grandchildren though they liue not in great abundance yet haue they God be blessed sufficient to maintaine the estate of honest Gentlemen which God of his mercie continue 3. Now had King Henry also chosen an Archbishop of Canterbury for his owne tooth promoted by the King as I haue heard say at a beare-bayting soone after VVarham's death his name was Thomas Cranmer Anne Bullen's Chaplaine a man wholy bent to fullfill the king's pleasure in all things By his counsell Q. Marie was after disinherited and all men were sworne to the succession of Q. Anne's issue and to renounce the Pope's authoritie by acknowledging king Henry and his Successours supreme head of the church of England Vnto this man there was Commission granted vnder the great Seale to determine the marriage who had a conscience large enough to putt in execution what the king did fancie sitting at S. Albans about this new match all things were easily accorded The king pretended that he could gett no iustice at the Pope's hands wherefore from thenceforth he sequestred himself and his kingdome from the Sea of Rome marrying Q. Anne in priuate for she was not sollemnely carried through London before she was great with childe of Q. Elizabeth Thus euerie man may see the cause of our breach from Rome the vnion whereof had cōtinued more then nine hundred yeares euer since holie Pope Gregorie first conuerted vs would haue remayned God knowes how long if that either king Henry would not haue cast his liking vpon a wanton damsell or else the Pope's conscience could haue stretched to dispense with a king to haue two wiues togeather for the king still would praise his former wife and tearme her a vertuous woman only forsooth scruple of cōscience was pretēded but he could not see anie cause of scruple in breaking his promise vpon his appeale whereby he professed he would stay vntill the determination of a generall Counsell to which from the Pope he had already appealed As soone as Sir THOMAS had heard that king Henry was married he sayd to my vncle Roper God giue grace sonne that these matters within a while be not confirmed with oathes My vncle then although he saw likeliehood thereof yet fearing alwaies that that would fall out which Sir THOMAS foretolde waxed for these wordes verie sore grieued For he had manie times had experience that he spoke prophetically of diuerse things 4. Before that Q. Anne should be carried in triumphe from the Tower to Westminster through the streetes of London with manie pagents sumptuous shewes which proued after but a may-game Sir THOMAS receaued a letter from three greate Bishops Durham VVinchester Bath requesting him both to keepe them companie to her Coronation and also to take twentie pounds which by the bearer thereof they had sent him to buy him a gowne the money he thankefully receaued yet stayde he still at home and at their next meeting he sayd merrily thus vnto them In the letter my Lords which you lately sent me you requested two things of me the one whereof I was well content to graunt you that the other I might the bolder denye and like as the one because I tooke you for no beggars and my selfe I knew to be no rich man I thought the rather to fullfill so the other putt me in minde of an Emperour that ordained a law that whosoeuer had committed a certaine offence which now I remember not except she were a virgin should suffer death for it such reuerence had he to virginitie now it happened that the first that offended in that crime was a virgin which the Emperour hearing of was in a perplexitie as he that by some example would fayne haue that law putt in execution Wherevpon when his counsell had sitt long debating this case very sollemnely suddenly rose there vp one plaine man of the Counsell and sayd why make you so much adoe my lords about so small a matter lett her be deflowred and after deuoured So though your Lordshipps haue in the matter of this marriage hitherto kept your selues virgins yet take heede you keepe your virginitie still for some there be that by procuring your Lordshipps first to be present at the Coronatiō next to preache for the setting forth thereof finally to write bookes in defence of it are desirous to deflowre you and when they haue deflowred you they will not fayle soone after to deuoure you As for myself it lyeth not in my power but that they may deuoure me but God being my good Lord I will prouide so that they shall neuer deflower me In which speach he most liuely prophecieth both of all the Bishopp's fall to Schisme which after befell and his owne death which followed not long after These wordes of his it is probable that they came to Q. Anne's eares who as impatient as an Herodias not abiding that anie in the realme should finde fault with her greate catche she incensed King Henrie more against Sir THOMAS MORE then anie other man And a moneth after this sollemnitie was not past but she gott him to be sent prisonner to the Tower little knowing that her Fortune's wheele would soone turne after When the king perceaued he could not winne Sir THOMAS to the bent of his lust by no manner of benefitts then loe the fayre sun-shine day of his fauours became ouercast and there ensued a terrible storme he now going about by terrours and threates to driue him to consent vnto it full little imagining that he was a steadie rocke against which noe waues of his rage could preuaile But marke how Sir THOMAS prepared himself for this valiant combat hauing giuen ouer his office of Chancellourshipp he neuer busied himself in State-matters anie more but gaue himself wholy during that yeare which was betweene that and his troubles not only to confute heretikes as I haue sayd but also addicted himselfe to great acts of mortification prayer and pietie he lessened his familie placing his men in other seruices he soulde his housholde stuffe to the value of one hundred pounds he disposed his Children into their owne houses As he lay by his wife's side manie nights he slept not forethinking the worst that could happen vnto him and by his praiers and teares he ouercame the frayltie of his flesh which as he confesseth of himself could not endure a fillipp He hired a pursiuant to come suddenly to his house when he was one time at dinner and knocking hastily at his doore to warne him the next day to appeare before the Commissioners to arme his familie the better to future calamitie imitating herein the acte of S. Iohn the Almes-giuer who hired a man to come to him at meales to tell him that his graue was not yet finished and that he should take order for it for the hower of death was vncertaine 5. But see how the beginning of this trouble
complexion nor very rich by disposition verie neare and worldlie I haue heard it reported he woed her for a friend of his not once thinking to haue her himselfe but she wisely answering him that he might speede if he would speake in his owne behalfe telling his friend what she had sayd vnto him with his good liking he married her and did that which otherwise he would perhaps neuer haue thought to haue donne And indeede her fauour as I thinke could not haue bewitched or scarce euer moued anie man to loue her but yet she proued a kinde and carefull mother-in-law to his children as he was alwaies a most louing father vnto them and not only to his owne but to her daughter also who was married to Mr. Alington and mother to Sir Giles Alington He brought vp togeather with this owne children as one of them Margarett Gigs after wife to Doctour Clement a famous phisitian and she proued also very famous for her manie excellent partes as learning vertue and wisedome All these he bred most carefully to learning and godlie exercises often exhorting them to take vertue for their meate and play for their sawce getting them good meanes to maintaine them by his practise in the law which he had first studied in an Inne of Chancerie called New-Inne where he profited exceedingly and from thence went to Lincolnes-Inne of which house his father then was where he allotted him small allowance for the reasons before alleaged and as it seemed then his great patron the good Cardinal was dead 3. But he plyed that studie whereto he gaue himself being apt to anie that in short time he was made and accounted a worthie Outer-barister yea still proceeding with most notable fame he became a double reader to which few but rare and singular lawyers doe euer attaine Euerie one beganne to admire him both for a man of iudgement vprightnesse and other excellent partes a readie deliuerie boldenesse in a iust cause and diligence in his Clients case and no great taker of money vnlesse he had througly deserued For which causes euerie man striued to haue him of their Counsell in all suits The Cittie of London chose him within a while Iudge of the Shrief's Court some say Recorder of London which I thinke not yea there was not at that time anie matter of importance in anie of the King's Courts of this realme but he was of counsell to one of the parties still choosing the iustest side and therefore for the most parte he went away victorious By all which meanes he gott yearely as he tolde his sonne Rooper without anie grudge of conscience to the value of foure hundred pounds which was a large gaynes in those daies when lawyers spedde not so well as now they doe neither were they then so plentiefull but his fame exceeded all other Wherefore he was chosen twice Agent for the Stillyard-marchents which busines he dispatched with singuler dexteritie 4. King Henrie the Seauenth then raigning was a prince of singuler vertues as wisedome and religion if that couetousnesse the roote of all mischiefe had not seized vpon him towards his latter daies which caused him to lay vpon his subiects manie Impositions and to raise sore exactions by two Caterpillers of the Common-wealth Emson and Dudley who in the beginning of Henrie the Eighth's raigne were rewarded according to their deserts for their wicked counsell to teache other men by their deathes how Iniustice and rapine is punished by God This King I say had called to geather a Parlement wherein he demaunded one Subsidie and three Fifteenes for the marriage of his eldest daughter the Ladie Margaret's Grace who then should be as she was in deede shortly after bestowed vpon the King of Scotts It chanced that Sir THOMAS was then one of the Burgesses For manie had now taken notice of his great sufficiencie When the consent of the Lower house was demaunded to these impositions most of the rest either holding their peace or not daring to gainesay them though they were vnwilling to grant them Sir THOMAS making a graue speache brought forth such vrgent arguments why these exactions were not to be granted that herevpon the King's demaunde was crossed and his request denyed so that one Mr. Tiler one of the King 's priuie Chamber went presently from the house and tolde his Maiestie that a beardelesse boy had disappointed him of all his expectation wherevpon the king conceaued great indignation against him and could no way be satisfyed vntill he had in some sorte reuenged it But for as much as he hauing yet but a litle could not loose much the king deuised a Causelesse quarrell against Sir Iohn More his most innocent father and clapt him vp in the Tower of London keeping him there prisoner vntill he had forced him against all Iustice to pay one hundred pounds as a fyne for a Causelesse offence Manie also then counselled Sir THOMAS MORE to aske the king mercie that his father might be released amongst whome was Doctour Fox then Bishopp Winchester one of the king's priuie Councell who pretended great loue towards Mr. More purposing indeede to gett the king thereby a better meanes to reuenge his displeasure against him But when Sir THOMAS had asked the Bishop's Chaplaine Doctour Whittford a verie holie and graue man afterward a Father of Sion he that translated the Follovving of Christ into English what he were best to doe he requested him for the passion of Christ not to follow his Lord's aduise saying moreouer that the Bishop would not sticke to agree to the dearh of his owne father if it were to serue the king's turne For which cause he returned no more to my Lo of Winchester but determined to haue gone ouer sea thinking he could not liue in England without great danger standing now in the king's displeasure and therefore he studied the French toung at home sometimes recreating his tyred spiritts on the violl where he also perfected himself in most of the Liberall Sciences as Musike Arithmetike Geometrie and Astronomy and grew to be a perfect historian his chiefe helpe in all these labours being his happie memorie of which he modestly speaketh thus I would I had as good a witt and as much learning vt memoria non vsquequaque destituor as my memorie doth not altogeather fayle me But king Henrie dying shortly after and his sonne king Henrie the Eighth striuing at the beginning of his raigne to winne the applause of his people cast Emson and Dudley into prison and attaynted them of high treason for giuing pernicious counsell to his father their prince and when they were going to execution Sir THOMAS asked Dudley whether he had not donne better then they to whome with a sorrowfull hart he answered O Mr. MORE God was your good friend that you did not aske the king forgiuenesse as manie would haue had you donne for if you had donne
did when Charles the Fift landed in England to see Queene Catherine his aunte And whensoeuer he had occasion either in England or beyond the sea to visite anie vniuersitie he would not only be present at their readings and disputations but would also learnedly dispute there amongst them himself to the great admiration of all the Auditorie for his skill in all sciences But when at Brugges in Flanders an arrogant fellow had sett vp a Thesis that he would answer whatsoeuer question could be propounded vnto him in anie art whatsoeuer Sir THOMAS made this question to be putt vp for him to answer thereto whether Aueria capta in Withernamia sunt irreplegebilia adding that there was one of the English Embassadours retinue that would dispute with him thereof This Thraso or Braggadocio not so much as vnderstanding those tearmes of our Common Law knew not what to answer to it and so he was made a laughing stocke to the whole Cittie for his presumptuous bragging 3. Now as he was vngrateful to vaine proude men so was he an intire and speciall good friend to all the learned men in Christendome and first he affected especially that famous man Cuthbert Tunstall lately Bishopp of London and then of Durham of whome Sir THOMAS speaketh in his epitaphe made by himself whilst he was in good health and state thus Then whome the whole world hath not a man more learned wise or better He speaketh also of him in his Vtopia thus The King sent me Embassadour into Flanders as a Collegue to that excellent person Cuthbert Tunstall vvhome lately he hath chosen to the congratulation of all men his Maister of the Rovvles of vvhose singular praises I vvill not speake for that I feare I should be suspected because he is so deare a friend vnto me but for that his vertues and learning are greater then I can expresse and also more knovven then that I should neede to goe about to declare them except I vvould seeme to sett a torche to lighten the sunne In this embassage manie things delighted me much first the long and neuer interrupted familiaritie vvhich I had vvith Tunstall then vvhome as there is none more learned so also no man more graue in his life and manners no man more pleasant in his manner of carriage and conuersation He wrote vnto him diuerse letters which may testifye what intire-friendshipp there was betweene these two excellēt men as this Although euerie letter vvhich I receaue frō you most vvorthie friend is verie gratefull vnto me yet that vvhich you vvrote last vvas most vvellcome for that besides the other commendations vvhich the rest of your letters deserue in respect of their eloquence and the friendshipp they professe tovvards me these last of yours yeelde a peculiar grace for that they containe your peculiar testimonie I vvould it vvere as true as it is fauourable of my Common Wealth I requested my friend Erasmus that he vvould explane to you the matter thereof in familiar talke yet I charged him not to presse you to reade it not because I vvould not haue you to reade it for that is my chiefe desire but remembring your discrete purpose not to take in hand the reading of anie nevv vvorke vntill you had fully satisfyed yourselfe vvith the bookes of ancient Authours which if you measure by the profitt you haue taken by them surely you haue alreadie accomplished your taske but if by affection then you vvill neuer bring your sayd purpose to a perfect ende Wherefore I vvas afrayed that seing the excellent vvorkes of other men could not allure you to their reading you vvould neuer be brought to condescende vvillingly to the reading of my trifles and surely you vvould neuer haue donne it but that your loue tovvards me droue you more thereto then the vvorth of the thing itselfe Therefore I yeelde you exceeding thankes for reading so diligently ouer my Vtopia I meane because you haue for my sake bestovved so much labour And no lesse thankes truly do I giue you for that my vvorke hath pleased you for no lesse do I attribute this to your loue because I see you rather haue testifyed vvhat your loue tovvards me did suggest then the authoritie of a Censor Hovvsoeuer the matter is I cannot expresse hovv much I ioye that you haue east your vvhole account in liking my doings For I almost persvvade myself all those things to be true which you speake thereof knovving you to be most farre from all dissembling and my self more meane then that you should neede to flatter me and more deare to you then that I should expecte a mocke frō you Wherefore vvhether that you haue sene the truth vnfainedly I reioyce hartily in your Iudgement or vvhether your affectiō to me hath blinded your iudgement I am for all that no lesse delighted in your loue and truly vehement and extraordinarie great must that loue be vvhich could bereaue Tunstall of his iudgement And in another letter he sayth You deale very courteously vvith me in that you giue me in your letter such hartie thankes because I haue bene carefull to defende the causes of your friendes amplifying the small good turne I haue done you therein by your great bountie but you deale somevvhat too fearefully in regarde of the loue vvhich is betvveene vs if you imagine that you are indebted vnto me for anie thing I haue donne and do not rather challenge it of right to be due vnto you c. The Amber vvhich you sent me being a precious sepulcher of flyes vvas for manie respects most vvellcome vnto me for the matter thereof may be compared in coulour and brightnesse to anie precious stone and the forme is more excellent because it representeth the figure of a a hart as it vvere the hieroglificke of our loue vvhich I interprete your meaning is that betvveene vs it vvill neuer fly avvay and yet be alvvaies vvithout corruption because I see the fly vvhich hathvvings like Cupide the sonne of Venus and is as fickle as he so shutt vp here and inclosed in this glevvie matter of Amber as it cannot flye avvay and so embalmed and preserued therevvith as it cannot perish I am not so much as once troubled that I cannot sende you the like guift againe for I knovve you do not expect anie enterchange of tokens and besides I am vvilling still to be in your debt yet this troubleth me somevvhat that my estate and condition is so meane that I am neuer able to shevv myself vvorthie of all and singuler your friendshipp VVherefore though I cannot giue testimonie myselfe herein before other men yet must be satisfyed vvith mine owne inward testimonie of minde and your gentle acceptance He dedicated one of his bookes vnto him saying in this wise When I considered to vvich of all my friends I should dedicate these my Collections out of manie Authors I thought you most fitt for the same in respect of the familiar conuersation vvhich of long
to whome he writeth thus VVhat soeuer he vvas my Crocus that hath signifyed vnto you that my loue is lessened because you haue omitted to vvrite vnto me this great vvhile either he is deceaued or else he seeketh cunningly to deceaue you and although I take great comfort in reading your letters yet am I not so proude that I should chalenge so much interest in you as though you ought of dutie to salute me euerie day in that manner nor so vvayvvard nor full of complaints to be offended vvith you for neglecting a little this your custome of vvriting For I vvere vniust if I should exact from other men letters vvhereas I knovve myselfe to be a greate sluggard in that kinde Wherefore be secure as concerning this for neuer hath my loue vvaxed so colde tovvards you that it neede still to be kindled and heated vvith the continuall blovving of missiue epistles yet shall you do me a great pleasure if you vvrite vnto me as often as you haue leasure but I vvill neuer persvvade you to spende that time in saluting your friends vvhich you haue allotted for your ovvne studie or the profiting of your schollars As touching the other parte of your excuse I vtterly refuse it for there is no cause vvhy you should feare my nose as the trunke of an elephant seing that your letters may vvithout feare approche in the sight of anie man neither am I so long snovvted that I vvould haue anie man feare my censuring As for the place vvhich you requirre that I should procure you both Mr. Pace and I vvho loue you dearely haue putt the king in minde thereof 4. But now as concerning the familiaritie he had with the most famous men of other nations it may be likewise seene by his letters to them as to that famous Iohn Cochlee who was Luther's scourge he writeth thus It cannot be expressed most vvorthie Sir how much I holde myself indebted vnto you for certifying me so often of those occurrences vvhich happen in your Countrie For Germanie novv daily bringeth forth more monsters yea prodigious things then Africk vvas vvont to doe For vvhat can be more monstrous then the Anabaptists yet hovv haue those kinde of plagues risen forth and spread for manie yeares togeather I for my parte seing these sects daily to grovve vvorse and vvorse do expect shortly to heare that there vvill arise some vvho will not sticke to preache that Christ himselfe is to be denyed neither can there arise so absurde a knaue but he shall haue fauourers the madnesse of the people is so greate In which letter he foretelleth of Dauid George the Hollander who called himself Christ and had diuerse followers at Basile So was there in England the like desperate fellowe called Hackett whose disciples were Arden and Coppinger At another time he writeth thus vnto the same man I vvould haue you persvvade yourself deare Cochlie that I haue not receaued anie letter from anie of my friends these manie yeares more gratefull then your last vvere to me and that for tvvo causes especially the first for that I perceaue in them your singular loue vnto me vvhich though I haue sufficiently found heretofore yet do these shevv it most plentifully and I account it as a great happinesse for to lett passe your benefitts donne me vvho vvould not highly esteeme the friendshipp and fauour of such a friend Secondly because in these letters you certifye me of the nevves of manie actions of Princes c. Afterwards he had also intire familiaritie with Budaeus which was often renewed by letters and once by personall meeting in France when the kings of England and France had a parlie togeather For Budaeus was in great fauour with his king Francis yea one of his priuie Councell as Sir THOMAS was to king Henrie all which may be perceaued by his letter to Budeus in this manner I knovve not my good Budie vvhether it vvere good for vs to possesse anie thing that vvere deare vnto vs except vve might still keepe it For I haue imagined that I should be a happie man if I might but once see Budeus whose beautiefull picture the reading of his vvorkes had represented vnto me And vvhen God had granted me my vvishe it seemed to me that I vvas more happie then happinesse itselfe yet after that our businesse vvere so vrgent that I could not fullfill my earnest desire to enioy your svveete conuersation often and that our familiaritie scarce begunne vvas broken of vvithin a vvhile the necessarie affaires of our Princes calling vs from it so as it is novv hard to say vvhether vve shall euer againe see one another each of vs being enforced to vvayte vpon our ovvne Prince by hovv much the more ioyfull our meeting vvas by so much the more vvas my sorrovv in the parting vvhich you may lessen somevvhat if that you vvould please to make me often present by your letters yet dare I not craue them of you but my desire to haue them is greate Another friend he had called Martin Dorpe a famous reader in Louaine and a singular good man whome by letters fraught with sound arguments he brought to the loue of the Greeke toung being altogeather before auerted therefore thus he speaketh of him in a letter to Erasmus I cannot lett Martin Dorpius passe vnsaluted vvhome I respect highly for his excellent learning and for manie other respects but for this not a little because he gaue you occasion to vvrite your Apologie to Brixius his Moria He mentioneth also Iohn Lascarus as a deare friend of his as also Philipp Beroalde in a letter of his to Budeus in this manner Commende me hartily to Lascarus that excellent and most learned man for I imagine that you vvould of yourselfe remember me to Beroaldus though I should not putt you in minde thereof for you knovve him to be so deare vnto me as such a one ought to be then vvhome I haue scarcelie found a more learned man or a more pleasant friend Hierome Buslidian who built the Colledge called Trilingue in Louaine we haue mentioned before when we spake of his learned Vtopia of whome thus he speaketh in a certaine letter of his to Erasmus Amongst other things vvich delighted me much in my Embassage this is none of the least that I gott acquaintance vvith Buslidian vvho entertained me most courteously according to his great vvealth and exceeding good nature vvhere he shevved me his house built most artificially and enriched vvith costlie housholde stuffe replenished vvith a number of monuments of antiquitie vvherein you knovv I take great delight finally such an exquisite librarie yea his hart and breast more stored then anie librarie so that it astonished me greatly And presently after in the same letter he speaketh of Peter Giles as followeth But in all my trauailes nothing happened more to my wish then the acquaintance and conuersation vvith Peter Giles of Anwerp a man so learned
sayth also that they which giue themselues to pleasure and idlenesse in this time of pilgrimage are like to him who trauelling to his owne house where there is abundance of all things would yet be an hosteler in an Inne by the way for to gett an Innekeepers fauour and so ende his life there in a stable Speaking of ghostlie Fathers that seeke to please their penitents he sayth Euen as a mother sendeth forth her childe to schoole with fayre words and promises that hath slept too long in the morning and therefore feareth the rodde when he weepeth and blubbereth she promiseth him all will be well because it is not so late as he imagineth or that his maister will pardon him for that faulte this time not caring what he endureth when he cometh thither indeede so she send him merrie from home with his bread butter in his hand euen so manie Pastours of soules speake pleasing things to their sheepe that are riche and delicate they promise them when they are dying and feare hell that all things shall be well with them telling them that either they haue not offended God so grieuously as they feare or that God being mercieful will easily forgiue thē nothing carefull whether after this life they feele hell or no so that they make them not sadde in this world shew thēselues gratefull vnto thē here Pleasure sayth he doth not only withdrawe wicked men from prayer but also affliction sometimes yet this is the difference that affliction doth sometimes wrest some short praier from the wickedest man aliue but pleasure calleth away euen one that is indifferent good from all prayer Against impenitent persons and such as differre the amending of their life till the latter ende of their dayes he sayth thus A lewde fellowe that had spent all his life in wickednesse was wont to bragge that he could be saued yf he spoke but three wordes at the hower of his death riding ouer a bridge that was broken his horse stumbling and not being able to keepe himself from tumbling into the water as he saw himself fall headlong into it casting away the bridle he sayd the Diuell Take All and so with his three wordes he perished in the riuer He that is lightened with a true vision differeth from him that hath an illusion euen as a man awake differeth from him that dreameth Euen as he that passeth ouer a narrow bridge by reason of his feare often falleth especially if others say vnto him you fall which otherwise he would safely passe ouer euen so he that is fearefull by nature and full of pusillanimitie often falleth into desperation the diuell crying vnto him thou art damned thou art damned which he would neuer harken to nor be in anie danger if he should take vnto him a good hart and by holesome counsell feare nothing the diuell's outcrye The prosperitie of this world is like the shortest winter's day and we are lifted vp in it as an arrowe shott vp on high where a hote breath doth delight vs but from thence we fall suddenly to the earth and there we sticke fast either be mired with the durt of infamie or staruing with colde being pluckt out of our feathers Againe he sayth As it is a hard thing to touche pitch and not to be defiled there with a drye sticke to be putt into the fire and not to burne to nourish a snake in our bosome and not to be stung with it so a most hard thing it is to be rich and honoured in this world and not to be strucke with the darte of pride and vaine glorie Lett there be two beggars saith he who haue long time begged togeather one of whome some rich man hath entertayned in his house putt him in silke giuen him money in his purse but with this condition as he telles him that with in a short space he will thrust him out of his doores and take all that away from him againe if he in the meane while being thus gallant should chance to meete with his fellow beggar would he be so foolish as for all this not to acknowledge him for his companion or would he for these few daies happinesse holde himself better then he Applying this to euerie mans case who cometh naked into this world and is to returne naked againe He compareth Couetousnesse to a fire which by how much the more wood there is layde on it to burne so much apter it is to burne more still That there are manie in this life that buy hell with more toyle then heauen might be wonne with by halfe He foresawe heresie in England as appeareth by this wittie comparison Like as before a great storme the sea swelleth and hath vnwonted motions without anie winde stirring so may we see here manie of our Englishmen which a few yeares agoe could not endure to heare the name of an Heretike Schismatike Lutheran or Sacramentarie now to be very well contented both to suffer them and to praise them somewhat yea to learne by little and little as much as they can be suffered to finde faulte and to taxe willingly the Church the Clergie the Ceremonies yea and Sacraments too Also he hath this argument yf he be called stoute that hath fortitude he hote who hath heate wise that hath wisedome yet he who hath riches cannot be sayd presently to be good therefore riches cannot be numbred amongst good things Twētie yea a hundred bare heads standing by a noble man doe not defende his head from colde so much as his owne hat doth alone which yet he is enforced to putt of in the presence of his prince That is the worst affection of the minde which doth delight vs in that thing which cannot be gotten but by offending God He that doth gett or keepe worldlie wealth by offending God lett himfully perswade himself that those thinges wil neuer do him good for either God will quickely take away euill gotten goods or will suffer them to be kept for a greater mischiefe Euen as he that knoweth certainely that he is to be banished into a strange countrie neuer to returne into his owne againe and will not endure that his goods be transported thither being loath to want them for that little while rather then euer to enioy them after may well be thought a madde man so are they out of their witts who inticed with vaine affections to keepe their goods alwaies about them and neglectiue to giue almes for feare of wanting cannot endure to haue these goods sent before them to heauen when as they knowe most assuredly that they shall enioye them alwaies there with all plentie and with a double rewarde To ease his thoughts when he was in prison he imagined that all the world was but a prison out of which euerie day some one or other was called to execution that is to death In his dailie talke he
matter wherein he might truly serue his grace to his contentment but yet he could not This Bishopp hauing bene lately by the Cardinall in the Starre-Chamber openly disgraced and awarded to the Fleete not brooking this contumelie sought by all meanes to wreake his anger against the Cardinall and picked a quarrell at him to the king because he beganne to waxe colde in the diuorce For so it was that Wolsey was sent ouer into France to treate a marriage betweene king Henry and the king of France's sister and finding their willing acceptance it was likelie to come to that issue which he hoped for Yet God so wrought to crosse him that this verie inuention which he had first plotted to reuenge himself on Charles the Emperour this same was the pitt wherein he fell and whereby all his dignitie creditt and wealth was taken away so that of him it may well be sayd incidit in foueam quam fecit For whilst he was contriuing for the king a marriage in France the king himself little to his knowledge had knitt the knott in England with a meane woman in respect of a prince a priuate knight's daughter and of meaner conditions then anie gentlewoman of worth Wherefore Wolsey returning and finding his embassage crossed beganne to repine at the king for disgracing him so much and now wished that he had neuer beganne to putt such scruples into Longlands head which Stokeley soone finding and himself hauing deuised a new knott in a rush to bring the king in better liking of himself for his forwardnesse and into more dislike of the Cardinall so wrought with his Maiestie that he sent for the Cardinal back being now on his way gone to be enstalled in the archbishoprick of Yorke so that by Sir William Kinston he was arreasted of high treason hauing confiscated all his goods before so that he that had bene one of the greatest prelates of Christendome had not now one dish to be serued in at the table who yf he had loued God halfe so well as he adored his prince could neuer haue come to such miserie for that he dyed either with sorrowe or poisō shortly after But the king caused in his place of Chancellourshipp Sir THOMAS MORE to be placed that with that bayte saith Card Poole corrupted he might the more easily be brought to the bente of the king's bowe who behaued himself so excellently in the place as one may say that none euer before him did better although he was the first lay man that euer possessed that roome as Card Poole noteth yea VVolsey himself hearing that Sir THOMAS MORE should haue it though he was very loath to leese it himselfe and withall bore Sir THOMAS no more good will then needes he must yet professed he to manie that he thought none in England more worthie of it then Sir THOMAS such was his fame that none could enuie it though it were neuer so vnaccustomed a case 4. The manner how Sir THOMAS MORE was installed in this high Office how the king did extraordinarily grace him therein and how modestly notwithstanding he accepted therereof is very remarkable For being lead betweene the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke through VVestminister hall vp to the Starre chamber and there honourably placed in the high Iudgement-seate of Chancellour the Duke of Norfolke who was the chiefe peere and Lo Threasurer of England by the king's order spoke thus vnto the people there with great applause and ioy gathered togeather The king's Matie vvhich I pray God may proue happie and fortunate to the vvhole realme of England hath raised to the most high dignitie of Chancellourshipp Sir THOMAS MORE a man for his extraordinarie vvorth and sufficiencie vvell knovven to himself and the vvhole realme for no other cause or earthlie respect but for that he hath plainely perceaued all the guifts of nature and grace to be heaped vpon him vvhich either the people could desire or himself vvish for the discharge of so great an office For the admirable vvisedome integritie innocēcie ioyned vvith most pleasant facilitie of vvitt that this man is endevved vvithall haue bene sufficiētly knovven to all English-men from his youth and for these manie yeares also to the king's Maiestie himself This hath the king abundantly found in manie and vveightie affayres vvhich he hath happily dispatched both at home and abroad in diuerse offices vvhich he hath born in most honourable embassages vvhich he hath vndergone in his dailie counsell and aduises vpon all other occasiōs He hath perceaued no man in his realme to be more wise in deliberating more sincere in opening to him what he thought nor more eloquent to adorne the matter vvhich he vttered VVherefore because he savv in him such excellent endovvments and that of his especiall care he hath a particular desire that his kingdome and people might he gouerned vvith all equitie and iustice integritie and vvisedome he of his ovvne most gratious disposition hath created this singular man Lo Chancellour that by his laudable performance of this office his people may enioy peace and iustice and honour also and fame may redounde to the vvhole kingdome It may perhaps seeme to manie a strange and vnvsuall matter that this dignitie should be bestovved vpon a lay man none of the Nobilitie and one that hath vvife and children because heretofore none but singular learned prelates or men of greatest Nobilitie haue possessed this place but vvhat is vvanting in these respects the admirable vertues the matchlesse guifts of vvitt vvisedome of this man doth most plentifully recompence the same For the king's Maiestie hath not regarded hovv great but vvhat a man he vvas he hath not cast his eyes vpon the nobilitie of his bloud but on the vvorth of his person he hath respected his sufficiencie not his profession finally he vvould shevv by this his choyce that he hath some rare subiects amongst the rovve of gentlemen and lay men who deserue to manage the highest offices of the realme vvhich Bishops and Noble men thinke they only can deserue The rarer therefore it vvas so much both himself held it to be the more excellēt to his people he thought it vvould be the more gratefull VVherefore receaue this your Chancellour vvith ioyfull acclamations at vvhose hands you may expect all happinesse and content Sir THOMAS MORE according to his wonted modestie was somewhat abashed at this the Dukes speach in that it sounded so much to his praise but recollecting himself as that place and time would giue him leaue he answered in this sorte Although most noble Duke and you right honble Lords and vvorshipfull gentlemen I knovve all these things vvhich the kings Maiestie it seemeth hath bene pleased should be spoken of me at this time and place and your Grace hath vvith most eloquent vvordes thus amplifyed are as farre from me as I could vvish vvith all my hart they vvere in me
for the better performance of so great a charge And although this your speach hath caused in me greater feare then I can vvell expresse in vvords yet this incōparable fauour of my dread Soueraigne by vvhich he shevveth hovv vvell yea hovv highly he conceaueth of my weakenesse hauing commanded that my meanesse should be so greatly conmended cannot be but most acceptable vnto me and I cannot choose but giue your most noble Grace exceeding thankes that vvhat his Maiestie hath vvilled you briefly to vtter you of the abundance of your loue vnto me haue in a large and eloquent Oration dilated As for myself I can take it no othervvise but that his Maiesties incomparable fauour tovvards me the good vvill and incredible propension of his Royall minde vvhere vvith he hath these manie yeares fauoured me continually hath alone vvithout anie desert of mine at all caused both this my nevv honour and these your vndeserued commendations of me For vvho am I or vvhat is the house of my father that the kings Highnesse should heape vpon me by such a perpetuall streame of affection these so high honours I am farre lesse then anie the meanest of his benefitts bestovved on me hovv can I then thinke my self vvorthie or fitt for this so peerelesse dignitie I haue be dravven by force as the king's Maiestie often professeth to his Highnesse's seruice to be a Courtier but to take this dignitie vpon me is most of all against my vvill yet such is his Highnesses benignitie such is his bountie that he highly esteemeth the small dutiefulnesse of his meanest subiects and seeketh still magnificently to recompence his seruants not only such as deserue vvell but even such as haue but a desire to deserue vvell at his hands In vvhich number I haue alvvaies vvished myself to be reckoned because I cannot challenge myself to be one of the former vvhich being so you may all perceaue vvith me hovv great a burden is layde vpon my backe in that I must striue in some sorte vvith my diligence and dutie to corresponde vvith his royall beneuolence and to be ansvverable to that great expectation vvhich he and you seeme to haue of me vvherefore those so high praises are by so much more grieuous vnto me by hovv much I knovve the greater charge I haue to render myself vvorthie of and the fevver meanes I haue to make them good This vveight is hardly sutable to my vveake shoulders this honour is not correspondent to my poore deserts it is a burden not a glorie a care not a dignitie the one therefore I must beare as manfully as I can and discharge the other vvith as much dexteritie as I shal be able The earnest desire vvhich I haue alvvaies had and doe novv acknovvledge myself to haue to satisfye by all meanes I can possible the most ample benefitts of his Highnesse vvill greatly excite and ayde me to the diligent performance of all vvhich I trust also I shall be more able to doe if I finde all your goods wills and vvishes both fauourable vnto me and conformable to his royall munificence because my serious endeauours to doe vvell iojned vvth your fauourable acceptance vvill easily procure that vvhatsoeuer is performed by me though it be in it self but small yet vvill it seeme great and praise vvorthie For those things are alvvaies atchieued happily vvhich are accepted vvillingly and those succeede fortunately vhich are receaued by others courteously As you therefore doe hope for great matters and the best at my hands so though I dare not promise anie such yet do I promise truly and affectionately to performe the best I shall be able When Sir THOMAS had spoken these wordes turning his face to the high Iudgement seate of the Chancerie he proceeded in this manner But vvhen I looke vpon this seate vvhē I thinke hovv greate and vvhat kinde of personages haue possessed this place before me vvhē I call to minde vvho he vvas that sate in it last of all a man of what singular wisedome of vvhat notable experience vvhat a prosperous and fauourable fortune he had for a great space and hovv at the last he had a most grieuous fall and dyed in glorious I haue cause enough by my predecessours example to thinke honour but slipperie and this dignitie not so gratefull to me as it may seeme to others for both is it a hard matter to follovv vvith like paces or praises a man of such admirable vvitt prudence authoritie and splendour to vvhome I may seeme but as the lighting of a candle vvhen the sunne is dovvne and also the sudden and vnexpected fall of so great a man as he vvas doth terribly putt me in minde that this honour ought not to please me too much nor the lustre of this glistering seate dazel mine eyes VVherefore I ascende this seate as a place full of labour and danger voyde of all solide and true honour the vvhich by hovv much the higher it is by so much greater fall I am to feare as vvell in respect of the verie nature of the thing it selfe as because I am vvarned by this late fearefull example And truly I might euen now at this verie first entrāce stumble yea faynte but that his maiestie's most singular fauour tovvards me and all your good vvills vvhich your ioyfull countenance doth testifye in this most honourable assemblie doth somevvhat recreate and refresh me othervvise this seate vvould be no more pleasing to me then that svvord vvas to Damocles vvhich hung ouer his head tyed only by a hayre of a horse's tale vvhen he had store of delicate fare before him seated in the chayre of state of Denis the Tirant of Sicilie this therefore shal be alvvaies fresh in my minde this vvill I haue still before mine eies that this seate vvill be honourable famous and full of glorie vnto me if I shall with care and diligence fidelitie and vvisedome endeauour to doe my dutie and shall persvvade myself that the enioying thereof may chance to be but short vncertaine the one vvhereof my labour ought to perfourme the other my predecessour's example may easily teache me All vvhich being so you may easily perceaue vvhat great pleasure I take in this high dignitie or in this most noble Dukes praising of me All the world tooke notice now of Sir THOMAS's dignitie whereof Erasmus writeth to Iohn Fabius Bishopp of Vienna thus Concerning the new increase of honour lately happened to THOMAS MORE I should easily make you belieue it if I should shew you the letters of manie famous men reioycing with much alacritie and congratulating the king the realme himself and also me for MORE 's honour in being made Lo Chancellour of England 5. Now it was a comfortable thing for anie man to beholde how two great roomes of VVestminster hall were taken vp one with the sonne the other with the father which hath as yet neuer bene heard of before or
behaued himselfe in his office of the Chācelour-shipp for the space of two yeare and a halfe so wisely that none could mende his doings so vprightly that none could take exception against him or his iust proceedings and so dexterously that neuer anie man did before or since that which he did For he had taken such order for the dispatching of all mens Causes that on a time sitting as Iudge there and hauing finished one cause he called for the next to be heard whereto was answered that there was not one Cause more depending This he caused to be sett downe vpon recorde whereas at this day there are little fewer then a thousand if not more whereof some lye in the suddes by the space of diuerse yeares When as I say Sir THOMAS had deserued high commendations of euerie one and now perceaued that the king was fully determined to proceede to the vnfortunate marriage of Anne Bullen and for that cause a Parlement was called wherein Sir THOMAS being the chiefe Officer of the higher house was with diuerse Bishops and Noble men commaunded by the king to goe downe to the lower house to shew vnto them both what manie vniuersities beyond the seas Oxford and Cambridge at home had donne in that behalfe with their publike zeales testifying the same All which matters at the king's commaunde he opened to the Lower house not shewing his minde therein yet doubting as good cause he had least further attemps should after follow which contrarie to his conscience by reason of his office he was likelie to be putt vnto he made great suite to the Duke of Norfolke his singular good friēd that he would be a meanes to the king that he might be discharged with his Maiesties fauour of the Chancellourshipp wherein for certaine infirmities of his bodie he pretended himself vnable anie longer to serue The Duke being often thereto by Sir THOMAS sollicited at length obtayned of the king when at a time cōuenient by his Maiestie appointed Sir THOMAS repaired to the king to yeelde vp vnto him the great Seale of England which his Maiestie courteously receaued at his hands with greate praise thankes for his worthie seruice in that office at which time it pleased his highnesse to say thus vnto him That for the seruice he had hitherto done vnto him in anie suite that he should hereafter haue vnto him that either should concerne Sir THOMAS his honour that very word it liked his Highnesse to vse vnto him or that should appertaine to his profitt he should not fayle to finde him a good gracious Lord. But how true these wordes proued lett others be Iudges when the king not only not bestowed vpon him the value of one pennie but tooke from him and his posteritie all that euer he had either giuen by himselfe or left him by his father or purchased by himselfe The next morning being holieday few yet knowing what had bene donne he went to Chelsey church with my Ladie and his children and familie after masse was donne because it was a custome that one of my Lord's gentlemen should then goe to my Ladie 's pewe and tell her my Lord was gone before then did he himselfe come making vnto her a courtesie with his cappe in his hād sayd may it please yòur Ladieshipp to come forth now my Lo is gone whereto she imagining it to be but one of his ieastes as he vsed manie vnto her he sadly affirmed vnto her that it was true for he had resigned vp his office and the king had graciously accepted it This was the way that he thought fittest to breake this matter vnto his wife who yet was full sorie to heare it it may be she spoke then those wordes which I haue rehearsed before Tilli vally what will you doe Mr. MORE will you sitt and make goslings in the ashes it is better to rule then to be ruled But to requite her braue minde he beganne to finde fault with her dressing for he saw a greate fault about her for which she chiding her daughters that none of them could espye it they still saying they could finde none Sir THOMAS merrily sayd Doe you not perceaue that your mothers nose standeth somewhat awry at which wordes she stept away from him in a rage All which he did to make her thinke the lesse of her decay of honour which else would haue troubled her sore 7. Shortly after this he called all his seruāts togeather manie of whome were Gentlemen of good sorte and fashion tolde them that he could not maintaine them as he gladly would and therefore demaunded them what course of life they would betake themselues to and if they purposed to serue any Noble man he would vndertake to place them to their contentment who with eyes full of teares affirmed that they had rather serue him for nothing thē most men for a great stipende but when to this he would not agree he settled them all in places most fitt for their turnes either with Bishops or Noblemen His bardge he gaue to my Lo Audley who succeeded him in his office and with it his eight watermen His foole Patison he gaue to the Lo Mayor of London vpon this condition that he should euerie yeare wayte vpon him that should haue that office After this he called before him all his Children and asking their aduise how he might now in the decay of his abilitie so empaired by the surrender of his office that he could not hereafter as he had donne and gladly would beare out the whole charges of them all himselfe for all his Children with their children had hither to dwelt with him for that they could not be able to continue togeather as he could wish they should When he saw them all silent and none to shew him their opinion therein then will I sayd he shew vnto you my minde I haue bene brought vp at Oxford at an Inne of Chācerie at Lincolnes-Inne and in the king's Courte from the lowest degree to the highest and yet haue I in yearelie reuenues at this present little left me aboue a hundred pound by the yeare so that now if we looke to liue togeather we must be content to be Contributours togeather But my consell is that we fall not to the lowest fare first we will not therefore descend to Oxford-fare nor to the fare of New-Inne but we will beginne with Lincolnes Inne dyett where manie right worshippfull men of great accounte and good yeares doe liue fullwell which if we finde ourselues after the first yeare not able to maintayne then will we the next yeare come downe to Oxford fare where manie great learned and ancient Fathers Doctours are continually conuersant which if our purses stretch not to maintaine neither then may we after with bag and wallett go a begging togeather hoping that for pittie some good folkes will giue vs their charitie and at euerie mans
which would greatly aggrauate the king's displeasure against him and forthwith they shewed him a Catalogue of the Nobilitie and manie others who had taken it and had subscribed their names therevnto Yet because he would not blame anie man's conscience therein he was commaunded to walke into the gardin a while and presently all the Clergie men some Bishops manie Doctours and priests were called in who all tooke it except Bishop Fisher and one Doctour Wilson without anie scruple stoppe or stay the vicar of Croyden saith Sir THOMAS called for a cuppe of beere at the butterie barre quia erat notus Pontifici and he drunke valde familiariter After all these had soone dispatched the matter for which they were sent for Sir THOMAS was called in againe and the names of all that had taken the oath were shewed him whereto for himselfe he answered as before then they often obiected vnto him obstinacie because he would neither take it nor giue anie reason why he refused it to which he replied that his deniall only would prouoke the King's indignation sufficiently against him and therefore he was loath anie further to aggrauate his displeasure shewing what vrgent necessitie drew him vnto it howbeit if his Maiestie would testifye that his expressing the causes wherefore he refused it would not prouoke against him his further anger he would not sticke to sett them downe in writing and if anie man could satisfye those reasons to the content of his conscience he would take the oath most willingly Then Cranmer my Lo archbishop vrged him that seing he was not certaine of his conscience but that it was a thing certaine that he must obey his Prince therefore was he to reiect that doubtfull conscience of his and sticke to the latter which was vndoubted Yet if this argument were of anie force then in all controuersies of religion we may soone be resolued to to follow whatsoeuer anie king commaundeth vs. And when the Abbott of Westminster had sayd that he might very well suspect his owne conscience to be erroneous because he alone would seeme to controle all the wisedome of the whole realme who had made and taken it Thereto Sir THOMAS answered that if he alone should stand against so worthie a kingdome he had great cause to feare his owne conscience but if that of his side he could produce a farre greater number of as learned men as they he thought himselfe not then bound to reforme his conscience by follovving the consent of one kingdome against the generall receaued opinion of the vvhole Christian vvorld When Mr. Secretarie seemed greately to pittie him Sir THOMAS added yf anie hard thing happened vnto himselfe he could not preuent it without he should endanger his owne soule Then asked they him whether he would sweare to the succession to which he answered that he was willing enough to doe that if the oath were sett downe in such wordes as he might safely take it Thereto my Lord Chancellour sayd see Mr. Secretarie he will not sweare to that neither but vnder a certaine forme of words No truly replied Sir THOMAS except I finde that I may sweare it without danger of periurie and with a safe conscience 2. When he had thus behaued himselfe he was cōmitted to the custodie of the abbott of Westminster for the space of foure daies during which time the king consulted with his councell what order were meete to be taken with him And at the first albeit they were resolued that he swearing an oath not to be knowen whether he had sworne to the Supremacie or no or what he thought thereof he should be discharged yet did Q. Anne by her importunate clamours so sore exasperate the king against him that contrarie to the king's former resolution but indeede for the greater honour of God and his martyr the king caused againe the oath of Supremacie to be ministred vnto him who although againe he made thereto a discreete qualifyed answer neuerthelesse he was forthwith committed to the Tower when as he went thither wearing a chaine of golde about his necke Sir Richard Winkefield who had the charge of his conueyance thither aduised him to sende home his chaine to his wife or some of his children nay Sir sayd he that I will not for if I were taken in the fielde by mine enemies I would they should fare somewhat the better for me rather choosing to haue it lost in the Tower then that king's officers should gett it at home when he should leese all or else esteeming nothing lost but gayned which was lost for Christ At his lāding Mr. Lieftenant was readie to receaue him at the Tower-gate where the porter demaunded of him his vpper garment marry porter sayd he here it is and gaue him of his cappe saying I am sorie it is not better for thee Nay Sir quoth he I must haue your gowne which forthwith he gaue him and then was conueyed to his lodging where he called vnto him Iohn Wood his man there appointed to attende him who could neither write nor reade and sware him before Mr. Liefetenant that if he should heare or see him at anie time speake or write anie thing against the king the Councell or the State of the realme he should open it to Mr. Lieutenant that he might straightwaies reueale it againe to the Councell This was his peaceable and constant carriage in aduersitie bearing all his troubles with great alacritie that both God was much pleased with his willingnesse euerie man admired much his patience For if aduersitie will trie mens wisedome and true fortitude surely Sir THOMAS was a most wise man that nothing happened vnto him which he did not in a manner foresee and truly stoute that nothing could daūte his courage or abate his magnanimitie 3. When he had remained with great chearefullnesse about a moneths space in the Tower his daughter Margaret longing sore to see her father made earnest sute and at last gott leaue to goe to him at whose coming after they had sayde togeather the Seauen Psalmes and Letanies which he vsed alwaies after to say with her when she came thither before he would fall in talke of anie worldlie matters to the intent he might commende all his wordes to almightie God's honour and glorie amongst other speaches he sayd thus vnto her I belieue Megg that they who haue putt me here thinke they haue donne me a high displeasure but I assure thee on my fayth mine owne good daughter that if it had not bene for my wife you my children whome I accounte the chiefe parte of my charge I would not haue fayled long ere this to haue closed myselfe in as strayte a roome as this and strayter too now since I am come hither without mine owne deserte I trust that God of his goodnesse will discharge me of my care and with his gracious helpe supply the want of my
Geoffrey Chamber gentleman Edvvard Stockmore gentleman William Browne gentleman Iaspar Leake gentleman Thomas Billington gentleman Iohn Parnel gentleman Richard Bellame gentleman George Stoakes gentleman These I say going togeather and staying scarce one quarter of an hower for they knew what the king would haue donne in that Case returned with their verdict Guiltie Wherefore the Lo Chancellour as Chiefe Iudge in that matter beganne presently to proceede to Iudgemēt which Sir THOMAS hearing sayd vnto him My Lord when I was towards the law the manner in such cases was to aske the prisonner before sentence whether he could giue anie reason why Iudgement should not proceede against him Vpon which words the Lo Chancellour staying his sentence wherein he had alreadie partely proceeded asked Sir THOMAS what he was able to say to the contrarie who forthwith made answer in this sorte For as much as my Lords this Inditement is grounded vpon An acte of Parlement directly repugnant to the lavves of God and his holie Church the supreme gouernement of vvhich or of anie parte thereof no Temporall person may by anie lavv presume to take vpon him that vvhich rightfully belongeth to the Sea of Rome vvhich by speciall prerogative was granted by the mouth of our Sauiour Christ himself to S. Peter and the Bishops of Rome his successours only vvhilst he liued and vvas personally present here vpon earth it is therefore amongst Catholike Christiās insufficient in lavv to charge anie Christian man to obey it And for proofe of this sound assertion he declared amongst manie reasons sound authorities that like as this realme alone being but one member and a small parte of the the Church might not make a particular lavv disagreing with the generall lavv of Christ's vniuersall Catholike Church no more then the Cittie of London being but one member in respect of the vvhole realme may enact a lavv against an Act of Parlement to binde thereby the vvhole kingdome So shevved he further that this lavv vvas euen contrarie to the lavves and statutes of this our realme not yet repealed as they might euidently see in Magna Charta vvhere it is sayd that Ecclesia Anglicana libera sit habeat omnia iura integra libertates suas illaesas And it is contrarie also to that sacred oath vvhich the king's highnesse himself and euerie other Christian prince alvvaies receaue vvith great sollemnitie at their Coronatiōs Moreouer he alleaged that this realme of England might vvorse refuse their obedience to the Sea of Rome then anie childe might to their naturall father For as S. Paul sayd to the Corinthians I haue regenerated you my children in Christ so might that vvorthie Pope of Rome S. Gregorie the Great say to vs Englishmen yee are my Children because I haue giuen you euerlasting saluation For by S. Augustin and his follovvers his immediate messengers England first receaued the Christian Faith vvhich is a farre higher and better inheritance then anie carnall father can leaue to his children for a sonne is only by generation vve are by regeneration made the spirituall Children of Christ and the Pope To these wordes the Lo Chancellour replied that seing all the Bishopps Vniuersities best learned men of this realme had agreed to this Act it was much marueled that he alone should so stiffely sticke thereat and so vehemently argue there against it To which wordes Sir THOMAS answered that if the number of Bishopps and vniuersities vvere so materiall as his Lordshipp seemeth to make it then doe I my Lord see little cause vvhy that thing in my conscience should make anie change for I do not doubt but of the learned and vertuous men that are yet aliue I speake not only of this realme but of all Christendome about there are ten to one that are of my minde in this matter but if I should speake of those learned Doctours and vertuous Fathers that are alreadie dead of vvhome manie are Saints in heaven I am sure that there are farre more vvho all the vvhile they liued thought in this Case as I thinke novv And therefore my Lord I thinke myself not bound to conforme my conscience to the Councell of one realme against the generall consent of all Christendome 5. Now when Sir THOMAS had taken as manie exceptions as he thought meete for the auoyding of this Inditement and alleaging manie more substantiall reasons then can be here sett downe the Lo Chancellour hauing bethought himselfe and being loath now to haue the whole burthen of this Condemnatiō to lye vpon himselfe asked openly there the aduise of my Lo Chiefe Iustice of England Sr. Iohn Fitz Iames whether this Inditement were sufficient or no who wisely answered thus my Lords all by S. Gillian for that was euer his oath I must needes confesse that if the Act of Parlement be not vnlawfull then the Inditement is not in my conscience insufficient An answere like that of the Scribes and Pharisies to Pilate Yf this man were not a malefactour we would neuer haue deliuered him vnto you And so with yfs and ands he added to the matter a slender euasion Vpon whose words my Lo Chancellour spoke euen as Caiphas spoke in the Ievvish Councell Quid adhuc desideramus testimonium reus est mortis so presently he pronounced this sentence That he should be brought back to the Tower of London by the helpe of William Bingston Sheriffe and from thence drawen on a hurdle through the Cittie of London to Tyburne there to be hanged till he be halfe dead after that cutt downe yet aliue his priue partes cutt of his bellie ripped his bowells burnt and his foure quarters sett vp ouer foure gates of the Cittie his head vpon London-bridge This was the Iudgement of that worthie man who had so well deserued both of the king and Countrie for which Paulus Iouius calleth king Henrie another Phalaris The sentence yet was by the king's pardon changed afterwards only into Beheading because he had borne the greatest office of the realme of which mercie of the king's word being brought to Sir THOMAS he answered merrily God forbidde the king should vse anie more such mercie vnto anie of my friends and God blesse all my posteritie from such pardons 6. When Sir THOMAS had now fully perceaued that he was called to Martyrdome hauing receaued sentence of death with abolde and constante countenance he spoke in this manner Well seing I am condemned God knovves hovv iustly I vvill freely speake for the disburthening of my Conscience vvhat I thinke of this lavve When I perceaued that the king's pleasure vvas to sifte out from vvhence the Popes authoritie vvas deriued I confesse I studyed seauē yeares togeather to finde out the truth thereof I could not reade in anie one Doctour's vvritings vvhich the Church allovveth anie one saying that auoucheth that alay man vvas or could euer be the head of the Church To this my Lo
from his wife the daughter of Lewis the eleauenth this matter displeased manie good men amongst them Iohn Standock and his schollar Thomas spake of it in a sermon desiring the people to pray to God that he would inspire the king to doe for the best they were therefore accused of seditiō as men that had committed a faulte against the king's Edict yet for all this they had no other punishment but banishment they kept and enioyed all their goods and when the controuersies were ended they were called home againe with honour by this his mildenesse the king both satisfyed his Edict gott no greate hatred for molesting two men both Diuines both accounted holie men But euerie man bewayleth the death of Sir THOMAS MORE euen they who are aduersaries vnto him for religion so great was his courtesie to all men so great his affabilitie so excellent was his nature Whome did he euer sende away from him yf he were anie thing learned without guifts or who was so gregt a stranger vnto him whome he did not seeke to doe one good turne or other Manie are fauourable only to their owne countriemen Frenchmen to Frenchmen Scottishmen to Scotts This his bountie hath so engrauen MORE in euerie man's hart that they all lamente his death as the losse of their owne father or brother I myselfe haue seene manie teares come from those men who neuer saw MORE in their liues nor neuer receaued anie benefitt from him yea whilst I write these things teares gushe from me whether I will or no. How manie soules hath that axe wounded which cutt of More 's head c. And a little after pulling of his vizard he sheweth himself Erasmus in these wordes Therefore when men haue congratulated me that I had such a friend placed in such high dignities I am wont to answer that I would not cōgratulate his encrease of honour before he should commaunde me to do so 3. Iohn Cochleus a most learned German and a great Diuine writing against Richard Sampson an English-man who defended king Henrie the eight for this fact sayth much of Sir THOMAS his praises at last speaking of his death he sayth thus to king Henrie's Councellours What prayse or honour could you gett by that crueltie which you exercised against Sir THOMAS MORE he was a man of most knowen and laudable humanitie milde behauiour affabilitie bountie eloquence wisedome innocencie of life witt learning exceedingly beloued and admired of all men in dignitie besides highest Iudge of your Countrie and next to the king himselfe famous from his youth beneficiall to his Countrie for manie Embassages and now most venerable for his gray head drawing towards olde age who hauing obtained of the king an honourable dismission from his office liued priuately at home with his wife children and nephewes hauing neuer committed the least offence against anie burdensome to no man readie to helpe euerie bodie milde and pleasant of disposition You haue giuen counsell to haue this so good a man drawen out of his owne house out of that sweete Academie of learned and deuoute Christian Philosophers for no other cause but this that he would not iustifye your impieties his guiltlesse Conscience resisting it The feare of God and his soule 's health withdrawing him from it Doe you belieue that this your wicked fact hath euer pleased anie one of what nation sexe or age soeuer or euer will please anie it will not surely you haue hurt yourselues murderers and guiltie of shedding most innocent bloud him haue you made most grateful to God to the cittizens of heauē to all iust men on earth a most renowned Martyr of Christ he liueth and raigneth without all doubt with Almightie God you will neuer be able to blott out this fault and infamie It is written of God He knovveth the deceauer and him that is deceaued he vvill bring counsellours to a foolish ende Iudges into amazement he vnlooseth the belte of kings guirdeth their loynes vvith a rope Thus writeth Cocleus 4. Paulus Iouius Bishop of Nuceria amōgst the praises of diuerse learned men writeth thus of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's vniust death Fortune fickle vnconstant after her accustomed manner and alwaies hating vertue if euer she played the parte of a proude and cruell dame she hath lately behaued herself most cruelly in Englād vnder Henrie the Eight casting downe before her Thomas More whome the king whilst he was an excellent admirer of vertue had raised to the highest places of honour in his realme that fom thence being by fatall maddenesse changed into a beast he might suddenly throwe him downe againe with great crueltie because he would not fauour the vnsatiable lust of that furious tyrant and for that he would not flatter him in his wickednesse being a man most eminent for the accomplishment of all partes of Iustice and most Saintlie in all kinde of vertues For when the king would be diuorced frō his lawfull wife marrie a Queane and hasten to disinherite with shame his lawful daughter Marie MORE LO Chancellour was forced to appeare at the Barre guiltie only for his pietie and innocencie and there was cōdemned most wrongfully to a most cruell and shamefull death like a Traytor and murtherer so that it was not lawfull for his friends to burie the dismembred quarters of his bodie But Henrie for this fact an imitatour of Phalaris shall neuer be able to bereaue him of perpetual fame by this his vnlawfull wickednesse but that the name of MORE shall remaine constāt and in honour by his famous Vtopia He speaketh of his death as his sentence did purporte 5. Now lett vs ioyne to these viz an Englishman a Low Countrie man a German and an Italian a French man also that we may see how all Nations did lamente Sir THOMAS MORE' 's death and what creditt the king and his Councell there vnto gott by it William Paradine writeth thus The troubles and ciuile dissensions in England now hath lasted a yeare or two whē in the moneth of Iuly Iohn Fisher Bishopp of Rochester was committed prisonner in London because he seemed to disallowe the king's diuorce the lawe newly made against the Pope's Supremacie Of that resolution was also Sir THOMAS MORE partaker being Sheriff of London a man famous for eloquence and in all manner of learning aboue the reache of all Courtiers most expert and skillfull most faultlesse in all deedes These two purposing rather to obey God then man and confirming their mindes with constancie were cōdemned to death from which constancie they could be drawen neither by entreaties hope of rewardes faire promises nor by anie threates whatsoeuer which corporall death both of thē receaued most patiently and stoutely Finally euerie writer of that age lamentably deplored the vniust death of Sir THOMAS MORE Rouerus Pontanus a German in his Index of memorable matters Laurence Surius a Low-Countrie-man vpon the yeare of 1538. Iohn Fontayne a Frenchman in
vvitty conuersatioÌ„ 1. S. Thom. Moor his mariage and first vvife Chosen out of a charitable compassion against his ovvne affection His children by her Iohn More Margaret Roper Elizabeth DaÌ„cy Cecily Heron. Anne Cresacre vvife to M. Iohn More 2. His secoÌ„d mariage vvith a vvidovv Not very faire but kind stepmother M. Alington his step-daughter Margaret Clement Carefull gouernment his famyly 3. His knovvledge and rare integrity in profession of the lavv He is made Iudge of the sherif of Londons court His pleÌ„tyfull but honest gaines 4. K. Henry the 7. offended with S. Tho. For crossing him in parlement in an vnjust imposition Sir Iohn More the father imprisond to be reuenged vpon the soÌ„ne Bad couÌ„cel giuen by a politik bishop Auoided by councel of the religious bishops chaplain He retires to his quieter studies Empson and Dudley put to death for vvicked couÌ„sel The happines of a good conscieÌ„ce 5. The beginning of S. Th. Mores fauour vvith K. Henry 8. Warily at the first declined by S. Th. He is employed by the K. on an embassage into FraÌ„ce To Flanders and BurguÌ„dy 6. His more serious vvritings His Vtopia greatly esteemed by all learned men By Budaeus By I. Paludanus By P. Aegidius By Buslidius By Paulus Iouius His story of K. Richard the 3. He vvas vvonderfully studious amidst his serious affaires The office of a discreet housholder His lectures publik vpoÌ„ S. Austin de ciuit Dei 7. By pleading for the Pope against the K. he makes him of his priuy Councel K. HeÌ„rie 8. learning and courtesy A gracious King for his first tvveÌ„ty yeares S. Thom. More knighted and made Threasurer of the exchequer The familiarity of K. HeÌ„ry with S. Thom. More Discreetly lessened by S. Th. himself He is seÌ„t by the K. to appease the prentises of London 8. He is by the King chosen speaker of the lovver house of Parlament A suÌ„mary of his first speetch in ParlameÌ„t 9. Cardinal Wolseys entry into parlament And a motioÌ„ to the lovver house Frustrated by S. Tho. Mores vvisdome Who pleasantly and vvittily diuerteth the Cardinals displeasure And obtaineth against him not to be sent Leger embassadour into Spaine 10. He is made ChauÌ„cellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster S. Thom. Mores iudgemeÌ„t of K. HeÌ„râ—es extraordinary fauour Queen Catherins iudgement of S. Th. Mores loyalty Cardinal VVolseys vaniglory Flattered by most men But nothing at all by S. Th. More 1. His courteous behaueour in midst of honour His meeknes in repreheÌ„ding 2. His readines of vvitt in all occasions 3. His frindship and estimatioÌ„ vvith the learned of all Christendom Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of Durrham Tunstall a glorious confessour in Q. Elizabeths dayes Frindship of S. Th. More vvith B. Fisher. With Cardinal Poole in his yonger dayes VVith D. Lea Archebishop of yorke VVith Lapsetus Grocinus Linacre Montjoy G. Latimer I. Crocus 4. With learned meÌ„ of other nations as I. Coclaeus G. Badaeus M. Dorpius Lascarus Philip Beroaldus Hierom Buslidius Peter Aegidius B. Rhenanus Cranuild Viues C. Goclenius Sir Tho. Mores frindship to D. Erasmus Roderodamus ForsakeÌ„ vvhen he perceaued Erasmus hate in ReligioÌ„ Erasmus liued alvvayes a Catholique Priest S.T. Mores constancy in frindship His pleasaunt coÌ„uersation proceeding froÌ„ a quiet conscieÌ„se A vvitty and mery repreheÌ„sion His candour and innocence 1. S.T. Mores home-entertainments deuotioÌ„s The excellent order of his family His vviues employmeÌ„t His seruants discipline Euening prayers Vigils His deuotioÌ„ on good fryday His tabletalke 2. His behaueour tovvard his vvife and children and counsels giueÌ„ theÌ„ To desire heaueÌ„ly matters To beare afflictioÌ„s patieÌ„tly So vvithstand teÌ„ptations of the diuel Against too much curiosity in dressing A happy houshold Their ordinary recreations 3. S.T. More studiously vvrate against heresies in midst of of his affaires The praise of his Dialogue His ansvver to the Supplication of beggars The Supplication of soules of Purgatory The vvofull effects of heresy Against Tindal Frith and Barnes Apology Debellation of Salem Bizance Comfort in tribulation 4. A vievv of many vvitty pithy speeches of S. Th. Mores The vulgar no true judge of things Sinners distasted Why fevv do feare death No man sure of long life VVorlds vanity VVorldly losses hurt not The folly of old misers Madnes of couetous meÌ„ Fruicts of tribulation Hovv fonde it is to loue this vvorld Against Confessours that flatter their ghostly ChildreÌ„ AfflictioÌ„ more profitable then pleasure Against differring of ameÌ„dment Visions and illusions Pusillanimity a daungerous teÌ„ptation Danger of prosperity Of riches and honours All riches of this vvorld none of our ovvne Couetousnesse Bad marchants A prediction of heresy Riche are not goods The vvorst affection Almes deeds An the vvorld a prison To suffer for God The vvorld no recoÌ„penser Heresy impudeÌ„ Prayer Detraction Ingratitude Faith the mistresse of reason No truth among heretikes Better preuent then redresse Hereticall traÌ„slations Auoid heresy Fasting Desire of heauen Monasticall life Faith and good vvorkes Bad life no miracle School-diuinity Heretikes Impugning of heresie Heretiks falsplay Their contumelies His hatred against heresy in good earnest 5. His profound skill in diuinyty None handled Luther more kindly Sir Thomas More vvell studied in S. Thomas doctrin And other school-diuines His epistle against Pomeranus 1. Cardinal Wolsey his ambition Pope AdriaÌ„s humility Wolsey the author of K. H. 8. fall LonglaÌ„d B. of LoÌ„doÌ„ Wolseys instrumeÌ„t 2. K. Henry communicateth vvith S. T. More his scruple concerning his first marriage Sir Tho. Mores discreet ansvver to the kings scruple His most vpright conscieÌ„ce and constant zeal of the truth 3. He foresavv in spirit the fall of religion in England 4. The miraculous reductioÌ„ of his sonne Roper from heresy by his prayers The hot spirit of heresy The great piety and charity of his sayd soÌ„ne M. Roper 5. Another miraculous cure vvrought by prayer vpon his daughter Margaret 6. Sir Tho. Mores domestiqs schoole Modesty the ornament of vvemen Learning to be desired for vse not for praise In vvhat coÌ„sisteth deiectioÌ„ of spirit What ornameÌ„t Sir Tho. More required in his children A vvomaÌ„ may attaine to learning as vvell as a man The end to vvhich all learning must be directed He desireth it may by all meanes be beaten from his children 7. The delight Sir T.M. bad in his childreÌ„s learning They studied Astronomy He discourieth pleesauÌ„tly He willeth theÌ„ to write with care and premeditation His earnest care of his childreÌ„s good employmeÌ„t The care his children had to please him in their studies Bookes dedicated by learned men to his children He payes his daughters letters with gold 8. The learning and piety of his daughter Margaret The esteeÌ„ that the B. of excester had of her learning Some of her writings Her traÌ„slation of Eusebius Her skill in Astronomy Why humanity is best studied in our yonger yeares 1. Charity of Sir Tho. More to his neighbours His three wishes for the good of Christedom Vnity in peace Vnity in
T. M offer proceedeth not of vncertāty but because he was certain his reasons were vnanswerable All Christendom of more autority then all england The oath of succession 2. Sir Tho. Mores imprisonmēt First in Westminster Then by Q. Annes importunity in the Tower His willingnesse to leese all for Christ The vpper garment the porters fee. His mans oath His wonderfull courage 3. His discours with his daughter Margaret Preuēted with prayers The cōfort he found in his emprisonment Fiue reasons vsed by his daughter to make him relēt 1. Obedience to the King 2. Autority of wise mē 3. Only B. Fisher of his mind 4. Him self a lay man 5. against a parlament Sir T. M. answers All the saints of God acknowleged the Popes supremacy Why he neuer touched that point in his writings Motiues with which many deceaue their owne cōsciences He knew not of B. Fishers mind The Doctours of the Church greater then Doctours of England And generall Coūcels then a Parlamēt His trust in Gods mercy against the fear of death A heauēly resignation 4. Sir T. M. prophecieth Q. Annes death His plesant answer to his keepers honest excuse The inconstācy and ignorance of the oath makers His meditation vpon the martyrdom of 24. religious mē Maister Secretary Cromwells visit Sir T. M. writ in the tower his book of comfort 5. A prety dialogue between Sir T. M. and his wife Her worldly obiectiō His heauenly answer Prison as neer heauen as our owne house Eternity to be preferred before temporality An other visit 6. M. Rich his sophisticall case A poor ground for an inditement of treasō 7. A remarkable accident at the taking away his bookes His mery ieast vpō it 8. How great care he took not to offend the king The substance of his inditement 1. The arraignmēt of Sir Th. More His iudges His inditement The iudges charges His Christian resolution 2. Sir Th. his āswer to the inditement 1. How sincerly he had always told the K. his mind touching the marriage The durance of his emprisonment and afflictiōs 2. Why he refused to tell his iudgemēt of the law of supremacy Lay men not touched with that law No law can punish silēce that is without malice Whether his silence were malicious Obediēce first to God and then to man 3. That he neuer counselled or induced B. Fisher. The contents of his letters to the said Bishop 4. The law of supremacy like a two-edged sword 3. M. Riches oath against Sir T. More Euidētly disproued by Sir Tho. Mores oath to contrary By iust exceptiō against the witnesse vnworthy of credit Yf it had been true ther had been no malice Malice in law The improbability of M. Rich his deposition M. Rich his witnesses do faile him 4. The Iurie verdict guiltie Excepted against by Sir Thomas The act of parlament against Gods law No lay man can be head of the churche Against the lawer of the realme Against the kings owne oath Against the peculiar obligation of England to Rome Against all Christendom that euer was 5. The condemnatiō of S. Tho. More By yfs ands but no proofes The sentence Mitigated by the king 6. Sir Thomas fully deliuereth his iudgement of the act of suoremacy to be vnlawfull Against all the churche of God Constācy no obstinacy Sir Tho. Mores blessed charity to his iudges The truth of this relation frō present witnesses of credit 1. The manner of Sir Thomas his returne to the tower His sōne asketh him blessing Great cōstancy courtesy and charity 2. His childrens behauiour to him His daughter Matgarets laudable passion A ponderation vpon this mutuall passiō of Father daughter Cardinal Pooles estimatio of Sir Thomas his death 3. How deuoutly cheerfully he attēded his exequution A pleasaunt cōceipt vpō a leight courtyer His last letters To Antony Bōuise To his daughter Margaret His desito dy vpō the octaue of S. Peter which was also S. Thom. of Canterburys commemoratiō An blessing to his heire God grāted him his desires to dy the day he wished His heir-shirt and discipline 4. Aduertisment giuē him of the day of his death frō the K. Most welcome vnto him The K. willed him to vse but few words at his exequution His wife childrē permitted to be at his buriall His comfortable courage He put on his best apparell that day Liberally to his executiō 5. The forme of his death and martyrdom Persons hired to disgrace him A good cōsciēce He freeth one from the tētation of despaire by his prayers His wordes at his death His prayers Words to the executioner He couereth his eyes himself His happy death 6. The kings sadnes vpō the newes of his exequution The place of his buriall A notable accidēt about his windnig-sheet His bloudy shirt His head His martyrdom encouraged many other to the like Mr. Gardiner Euen his owne Parish-priest 7. A cōsideratiō vpon the blessing which he gaue to his heires children A praise of M. Iohn More sonne heire to Sir Thomas The vnmercifull dealing of K. Hēry with Sir Tho. Mores heires With the Lady his widow M. Iohn More cōmitted to the tower for denial of the oath The imprisonment of his daughter Margaret 8. The fauour and Physiognomie of Sir Tho. More 1. Cardinal Pooles lamentatiō vpon Sir Tho. Mores death 2. Erasmus of Roterdam 3. Doctour Cochlaeus of Germany Iob 12. 4. Bishop Iouius of Italy 5. W Paradin a dearned historiā of France 6. Riuius a Protestāt 7. Charles the Emperour 8. Circumstances notable in the death of Sir Tho. More From the kings part From Sir Thomas Mores part Nota. 9. An apology for his mery iestes A fit cōparison between Catoes seuerity and Sir T. M. his pleasaūt disposition 10. Sir Tho. More a lay man martyr for Ecclesiasticall autority neuer before questioned Epigrammes History of K. Richard the 3. in English and Latin His Vtopia Many deemed Vtopia to be a true nation and country Sheep deuour men in England Sir Tho. More his book against Luther His epistle against Pomeranus His English writings The dialog with the messinger Great sincerity in his writing and loue of the truth He writt neither for gaine nor report His pouerty almost incredible in so greate a man Sir Tho. M. no partiall frind to the clergy Tindals false trāslation of the scripture Cōfuted learnedly by Sir Th. M. The wilfulnes of heretikes Tindal falsifieth Sir T.M. words Tindals maze Tindals māner of amēding Against Frier Barnes his inuisible Churche The notable disagreemēt of heretikes among thēselues Hereticall scoffing Heretikes Hypocrisy Against the supplication of beggars Against Iohn Frith Sir Tho. Mores Apologie How heretikes recite the catholik argumēts Touching the length of Sir Tho. Mores bookes Heretiks blaspheming the fathers vvould thēselues be reuerently handled Whē heretikes railings are to be neglected Heretikes excellent railours The pacificatiō Cōfuted by Sir T.M. The debellation of Salem and Bizance How the Pacifier reconcileth points in controuersy Sir T. M. his book of the blessed Sacrament The heretiks supper of the Lord wants the best dishe Sir Tho. Mores bookes written in the tower Comfort in tribulation Of Cōmunion Of the Passion The excellencn of the booze of Comfort The said book a preparation against the persequutiō which he did forsee Written when he had no book about him Written with cole Like Esaias his cole that purified his lippes