the old holy Doctors and at his coming next to the Court in talking with his Majesty of the foresaid matter he said To be plain with your Grace neither my Lord of Durham nor my Lord of Bath though I know them both to be wise vertuous learned and honourable Prelates nor my self with the rest of your Councel being all of us your Majesties own servants so much bound unto your Highnesse for your great favours daily bestowed upon us be in my judgment meet Councellors for your Grace herein but if your Highnesse please to understand the very truth you may have such Councellors devised as neither for respect of their own worldly profit nor for fear of your Princely authority will be inclined to deceive you and then named S Hierome S. Austine and divers other holy Doctors both Greeks and Latines and also shewed what authority he had gathered out of them which although the King as not agreeing with his desires did not very well like of yet were they by Sir Thomas More who in all his communication with the King in that business had alwaies most discreetly demeaned himself so wisely tempered that both at that present he took them in good part and often afterwards had thereof conference with him again After this were there certain questions propounded among his Councell Whether the King in the case of his first marriage needed to have any scruple at all and if he had what way were best to remove it The most of his Councel were of opinion that there was good cause because Queen Katherine being married before to Prince Arthur King Henrie's elder brother was not to be wife to two brothers and therefore for discharging of this suit was to be made to the See of Rome where the King by liberality hoped to obtain his desires wherein as it appeared afterwards he was much deceived Then was there for the triall and examination of this matrimony procured from Rome a Commission in which Cardinal Campegius and Cardinall VVolfey were joyned Commissioners who for the determination thereof sat at the Black-Friers in London where a Libell was put in for annulling the former Matrimony alledging that marriage between the King and the Queen to be utterly unlawfull but on the other side for proof that it was lawfull there was brought in a Dispensation In which after divers disputations thereupon held there appeared an imperfection which by an instrument or brief upon search found in the Treasury of Spain and sent to the Commissioners into England was supplyed and so judgement should have been given by the Pope accordingly had not the King upon intelligence thereof before the said judgment appealed to the next generall Councel after whose appellation the Cardinal upon that matter sate no longer It fortuned before the businesse of the said Matrimony was brought in question when this foresaid Mr. Rooper in discourse with his father-in-law of a certain joy commanded unto him the happy estare of this Kingdom that had so Catholick a Prince that no Heretick durst shew his face so vertuous and learned a Clergie so grave and sound a Nobility so loving and obedient Subjects all agreeing together in one faith and dutifulnesse as though they had Cor unum Animam unam one Heart and one Soul Sir Thomas replyed In truth it is indeed son Rooper as you say and in commending all degrees and estates of the same far exceeded him and yet son Rooper I pray God said he that some of us as high as we seem to it upon the mountains treading Hereticks under our feet live not the day that we gladly would wish to be at a league and composition with them to let them have their Churches quietly to themselves so that they would be content to let us have ours quietly to our selves When his son had told him many reasons why he had no cause so to expresse himself VVell said he I pray God son Rooper some of us live not till that day yet shewing him no reason why he should put any doubt therein To whom he said By my troth Sir it is very desperately spoken but withall recants that term who by these words perceiving him in some choler said merrily unto him VVel well son Rooper it shall not be so it shall not be so whom as I have said before in all the time of continuall residence with him he could never perceive so much as once disturbed with anger But now to return again where I left after the supplying of the imperfections of the Dispensation sent as is before related to the Commissioners into England the King taking the matter for ended and then intending to proceed no further in it assigned the Bishop of Durham and Sir Thomas More to goe Embassadors to Cambray a place then neither Imperiall nor French to treat of a peace between the Emperour the French King and him In the concluding whereof Sir Thomas More so worthily behaved himself procuring in our league farre more advantages unto this Kingdome then at that time by the King or his Councel was thought possible that for his good service in that employment the King made him Lord Chancellor and caused the Duke of Norfolke openly to declare unto the people as you shall see here hereafter more at large how much all England was bounden unto him CHAP. VIII 1 The Cardinal degraded of his Office 2 Sir THOMAS MORE made Lord High Chancellor of England Now upon the coming home of the Bishop of Durham and Sir Thomas More from Cambray the King was as earnest in perswading Sir Thomas More to agree to his second marriage as before by many and divers wayes provoking him thereunto for which cause as it was thought he the rather soon after made him Lord Chancellor and further told him that though at his going over the sea to Gambray he was in utter despair thereof yet he had conceived since some good hope to bring it about for although his marriage being against the positive Lawes of the Church and the written Lawes God was holpen by the Dispensation yet was there another thing found out of late he said whereby his marriage appeared to be so directly against the Law of Nature that it could in no wife be dispensable by the Church as Dr. Stokely whom he had then preferred to be Bishop of London and in that case chiefly credited was able to inform him with whom he prayed him in that point to conferre But for al his conference with him he saw nothing of such force as could induce him to change his opinion therein yet the Bishop relating to the King their conference so favourably reported of Sir More 's carriage therein that he said he found him very desirous to finde some matter in his Highnesse cause wherein he might truly serve his Grace to his contentation This Bishop Stokely being by the Cardinall not long before openly disgraced and awarded
together in one parish whereas your self can well tell I am sorry you compel me to speak it you were alwaies esteemed very light of your tongue a great dicer and gamester and not of any commendable fame either there or at your house at the Temple where hath been your bringing up Can it therefore seem likely to your Honourable Lordships that in so weighty a cause I should so unadvisedly overshoot my self as to trust M. Rich a man alwaies reputed of me for a man of so little truth and honesty so farre above my Soveraign Lord the King to whom I am so deeply indebted for his manifold favours or any of his noble and grave Counsellors that I would declare only to Mr Rich the secrets of my Conscience touching the Kings Supremacy the special point only mark so long sought for at my hands which I never did nor ever would reveal after the statute once made either to the Kings Highnesse or to any of his noble Counsellors as it is well known to your Honours who have been sent for no other purpose at sundry several times from his Majesties person to me in the Tower I refer it therefore to your judgments My Lords whether this can seem a thing credible to any of you And if I had done as Mr. Rich hath sworn seeing it was spoken but in familiar secret talk affirming nothing but only in putting of Cases without any unpleasing circumstances it cannot justly be taken for Maliciously and where there is no malice there â—an be no offence Bâ—sides this My Lords I cannot think that so many worthy Bishops so many honourable personages and so many worshipful vertuous and well learned men as were in the Parliament assembled at the making of that Law ever meant to have any man punished by death in whom there could be found no malice taking Malitia for Malevolentia for if Malitia be taken in a generall signification for any sin no man is there that can excuse himself thereof Quia siâ—dixerimus quod pecatum non habemus nosmetipsos seducimus verit as in nobis non est Wherefore this word Malitiously is only materiall in this Statute as the word forcible is in the Statute of Forcible Entry for in that Case if any enter peaceably and put his adversary out forcibly it is no offence but if he enter forcibly he shal be punished by that Statute Besides this the unspeakable goodnesse of the Kings Highnesse towards me who hath been so many waies my singular good Lord and gracious Soveraign He I say who hath so dearly loved and trusted me even from my first coming into his Royall service vouchsafing to grace me with the honour of being one of his privie Councell and hath most liberally advanced to offices of great credit and worship finally with the chief dignity of his Majesties High Chancellour the like whereof he never did to any temporal man before which next his Royal Person is the highest Office in this noble Reaâ—m so far above my merits and qualities honouring and exalting me of his incomparable benignity by the space of these twenty years and more shewing his continual favours towards me and now at last it hath pleased his Highnesse at mine own humble suit to give me licence with his Majesties favour to bestow the residue of my life for the better provision of my soul in the service of God to discharge and disburthen me of that weighty dignity before which he had still heaped honours more and more upon me all this his Highnesse goodnesse so liberally extended to me were in my mind matter sufficient to convince this slanderous accusation so wrongfully by this man surmised and urged against me which I commit to your Lordships honourable considerations whether this Oath be likely to be true or no. Mr. Rich seeing himself so evidently disproved and his credit so foully defaced caused Sir Rich. Southwel and Mr. Palmer who in the time of their communication were in the same Chamber with them to be there sworn what words had passed betwixt them whereupon Mr. Palmer upon his deposition said that he was so busie in the trussing up of Sir Thomas his Books into a sack that he took no heed to their talk Sir Rich. Southwel said likewise that because he was appointed only to look to the conveighing of the Books he gave no ear unto them And after this Sir Thomas alleadged many other reasons in his own defence to the discredit of Mr. Rioh his foresaid evidence and for proof of the clearnesse of his own conscience But for all that ever he could do or say the Jury found him guilty Wherefore the Lord Chancellor as chief judge in that matter began presently to proceed to judgment which Sir Thomas hearing said unto him My Lord when I was towards the Law the mannet in such Cases was to aske the prisoner before Sentence whether he could give any reason why judgment should not proceed against him Upon which words the Lord Chancellor staying his Sentence wherein he had already partly proceeded asked Sir Thomas what he was able to say to the contrary who presently made answer as followeth Forasmuch as my Lords this Inditement is grounded upon an Act of Parliament directly repugnant to the Laws of God and his holy Church the Supreme Government of which or of any part thereof no Temporal person may by any Law presume to take upon him as rightfully belonging to the See of Rome it is therefore in Law among the Catholique Christians insufficient to charge any Christian man to obey He also further declared for proof of his assertion that like as this Realm alone being but one member and a small part of the Church might not make a particular Law disagreeing with the general Law of the universal Catholique Church no more then the City of London being but one poor member in respect of the whole Realm might make a law against an Act of Parliament to bind the whole Realm So also he further shewed that this law was contrary to the laws and statutes of the land yet unrepealed as they might evidently perceive in Magna Charta where it is said Quod Ecclesia Anglicana libera sit habeat libertates suas illaesas And also contrary to that sacred Oath which the Kiâ—â— Highnesse himself and every other Christian Prince alwaies with a great solemnity received at their Coronations Alledging moreover that no more might this Kingdome refuse obedience to the See of Rome then might the child to his natural father To these words the Lord Chancellor replyed that seeing all the Bishops Universities and best learned men of this Realm had agreed to this Act it was much marvelled that he alone should so stifly stick thereat and so vehemently argue there against it To which words Sir Thomas answered That if the number of Bishops and Universities were so material as his Lorship
to cause him thereby to confesse his offence against the King that so his Highnesse might with the better colour have occasion to revenge his displeasure against him But when he came from the Bishop he fell into discourse with one Mr. Whitford his familiar friend then Chaplain to that Bishop and after a Father of Sion and related to him what the Bishop had said desiring his advice therein who for the Passion of God prayed him in no wise to follow his Counsel For my Lord my Master said he to serve the Kings turn will not stick to consent to his own fathers death So Sir Thomas returned to the Bishop no more and had not the King soon after dyed he was determined to have gone over Sea because that being in the Kings indignation he thought he could not live secure in England and therefore he studyed the French tongue at home sometimes recreating his tyred spirits on the Viol where he also got most of the liberal Sciences as Musick Arithmetick Geometrie and Astronomie and grew to be a perfect Historian CHAP. III. 1 His integrity in the profession of the Law 2 The beginning of his favour with King HENRY the eighth 3 The first honors bestowed by King HENRY the eighth upon Sir THO. MORE 4 He is made Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament AFter this he was made one of the Under-Sheriffs of London some say Recorder but most the other by which Office and his learning together as he hath been heard to say he gained without grudge of conscience at the least 400 l. per annum Since there was at that time in none of the Kings Courts any matter of importance in Controversie wherein he was not of Councel with one of the parties choosing the justest side and therefore for the most part he went away victorious and such was the estimation which for his learning wisdom knowledge and experience men had of him that before he was come to the service of King Henry the eighth at the suit and instance of the English Merchants he was by the Kings consent made twice Ambassadour in certain great causes between them and the Merchants of the Steel-yard whose wise and discreet dealing therein to his high commendation when the King understood he caused Cardinal Woolsey then Lord Chancellour to procure him to his service which although the Cardinal according to the Kings request laboured earnestly with him to effect among many other his perswasions alleadging unto him how dear his service must needs be unto his Majesty who could not with his honour allow him lesse then he should yearly lose by changing his former estate but that rather he would enlarge his fortunes and recompense him fully Yet he loath to change his condition made such means unto the King by the Cardinal to the contrary that his Majesty for that time was well satisfied to forbear him Now it fortuned shortly after that a great Ship of the Popes arrived at Southampton which the King claiming for a forfeiture the Popes Embassadour by suit unto his Grace obtained that he might for his Master the Pope have Councel learned in the Laws of this Kingdom and the business in his own presence being himself a singular Civilian in some publique place be openly heard At which time there could none of our Law be found so fit to be of Councel with this Embassador as Sir Thomas More who could report to the Embassadour in Latine all the reasons and arguments by their learned Councel on both sides alleadged Upon this the Counsellors on either part in presence of the Lord Chancellour and other the Judges in the Star-chamber had audience accordingly Where Sir Thomas More not only declared to the Embassadour the whole sense of all their opinions but in defence on the Popes side argued so learnedly that both the foresaid forfeiture was restored to the Pope and himself among all the hearers for his just and commendable demeanor therein so greatly renowned that now for no intreaty would the King any longer be induced to forbear his service at whose first entry thereunto he made him Master of the Requests having then no better place void and within a Month after Knight and one of his privie Councel and so from time to time advanced him continuing still in his singular favour and trusty service twenty years and above during a good part whereof the King used upon Holy days when he had done devotions to send for him into his Travers and there sometimes in Astronomie Geometrie Divinity and such other faculties and sometimes of his worldly affairs to sit and confer with him and at other whiles in the night would he have him up into his leads there to discourse with him of the diversities courses motions and operations of the Planets And because he was of a very pleasant disposition it pleased the King and Queen after the Councel had supt to call for him to be merry with them whom when he perceived so much to delight in his talk that he could not once in a moneth get leave to go home to his wife and children whose company he most desired and that he could not be absent from the Court two days together but that he must be sent for again He much misliking this restraint of his liberty began thereupon somewhat to dissemble his nature and so by little and little to disuse himself from his former mirth that he from thenceforth at such times was no more so ordinarily sent for Then one Mr. Weston Treasurer of the Exchequer dying the King of his own offer without any asking freely gave his office unto Sir Thomas More In the fourteenth year of his Majesties Reign was there a Parliament held whereof Sir Thomas More was chosen Speaker who being very unwilling to take that place upon him made an oration not now extant for his discharge thereof Whereunto when his Highnesse would not consent he spake unto him in manner following A Summary of his First Speech in Parliament SInce I perceive most renowned Soveraign that it is not your Majesties pleasure to reform this Election and cause it to be changed but have by the mouth of the Right Reverend Father in God the Legat your High Chancellour thereunto given your assent and have of your great goodnesse determined far above my deserts or abilities to repute me worthy this so weighty Office rather then you should seem to impute unto your Commons that they had unmeetly chosen me I am therefore and always shall be ready obediently to conform my self to the accomplishment of your high Commands most humbly beseeching your most noble Majesty that â—may with your Graces favour before I further enter thereinto make my humble intercession to your Highness for the grant of two lowly Petitions the one privately concerning my self the other this whole Assembly For my self gracious Soveraign That if I should chance
with Sir Thomas More that had not in this Parliament in all things satisfied his desires suddenly arose and departed and afterwards in his Gallery at White-hall in Westminster uttered unto him all his grief saying Would to God Mr. More you had been at Rome when I made you Speaker Your Grace not offended so would I too my Lord said Sir Thomas and to put it out of the Cardinalls head he began to talk of that Gallery of his saying I like this Gallery of yours my Lord better then your other at Hampton-Court With which so wise digression he broke off the Cardinals displeasant talk so that at that time he said no more to him But yet afterwards in revenge of his displeasure he counselled the King to send him Embassador Lieger into Spain commending unto his Highnesse his wisdome learning and fitnesse for that employment and the difficulty of the Cause considered he said there was none better able to serve his Grace therein which when the King had broken to Sir Tho. More and he had declared unto his Majesty how unfit a journey it was for him to undertake the nature of the Countrey and disposition of his complexion so disagreeing that he was never likely to do his Grace acceptable service therein knowing for certain that if his Grace sent him thither he should send him to his grave yet neverthelesse shewing in himself a readinesse according to his duty although with the peril of his life to fulfill his Majesties pleasure therein the King allowing well his answer said unto him It is not our meaning Mr. More to do you hurt but to do you good we would be glad we therefore will think of some other and imploy your service otherwise And such entire favour did the King bear him that he made him Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster upon the death of Sir Richard Wingfield who had that office before King Henry took so great pleasure in Sir Thomas his company that he would suddenly sometimes come to his house at Chelsey to be merry with him whither on a time unlooked for he came and dined with him and after dinner in a fair garden of his walked about an hour holding his arm about his neck As soon as his Grace was gone his son-in-law Mr. Rooper rejoycing thereat told him how happy he was whom the King had so familiarly entertained as he had never seen him do to any before except Cardinall Wolsey whom he saw his Majesty once walk with arm in arm I thank our Lord son Rooper said he I finde his Grace my very good Lord indeed and I beleeve he doth as singularly favour me as any subject within this Kingdome yet sonne Rooper I may tell thee I have no cause to be proud of it for if my Head would winne him a Castle in France for then there was war between us it would not fail to go off By which words he evidently shewed how little he joyed either in the Kings favour or in his worldly honour who knew well King Henrie's nature that what shew of friendship soever he made to any yet he loved none but for his own ends Sir Thomas More though in great honour and favour with his Prince was not therefore puft up with pride disdain or arrogancy but was of such a milde behaviour and excellent temper that he could never be moved to any passion or anger as his son-in-law witnesseth who affirms that in sixteen years time and more that he dwelt in his house and was continually conversant with him he could never perceive him so much as once in a passion and one Margaret Gigs who was brought up with Sir Thomas his children and used no otherwise then one of them being a singular learned woman saith that sometimes she would commit a fault for the nonce to hear Sir Thomas chide her he did it with such gravity such moderation such love and compassion His meeknesse also was very perspicuous in this if it had fortuned him with any learned men resorting to him from Oxford Cambridge or elsewhere as there did divers come for desire of his acquaintance some for the famous report of his wisdome and learning and some for suits of the Universities to have entred into disputation wherein few were comparable to him and so far to have discoursed with him therein that he might perceive they could not without some inconvenience hold out much further argument against him then lest lie should discourage them as he that sought not his own glory ever shewing himself more desirous to learn then to teach he would by some witty invention break off into some other matter and give over Upon a time the Water-bailiffe of London sometime his servant hearing where he had been at dinner certain Merchants liberally to rail against his old Master was so discontented at it that he hastily came to him and told him what he had heard and Were I said he in such favour and authority with my Prince as you are such men surely should not be suffered so villainously and falsely to misreport and slander me wherefore I could wish you would call them before you and to their shame for their malice punish them who smiling on him said Why Mr. Water bailiffe would you have me punish those by whom I receive more benefit then by you all that be my friends let them a Gods name speak as basely as they please of me and shoot never so many arrowes at me so long as they do not hit me what am I the worse but if they should once hit me then indeed would it not a little trouble me yet I trust by Gods help there shall none of them all be able to touch me I have more cause I assure thee Mr. Water-bailiffe to pity them then to be angry with them Such height of perfection had he now attained that he was neither allured by hopefull gains nor deterr'd one whit from his duty by evil tongues still carrying one and the same alacrity in all crosses and adversities as in the following discourse it will more appear CHAP. V. 1. Sir Thomas Mores prompt and ready wit 2. His charity to his neighbours 3. His friendship with learned men at home and abroad SIR Thomas More was a man of such readinesse of Wit that at such time as he attended upon his Highnesse in his progresse either to Oxford or Cambridge where he was received with very eloquent Orations his Majesty alwayes appointed him to answer them extempore as he that was most prompt and ready for it Sir Thomas being Chancellour of the Dutchy was made Embassador twice joyned in commission with Cardinall Wolsey once to the Emperour Charls into Flanders the other time to the French King into France whose manner was whensoever he had occasion to be in any University not only to be present at their Readings and Disputations but also learnedly to dispute himself amongst them to the great
he would thus animate and incourage them to bear their afflictions patiently so would he also perswade them to withstand the Devil and his temptations valiantly comparing that our ghostly enemy to an Ape for as the Ape not well looked to will be busie and bold to do shrewd turns and contrarily being spyed and checkt for them will suddenly leap back and adventure no further so the Devill finding a man idle and slothfull and without resistance ready to receive his temptations groweth so hardy that he will not fail to follow him untill he hath throughly brought him to his purpose but on the other side if he see man with diligence persevere to prevent and withstand his temptations he groweth so weary that in conclusion he utterly forsaketh him for as the Devil in his disposition is a spirit of so high a pride that he cannot endure to be mocked so is he of nature so envious that he is more afraid any should assault him lest he should thereby not onely be shamefully foiled himself but also procure more matter of merit to his opposer Many such words tending to devotion and care of their souls had he every day at dinner and supper after the aforesaid reading was done and without all doubt waving their principles such a family as this might be a fit pattern of imitation for the most religious Protestant where every one was busied about somewhat or other no carding no dicing no wanton company keeping but as it were some in religious house all chaste all courteous all devout Their recreations was either musick of voices or Viols for which cause he procured his Wife to play thereon to draw her minde from the world to which by nature he perceived her to be much addicted Thus delighted he evermore not only in vertuous exercise to be employed himself but also to exhort his Wife and Children to follow the same On a time his daughter Margaret Wife to Mr. William Rooper fell sick of the sweating sicknesse of which many that year dyed who lying in so great extremity of that disease as by no inventions or devises of Physitians of whom she had divers both expert wise and well learned continually attendant about her she could be kept from sleep so that both Physitians and every one about her despaired of her recovery and gave her utterly over her father as he that most intirely tendred her being in no small heavinesse for her sought to get her remedy from God by Prayer whereupon going up as his custome was into hit foresaid New-building he there in his Chappel upon his knees most devoutly and with many tears besought Almighty God that it would please him of his goodnesse unto whom nothing was impossible if it were his blessed will at his mediation to vouchsafe graciously to hear his petition where presently it came into his minde that a Glyster was her only remedy which when he told the Physitians they by and by confessed if there were any hope of health that that was the very best help indeed much wondring that of themselves they had not before remembred it Then was it immediately applyed unto her sleeping which she by no means could have been brought unto waking and although after she was thereby throughly awaked Gods marks and evident undoubted tokens of death plainly appeared upon her yet she contrary to all their expectations miraculously recovered and shortly after was restored to perfect health again whom if it had pleased God at that time to have taken to his mercy her father solemnly protested that he would never have medled with worldly affairs more CHAP. VII 1 The Ambition of Cardinall Wolsey 2 King Henrie's scruple about his marriage communicated to Sir Thomas More 3 Sir More 's Prediction of the alteration of Religion in England 4 His Embassie for peace and happy successe therein WHile Sir Thomas More was Chancellor of the Dutchy the Sea of Rome chanced to be void which was cause of much trouble for Cardinall Wolsey a man of unsatiable ambition having crept up in favour of Charles the first hoped now by his means to aspire to that dignity but perceiving himself disappointed of his expectations by means of the Emperor Charles so highly commending one Cardinal Adrian sometime his Schoolmaster to the Cardinals of Rome in the time of their Election for his vertue and worthinesse that thereupon he was chosen Pope who from Spain where he was then resident coming on foot to Rome before his entry into the City did put off his hose and shooes barefooted and bareleg'd passing through the streets towards his Palace with such humblenesse that all the people had him in great reverence But Cardinall Wolsey was so inraged at it and so stomach'd the Emperor for ever after that he studied all wayes how he might possibly revenge himself against him which as it was the beginning of a lamentable Tragedy so some part thereof as not impertinent to my present purpose I suppose requisite here to insert This Cardinal therefore not ignorant of the Kings unconstant and fickle disposition upon every light occasion soon inclined to withdraw his devotion from his own wife Queen Katherine to fixit upon others who either in nobility wisdome vertue favour or beauty were nothing comparable unto her intending this fickleness of his an instrument to bring about his ungodly designe endevoured all he could to allure the King to fansie one of the French Kings sisters the King being already though unknown to the Cardinall fallen in love with the Lady Anne Bullen which thing because of the enmity and war that was at that time between the French King and the Emperor whom for the cause afore mentioned he mortally maligned he was desirous to procure And for the better accomplishing thereof he requested Longland Bishop of London and ghostly father to the King to put a scruple into the Kings head thâ— it was not lawfull for him to marry his brothers wife which thâ— King not sorry to hear of openeâ— it first to Sir Thomas More whosâ— counsel he required therein shewing certain places of Scripture thaâ— somewhat seemed to serve hiâ— turn which when he had seriouslâ— perused and thereupon excuseâ— himself as one that never hâ—â— profest the study of Divinity tâ— be many wayes unfit to meddle iâ— such matters The King not satâ—â—fied with this answer still presseâ— upon him so sore for it that iâ— conclusion he condescended to hâ—â— Graces request And further because the businesse was of sucâ— weight and importance as required good advisement and deliberation he besought his Grace thaâ— he would give him sufficient tiâ—â— serioâ—â—ly to consider it where with the Kng very well contented told him that Tunstall anâ— Clark Bishops of Durham and Bath with other the most learned of his privy Councell should also confer with him therein So Sir Thomas More departing compared those places of Scripture with the expositions of divers of
hear him before another or if his Cause be not all the best yet may I move the parties to fall to some reasonable end by a bitrament howbeit Son this one thing I assure thee on my saith that if the parties will at my hands call for Justice then all were it my Father whom I loved deaâ—ly stood on the one side and the Devil whom I hate extreamly stood on the other his Cause being good the Devil should have right So offered he his Son he said as much favour as with reason he could possibly require And that he would for no respects digresse from justice well appeareth by a plain example of another of his sonâ—-in-law Mr. Heâ—en by name for when he having a Cause depending before him in the Chancery and presuming too much on his favour would in no wise be perswaded by him to agree to any indifferent composition he in conclusion made a flat decree against him Now as sew Injunctions as he granted while he was Chancellor yet were they by some of the judges of the Law misliked which his son-in-law the foresaid Mr. Rooper understanding told his Father of it who answered him that they should have little cause to find fault with him for that and thereupon he caused Mr Crook chief of the fix Clerks to make a Docket containing the whole number and causes of all such injunctions as either in his time had already passed or at that present depended in any of the Kings Courts at Westminster before him which done he invited all the Judges to dine with him in the Councell-chamber at Westminster where after dinner when he had broken with them what complaints he had heard of his Injunctions and farther shewed them both the number and causes of every one of them in order so plainly that upon full debating thereof they all confessed that they in like case could have done no otherwise themselves Then offered he this unto them that if the Justices of every Court unto whom the Reformation of the rigor of the Law by reason of their Office most especially appertained would upon reasonable considerations by their own discretions as they were as he thought in conscience bound mitigate and reform the rigor of the Law themselves there should from thenceforth by him no more Injunctions be granted Whereunto when they resused to condescend then said he unto them For as much as your selves My Lords drive me to that necessity for awarding out Injunctions to relieve the peoples injuries you cannot hereafter any more justly blame me After that he said secretly to Mr. Rooper I perceive Son why they like not so to do for they see that they may be the verdict of the Jury cast off all quarrels from themselves upon them which they account their chief defence and therefore am I compel'd to abide the adventure of all such reports After this he took order with all the Atturneys of his Court that there should no Subpoena's go out whereof in general he should not have notice of the matter with one of their hands unto the Bil which bearing a sufficient cause of complaint worthy a Subpoena he would set his hand to or else cancel it And when on a time one of the Atturneys whose name was Mr. Tub had brought unto Sir Thomas the summe of his Clients Cause and requested his hand unto it Sir Thomas reading it and finding it a matter frivolous he added thereto in stead of his own name these words A Tale of a Tub the Atturney going away as he thought with Sir Tho. his name unto it found when his Client read it but a jest Now was it a great wonder for any one to behold how two great places of Westminster-hall were taken up one with the Son the other with the Father which surely never was heard of before or since the Son to be Lord Chancellor and the Father Sir John More to be one of the antientest Judges of the Kings Bench if not the eldest of all for he was then near ninety years old Nay what a grateful spectacle was it to see the Son every day as he passed through the Hal to his place in the Chancery by the Court of the Kings Bench if his Father had been setere he came to go into the Court and there reverently kneeling down in the sight of them all duly ask his Fathers blessing And if in fell out that his Father and he at reading in Lincolns-Inne met together as they sometimes did notwithstanding his High Office he would stil offer the preheminency to his Father though he for his office sake would refuse to take it such was the piety and submissive mind of this humble man such again was the provident care of the Father towards the Son that one can hardly guesse which of the two were more worthy the father of such a son or the son of such a Father And as little leisure as he had to be busied in the study of holy Scriptures Controversies upon Religion and other such like vertuous exercises being in a manner continually imployed about the affairs of the King and the Kingdome yet such pains took he early and late in setting forth divers learned books in defence of his Religion that the Bishops to whose pastoral care such businesses principally appertained thinking themselves by what he had done wherein by their own confession they were not able to compare with him of their duties in that behalf discharged and considering that for all his Princes favour he was no rich man nor advanced in yearly revenews as his worthinesse deserved therefore at a Convocation amongst themselves and other of the Clergy they agreed together and concluded upon a sum of four or five thousand pounds to recompense him for his pains To the payment whereof every Bishop Abbot and the rest of the Clergy were according to their abilities liberal contributaries hoping this sum would content him Whereupon Tunstal Bish of Durham and Clark Bishop and as is supposed Vessey of Exeter repaired unto him declaring how thankfully they esteemed themselves bound to consider him for his labours to their discharge in Gods bestowed and that albeit they could not according to his deserts so worthily would but must referre that only to the goodnesse of God yet for a small part of recompence in respect of his estate so unequal to his worthinesse in the name of their whole Convocation they presented unto him that summe which they desired him to accept of who forsaking it said That like as it was no small comfort to him that so wise and learned men so well accepted of his doings for which he never intended to receive reward but at the hands of God only to whom alone was the thanks thereof chiefly to be ascribed so also he most humbly thanked their honours for their bountiful consideration When they for all their importunate pressing upon him that few would have supposed he could
Martyrs what torments they endured for the love of God of their marvellous patience and of their passions and deaths rather then they would offend God and what a happy and blessed thing it was for the love of God to suffer losse of goods imprisonment losse of lands and life also adding with all that upon his faith if he might perceive his wife and children would incourage him to die in a good cause it would make him merrily run to death He told them afore hand what troubles were like to befal him wherewith and the like vertuous discourse he had so long before his troubles incouraged them that when he after fell into them indeed their afflictions were a great deal the lesse Quia spicula praevisa minus laedunt Within a while after the resignement of his Office came Sir Thomas Cromwel then in the Kings high favour to Ghelsey to him in a message from his Highnesse wherein when they had throughly confâ—r'd together Sir Thomas said unto him Mr. Cromwel You are now entred into the service of a most noble wise and liberal Prince if you will follow my poor advice you shall in your Counsell giving unto his Majesty ever tell him what he ought to do but never what he is able to do so shal you shew your self a true faithful Servant and a right worthy Counsellor for if the Lion knew his own strength hard were it for any man to rule him Shortly hereupon was there a Commission granted under the Great Seal and directed to Cranmer then Bishop of Canterbury to determine the marriage between the King and Queen Katharine at St. Albans where according to the Kings mind it was throughly concluded who pretending he had no justice at the Popes hands from thenceforth sequestred himself and his Kingdome from the See of Rome and so marryed the Lady Anne Bullen which Sir Thomas More understanding said unto Mr. Rooper God give grace son that these matters within a while be not confirm'd with Oaths It fortuned not long before the comming of Queen Anne through the streets of London from the Tower to Westminster to her Coronation that Sir Thomas received a letter from the Bishops of Durham Bath and Winchester desiring him to keep them company from the Tower to the Coronation and also to take twenty pounds that by the Bearer thereof they had sent him to buy him a Gown which he thankfully receiving yet tarrying still at home at their next meeting said merrily unto them My Lords in the letters which you lately sent me you requested two things of me the one whereof sith I was so well content to grant you the other therefore I thought I might be the bolder to deny you And like as the one because I took you for no beggars and my self I knew to be no rich man I thought I might the rather fulfill so the other did put me in remembrance of an Emperour that had ordained a Law that whosoever committed a certain offence which I now remember not except it were a Virgin should suffer death such a reverence had he to Virginity Now so it hapned that the first that violated this Law was a Virgin whereof the Emperour hearing was in no small perplexity as he that by some example would fain have that Law put in execution whereupon when his Councel had sat long solemnly debating this Case suddenly there rose up one of his Councel a good plain man amongst them and said Why make you so much ado my Lords about so small a matter Let her first be deflowred and then after may she be devoured And so though your Lordships have in the matter of the Matrimony hitherto kept your selves pure Virgins yet take good heed My Lords that you keep your Virginity still for some there be that by procuring your Lordships first at the Coronation to be present and next to preach for setting forth of it and lastly to write books to all the World in defence thereof are desirous to deflowr you and then wil they not fail soon after to devour you Now My Lords said he it lieth not in my power but that they may devour me but God being my good Lord I will provide that they shall never deflowr me CHAP. XII 1 The beginning of the Kings indignation 2 Sir THOMAS MORE disposeth himself more immediately to suffer death 3 Divers accusations procured against Sir THO. all easily avoided by his innocencie 4 The Nun of Canterbury first occasion of calling Sir T. M. in Question concerning Qu. Anne 5 His first examination before the Kings Deputies 6 His merry heart and gallant resolution after his Examination IN continuance when the King perceived that he could by no means win him to his side then behold the fair sunshine day of his favours became overcast there followed a notable storm for now he went about by terrour and threats to drive him thereto But see how Sir Thomas prepares himself for this valiant combat having given over his Office of Chancellorship he never medled with State matters any more but gave himself wholy the year before his troubles not only to write books in defence of his Religion as I have said but also addicted himself to great acts of Mortification prayer and piety he lessened his family he fold his houshold stuffe to the value of one hundred pounds he disposed his Children into their own houses and many nights he slept not for thinking the worst that could happen unto him he hired a Pursevant to come suddenly to his house when he was one time at dinner and knocking hastily at his door to warn him the next day to appear before the Commissioners to arm his family the better for future calamities And now begin his troubles first by occasion of a certain Nun dwelling in Canterbury for her vertue and holinesse not a little esteemed of among the people in those daies unto whom for that cause many religious persons Doctors of Divinity and divers Lay-men of good repute used to resort who affirming that she had revelations from God to give the King warning of his wicked life and of the abuse of the sword and authority committed to him and understanding the Lord Rochester Bishop Fisher to be a man famous for his vertuous life and learning went to Rochester and there disclosed unto him all her revelations desiring his advice and counsell therein who thereupon advised her as she before had warning and intended to go to the King her self and to let him understand the whole circumstance thereof whereupon she went to the King and told him all her revelation and so returned home agan to her Cloyster Not long after she making a journey to the Nuns of Sion by means of one Mr. Reynold a Father of that house it hapned that she fell into discourse with Sir Thomas More concerning such secrets as had been revealed unto her Sir
modest to expresse such excessive grief as that love should make her shake off all fear and shame which sad fight piercing the hearts of the beholders how do you think it moved the fathers surely his affection and forcible love had now daunted his courage if that a divine spirit of constancy had not inspired him to behold this most generous woman his most worthy daughter endued with all good gifts of Nature all sparks of Piety which are wont to be most acceptable to a loving father O strange to presse unto him at such a time and place where no man could have accesse hanging about his neck ere he was aware of her holding so fast on him as she could scarce be plucked off uttering no other words but O my Father O my Father surely this could not but be a sword to his heart and then at last being drawn away by force to run upon him again without any regard either of the weapons wherewith he was encompassed or of the modesty becoming her own Sexe What comfort did he want what courage did he then stand in need of and yet he resisted all this most valiantly remitting nothing of his steady gravity speaking only what is before recited and at last of all desiring her to pray for her fathers soul Sir Tho. M. remained in the Tower more then a seven-night after his judgment arming himself with prayer and meditation against the day of his execution walking about he chamber with a sheet about him like a corps ready to be buryed In which time came to him one of the Court whose whole disourse was nothing else but urging Sir Thomas to change his mind who at last being wearied with his importunity answered him that he had changed it whereupon presently he went and told the King and being by him commanded to know wherein hâ—s mind was changed Sir Thomas rebuked him for his leightnesse in that he would tell the King every word that he spoke in jest meaning that whereas he had intended to be shaven that he might appear to the people as befor he was wont now he was fully resolved that his beard should take such part as his head did which made the Courtier blank and the King very angry Now last of all the day before he was to suffer being the fifth of July he wrote a most loving letter with a coal to his daughter Margaret sending his Blessing to all his children in which he writeth very affectionately expressing also the great desire he had to suffer on the morrow after in these words I cumber you good Margaret much but I would be sorry if it should be any longer then to morrow for to morrow is S. Thomas Even and the Uras of S Peter and therefore to morrow long I to go to God it were a day very meet and convenient for mee I never liked your manners better then when you kissed me last For I like when daughterly love and dear charity hath no leisure to look unto worldly courtesie Farewel dâ—ar daughter pray for me and I will pray for you and all your friends that we may meet together in Heaven Commend me when you can to my Son John his towardly carriage towards me pleased me very much God-blesse him and his good wife and their Children With this Letter he sent also his shirt of hair and his whip as one that was unwilling the world should know that he used such Austerity For in his life time he by his mirth had hidden from the eyes of others his severity to himself So upon the next day being Tuesday St. Thomas even and the Vtas of his special Patron St. Peter for whose Supremacy he suffered in the year of our Lord God one thousand five hundred thirty and seven according to his desire expressed in his Letter the day before early in the morning came to him Sir Thomas Pope his singular friend with a message from the King and his Councel that he should before nine of the clock the same morning suffer death and that therefore he should presently prepare himself for it Mr. Pope said he I most heartily thank you for your good tidings I have been much bound to the Kings Highnesse for the benefits of his Honours that he hath most bountifully bestowed upon me yet am I more bound to his Grace I assure you for putting me here where I have had convenient time and space to have remembrance of my end And so help me God most of all I am bound unto him that it hath pleased his Majesty so shortly to rid me out of the miseries of this wretched world The Kings pleasure farther is said Sir Thomas Pope That you use not many words at your execution Mr. Pope said he You do well to give me warning of the Kings pleasure herein for otherwise I had purposed at that time somewhat to have spoken but no matter wherewith his Grace or any other should have cause to be offended howheit whatsoever I intended I am ready obediently to conform my self to his Highnesse Command and I beseech you good Mr. Pope be a means to his Majesty that my daughter Margaret may be at my burial The King is contented already said he that your wife Children and all other should have liberty to be present at it O how much beholding then am I said Sir Thomas to his Grace that unto my poor burial voucheth to have so gracious consideration Then Sir Thomas Pope taking his leave of him could not refrain from weeping which Sir Thomas perceiving comforted him in these words Quiet your self good Mr. Pope and be not discomforted for I trust we shall once see each other full merrily where we shall be sure to live and love together in joyful blisse eternally And further to put him out of his melancholy Sir Thomas took his Urinal in his hand and casting his water said merrily I see no danger but that this man might live longer if it had pleased the King After which words they parted and when he was gone Sir Thomas as one that had been invited to a banquet changed himself into his best apparel The Lieutenant of the Tower seeing him prepare himself to his death advised him for his own benefit to put them off again saying he who was to have them was but a Javel What Mr. Lieutenant said Sir Thomas shall I account him a Javel who will do me this day so singular a benefit Nay I assure you were it cloth of God I would think it well bestowed on him But the Lieutenant so pressed him that at last for his friendship sake being loth to deny him so small a matter he altered his apparel and put on a Gown of Freese but yet of that little money that was left him he sent an Angel in gold to his Executioner in token that he maliced him nothing but rather loved him exceedingly for it And so was he
Rome about it The dispensation questioned And supplyed by a new confirmation He foresaw the fal of his Religion in England Sir Thomas More 's Embassie for peace and his happy successe therein Bishop Stokely his quirk in Queen Katharines marriage His conference with Sir Thomas about it Stokely undermines the Cardinal The Cardinals fal Sir Thomas More elected Lord Chancellor The honorable Ceremony with which he was enstald The Duke of Norfolk's Oration in behalf of Sir Thomas More Of his worthiness for so great an employment The first Lay-man that ever was made Lord Chancellor Good reasons why that old custome was now salt red Sir Tho. Mores modest and discrete reply He acknowledgeth his own unworthiness The Dukes love The Kings favour bounty Which he esteems beyond his deserts All which increase in him a resolution to discharge well this so great charge He desireth favourable interpretation of his endeavours A wise consideration of his predecessors example The dangeâ—s of high honours A warning to use them well Sir Thomas Mores behaviour to all suitors especially to the poorer sort No access to Bribery Means how great men may do favours in justice Notable integrity Even against his own kindred * Long delaies in Law the misery of poor Clients remedied by Sir Tho. More A pleasant Tale of a Tub. Sir Thomas More 's humble behaviour towards his Father the antientest Judg of the Kingdome His admirable zeal in the cause of his Religion A liberal reward proffered him nobly by the Bishops of England As nobly and magnanimously refused by him only for Gods caused Sir Thomas More his penances Hair-shirt His merâ—ciful works to his poor neighbours Liberality to his parish Church K. Henry desires Sir Thomas to allow his divorce Sir Thomas Mores refusal for the time accepted by the King A Parliament called for Q. Annes marriage Sir Thomas sues to depose his Office Sir More 's humbleness in the height of his Honours A remarkable Record that no Cause was left undecided in the Chancery The death of Sir John More Sir Tho. never enjoied his Fathers inheritance Rare poverty in a Lord High Chancellor Upon Sir Thomas his suite to resign up his Office the King graciously accepteth his desire Of his Children living with him All his Children hitherto dwelt with him An incomparable resolution after so great an honour to bear chearfully so low an estate Honourable poverty in so great a personage A pleasant jest to divert his wife from sorrow His remote preparations for suffering Continual talking of spiritual matters A good lesson for a Statesman The marriage concluded at St. Albans to be lawfull Sir Thomas More refuseth to be at Q Anns marriag His counfell and prediction to the Bishops his friends A notable story prophetically applyed His resolution rather to be devoured then deflowred The kings displeasure Sir Thomas his more immediate preparation for death A Christian stratagem The first occasion of calling him in question for Q. Anne The Nun of Kent warned by revelation to rebuke K. Henry She conferreth her revelation with Bish Fisher Her talk with Sir Tho. More Accusatians procuredagainst Sir Tho. More That he impugned the Kings marriage â—…rrels picked against his Chancellorship A supposed Bribe pleasantly confuted A courteous refususal of an honest reward Another of like nature Sir Thomas his first examinations The kings Deputies to attach Sir Thomas More Their fair words to win him Fairly answered with a mild and constant refusal The Deputies threats Sir Thomas More accused for Author of the Kings Boâ—k for the Pope His evident refutation Wise and wary counsel of Sir Tho. to the King the King acknowledgeth the obligation of his Crown to Rome His merry heart after his examination A fall given to the Devil The Kings indignation against Sir Tho. More Prudent and politique advine in so bad a Cause Proceeding against Sir Tho. More deferred A gallant answer to a friends fear The Oath of supremacy Sir Tho. cited to take it His preparation before his going His discreet behaviour in that cause He resuseth the Oath for conscience sake All the Clergie but Bish Fisher and D. Wilson did take the Oath Upon what conditions Sir Tho. offered to set down his reasons of refusal Sir More 's offer proceedeth not of uncertainty but because he was sure his reasons were unaswerable All Christendome of more authority then all England The Oath of succession Sir More 's imprisonment first in Westminster Then by Q. Annes importunity in the Tower The upper garment the Porters Fee His mans Oath His discourse with his daughter Margaret Prevented with Prayers The comfort he found in his impriâ—onment Sir Thomas More foretelleth Q Annes death His pleasant answer to his Keepers honest excuse The ignorance of the Oath makers His meditation on death upon the execution of 24 Religious men Secretary Cromwel hiâ— visit A pretty dialogue between Sir Tho. More and his Lady His answer The prisâ—n as neer heaven as his own house Eternity to be preferred before Temporality Another visit Mr. Rich his Case Surely a poor ground for an Inditement of Treason An accident very remarkable if true at the taking away of his Books His merry jest upon it The substance of the inditement The Arraignment of Sir Tho. More His Inditement The Judges charges His resolution Sir Thomas his answer to the inditement 1. How sincerely he had alwaies told the King his mind concerning the marriage The continuation of his imprisonment and afflictions 2. Why he refused to tell his judgment of the law of Supremacy Lay-men not concerned in this Law No law can punish silence that is without malice Whether his silence were malicious Obedience first to God then to man 3. That he never counselled or induced B. Fisher The contents of his letters to the said Bishop 4. The law of Supremacy like a two-edged sword Mr. Rich his Oath against Sir Tho. More Disproved by Sir Th. Oath to the contrary His exception against the witnesse as unworthy of credit If it had been true there had been no Malice Malice in Law The improbability of Mr. Rich's deposition Mr. Rich his witnesses do fail him The Jury verdict guilty Excepted against by Sir Tho. The Act of Parliament against Gods Law No Lay-man may be head of the Church Against the Laws of the Kingdom Against the Kings own Oath Against the peculiar Obligation of England to Rome The Lord Chancellors reply The condemnation of Sir Th. More The Sentence Mitigated by the King Sir More 's charity to his Judges The manner of Sir Th. his return to the Tower Great constancy courtesie and chariâ—y A great experiment of love in the only son of Sir Th. More The great passion of his daughter Margaret A consideration of this mutuall passion of father daughter How devoutly and cheerfully he attended his execution His pleasant comceit upon a Courtier His last letter to his daughter Margaret His blessing to his heir His hair-shirt and Discipline Notice given him from the King of of the day of his death Most welcome unto him He must use but few words at his execution His wife and children permitted to be at his burial His comfortable courage He puts on his best apparell that day His liberality to his executioner The manner of his death His words at his death His prayers Words to the Executioner He covereth his eyes himself His death The K. sadnesse at the news of his execution The imprisonment of his daughter Margaret The favour and physiognomy of Sir Thomas More The judgment of Charles the fifth Emperour and King of Spain concerning Sir Th. More 's death Circumstances worthy some consideration in his death A witty reprehension An unmannerly reprehension mannerlyreturned on the reprehender A bold debter handsomly told his own A pleasant arbitrament between his Lady and a begger A witty censure of a witlesse writing A merry mistake Sinners distasted Why few fear death No man sure of long life Worlds vanity Worldly losses hurt not The folly of old misers How fond it is to love this world Affliction more profitable then pleasure Against deferring of amendment Pusillanimity a dangerous temptation Danger of prosperity Of riches and honours All riches of this world none of our own Covetousnesse Bad Merchants Riches are not goods The worst affection Almes-deeds The world a prison To suffer for God Prayer Detraction Ingratitude Faith the mistresseâ— of reason Better prevent then redresse Desire of heaven Bad life no miracle School Divinity An Apologie for Sir Tho. M pleasantnesse of wit
to the Fleet not brooking this contumelious usage and thinking that forasmuch as the Cardinal for lack of such forwardness in setting forth the Kings Divorce as his Grace expected was out of his Highnesse favour he bad now a good occassion offered him to revenge himself of him He yet more to incense the Kings displeasure against him endevoured all he could to invent some colourable device for the Kings furtherance in that behalf which as is before mentioned he revealed to his Grace hoping thereby to procure the Kings greater affection to himself and disaffection to the Cardinall whom his Highnesse therefore soon after displaced of his Office and the rather to move him to incline to his side committed the same to Sir Thomas More in his stead who between the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk being brought through Westminster-Hall to his place in the Chancery the Duke of Norfolk in audience of all the people there assembled shewed that he was from the King himself streightly charged by speciall commission there openly in presence of them all to make Declaration how much all England was beholding to Sir Thomas More for his good service and how worthy he was of the highest preferment in the Kingdome and how dearly his Grace loved and trusted him A Copy of the Oration THE Kings Majestie which I pray God may prove happy and fortunate to the whole Realm of Engl. hath raised to the most high dignity of Chancellorship Sir Tho. More a man for his extraordinary worth and sufficiency well known to himself and the whole Realm for no other cause or earthly respect but for that he hath plainly perceived all the gifts of Nature and Grace to be heaped upon him which either the people could desire or himself wish for the discharging of so great an Office For the admirable wisdome integrity and innocency joyned with most pleasant facility of wit that this man is indued withall have been sufficiently known unto all English from his youth and for these many years also to the Kings majesty himself This hath the King abundantly found in many and weighty affairs which he hath happily dispatched both at home and abroad in divers Offices which he hath borne in most honourable Embassies which he hath undergone and in his daily Counsells and Advices upon all other occasions He hath perceived no man in this Realm to be more wife in deliberating more sincere in opening to him what he thought nor more eloquent to adorn the matter which he uttered Wherefore because he saw in him such excellent endowments and that of his speciall care he hath a particular desire that this Kingdome and people might be governed with all equity and justice integrity and wisdome he of his own most gratious disposition bath created this singular man Lord Chancellor that by his laudable performance of this Office his people may injoy peace and justice and honour also and fame may redound to the whole kingdome It may perhaps seeme to many a strange and an unusall matter that this Dignity should be bestowed upon a Lay-man none of the Nobility and one that hath wife and Children because heretofore none but singular learned Prelates or men of greatest Nobility have possessed this place But what is wanting in these respects the admirable virtues the matchlesse gifts of wit and wisdome of this man doth most plentifully recomPense the some for the Kings Majesty hath not regarded how great but what a man he was he hath not cost his eyes upon the Nobility of his bloud but on the worth of his Person he hath respected his sufficiency not his profession finally he would shew by this choice that he hath some rare subjects amongst the row of Gentlemen and Lay-men who deserve to manage the highest Offices in the Realm which Bishops and Noblemen think they only can deserve The rarer therefore it was so much both himselfe held it to be the more excellent and â—o his people he thought it would be more gratefull Wherefore receive this your Chancellor with joyfull acclamations at whose hands you may expect all happinesse and content Sir Thomas More according to his wonted modesty was somewhat abashed at this the Dukes Speech in that it sounded so much in his praise but recollecting himself as that place and time would give him leave he answerd in manner following Although most Noble Duke and you Honourable Lords and Worshipful Gentlemen I know all these things which the Kings Majesty it seemeth hath been pleased it should be spoken of me at this time and place and your Grace hath with most eloquent words thus amplified are as far from me as I could wish with all my heart they were in me for the better performance of so great a charge And although this your Speech hath caused in me greater fear then I can well expresse in words yet this incomparable favour of my dread Soveraign by which he sheweth how well yea how highly he conceiveth of my Weaknesse having commanded that my Meanesse should be so greatly commended cannot be but most acceptable unto me And I cannot choose but give your most noble Grace exceeding thanks that what his Majesty hath willed you briefly to utter you of the abundance of your love unto me have in a large and eloquent Oration dilated As for my self I can take it no otherwise but that his Majesties incomparable favour towards me the good will and incredible propension of his Royal mind where with he hath this many years favoured me continually hath alone without any desert of mine at all caused both this my new honour and these your undeserved commendations of me For who am I or what is the House of my Father that the Kings Highnesse should heap upon me by such a perpetuall stream of affection those so high Honours I am far lesse then any the meanest of his benifits bestowed on me how can I then think my self worthy or fit for this so peerlesse dignity I have been drawn by force as the Kings Majesty often professeth to his Highnesse service to be a Courtier but to take this dignity upon me is most of all against my will yet such in his Highnesse benignity such is his bounty that he highty esteemeth the small dutifulnesse of his meanest Subjects and seeketh still magnificently to recompense his Servants not only such as deserve well but even such as have but a desire to deserve well at his hands in which number I have alwaies wished my self to be reckoned because I cannot challenge my self to be one of the former which being so you may all perceive with me how great a burthen is laid upon my back in that I must strive in some sort with my diligence and duty to correspond with his Royall benevolence and to be answerable to that great expectation which he and you seem to have of me Wherefore these so high Praises are by
seemeth to make it then do I my Lord see little cause why that thing in my conscience should make any change for I do not doubt but of the learned and vertuous men that are yet alive I speak not only of this Realm but of all Christendome about there aâ—e ten to one that are of my mind in this matter But if I should speak of those learned Doctors and vertuous Fathers that are already dead of whom many are Saints in Heaven I am sure that there are far more who all the while they lived thought in this Case as I think now And therefore my Lord I think my self not bound to conform my conscience to the Councell of one Realm against the generall consent of all Christendome Now when Sir Thomas had taken as many exceptions as he thought fit for the avoiding of this Inditement the Lord Chancellor having bethought himself being unwilling now to have the whole burthen of his condemnation to lye upon himself asked openly there the advice of the Lord Chief Justice of England Sir John Fitz James whether this Inditement were sufficient or no who answered thus My Lords all by S. Gillian that was ever his Oath I must needs confesse that if the Act of Parliament be not unlawful then in my Conscience the inditement is not insufficient Whereupon the Lord Chancellor said to the rest of the Lords Loe my Lords loe You hear what my Lord Chief Justice saith and so immediately he pronounced this Sentence THat he should be brought back to the Tower of London by the help of Will. Bingston Sheriffe and from thence drawn on a hurdle through the City of London to Tiburn there to be hanged till he be half dead after that cut down yet alive his privie parts cut off his belly ripped his bowels burnt and his four quarters set up over four Gates of the City his head upon London bridge This Sentence was by the Kings pardon changed afterwards into only beheading because he had born the highest Office in the Kingdome Of which mercy of the Kings word being brought to Sir Thomas he answered merrily God forbid the King should use any more such to any of my friends and God blesse all my posterity from such pardons After his Sentence pronounced the Judges courteously offered him that if he had any thing else to alleadge in his defence they would grant him favourable audience who answered I have nothing to say my Lords butthat Like as the Blessed Apostle St. Paul as we read of in the Acts of the Apostles was present and consented to the death of S. Stephen and kept their cloaths that stoned him to death yet be they now both twain holy Saints in Heaven and shal continue there friends for ever So I verily trust shal therefore right heartily pray that though your Lordships have been now judges on Earth to my condemnation we may yet hereafter all meet together in Heaven merrily to our everlasting salvation And so I pray God preserve you all and especially my Soveraign Lord the King and send him faithful Counsellors CHAP. XV. 1 The manner how Sir THOMAS MORE was led back to the Tower 2 His daughter Margarets great expression of love to him now condemned 3 How devoutly and resolutely Sir T. expected his execution 4 Notice of the time of his death sent him by the King 5 The manner and form of his death 6 The Kings sadnesse there pon 7 Physiognomy of Sir THOMAS MORE NOW after his condemnation he was conducted from the Bar to the Tower again an Axe being carried before with the edge towards him and was led by Sir William Kingston who was then Constable of the Tower and his very dear friend who when he had brought him from Westminster to the old Swan on his way to the Tower he there with a sad heart the tears running down his cheeks took his leave of him Sir Thomas M. seeing him so sorrowful with a cheerful countenance began to comfort him saying Good Mr. Kingstone trouble not your self but be of good chear for I will pray for you and my good Lady your Wife that we may meet in Heaven together where we shall be merry for ever and ever A little after this Sir William talking with Mr. Rooper thereof said In good faith Mr. Rooper I was ashamed of my self that at parting with your Father I found my heart so weak and his so stout that he was fain to comfort me who should rather at that time have comforted him But a conscience clear and at ease is a comfort which no earthly power can either give or take away the which by his demeanour and expressions it doth plainly appear he had Now that I may not omit what before I should have spoken of I will here mention a great experiment of love in the only Son of Sir Thomas More who upon his fathers landing at the old Swan like a most dutifull child did cast himself down at his feet humbly craving his blessing not without tears whom he therefore blessed and kissed most lovingly When Sir Thomas More was now come to the Tower wharf his best beloved daughter Margaret wife to Mr. Rooper being very desirous to see her father whom she thought she should never see in this world more diligently attended his comming at the Tower-wharf where she was certain he must pass by whom as soon as she had espied after she had on her knees received his fatherly blessing she ran hastily unto him and without consideration or care of her self passing through the midst of the throng and guard who with Bils and Halberts compassed him about there openly in the sight of them all embraced him took him about the neck and kissed him not able to expresse any words but these My Father O my Father He liking well this most naturall and dear affection of hers towards him gave her his blessing and told her That whatsoever he should suffer though he were innocent yet it was not without the will of God and that she knew well enough all the secrets of his heart counselling her to conform her will to Gods blessed pleasure and bad her be patient for her losse From whom after she was departed she not satisfied with the former Farewell like one who had forgotten her self ravished with the entire love of so worthy a father having neither respect to her self nor the presse of people about him suddenly ran to him took him about the neck and many times together most lovingly kissed him whereat he spake not one word but carrying still his gravity tears also fell from his eyes nay they were but sew in all the throng who at the sight of this could refrain from weeping no not the guard themselves yet at last with a most sorrowful heart she was forced to depart from him O what singular act of affection was this for a woman of nature bashful by education