enough to doe that if the oath were sett downe in such wordes as he might safely take it Thereto my Lord Chancellour sayd see M. r Secretarie he will not sweare to that neither but vnder a certaine forme of words No truly replied Sir THOMAS except I finde that I may sweare it without danger of periurie and with a safe conscience 2. When he had thus behaued himselfe he was cōmitted to the custodie of the abbott of Westminster for the space of foure daies during which time the king consulted with his councell what order were meete to be taken with him And at the first albeit they were resolued that he swearing an oath not to be knowen whether he had sworne to the Supremacie or no or what he thought thereof he should be discharged yet did Q. Anne by her importunate clamours so sore exasperate the king against him that contrarie to the king's former resolution but indeede for the greater honour of God and his martyr the king caused againe the oath of Supremacie to be ministred vnto him who although againe he made thereto a discreete qualifyed answer neuerthelesse he was forthwith committed to