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
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
any worldly affairs he used to say with her among other discourse he said unto her I believe Meg that they which have put me here think they have done me a high displeasure But I assure you on my Faith mine own good daughter that if it had not been for my wife and you my children whom I account the chief part of my charge I would not have failed long ere this to have closed my self in as straight a room as this and straighter too But since I am come hither without my own desert I trust that God of his goodnesse will discharge me of my care and by his gratious help supply the want of my presence among you I find no cause I thank God Meg to reckon my self in worse case here then in mine own house For me thinketh God maketh me a wanton and setteth me on his lap and dandleth me Thus by his gracious demeanour in his troubles it evidently appeared that al the calamities that ever befell him by his patient sufferance of them were to him no painfull punishments but rather profitable exercises of his patience And at another time when he had fiâ—st enquired of his daughter concerning the order of his wife and children and state of his family in his absence he asked her how Queen Anne did In faith father said she never better there is nothing else in the Court but dancing and sporting Never better Meg said he Alas Meg Alas it pittiâ—th me to remember into what misery poor soul she shall shortly come but in the mean time these dances of hers will prove such dances that they will spurn our heads off like foothals After this Mr. Lieutenant coming into his Chamber to visit him related unto him the many favours and friendships he had often received at his hands and therefore how ‑ much bound he was friendly and nobly to entertain him which since the Case standing â—s it did he could not do without the Kings displeasure he trusted he said he would accept of his good will and such poor fare as he had Master Lieutenant said Sir Thomas More again I verily believe as you may so are you my good friend indeed and would as you say with your best cheer entertain me for which I most heartily thank you and assure your self Master Lieutenant I do not mislike my cheer but whensoever I do then thrust me out of your doors Now whereas the Oath of Supremacy and Matrimony was in the first statute comprised in few words the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary did of theâ—r own heads adde more words unto it to make it appear unto the Kings ears more pleasant and plausible and that Oath so amplyfied they then caused to be tendred to Sir Thomas More and others throughout the Kingdome which Sir Thomas perceiving said unto his daughter I may tell thee Meg they that have committed me hither for refusing of this Oath not agreeable with the Statute are not able by their own law to justifie my imprisonment and surely daughter it is great pitty that any Christian Prince should by a flexible Councel ready to follow his affections with flattery so shamefully be abused But at length the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary espying their oversight in that business were fain afterwards to cause another Statute to be enacted for the confirmation of the Oath so amplyfied with their additions As Sir Thomas looking out of his window chanced to see one Mr. Raynolds a Father of Sion and three Monks of the Charter-house for the businesse of the Matrimony and Supremacy going out of the Tower to their execution he as longing to accompany them in that journey said unto his daughter then standing by him Loe dost thou not see Meg that these reverend Fathers are as chearfully going to their deaths as bridgrooms to their marriage wherefore hereby maist thou see mine own good daughter what a great difference there is between such as have in effect spent all their daies in a straight hard painful and penitential life religiously and such as have in the world like worldly wretches as thy poor father consumed all their time in pleasure and ease licentiously for God considering their long continued life in most sore and grievous pain will no longer suffer them to remain here in this vale of misery and iniquity but speedily taketh them hence to the fruition of his everlasting Deity whereas thy silly Father Meg that like a most wicked Caitiffe hath passed forth the whole course of his life most sinfully God thinking him not worthy to come so soon to that eternal felicity leaveth him here yet still in the world further to be prolonged and turmoiled with misery A while after Mr. Secretary coming to him into the Tower from the King pretended much friendship towards him and for his comfort told him That the King was his good and gracious Lord and intended not any more to trouble his conscience with any thing wherein he should have cause of scruple As soon as Mr. Secretary was gone to expresse how much comforted he was by his words he wrote with a coal for then he had no inke these verses following Eye flattering fortune look thou ne're so fair Nor ne're so pleasantly begin to smile As though thou wouldst my ruine all repair During my life thou shall not me beguile Trust I shall God to enter in a while Thy haven of Heaven sure and uniform Ever after thy Calm look I for no storm When Sir Thomas More had continued a good while in the Tower his Lady obtained leave to see him who at her first coming thus bluntly saluted him What the good year Master More said she I marvel that you that have been alwaies taken for so wise a man will now so play the fool as to lye here in this close filthy prison and be content thus to be shut up amongst mice and rats and too when you might be abroad at your liberty and with the favour and good will both of the King and his Councell if you would but do as all the Bishops and best learned of the Realm have done and seeing you have at Chelsey a right fair House your Library your Gallery your Garden your Orchard and all other necessaries so handsome about you where you might in the company of me your Wife your Children and houshold bee merry I muse what a Gods name you mean here still thus fondly to tarry After he had a while quietly heard her with a very chearful countenance he said unto her Good Mrs. Alice tell me one thing What is that said she Is not this house as nigh heaven as mine own To whom she as not liking these words answered after her manner Tille valle Tille valle How say you Mrs. Alice said he is it not so Bone Deus Bone Deus man Will this gear never be left said she Well then Mrs. Alice if it be so it is very
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
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
brought about nine of the clock out of the Tower and from thence led to the place of execution where going up the scaffold which seemed to him so weak that was ready to fal he said merrily to the Lieutenant I pray you Mr. Lieutenant see me safe up and for my coming down let me shift for my self Then desired he all the people to pray for him and to bear witnesse with him that he should then suffer death in and for the faith of the holy Catholique Church a faithful servant both of God and the King Which done he kneeled down and after his prayers ended he turned to the Executioner and with a chearful countenance said Pluck up thy spirits man and be not afraid to do thine office my neck is very short take heed therefore thou strike not awry for saving thine honesty when the executioner would have covered his eyes he said I will cover them my self and presently he did so with a cloth he had brought with him for that purpose then saying his head upon the Block he bad the Executioner stay untill he had removed aside his beard saying That that had never committed any treason So with great alacrity and spiritual joy he received the fatall blow of the Axe which at once severed his head from his body Thus passed Sir Thomas More out of this world on the very same day on which himself had most desired When news of his death was brought to the King who was at that time playing at Tables Queen Anne looking on he cast his eyes upon her and said Thou art the cause of this mans death and presently leaving his play he betook himself to his chamber an there fell into a melancholy fit But whether this were from his heart or to seem lesse cruell then he was indeed it is hard to conjecture for on the one side the remembrance of his faithful service so many years employed for the good of the whole Kingdome could not but make the Kings heart somwhat to relent and on the other side his unmerciful dealing with his son and heir his small allowance to his wife his cruelty against all his children shewed that he had an implacable hatred against him for the cause aforesaid His daughter Margaret was the most gently dealt with and yet very sore threatned both because she kept her fathers head for a relique which being to be thrown off London-Bridge into the Thames she had procured and that she intended to publish her fathers works yet for all that after a short imprisonment she was at last sent home to her husband Sir Thomas More was of a mean stature well proportioned his complexion tending to phlegmatick his colour white and pale his hair neither black nor yellow but between both his eies gray his countenance amiable and chearful his voice neither big nor shrill but speaking plainly and distinctly it was not very tunable though he delighted much in musick his body reasonable healthful only that towards his latter end by using much writing he complained much of his breast In his youth he drank much water wine he only tasted of when he pledged others he loved salt meats especially poudred beef he was a great lover of milk cheese eggs and fruit and usually he did eat of brown bread which he rather used to punish his taste then any love he had unto it Now when intelligence of Sir More 's death was brought to the Emperour Charles the fift he sent for Sir Thomas Eliot Embassador there resident and said unto him My Lord Embassador we understand that the King your Master hath put his faithful Servant and grave Wise Counsellor Sir Thomas More to death but Sir Thomias Eliot seeming to excuse the matter by some doubt of the report the King told him It was too true and this will we say said the Emperour that if we had been Master of such a Servant of whose doings our selves have had these many years no small experience we would rather have lost the best and strongest City of our Dominions then have lost so worthy a Counsellor To conclude if with more care we look into the story of this worthy mans life it will not appear to us that his death could any way redound to the honour of the King for first he was put to death by a statute wherein he had never offended either by word or deed and that too which concern'd not temporal policy but religion only which as being fearful to offend his conscience though he refused to approve of himself yet did he never reprove it or any other mâ—n for taking it Secondly that he would have no respect unto his eminent qualities who was a man of known humanity of mild behaviour affability bounty eloquence wisdome innocency of life wit learning exceedingly beloved and admired of all men all which might be motives sufficient to pardon a guilty offender Thirdly that he would not consider him that had done him so much good service and the whole Kingdome such good offices his faithfull Counsellor for twenty years together his wise Embassador his just Lord Chancellor and indeed the very flower of the Kingdome who at last drawing towards old age obtained an honourable dismission from his Office and lived privately at home with his Wife children and nephews never committing the least offence against any burthensome to no man but of such courtesie to all and of such excellency of nature that he would not suffer any one to part from him if any thing qualified without some gift none was so great a stranger to him whom he would not seek to do some favour for To be short his bounty had so engraven him in every ones hearts that at his death there was a generall lamentation for his losse Nay Erasmus saith that he saw tears come from those men who never had seen Sir Thomas More nor received any benefit from him and he professes that while he was writing of him the tears gushed from him whether he would or no. Now Reader I will keep thy eye no longer upon this dolefull Subject which as it made the Spectators weep so it cannot but fetch a Tear or two from thee if thou art any friend to an innocent worth yet I would not send thee away sad neither wherefore I have after this Tragicall story prepared an entertainment in the following Chapter which looks like a Comedy and may serve as Wine and Bisket at a Funerall to allay thy sadnesse A view of Sir MORE 's Wit and Wisdome SIR Thomas More whose only merry jests and witty sayings were they all together were sufficient to fill a Volume when he lived in the City of London being one of the Justices of peace he used to go to the Sessions at Newgate where it fell out that one of the antientest Justices of the Bench was wont to chide the poor men whose purses had been cut for
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
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
so much more grievous unto me by how much I know the greater charge I have to render my self worthy of and the fewer meanes I have to make them good This weight is hardly satable to my weak shoulders this honour is not correspondent to my poor deserts it is a burtheu not a Glory a care not a Dignity the one therefore I must bear as manfully as I can and discharge the other with as much dexterity as I shall be able The earnest desire which I have alwaies had and do now acknowledge my self to have to satisfie by all means I can possible the most amplebenefits of his Highnesse will greatly excite and aid me to the diligent performance of all which I trust also I shall be more able to do if I find all your good wilt and wishes both favourable unto me and conformable to his Royall munificence because my serious indeavours to do well joyned with your favourable acceptance will easily procure that whatsoever is performed by me though it be in it self but small yet will it seem great and praise-worthy for those things are alwaies atchieved happily which are accepted willingly and those succeed fortunately which are received by others courteously As you therefore do hope for great matters and the best at my hands so though I dare not promise any such yet do I promise truly and affectionately to performe the best I shall be able When Sir Thomas had spoken these words turning his face to the high Judg-ment seat of the Chancery he proceeded thus But when I look upon this seat when I think how great and what kind of personages have possessed this place before me when I cal to mind who he was that sat in it last of all a man of what singular wisdome of what notable experience what a prosperous and favourable fortune he had for a great space and how at the last he had a most grievous fall and diedinglorious I have cause enough by my predecessors example to think honour but slippery and this dignity not so gratefull to me as it may seem to others for both is it a hard matter to follow with like paces or praises a man of such admirable wit prudence authority and splendor to whom I may seeme but as the lighting of a Candle when the Sun is down and also the suddain and unexpected fall of so great a man as he was doth terribly put me in mind that this honour ought not to please me too much nor the lustre of this glistering seat dazle mine eyes Wherefore I ascend this seat as a place full of labour and danger void of all solid and true honour the which by how much the higher it is by so much greater fall I am to fear as well in respect of the very nature of the thing it self as because I am warned by this late fearfull example And truly I might even now at this first entrance stumble yea faint but that his Majesties most singular favour towards me and all your good wils which your joyfull Countenance doth testifie in this most honourable Assembly doe somewhat recreate and refresh me otherwise this Seat would be no more pleasing to me then that Sword was to Damocles which hung over his head tyed only by the hair of a horses tail when he had store of delicates before him seated in the chair of state of Denys the great Tyrant of Sicilie this therefore shall be alwaies fresh in my mind this will I have still before mine eyes that this state will be honourable famous and full of Glory unto me if I shall with care and diligence fidelity and wisdome endeavour to do my duty and shall perswade my self that the enjoying thereof may chance to be but short and uncertain the one whereof my labour ought to perform the other my predecessors example may easily teach me All which being so you may easily perceive what great pleasure I take in this high Dignity or in this most noble Dukes praising of me And he further declared to this effect that as they had in the Kings name charged him uprightly to do indifferent justice to the people without corruption or affection so did he likewise charge them again that if they saw him at any time in any thing digresse from any part of his duty in that honourable Office even as they would discharge their own duty fidelity to God and the King so should they not fail to inform his Grace of it who otherwise might have just occasion to lay his default wholly to their charge CHAP. IX 1. Sir THOMAS MORE 's affable behaviour and integrity in his Chancellorship 2. His wise remedying long delays in suits of law 3. His humble behaviour toward his Father 4. His admirable Zeal in the cause of his Religion NOw upon Sir More 's entrance into this honourable Office every one might perceive a very strange alteration for whereas the precedent Chancellor Wolsey would scarce look or speak to any into whose only presence none could be admitted unlesse his fingers were tipp'd with gold on the contrary this Chancellor the poorer and meaner the Supplyant was the more affably he would speak unto him the more attentively he would hearken unto his cause and with speedy tryal dispatch him for which purpose he used commonly every afternoon to sit in his open Hall that if any person whatsoever had any suite unto him they might the more boldly come to his presence and open their complaints before him Which custome of his extraordinary favour to all one Mr. Dauncy his Son-in-law on a time seemed merrily to find fault with saying that when Cardinal Wolsey was Lord Chancellor not only divers of his privie Chamber but such also as were his Door-keepers got great gain by him And since he had marryed one of his Daughters and gave stil attendance upon him he thought he might of reason expect something too but because he was so ready to hear every man poor and rich and kept no doors shut against them he could get nothing which was to him a great discouragement and whereas else some for friendship some for kindred some for profit would gladly use his furtherance to bring them to his presence if he should now take any thing of them he knew he said he should do them much wrong because they might as freely preferr their causes to him themselves which thing though he thought it in Sir Thomas very commendable yet to himself he said being his Son he found it nothing profitable When he had told him this You say well Son said he I like well that you are of Conscience so scrupulous but many other waies be there Son that I may both do your self good and pleasure your friends also for sometime may I by my word stand your friend in stead and sometimes may I by my Letter help him or if he have a Cause depending before me at your request I may
have refused it could not for all that fasten any upon him Then they dâ—sired him that they might bestow it upon his Wife and Children Not so My Lords said he I had rather seen all cast into the Thames then I or any of mine should have the worth of one penny of it For though your offer my Lords be indeed very friendly and honourable yet set I so much by my pleasure and so little by my profit that I would not in good faith for so much and much more have lost the rest of so many nights sleep as was spent upon the same and yet wish would I for all that upon condition all Heresies were suppressed that all my books were burned my labour utterly lost Thus departing were they fain to restore unto every man his own again CHAP. X. 1 Sir THOMAS MORE 's penances continued in the midst of his honours 2 His charity to his poor neighbours of Chelsey 3 He refuseth to allow of King Henries Divorcement 4 He sues to depose his Office 5 The death of JO. MORE his Father 6 Such incredible poverty in so eminent a Person a sure sign of incomparable Integrity THis Lord Chancellor for the avoiding of singularity would appear no otherwise then other men in his apparell and outward behaviour and though outwardly he appeâ—red honourable like one of his calling yet inwardly he was no such for secretly next his skin he wore a shirt of hair which his daughter More a young Gentle woman in the summer as he sate at supper single in his doublet and hose wearing thereupon a plain shirt without ruff or coller chancing to espy began to laugh at it which her sister Margaret not ignorant of his Custome perceiving privily told him of it and he being sorry that she had seen it presently amended it He used also sometimes to punish his body with whips the cords knotted which was known only to his eldest daughter Margaret Wife to the foresaid Mr. Rooper whom for her secresie a-above all other he especially trusted causing her as need required to wash the same shirt of hair He seldome feasted Noble-men but his poor neighbours often whom he would visit in their houses and bestow upon them his large liberality not groats but crows of Gold and more then that if their wants required it He hired a house also for many aged people in Chelsey whom he daily relieved it was his daughter Margarets charge to see them want nothing when he was a private Lawyer he would take no fees of poor folks widows or pupils Somewhat before he was Lord Chancellor he built a Chappel in his Parish at Chelsey where the parish had all ornaments belonging thereunto abundantly supplied at his charge and he bestowed thereon much Plate often using these words Good men give it and bad men take it away Now shortly upon his entry into the high Office of Chancellorship the King often again importuned him to weigh and consider his great businesse supposing that he had now so strictly obliged him that he could no way have gainsaid him but he valuing more the quiet of his conscience then any Princes favour in the world fell down upon his knees before his Majestly and humbly besought his Highness to stand his gracious Soveraign as ever since his entry into his Graces service he had sound him adding withall that there was nothing in the world had been so grievous unto his heart as to remember he was not able as he willingly would with the loss of one of his limbs to find any thing in that matter whereby with integrity of his Conscience he might truly serve his contentation as he that alwaies bore in mind those godly words that his Highnesse spake unto him when he first admitted him into his Noble service the most vertuous lesson that ever Prince taught his Servant willing him first to look unto God after God unto him as in good faith he said he did and would or else might his Grace well accompt him his most unworthy servant To this the King courteously answered that it he could not therein with his Conscience serve he was content to accept of his Service otherwise and use the advice of other his learned Councell whose consciences would well enough agree with it yet that he would neverthelesse continue his wonted favour towards him and no more molest his conscience with that businesse But Sir Thomas More when afterwards he saw the King sully determined to proceed further in the marriage of Queen Anne and that a Parliament was called for that purpose wherein he with the Bishops and Nobles of the upper House were for the furtherance of that marriage commanded by the King to go down to the Commons to shew unto them both what the Universities as well of other parts beyond the seas as at Oxford and Cambridge had done therein and their seals also testifying the same All which at the Kings request not shewing of what judgment himself was therein he declared unto the lower House yet doubting lest further attempts should after follow which contrary to his Conscience by reason of his Office he was likely to be put unto he made suit unto the Duke of Norfolk his singular dear friend to be a means to the King that he might with his Majesties favour be discharged of that chargeable office of Chancellorship wherein for certain infirmities of his body he pretended himself unable any longer to serve This Duke coming on a time to Chelley to dine with him hapned to find him at the Church singing in the Quire with a Surplice on his back to whom after Service as they went homeward hand in hand together the Duke said Gods body My Lord Chancellor what a Parish Clerk a Parish Clerk You dishon our the King and his Office Nay said Sir Thomas smiling upon the Duke Your Grace may not think your Master and mine will be offended with me for serving of God his Master or thereby count his Office dishonoured When Sir Thomas had behaved himself in his office of the Chancellorship for the space of two years and a half so wisely that none could mend his doings so uprightly that none could take exception against him or his just proceedings and so dexterously that t is to be supposed never any man before or since did that which he did for he had taken such order for the dispatching of all mens causes that on a time sitting as Judge there and having finished one cause he called for the next to be heard whereto answer was made that there was not one cause more depending This he caused to be set down upon Record About this time it hapned Sir John More to fall sick as some say of a Surfeit of grapes in his sicknesse his Son whom he had now seen Lord Chancellor according to his duty often came and visited him using many comfortable words unto him
Thomas as it after appeared in all his communications with her had so discreetly demeaned himself that he deserved not to be blamed but contrarily commended and praised After the Divorce was pronounced there was a book put out by authority from the Councel which laid down the reasons why this divorce was done straight after it was rumoured abroad that Sir Thomas More had answered and confuted this Book Of which slander Sir Thomas cleared himself by a letter to Mr. Cromwel then Secretary and in the Kings great favour shewing by many Arguments that he neither would nor could confute that Book whi 〈…〉 large in the latter end 〈…〉 mas his works Butler to But for all his purging in 〈…〉 accusation came thick and 〈…〉 fell upon him and had he not been one of singular integrity that in all his great offices and doings for the King and Kingdome so many years together had from all corruption wrong doing or bribes taking kept himself so clear that no man was able once to blemish him therewith without doubt every light matter in this troublesome time of the Kings indignation to him had been deeply laid to his charge and of the King at that time most favorably accepted as in the Case of one Parnel it most manifestly appeared This Parnel grievously complained against Sir Thomas More because when he was Lord Chancellor at the suit of one Vaughan his adversary he had made a decree against him for which at his wives hand Mr. Vaughan himself being unable for the Gowt to 〈…〉 Sir Thomas had reâ—…eat gilt Cup as a bribe â—…learing of which accusati 〈…〉 Thomas by the Kings appointment being called before the whole Councel where that matter was hainously laid to his charge presently confessed that forasmuch as that Cup was long after the foresaid decree brought him for a newâ— years-gift he upon her importunat pressing on him therefore of courtesie refused not to receive it Then the Lord of Wiltshire Queen Anns father and preferrer of this suit who hated Sir Thomas More because he had not consented to his daughters marriage with much joy said unto the Lords Lo my Lords did not I tell you that you should find the matter true Whereupon Sir Thâ—mas desired their honours that as they had courteously heard him tell the one part of his Tale so they would vouchsafe of their honours indifferently to hear the other which being granted he further declared that although he had indeed with much urging received that Cup yet immediately thereupon he caused his Butler to fill it with Winâ— and therein drank to her and when she had pledged him Then as freely as her husband had given it to him even so freely gave he the same unto her again to give unto her husband for his New-years-gift which at his instant request though much against her will yet at length she was fain to receive as her self and certain others before them there presently deposed Thus was the great mountain converted scarse to a little molehill At another time upon a New-years-day too there came unto him one Mistresse Croaker a very rich Gentlewoman for whom with no small pains he had made a Decree in Chancery against the Lord Arundel never fearing in an act of justice any nobility of bloud or greatnesse of personage who presented him with a pair of Gloves and forty pounds in Angels in them for a New-years-gift of whom he thankfully received the Gloves but refusing the Money said unto her Mistresse Since it were against good manners to forsake a Gentlewomans New-years gift I am content to take your Gloves but as for the lining I utterly refuse it and so caused her to take her gold again though much against her mind And one Mr. Gresham having at the same time a Cause depending in the Chancery against him sent him for a New-years-gift a fair guilded Cup the fashion whereof pleased him so well that he caused one of his own though not in his fancy of so good a fashion yet better in value to be brought out of his Chamber which he desired the messenger in recompence to deliver to his Master and under no other conditions would he in any wise receive it Many things more of like effect for the declaration of this mans innocency and clearnesse from all corruption or evil affectionm might be here rehearsed which for tediousnesse sake are purposely omitted it being referred to the Readers by those few fore-mentioned examples wisely to weigh consider At the Parliament following there was a Bill put into the lower House to attach the Nun and divers other religious persons of high treason and the Bishop of Rochester Sir Thomas More and some other of misprision of treason The King presupposing that this Bill would be so grievous and terrible unto Sir Thomas More that it would force him to relent and condescend to his request wherein his Highnesse as it afterwards appeared was much mistaken for Sir Thomas More sued that he might be admitted into the Parliament to make his own defence personally which the King not liking assigned the Bishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellor the Duke of Norfolk and Mr. Cromwel at a day and place appointed to call Sir Thomas More before them At whose appearance according to their appointment they entertained him very friendly desiring him to sit down amongst them which in no wise he would do Then began the Lord Chancellor to declare unto him how many wayes the King had shewed his love and favour to him how fain he would have had him continue in his Office how glad he would have been to have heaped more favours upon him and lastly how he could ask no worldly honour and profit at his Highnesse hands that were likely to be denyed him hoping by the declaration of the Kings kindnesse and affection tomards him to cause him to recompense his Grace with the like again and unto those things the Parliament the Bishops and Universities had already subscribed to add his consent also To this Sir Thomas More mildly made answer saying No man living is there My Lords that would with better will do anything that should be acceptable to the Kings Highnesse then my self who must needs confesse his great favours and bountiful goodness most liberally bestowed on me howbeit I verily hoped that I should never have heard of this matter more considering that I have from time to time alwaies from the beginning so plainly and truly declared my mind unto his Grace which his Hignesse to me ever seemed like a most gracious Prince to accept never intending as he then said to molest me more therewith since which time any further thing that was able to move me to any change could I-never find and if I could there is none in all the world could have been gladder of it then I. Many speeches more concerning this were uttered on both sides but in the end
was sent Embassadour appointed Speaker of the Parliament made Lord Chancellour or took any such weighty matter upon him first to go to Church and be confessed to hear Masse and receive the Sacrament so did he likewise in the morning early the very day that he was summoned to appear before the Lords at Lambeth and whereas he used alwaies before at his departure from his Wife and Children whom he tenderly loved to have them bring him to his Boat and there he kissing them all bad them sarewell now he would suffer none of them to come forth of the Gate but pulled the wicket after him and with a heavy heart as by his countenance it appeared with his Son Rooper and their four servants he took boat towards Lambeth wherein sitting still sadly a while at last he rounded his Son in the ear and said Son Rooper I thank our Lord the field is Won What he meant thereby his Son wist not yet loth to seem ignorant he answered Sir I am very glad of it How wisely he demeaned himself before the Comissioners at the ministration of the Oath unto him may be found in certain letters of his sent to his Daughter Margaret which are printed at the latter end of his English works the effect whereof is this After he was called before them he requested of them to see the Oath which when he had read unto himself he answered That he neither would find fault with the Oath nor with the Authors of it nor would blame the Conscience of any man that had taken it but for himself he could not take it without endangering his soul of eternal damnation which if they doubted of he would swear unto them that that was the chief cause of his refusal in which second Oath if they doubted to trust him how could they then trust him in the former Which he having said my Lord Chancellor replyed That all there were heartily sorry he should make such an answer for they constantly affirmed that he was the first man that denyed to take it which would greatly aggravate the Kings displeasure against him And forthwith they shewed him a Catalogue of the Nobility and many others who had taken it and had subscribed their names thereunto Yet because he would not blame any mans conscience therein he was commanded to walk into the Garden a while then presently all the Clergy men some Bishops many Doctors and Priests were called in who all took it except Bishop Fisher and one Doctor Wilson without any scruple at all After all these had soon dispatched the businesse for which they were sent for Sir Thomas was called in again and the names of all that had taken the Oath were shewed him whereunto for himself he answered as before then they often objected unto him obstinacy because he would neither take it nor give any reason why he refused it to which he replyed That his denial only would provoke the Kings indignation sufficiently against him and therefore he was loth any further to aggravate his displeasure shewing what urgent necessity drew him unto it howbeit if his Majesty would testifie that his expressing the Causes wherefore he refused it would not provoke against him his further anger he would not stick to set them down in writing and if any man could satisfie those reasons to the content of his conscience he would take the Oath most willingly Then Cranmer Lord Archbishop urged unto him that seeing he was not certain of his Conscience but that it was a thing certain he must obey his Prince therefore was he to reject that doubtful conscience of his and stick to the latter which was undoubted And when the Abbot of Westminster had said that he might very well suspect his own conscience to be erroneous because he alone would seem to controll all the Wisdome of the whole Realm who had made and taken it Thereto Sir Thomas answered That if he alone should stand against so worthy a Kingdome he had great cause to fear his own conscience but if that on his side he could produce a farre greater number of as learned men as they he thought himself then not bound to reform his conscience by following the consent of one Kingdome against a general received opinion of the whole Christian world Then asked they him whether he would swear to the succession to which he answered That he was willing enough to do that if the Oath were set down in such words as he might safely take it Then said the Lord Chancellor See Mr. Secretary he will not swear to that neither but under a certain form of words No truly replyed Sir Thomas except I find that I may swear it without danger of perjury and with a safe Conscience When he had thus behaved himself he was committed to the custody of the Abbot of Westminster for four daies during which time the King consulted with his Councel what order were best to be taken with him and although at first they resolved he should be discharged with an Oath not to be known whether he had sworn to the Supremacy or no or what he thought thereof yet Queen Anne by her importunate clamour did so sore exasperate the King against him that contrary to his former resolution he caused the said Oath of the Supremacy to be ministred unto him who although he made a discreet qualified answer neverthelesse was presently committed to the Tower who as he was going thither wearing as he commonly did a chain of Gold about his neck Sir Rich. Wink field that had the charge of his conveyance thither advised him to send home his Chain to his Wife or some of his children Nay Sir said he that I will not for if I were taken in the field by mine enemies I would they should somewhat fare the better for me At his landing Mr. Lieutenant at the Tower-gate was ready to receive him where the Porter demanded of him his upper garment Mr. Porter said he here it is and took off his Câ—p and gave it him saying I am sorry it is no better for thee No Sir said the Porter I must have your Gown which he gave him And so was he by Mr. Lieutenant conveyed to his lodging where he called unto him one John Wood his servant there appointed to attend him who could neither write nor read and sware him before the Lieutenant that if he should hear or see him at any time speak or write any manner of thing against the King the Councell or the State of the Realm he should tell it to the Lieutenant that he might presantly reveal it to the Councel Now when Sir Thomas had remained in the Tower something more then a month his daughter Margaret longing to see him at length got leave to go to him at whose comming after the seven Psalmes and Letany said which whensoever she came to him before he would talk of