vvhome euerie one is vvilling to suffer to touche their vvoundes and in vvhome vvhat confidence euerie one hath and hovv readie euerie one is to doe vvhat you prescribe both you haue heretofore sufficiently iryed and novv the desire that euerie bodie hath of your speedie returne may manifest the same Returne therefore my deere Colett either for Stepney's sake vvhich mourneth for your absence no lesse then children doe for the absence of their louing mother crelse for London's sake in respect it is your natiue countrie vvhereof you can haue no lesse regarde then of your ovvne parents and finally although this be the least motiue returne for my sake vvho haue vvholy dedicated myself to your directions and do most earnestly long to see you In the meane while I passe my time vvith Grocine Linacre and Lillie the first being as you knovve the directour of my life in your absence the second the maister of my studies the third my most deare Companion Farevvell and see you loue me as you haue donne hitherto London 21. Octob. By this letter it may clearely be seene how he gaue himselfe from his youth to the true rules of deuotion and thereby sought to profitt as well in holinesse as in learning For if Christ hath pronounced them happie that hunger and thirst after iustice surely he shewed in this letter a great earnestnesse of desire to attaine to perfection And his example may moue all his to follow therein his footestepps that their chiefe and principall endeauour in their youth be to seeke out a skillfull phisitian of the soule who both can and will guide vs in the path of Catholike doctrine and dutie and when we haue found such a one to follow his counsell precisely and make the secretts of our harts knowen to him This dutiefulnesse of the ghostlie childe to so rare a father made Colett also admire this yong man's towardlienesse so that this Doctour would professe to manie and at sundrie times say that there was but one witt in England and that was yong THOMAS MORE althoug manie flourishing youthes at that time liued in England which were of hopefull expectation And no doubt but God did further him with particular grace and towardlinesse because he was so extraordinarily deuout so that I doe imagine it may be sayd of Sir THOMAS MORE which S. Thomas of Aquine wittnesseth of himselfe that he learned more by praier and spirituail exercises then euer he could doe by anie studie For to what studie soeuer Sir THOMAS applyed himselfe he grew in short time most famous therein And first how great a Poet he was accounted euen in his youth we haue already partly spoken of then what Declamations he made full of all Rhetoricall eloquence to the amazement of all his auditorie manie haue wittnessed who heard them and haue read them how pure a Latine stile he attayned vnto his singular epistles yet extant to diuerse personages doe euidently shewe so that one would imagine he had spent all his life time in Humanitie only And although his aptnesse for eloquence seemed farre to disagree from the serious studies of the Common Law of this land so that few could suppose such a witt would haue had the patience to haue taken a lawbooke in hand yet such was his obedience to his father that at his cōmaund he studied the Law diligently 7. He vsed to eate at his meales but of one dish which was most commonly powdered biefe or some such like salte meate although his table was alwaies furnished with much varietie and what meate he first tasted on the same would he for that time make his whole refection of In his youth he abstained wholy from wine and in his latter yeares he would taste thereof but first it must be well alayed with water as Erasmus to Huttenus wittnesseth He had noe care what apparrell he wore in so much that being once tolde by his secretarie Mr. Harris that his shoes were all torne he bad him tell his man that looked vnto him thereof to buy him new whome for this cause he called his Tutour for he bought and made all his apparrell at his owne discretion Sir THOMAS neuer busying his head about such matters choosing rather to be in all things at the discretion of other men then at his owne guiding that he might in all his actions exercise the chiefe vertues of a Christian man obedience and humilitie Yea although he were most wise and dexterous in discerning truth from falshood and vertue from cloaked vice yet would he for the most parte in his greatest affaires and studies aske his man Harris his aduise and counsell and if he thought the contrarie better he would willingly submitt himselfe to his opinion And indeede Harris was a man of good vnderstanding and iudgement and a very trustie seruant 8. These were the foundations on which he layde his future building which by how much the more it was to be raysed to splendour and beautie by so much he layd his ground worke of humilitie the lower and whatsoeuer hardnesse he vsed secretely still kept he in out ward semblance a singular alacritie being merry in companie and full of ieastes especially eschewing the vice of singularitie yea he was verie cunning in dissembling his vertues so that few came to knowe what holie exercises he practised euen as in his writings he often fay ned matters cunningly to haue heard them of others which he himself had inuented as in his preface to his Utopia he artificially discourseth as though Raphael Hithlodius had tolde that whole storie vnto him commento periucundo as Paulus Iouius doth testifye So he fayned as though an Englishman called Rosse had pleasantly confuted Lutheres booke as he discoursed with his hoste in Italie who afterward published all their communication in printe by which meanes Luther could neuer learne who he was that answered him after his owne furious fashion which angred him sore lastly his three bookes of Comfort in tribulation a worke most excellent and diuine he inuented to haue bene spoken by two Hungarian kinfmen about the Turkes perfecution but thereby he most liuely represented the terrible stormes of crueltie which king Henrie the eight and heresie would raise in our poore distressed Countrie THE SECOND CHAPTER SIR THOMAS MORES his mariage first preferment and serious vvritings with his danger in time of K. Henry 7. and entry into fauour vvith King Henry 8. 1. S. Thomas Mores first mariage and wife 2. His second mariage vvith a vvidowe 3. His integrity in profession of the lavve 4. He offendeth K. Henry 7. by crossing in parlament an iniust imposition 5. The beginning of his fauour vvith King Henry the eight 6. His studious employments amidst his serious offaires 7. The first honours bestovved by K. Henry 8. vpon S. Thomas 8. He is by the K. made speaker of the lovver hovvse of parlament 9. Cardinal VVolseys proposition in parlament frustrated by S. Thom.
picked out this worthie lay man such as I suppose all Christendome had not the like who should be as his especiall Embassadour for the laytie as was the famous Bishop of Rochester for the Clergie such were these two for learning as they could reache into all matters such for excellencie of witt that no subtile dealing could entrappe them vnawares easily foreseing anie danger such for vertue and integritie of life that God of his great mercie would not suffer such men in so great a poynt as this to be deceaued And lett no man thinke this was no Martyrdome yea rather it was greater then that of those who would not denye the fayth of Christ according as that worthie Bishopp Confessour Denis of Alexandria sayth that that Martyrdome which one suffereth to preserue the vnitie of the Church is more then that which one suffereth because he will not doe sacrifice to Idolls for in this a man dyeth to saue his owne soule in the other he dyeth for the whole Church WHo vvith as curious care should vievve Each vertue of thy breast As vvas thy face pervsed by him Whose pencell it exprest With ease might see much to admire But hard to putt in shapes As Xeuxes could expresse to life The fruitfull bunche of grapes He sooner should his ovvne life ende Then he could finish thine Such store of matter vvould arise And gemmes of vertue shine There must be dravve a brovve Of Shamefastnesse and Grace Then tvvo bright eyes of Learning and Religion therevvith place And then a nose of honour must Be reared breathing svveete fame Tvvo rosie cheekes of Martyrdome With lillies of good name A golden mouth for all men pleades But only for himselfe A chinne of Temperance closely shaued From care of vvorldlie pelfe The more that he shall looke into The more he leaues vnvievved And still more shevves of noble vvorth Wherevvith he vvas endevved But loe the fatall Axe vpreared And at his verie Chinne By enuie hath a seuerance made That More might not be seene MORE like a Saint liued he most worthie Martyr ended MORE fitt for heauen which novv he hath vvhereto his vvhole life tended OF SIR THOMAS MORE' 's Bookes AMong his Latine Workes are his Epigrammes partly translated out of Greeke and partely of his owne making so wittily deuised and penned as they may seeme nothing inferiour or to yeelde to anie of the like kinde written in our daies and perchance not vnworthie to be compared with those of like writers of olde These Epigrammes as they are learned and pleasant so are they nothing biting or contumelious He also wrote elegantly and eloquently the life of king Richard the Third not only in English which booke is abroad in printe though corrupted and vitiated but in Latin also not yet printed He did not perfect nor finish that booke neither anie sithence durst take vpon him to sett penne to paper to finish it neither in the one or other toung all men being-deterred driuen from that enterprise by reason of the incomparable excellencie of that worke as all other paynters were afrayde to perfect finish the image of Venus paynted but imperfectly by Apelles for hisexcellēt workemanshipp therein But the booke that carrieth the price of all his other Latin bookes of wittie inuention is his Utopia he doth in it most liuely and pleasantly painte forth such an exquisite plattforme patience and example of a singular good Common-wealth as to the same neither the Lacedemonians nor the Athenians nor yet the best of all other that of the Romans is comparable full prettily and probably deuising the sayd Countrie to be one of the Countries of the New-found Lands declared to him in Antvverpe by Hythlodius a Portingall and one of the sea-companions of Americus Uesputius that first sought out and found those lands such an excellent and absolute an estate of a Commō Wealth that sauing the people were vn-Christened might seeme to passe anie estate and Common wealth I will not say of the olde Nations by me before mentioned but euen of anie other in our time Manie great learned men as Budeus Ioannes Paludanus vpon a feruent zeale wished that some excellent Diuines might be sent thither to preache Christ's Gospell yea there were here amongst vs at home sundrie good men learned Diuines very desirous to take the voyage to bring the people to the fayth of Christ whose manners they did so well like And this sayd iollie inuention of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's seemed to beare a good countenance of truth not only for the creditt Sir THOMAS was of in the world but also for that about the same time manie strange and vnknowne nations and Countries were discouered such as our forefathers neuer knew especially by the wonderfull nauigation of the shippe called Victoria that sayled the world round about whereby it was foūd that shipps sayle bottome to bottome that there be Antipodes which thing Lactantius and others doe flattely denye laughing thē to scorne that so did write Againe it is found that vnder the Zodiake where Aristotle and others say that for the immoderate excessiue heate there is no habitation is the most temperate and pleasant dwelling and the most fruitfull countrie in the world These and other considerations caused manie wise and learned men nothing lesse to mistrust then that this had bene nothing but an Inuentiue drift of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's owne imagination for they tooke it for a verie sure true storie wherein they were deceaued by Sir THOMAS as too wittie and as well learned as they were In this booke amongst other things he hath a very goodlie processe how there might be fewer theeues in England and a maruelous opinable probleme of sheepe that whereas men were wont to eate the sheepe as they doe in other countries now contrariewise sheepe in England pittiefully doe deuowre men women and children houses yea townes withall Like a most thankefull man he maketh honourable mention of Cardinall Morton Archbishop of Canterburie and Lo Chancellour of England in whose house as we haue sayd himselfe was in his tender youth brought vpp albeit it be by the dissembled name of the sayd Hythlodius whome he imagineth to haue bene in England and to haue bene acquainted with the sayd Cardinall And as this booke in his kinde is singular and excellent contayning and describing a Common wealth farre passing the Common-wealthes deuised and vsed by Lycurgus Solon Numa Plato and diuerse others So wrote he in-another kinde sorte a booke against Luther no lesse singular and excellent King Henry the Eight had written a notable and learned booke against Luther's booke De Captiuitate Babylonica most euidently and mightily refuting his vile and shamefull heresies against the Catholike Fayth and Christ's holie Sacraments which did so grieue Luther to the hart that hauing no good substantiall matter to helpe himselfe withall he fell to scoffing and sawcie ieasting at the king's booke
D. O. M. S. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SIR THOMAS MOORE Lord high Chancellour of England WRITTEN BY M. T. M. and dedicated to the Queens most gracious Maiestie TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCESSE OVR MOST GRATIOVS QVEENE AND SOVERAIGNE MARIE HENRIETTE QVEENE OF GREAT BRITAINE FRANCE AND IRLAND LADIE OF THE ILES OF THE British Ocean MOST GRATIOVS AND SOVERAIGNE LADIE The authour of this Treatise eldest sonne by descent heire by nature of the family of that vvorthy Martyr vvhose life is described in it had he liued himselfe to haue set it forth to the vievv of Christian eies vvould not haue thought vpon any other patron and protectour to dedicate it vnto then your most excellēt Maiestie For he vvas most constantly affected alvvayes to the French Nation and crovvne next after the dutifull obedience vvhich he ought to his ovvne natural Lord and soueraigne And this his affection did he manifest in all occasions but especiallie in the treatie of the happie mariage of your highnes vvith the King our soueraigne Lord and maister Assembling at his ovvne costes and charges vvith vnvvearied industrie all the English persons of note and esteeme that then vvere in and about Rome vvith thē all as the mouth of thē all supplicating to his Holines for the dispatch of this most hope-full and happie contract yeelding such reasons for the effecting thereof as highlie pleased the chiefe Pastour of the Church vnder Christ our Sauiour The same affection did he testifie sufficiently in the last period of his life leauing his bodie to be buried in the French church at Rome vvhere vvith great contēr of the French Nobilitie it lieth interred This being the affection of the author of this treatise I should much vvronge his memorie if these labours of his should be offred to the patronage of anie other then of your roiall Maiestie The glorious Martyr himselfe demāds likevvise that his life should be read vnder your Maiesties protection since he lost his life in this vvorld to gaine it in the next in defence of an innocent stranger Queene for reasons not to be mētioned by vs debarred from her lavvfull bed Although God be praised and magnified therefore the heauens haue rained such graces vpon your Maiestie that there neuer can happen any such causes of defence your glorious Husband and Lord our soueraigne King so dearlie affecting you and the hope-full yssue the chiefest bond of matrimonial loue so povverfully knitting your hearts together and your gratious Maiesties goodnes virtues and debonnaire discretion so recommending you to him first and then to all his true loyall subiects of this great vnited Monarchie That vve may vndoubtedlie expect from almightie God a long and prosperous enioyāce of your jointgouerment and a glorious race of happie successours to this crovvne frō your royall loines vvhich happines and heauen after long prosperitie on earth vpon my knees I vvish vnto your royall grace remaining for euer Your Maiesties loyall and obedient subiect seruant M. C. M. E. The Preface to the Reader 1. AS I cannot but daily thinke of the rare and admirable vertues both of nature and grace which did shine most perspicuot in the blessed life and glorious death of that worthie Champion of Christs Church Sr. THOMAS MORE so also haue I often had an earnest desire especially for the spirituall behoofe of my selfe and my Children who are as small brookes deriued by naturall propagation frō that spacious sea of rare perfections or like tender twigs drawing sappe from the fruitfull roote of his noble excellēcies to giue them a taste according to my poore abilitie of some few of his most heroical vertues professing my self vtterly vnable to sett downe his life in writing as he deserueth 2. For if that Apelles the principall paynter that euer liued was thought only fitt to drawe with his pencell the pourtraicture of Alexander the Great or if Lysippus the most curious engrauer was the onlie man which was suffered to carue in brasse the beauteous feature of the same so worthie a personage for feare least that some vnskillfull workeman might rather blemish his fauour then anie waies grace it what courage can I haue to vndertake a worke of so great difficultie as this who know my selfe a verie puney in comparison of so manie famous men that haue vndergone this businesse alreadie finding in the verie beginning of this mine enterprise my small capacitie ouerwhelmed with the plentie and copiousnesse of this subiect and vf I should boaste my witt and skill to be equall with learned Stapleton's who at large and with great diligence and dexteritie hath sett forth the life of this great seruant of God in his booke intituled The three Thomases I should vanish away in mine owne pride knowing my self right well most vnworthie to be compared vnto him or if I should challenge vnto my selfe more certaintie of the matter related then my great vncle Mr. William Rooper could haue euerie one might iudge me both vaine and arrogant of whose sin ceritie none that euer knewe him or heard of him can doubte I being the third in descent from S. THOMAS and he his owne sonne-in law with whome he had familiarly conuersedy space of sixteene yeares togeather as he himself confesseth yet for all this I haue now at last ventured to discourse a little of the life and death of this glorious Martyr for so without enuie I hope I may call him non vt electus ex 〈◊〉 sed quasi relictus ex omnibus not as one that may be thought fitt to sett his life forth with good grace but as he who only vpon a naturall affection to his Ancestour trusting 〈◊〉 of Gods ayde and this Saint's holie praiers is emboldened to say somewhat thereof this being one propertie of affection to suppose that whosoeuer hath spoken or whatsoeuer hath benesayd of him whome we loue all that we thinke nothing if we ourselues haue not sayd somewhat in his praise although alas we are often the vnfittest men for that purpose we being not able to vtter what we conceaue because our passion taketh away much of our conceipt and therefore we vtter for the most parte either broken words or vnperfect sentences more intelligible to him that searcheth the secretts of mens harts then to others that heare them spoken or reade them in our writings 3. But one may aske me why I should challenge more affection to this man then anie other of my kinne of whome few or none haue endeauoured to write any thing hitherto I answer that though I haue had more cause perhaps then anie man else to loue him and honour him which is best knowen to my selfe and not fitt to be related vnto all men secretum meum mihi yet will I not ascribe to my selfe so great a priuiledge of louing him best I being the yongest and meanest of all my familie lett this suffice him that is a curious searcher of this my deede that
England from Richard 〈◊〉 the vsurper and also most happily procured the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke to be vnited by marriage In this famous mans house this youth learned most diligently aboundance of wisedome and vertue and now he beganne to shew to the world what man he was likelie to proue For the Cardinall often would make triall of his pregnant witt especially at Christmas merriments when hauing plaies for recreacion this youth would suddenly steppe vp amongst the players and neuer studying before vpon the matter make often a parte of his owne inuention which was so wittie and so full of ieasts that he alone made more sporte and laughter then all the players besides for which his towardlienesse the Cardinall delighted much in him and would often say of him vnto diuerse of the Nobilitie who at sundrie times dined with him that that boy there wayting on him whosoeuer should liue to see it would proue a maruelous rare man But when this most reuerend Prelate sawe that he could not profitt so much in his house as he desired where there were manie distractions of publike affaires hauing great care of his bringing vp he sent him to the Vniuersitie and placed him in Canterbury-Colledge at Oxford now called Christs-church where in two yeares space that he remained there he profited exceedingly in Rhetorick Logick and Philosophie and shewed euidently what wonders witt and diligence can performe when they are ioyned as seldome they are in one painefull student There his whole minde was sett on his booke for in his allowance his father kept him verie short suffering him scarcelie to haue so much monie in his owne custodie as would pay for the mending of his apparrell euen no more then necessitie required and of his expences he would exact of him a particular accounte which course of his fathers he would often both speake of and praise it when he came to riper yeares affirming that by this meanes he was curbed from all vice and withdrawen from manie idle expences either of gayming or keeping naughtie companie so that he knew neither play nor other riott wherein most yong men in these our lamentable daies plunge themselues too timely to the vtter ouerthrow as well of learning and future vertue as their temporall estates This strictnesse of his father in creased in him also a great reuerence and obedience after vnto him againe in so much that in all his life after he was so dutiefull vnto him that he neuer offended nor contradicted him in anie the least worde or action still shewing towards him admirable deedes of humilitie euen at that time when in the eye of the world he farre surpassed his father in dignitie which may be seene by asking him blessing euerie day duly euen after he was Lord Chancellour of England and when he and his father mett publikely at Lincolnes-Inne or other where he would still offer him the place of precedence though the Iudge by reason of his sonne 's office did still refuse it such was the pietie and submissiue minde of this humble man such againe was the prouident care of the father towards his sonne that one can hardly guesse which of the two were more worthie the father of such a sonne or the sonne of such a father yet I iudge the father more happie that enioyed such an admirable sonne and wish that my Children may imitate in this kinde their vertuous Anncestours 4. When this towardlie youth was come to the age of eighteene yeares he beganne to shew to the world his ripenesse of witt for he wrote manie wittie and goodlie Epigrammes which are to be seene in the beginning of his English Workes he composed also manie prettie and elegant verses of the Vanitie of this life and the inconstancie thereof which his father caused to be sett vp with pictures and pageants which are also in the beginning of his greate English Volume he translated for his exercise one of Lucian's Orations out of Greeke into Latine which he calleth his first fruits of the Greeke toung and thereto he added another Oratiō of his owne to answer that of Lucian's for as he defended him who had slaine a tyrant he opposeth against it another with such forcible arguments that this seemeth not to giue place to Lucian either in inuention or eloquence As concerning his diuerse Latine Epigrammes which he either translated out of Greeke into Latine or else composed of his owne manie famous authours that then liued doe make mention of them with great praise For 〈◊〉 Rhenanus in his epistle to Bilibaldus Pitcheimerus writeth thus THOMAS MORE is maruelous in euerie respect for he compoundeth most eloquently and 〈◊〉 most happily how sweetly doe his verses slowe from him hovv nothing in them seemeth constrained hovv easie are all things there that he speaketh of nothing is hard nothing rugged nothing obscure he is pure he is vvittie he is elegant besides he doth temper all things vvith mirth as that I neuer read a merrier man I could thinke that the Muses haue heaped vpon him alone all their pleasant conceipts and vvittie merriments moreouer his quippes are not biting but full of pleasantnesse and verie proper yea rather anie thing then stinging for he 〈◊〉 but vvithout mordacitie he 〈◊〉 yet vvithout contumelie The like iudgement of his Epigrammes doth that famous Poëte Leodgarius à Quercu publike Reader of Humanitie in Paris giue and that not so much by his words as by his deedes For he hauing gathered of the Epigrammes of diuerse famous men a Collection he hath sett out more Epigrammes of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's then of anie other writer yet because rarenesse of anie excellent qualitie is still enuyed by some man or other one Brixius a German wrote a booke against these Epigrammes of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's which he called Antimorus with such commendation that Eramus earnestly besought Sir THOMAS that he would not ouerwhelme his friend Brixius with such an answer as his rashnesse deserued adding this of this his foolish booke Antimorus I heare vvhat learned men speake of Brixius novv after he hath vvritten his Antimore vvhich as I heare it not vvillingly of him so vvould I lesse vvillingly he are thē so speake of you vvherefore seing I perceaue hovv hard a matter it is to temper an ansvver to so spitefull a booke but that you must giue some scope vnto your passions I deeme it best for you not to regard but vvholy to contemne the matter yet this I vvould not counsell you my best friend to doe if there vvere anie thing in that malitious Antimore vvhich did truly blemish your fame so that it vvere necessarie for you to vvipe it avvay c. Which friendlie counsell Sir THOMAS MORE in some sorte followed for although he had answered Brixius fully in a little treatise which alreadie he had published before Erasmus his letter came to his hands yet vpon the receipt thereof he endeauoured by
all the meanes he could to gett all the Coppies againe into his hands and so to suppresse the booke so that it is now very hardly to be found though some haue seene it of late And Sir THOMAS sent Erasmus a letter to this effect that although Brixius by his malitious booke had endeauoured so much to disgrace him that he wanted no will but skill and power to ouerthrowe his fame vtterly yet this should preuayle more with him that Brixius was friend to Erasmus then that he was his owne enemie Which kinde of answer sheweth expressely how easie he was to forgiue iniuries especially this being such a one as touched him so neare in his reputation following herein the counsell of Christ himselfe in the gospell of S. Matthew who sayth Loue your enemies and doe good to them that hate you that you may be the true imitatours of God vvho causeth the sonne to shine as vvell vpon the wicked as vpon the iust But can we thinke so heroicall an acte in so yong yeares for he was not now of the full age of twentie could proceede from one who had not bene practised before in the schoole of Christ and in the earnest searche of perfection surely no for this yong man had euen from his infancie laboured with allmight and mayne to enriche himselfe with vertues knowing that learning without vertue is to sett pretious stones in rotten wood and as the wise man saith a golde ring in a haggs snowte 5. When he was about eighteene or twentie yeares olde finding his bodie by reason of his yeares most rebellious he sought diligently to tame his vnbrideled concupiscence by wonderfull workes of mortification He vsed oftentimes to weare a sharp shirt of hayre next his skinne which he neuer left of wholy no not when he was Lo Chancellour of England Which my grandmother on a time in the heate of sommer espying laught at not being much sensible of such kinde of spirituall exercises being carried away in her youth with the brauerie of the world and not knowing quae sunt spiritus wherein the true wisedome of a Christian man consisteth He added also to this austeritie a discipline euerie fryday and high fasting dayes thinking that such cheere was the best he could bestowe vpon his rebellious bodie rather then that the handmayde sensualitie should growe too insolent ouer her mistrisse Reason hauing learned the true interpretation of these wordes of Christ He that hateth his life in this vvorld keepeth it for life euerlasting He vsed also much fasting and watching lying often either vpon the bare ground or vpon some bench or laying some logg vnder his head allotting himselfe but foure or fiue howers in a night at the most for his sleepe imagining with the holie Saints of Christs Church that his bodie was to be vsed like an asse with strokes and hard fare least prouender might pricke it and so bring his soule like a headstrong iade into the bottomelesse pitt of hell For chastitie especially in youth is a lingring martyrdome and these are the best meanes to preserue her from the dangerous gulphe of euill custome but he is the best souldier in this fight that can runne fastest away from himselfe this victorie being hardly gotten with striuing He had invred himselfe to straytenesse that he might the better enter in at the narrow gate of heauen which is not gott with ease sed violenti rapiunt illud that is to say they that are boysterous against themselues beare it away by force For this cause he liued foure yeares amongst the Carthusians dwelling neare the Charterhouse fiequenting daily their spirituall exercises but without anie vowe He had an earnest minde also to be a Franciscan Fryer that he might serue God in a state of perfection but finding that at that time Religious men in England had somewhat degenerated from their ancient strictnesse and feruour of spiritt he altered his minde He had also after that together with his faythfull Companion Lillie a purpose to be a priest yet God had allotted him for an other estate not to liue solitarie but that he might be a patterne to married men how they should carefully bring vp their children how dearely they should loue their wiues how they should employe their endeauour wholy for the good of their countrie yet excellently performe the vertues of religious men as pietie Charitie humilitie obedience and Coniugall chastitie 6. He heard an intire Masse euerie day before he vndertooke anie worldlie buesinesse which custome he kept so religiously that being on a time sent for to the king whilst he was hearing Masse he would not once stirre though he were twice or thrice sent for vntill it was wholy finished answering them that vrged him to come quickly that he thought first to perfourme his dutie to a better man then the king was imitating therein the famous act of S. Ludgar first bishopp of Munster who being sent for to Charles the Great whilst he was singing in the quier the Canonicall howers he would not once stirre till all were ended and being asked by the Emperour why he neglected to come when he sent for him he answered I haue alwaies thought that your commaunde is by me so to be obeyed as I doubted not but God is to be preferred therefore I haue bene carefull to finish that I was about first not for anie contempt of your Imperiall Majestic but for your more safetie and the dutie I owe to God With which answere the Emperour no whitt displeased but delighted answered him with thankes saying that he had now found him such a one as he had euer formerly thought him to be Neither was King Henrie anie whitt angrie at that time with Sir THOMAS MORE but rather highly pleased with this his small neglect He vsed euerie day to say our Ladie 's Mattins the Seauen psalmes and letanies and manietimes the Graduall psalmes with the psalme 〈◊〉 in via and diuerse other pious praiers with he himselfe composed he selected also manie sentences of the Psalmes imitating therein S Hierome's psalter which are extant in the latter ende of his English Workes But finding his bodie for all his austeritie readie still to endanger his soule although at all times he shunned idlenesse more then anie other man he determined to marrie and therefore he propounded to himselfe as a patterne of life a singular lay-man Iohn Picus Earle of Mimndula who was a man famous for vertue and most eminent for learning his life he translated and sett out as also manie of his most worthie letters and his twelue precepts of good life which are extant in the beginning of his English Workes For this ende he also wrote a treatise both learned spirituall and deuout of the Foure last things of man though he left it vnperfect being called by his father to other studies He frequented sermons diligently especially when those men preached who were most excellent
or his vvisedome for marking and setting forth all the fountaines from vvhence either the happinesse or mischiefes of anie Common vvealth do arise or the elegancie and force of his stile vvho hath vvith such pure Latine and such vigour of speach comprized so manie and sundrie matters especially one that is so much distracted both vvith publike and priuate affayres Buslidian a great Counsellour of Charles the Fift Emperour in a letter to Sir THOMAS sayth In the happie description of your Vtopian Common-vvealth there is nothing missing vvhich might shevv most excellent learning togeather vvith an absolute knovvledge of all humane things For you excell in sundrie sciences and haue such great and certaine knovvledge 〈◊〉 besides that you affirme euerie matter in writing as though you had tryed euerie thing by experience before and you write most eloquently vvhat soeuer you affirme a maruelous and rare happienesse and the more rare by hovv much the fevver can attaine therevnto And further in the sayd letter he affirmeth that this Vtopian Common wealth farre exceedeth the Lacedemonian the Athenian yea euen that of the Romans it selfe in that it seeketh not so much to make manie lawes as it laboureth to prouide good and vpright Magistrates by whose prototypon that is the patterne of their honestie the example of their manners and behauiour and the pourtraicture of their Iustice the whole state and true gouernement of euerie perfect 〈◊〉 wealth may be framed Paulus louius in his booke of the praises of learned men speaketh thus Mores fame vvill alvvaies laste in his Vtopia for he therein hath described a kingdome vvell gouerned vvith holesome lavves and much flourishing vvithriche peace she vving hovv he loathed the corrupt manners of this vvicked age and endeauouring by a pleasant fiction to leade the right pathe to a blessed and most happie life c. Finally Hutten Uiues Grapheus and Lacius affirme that Sir THOMAS had an incomparable witt greater then a man's witt pene diuinum yea almost diuine About this time he also wrote for his exercise the historie of king Richard the third both in Latine and English which is so well penned that if our Chronicles of England were halfe so well sett out they would entice all English men to reade them ouer often These his workes sett out at that time when he was most employed in other mens affayres shew how diligent and industrious he was For thus he writeth in his Vtopia VVhilst I daily either pleade other mens causes or heare them sometimes as an arbiter othervvhiles as a Iudge vvhilst this man I visite for friendshipp another for businesses and vvhilst I busie my selfe abroad about other mens matters all the vhole day I leaue no time for my selfe that is for studie For vvhen I come home I must discourse vvith my vvife chatte vvith my children speake vvith my seruants and seing this must needes be donne I number it amongst my affaires and needefull they are vnlesse one vvill be a stranger in his ovvne house for vve must endeauour to be affable and pleasing vnto those vvhome either nature chance or choice hath made our companions but vvith such measure it must be donne that vve doe not marre them vvith affabilitie or make them of servants our maisters by too much gentle entreatie and fauour vvhilst these things are doing a day a moneth a yeare passeth VVhen then can I finde anie time to vvrite for I haue no yet spoken of the time that is spent in eating and sleeping vvhich things alone bereaue most men of halfe their life As for me I gett only that spare time vvhich I fleale from my meate and sleepe vvhich because it is but small I proceedst vvly yet it being somevvhat I haue novv at the length preuailed so much as I haue finished and sent vnto you Peter my Vtopia Besides all this to shew the more his excellent partes of readie vtterance pleasant conceipts and sharpenesse of witt euen to the admiration of all men he read a lecture in S. Laurence church at Lothburie where Sir Iohn More his father lieth buried out of S. Augusten's bookes De Ciuitate Dei not so much discussing the points of Diuinitie as the precepts of morall philosophie and historie where with these bookes are replenished And he did this with such an excellent grace that whereas before all the flower of English youthes went to heare the famous Grocinus who was lately come out of Italie to teache Greeke in the publike vniuersitie vnder whome as also that famous Grammarian Linaore Sir THOMAS himself had profited greatly of whome he had Aristotle's workes interpreted in Greeke now all England almost left his lecture and flocked to heare Sir THOMAS MORE 7. It fortuned shortly after that a shippe of the Popes arriued at Southampton which the King claimed as a forfeyture yet the pope's legate so wrought with the king that though it was seysed on yet he obtained to haue the matter pleaded by learned Councell For the Pope's side as their principall man was chosen Sir THOMAS MORE and a day of hearing being appointed before the Lo Chancellour and other the chiefe Iudges in the Starre-chamber Sir THOMAS argued so learnedly and forcibly in defence of the pope's parte that the afore sayd forfeyture was restored and he amongst all the audience so highly commended for his admirable and wittie arguing that for no intreatie would the king anie longer forbeare to vse him Wherefore he brought him perforce to the Court and made him of his Priuie Counsell as Sir THOMAS testifyeth himselfe in a letter to that worthie prelate Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester saying I am come to the Court extreamely against my vvill as euerie bodie knovveth and as the king himself often tvviteth me in sporte for it And hereto do I hang so vnseemely as a man not vsing to ride doth sitt vnhansomely in his saddle But our Prince vvhose speciall and extraordinarie fauour tovvards me I knovve not hovv I euer shal be able to deserue is so affable and courteous to all men that euerie one vvho hath neuer so little hope of himselfe may finde somevvhat vvhereby he may imagine that he loueth him euen as the Cittizens vviues of London doe vvho imagine that our ladies ' picture neare the tovver doth smile vpon them as they pray before it But I am not so happie that I can perceaue such fortunate signes of deseruing his loue and of a more abiect spriut then that I can persvvade myselfe that I haue it already yet such is the vertue and learning of the king and his daily increasing industrie in both that by hovv much the more I see his Highnesse increase in these kinglie ornaments by so much the lesse troublesome this Courtier 's life seemeth vnto me And indeede king Henrie's Court for the first twentie yeares was a seate of manie excellent witts a pallace of rare vertues according as Erasmus Wittnesseth thereof in an
By the Maste thou art the veriest foote of all the Counsell At which Sir THOMAS smiling sayd God be thanked that the king our Maister hath but one foole in all his Councel But we shall haue occasion to speake more hereafter of this Cardinal THE THIRD CHAPTER THE COVRTEOVS and meeke behaueour of Sir THOMAS MORES his frinds at home and abroade 1. The gentle disposition of S. T. More in all occasions 2. His prompt and ready vvitt 3. His frindship vvith learned men at home 4. With learned men of other nations 5. His pleasaunt and merry conuersation 1. SIR THOMAS MORE for all his honour and fauour with his Prince was nothing puffed vp with pride disdaine or arrogancie but was of such a milde behauiour and excellent temper that he could neuer be moued to anie passion or anger as mine vncle Rooper wittnesseth who affirmeth that in sixteene yeares space and more that he dwelt in his house and was conuersant with him alwaies he could neuer perceaue him so much as once in a fume Yea Margaret Gigs who was brought vp from a childe amongst Sir THOMAS his children and vsed by him no otherwise then one of them and afterwards married Doctour Clement a singular learned woman would say that sometimes she would committ a fault for the nonce to heare Sir THOMAS MORE chide her he did it with such grauitie such moderation such loue and compassion His meekenesse and humilitie was also perceaued in this that if it had fortuned anie schollar to come to him as there did manie daily either from Oxford Cambridge or else where some for desire of his acquaintance as he had intercourse of letters with all the men of fame in all Christendome some againe for the report of his learning and singular wisedome some for suites of the Vniuersities if anie of them I say had entred into argument whrein few wereable to dispute long with him he would vrge verie forcibly and if it fortuned that they entred togeather so farre to dispute that he perceaued they could not without some inconueniēce holde out much further against his arguments then least he should discourage them as he that sought not his owne glorie he would seeme to be confuted that the student should not be discomforted euer shewing himselfe more desirous to learne then to teache and so by some wittie deuise he would courteously breake out into some other matter 2. Such was also his readinesse of witt that going euer in progresse with the king either to Oxford or Cambridge when they were receaued with verie eloquent orations he was alwaies the man appointed by his Maiestie extempore to make answer vnto them as he that was promptest and most readie therein Yea when the king went into France to meete the French king Sir THOMAS MORE made a speach of their congratulation which he also did when Charles the Fift landed in England to see Queene Catherine his aunte And whenfoeuer 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 captain Withernamia sunt irreplegebilia adding that there was one of the English Fmbassadoursretinue 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 verte 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 aneien 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 Iyeelde you exceeding thankes for reading so 〈◊〉 gently 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
builde them vp againe at his owne charge He telleth that heretikes vse to frame Catholikes arguments very weake and friuolous that they may the more easily confute them euen as little children make houses of tyleshardes which they cast downe with great sporte againe presently Of their contumelious speaches against himself he sayth I am not so voyde of reason that I can expect reasonable matter from such vnreasonable men When they sayd his writings were nothing but ieasting toyes he sayth I scarce belieue that these good brethren can finde anie pleasant thing in my bookes for I write nothing in them that may be pleasing vnto them When the heretike Constantine had broken prison in his house he bad his man goe locke the doore fast and see the place mended sure least he should come back againe and when the heretikes reported that he was sone for this that he could not for anger eate in three daies he answered that he was not so harsh of disposition to finde fault with anie man for rising and walking when he sate not at his ease All his English workes were sett out togeather in a great volume whilst Q. Marie raigned by Iudge Rastall Sir THOMAS his sister's sonne by which workes one may see that he was verie skillfull in Schoole-Diuinitie and matters of Controuersie for he argueth sharpely he confirmeth the truth profoundly and citeth both Scriptures and Fathers most aptely besides he vrgeth for the aduerse parte more a great deale then anie heretike euer did that wrote before him But to see how he handleth Luther vnder the name of one Rosse would do anie man good faining that Rosse wrote his booke from Rome against the most ridiculous and scurrilous pāphlett which Luther had made against King Henrie the eighth who of good zeale had sett out with great praise a booke in defence of the Seauen Sacraments the Pope's authoritie for which Pope Leo the tenth gaue him the tile of Defender of the Faith Wherefore in defence of his Soueraigne whome Luther had most basely rayled at calling him often Thomistical asse that he would beray the king's Crowne who was not worthie to wipe his shoes with manie other scurrilous speaches Sir THOMAS painteth out the sowle mouthed fellowe in his liuelie coulours and made him so enraged that it stung him more then anie other booke that euer was sett out against him Finally in euerie one of his bookes whensoeuer he toucheth anie controuersie he doth it so exactly that one may see that he had diligently read manie great Diuines and that he was very well seene in S. Thomas the father of all Diuinitie this may be an euident signe which his Secretarie Iohn Harris a man of sound iudgement and great pietie reported of him that on a time an hereticall booke newly printed and spread abroad was brought to Sir THOMAS which when he read being in his boate going frō Chelsey to London he shewed certaine of the author's arguments with his fingar to M. r Harris saying Loe here how the knaue's argument is taken out of the obiections of S. Thomas in 2. 2. in such and such an article but the lewde fellow might haue seene the solutions which are presently added there He maintayned also in a learned Disputation with Fa Atphonsus the Franciscan Q. Catherin's ghostlie Father Scotus his opinion of Attrition and Contricion as more safely to be followed then that of Occhamus by all which it may be gathered that he had great in sight in the diuersitie of Scholasticall opinions He wrote also a booke in Latine against Pomeran the heretike and indeede laboured very much rather to reduce such men vnto the Catholike Faith then to punish them for their reuolte yet in his epitaphe he sayth of himself that he was to theeues murtherers and heretikes grieuous and Simon Grineus a Luther an boasteth in his translation of Produs dedicated to my grandfather how courteously Sir THOMAS his father vsed him whē he was in Englād THE FIFTH CHAPTER K. HENRIES FIRST scruples in his Mariage Sir THOMAS MORES care in the education of his children 1. The ambition of Cardinall Wolsey occasion of K. Henry his fall 2. K. Henry communicates his scruple about his marriage with S. T. More 3. S. T. Mores pradiction of the fall of England from religion 4. He reduceth his sonne Roper miraculously from heresy 5. He obtaineth his daughter Margarets health of God by prayer 6. S. T. Mores domestique schoole 7. His delight and contentment in the studies of his children 8. How his daughter Margaret proued excellent for her sex in learning 1. VVhile Sir THOMAS MORE was Chācellour of the Duchie the Sea of Rome chanced to be vacant and Cardinall Wolsey a man of vnsatiable ambition who had crept vp in the fauour of Charles the Fift so that the Emperour still writing vnto him called him Father and the other called him sonne hoped now by his meanes to attaine to the popedome but perceauing himself of that expectation frustrate and disappoynted because the Emperour in the time of their election had highly commended another to the whole Colledge of the Cardinalls called Adrian who was a Flemming and had bene sometime his schoole maister a man of rare learning singular vertue who therevpō allthough absent and little dreaming of it was chosen Pope and then forth with going from Spayne where he was then resident came on foote to Rome Before he entred into the Cittie putting of his hose and shoes barefoote and bare leggd he passed through the streetes towards his pallace with such humilitie deuotion that all the people not without cause had him in greate reuerence and admiracion but as I sayd Cardinall Wolsey a man of contrarie qualities waxed therewith so wroth and stomacked so the Emperour for it euer after that he studyed still how he might reuenge himselfe anie wates against him which as it was the beginning of a lamentable tragedie so the ende thereof we cannot yet see although there haue bene almost one hundred yeares sithence This VVolsey therefore not ignorant of King Henrie's vnconstant mutable disposition inclined to withdrawe his affections vpon euerie light occasion from his owne most noble vertuous and lawfull wife Q. Catherine the Emperour 's owne aunte and to fixe this amourous passions vpon other women nothing comparable vnto her either in birth wisedome vertue fauour or externall beautie this irreligious prelate meaning to make the king's lightnesse an instrument to bring about his vnconscionable intent endeauoured by all the meanes he could to allure the king to cast his fancie vpon one of the French king's sisters the king being fallen in loue alreadie he not suspecting anie such thing with the ladie Anne Bullen a woman of no nobilitie no nor so much as of anie worthie fame This French matche he thought to plott to spite the Emperour because at that time there was great warres
and mortall enmitie betweene the French king and Charles the Fift For the better compassing whereof the Cardinal requested Longland Bishopp of London who was the king's ghostlie father to putt a scruple into king Henrie's head that he should as it were another S. Iohn Baptist though the case were nothing like tell his Maiestie that it was not lawfull for him like another Herode to marrie his brothers wife And although K. Henrie's conscience had bene quiett now aboue twentie yeares togeather yet was he not vnwilling to hearken herevnto but entertayning it opened his scruple to Sir THOMAS MORE whose counsell he required herein shewing him certaine places of Scripture that somewhat seemed to serue the turne and his appetite VVhich when Sir THOMAS had seriously perused and had excused himself saying he was vnfitt to meddle with such matters being one that neuer had professed the studie of Diuinitie The king not satisfyed with this answer knowing well his iudgement to be sound in whatsoeuer he would apply himselfe vnto pressed him so sore that in conclusion he condescended to his Maiesties request being as it were a commaunde and for that the cause was of such weight and importance hauing neede of greate deliberation he besought his Maiestie to giue him sufficient respite aduisedly to consider of it with which the king very well satisfyed sayd that Tunstall and Clarke two worthie Bishops one of Durham the other of Bathe with others the learnedest of his priuie Councell should also be his Coadiutours Sir THOMAS taking his leaue of the king went and conferred with them about those places of Scripture adding thereto for their better meanes to search out the truth the expositions of the ancient Fathers and Doctours of the Church and at his next coming to the Courte talking with the king about this matter he spake thus To deale sincerely with your Maiestie neither my Lo of Durham nor my Lo of Bathe though I knowe them both wise vertuous learned and honourable prelates nor my self with the rest of your Councell being all your Grace's owne seruants and subiects for your manifolde benefitts daily bestowed vpon vs so much bound vnto your Highnesse none of vs I say nor we all togeather are in my iudgement meete counsellers for your Maiestie herein but if your princelie disposition purpose to vnderstande the verie truth hereof you may haue such counsellers as neither for respect of their owne worldlie commoditie nor feare of your princelie authoritie will beenclined to deceaue you and then he named S. Hierome S. Austine and diuerse others both Greeke and Latine Fathers shewing him moreouer what authorities he had gathered out of them that he neede not haue anie further scruple thereof and that marrying of a new wife whilst his owne was aliue was wholy repugnāt to their doctrine and the meaning of the Scriptures All which though king Henrie did not very well like of because it was disgustfull to his passionate lust yet the manner of Sir THOMAS his discourse and collection was so wisely tempered by his discreete communication that he tooke them at that present in good parte and often had conference of them againe By which manner of Sir THOMAS his counsell and sincere carriage one may easily gather what vnspotted conscience this vpright man had who for no hope of gaine or anie feare of disgrace would once swarue from the true dictamen of his Conscience and if the rest of king Henrie's counsell had bene as backward to hinder this beginning of dissolution as Sir THOMAS was no alteration of religion had by all likelyhood happened in England for from this onlie spring of K. Henrie's intemperance proceeded all the succeeding calamities which haue daily increased yet haue not anie hope of amendement All which change Sir THOMAS MORE either like a very wise man foresawe long before or rather like a prophete prophecied thereof to my vncle Rooper who on a time of a certaine ioy beganne to commende to his father-in lawe the happie estate of this realme that had so Catholike and zealous a prince that no heretike durst shew his face so learned and vertuous a Clearg e so graue and sounde a Nobilitie such louing and obedient subiects all agreing togeather in one faith and dutiefulnesse as though they had cor vnum animam vnam but one hart and one soule Sir THOMAS thus replyed againe Truth it is indeede sonne Rooper as you say and going through all estates with his commēdations of them he went farre beyond my vncle and yet sonne quoth he I pray God that some of vs as high as wee seeme to sitt now vpon the mountaines treading heretikes vnder our feete like auntes doe not liue the day that we gladly would wish to be in league with them to suffer them to haue their churches quietly to themselues so that they would he content to lett vs haue ours peaceably to our selues VVhen mine vncle Rooper had tolde him manie reasons why he had no cause to say so well sayd he I pray God some of vs liue not till that day and yet shewed he noe reason for all these his speaches whereat my vncle sayd in a choller By my troath Sir it is very desperately spoken I cry God mercie saith my vncle I vsed vnto him that very word By which speach Sir THOMAS perceauing him to be some what angrie sayd merrily well sonne Rooper it shall not be so it shall not be so But yet himself founde the predictiō too true for he liued vntil the fiueteenth yeare of Q. Elizabeth's raigne when he saw religion turned topsie turuie and no hope of anie amendement This spiritt of prophecie no doubt was a signe of Gods loue vnto Sir THOMAS being so deare in his sight that he would make him partaker of some parte of his secretts but that which he wrought in the conuersion of this his sonne in lawe was not a signe only but an euident demonstratiō of God's great fauour vnto him For when M. r VVilliam Rooper was a yong man he vsed austeritie to himselfe more then discretion afforded and by this meanes he grew wearie of the Catholike fasts and religious discipline and hearing of a new and easie way to heauen which the preachers of nouelties did promise to their followers he beganne to reade diligently the bookes of heresies which came ouer and were spread in euerie place of England in so much that being wearie of Auricular Confession fasting the lent and vigiles he grew vehement in his new opinions and zealous in breaking of them to others so as that he would be alwaies talking what a readie way to heauen was now found out no bodie needing to sue to Saints or mens prayers but Gods eare was open still to heare and his mercie readie to forgiue anie sinner whatsoeuer when he shall call to him by fayth which was only necessarie to saluation and hauing that only which he assured himself of he needed not
I pray thee Megg see that I vnderstande by you vvhat your studies are For rather then I vvould suffer you my children to liue idely I vvould my self looke vnto you vvith the losse of my temporall estate bidding all other cares and businesses Farevvell amongst vvhich there is nothing more svveete vnto me then thy self my dearest daughter Farevvell It seemeth also by another letter of his how carefull he was that his children might be learned and diligent and he prayseth them for it thus Thomas More sendeth greeting to his most deare daughters Margarett Elizabeth and Cecilie and to Margarett Gigs as deare to him as if she vvere his ovvne I cannot sufficiently expresse my best beloued vvenches hovv your eloquent letters haue exceedingly pleased me and this is not the least cause that I vnderstande by them you haue not in your iourneys though you change places often omitted anie thing of your custome of exercising yourselues either in making of Declamations composing of ver ses or in your Logike exercises by this I persvvade my selfe that you dearely loue me because I see you haue so great a care to please me by your diligence in my absence as to perfourme these things vvhich you knovve hovv gratefull they are vnto me in my presence And as I finde this your minde and affection so much to delight me so vvill I procure that my returne shall be profitable vnto you And persvvade yourselues that there is nothing amongst these my troublesome carefull affaires that recreateth me so much as vvhen I reade somevvhat of your labours by vvhich I vnderstande those things to be true vvhich your most louing maister vvriteth so louingly of you that vnlesse your ovvne epistles did shevv euidently vnto me hovv earnest your desire is tovvards learning I should haue iudged that he had rather vvritten of affection then according to the truth but novv by these that you vvrite you make him to be belieued and me to imagine those things to be true of your vvittie and acute disputacions vvhich he boasteth of you almost aboue all beliefe I am therefore maruelous desirous to come home that vve may heare them and sett our schollar to dispute vvith you vvho is slovve to belieue yea out of all hope or conceipt to finde you able to be ansvverable to your master's prayses But I hope knovving hovv steadfast you are in your affections that you vvill shortly ouercome your maister yf not in disputing at least in not leauing of your strife Farevvell deare vvenches And thus you may coniecture how learned his daughters were to whome for this respect Erasmus dedicated his Commentarie vpon Ouide de nuce Levvis Viues also writeth great commendations of this schoole of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's in his booke to Q. Catherine of England And both Erasmus dedicated Aristotle in Greeke and Simon Grineus who although an heretike yet in respect of his learning had bene kindely vsed by Sir THOMAS MORE as he writeth himself did dedicate Plato and other bookes in Greeke vnto my grandfather Iohn More as to one that was also very skillfull in that toung See what Grineus speaketh vnto him There vvas a great necessitie why I should dedicate these bookes of Proclus full of maruelous learning by my paynes sett out but not vvithout the singular benefitt of your father effected vnto you to vvhome by reason of your fatherlike vertues all the fruite of this benefitt is to redounde both because you may be an ornamēt vnto them and they also may doe great good vnto you vvhome I knovve to be learned and for these graue disputacions sufficiently prouided and made fitt by the continuall conuersation of so vvorthie a father and by the companie of your sisters vvho are most expert in all kinde of sciences For vvhat Authour can be more gratefull to those desirous mindes of most goodlie things such as you and the Muses your sisters are vvhome a diuine heate of spiritt to the admiration and a nevv example of this our age hath driuen into the sea of learning so farre and so happily that they see no learning to be aboue their reache no disputations of philosophie aboue their capacitie And none can better explicate entangled questions none sifte them more profoundly nor none conceaue them more easily then this authour Lett vs see another letter to his daughter Margarett only You aske monye deare Megg too shamefully fearefully of your father vvho is both desirous to giue it you and your letter hath deserued it vvhich I could finde in my hart to recompence not as Alexander did by Cherilus giuing him for euerie verse a Philippine of golde but if my abilitie vvere ansvverable to my vvill I vvould bestovve tvvo Crovvnes of pure golde for euerie sillable thereof Here I sende you as much as you requested being vvilling to haue sent you more but that as I am glad to giue so I am desirous to be asked and favvned on by my daughters thee especially vvhome vertue and learning hath made most deare vnto me Wherefore the sooner you haue spent this money vvell as you are vvont to doe and the sooner you aske me for more the sooner knovve you vvill doe your father a singular pleasure Farevvell my most beloued daughter This daughter was likest her father as well in fauour as witt and proued a most rare woman for learning sanctitie and secrecie and therefore he trusted her with all his secretts She wrote two Declamations in English which her father and she turned into Latine so elegantly as one could hardly iudge which was the best She made also a treatise of the Foure Last things which her father sincerely protested that it was better then his and therefore it may be neuer finished his She corrected by her witt a place in S. Cyprian corrupted as Pamelian and Iohn Coster testifye in steede of nisi vos sinceritatis restoring neruos sinceritatis To her Erasmus wrote an epistle as to a woman not only famous for manners and vertue but most of all for learning We haue heretofore made mention of her letter that Cardinal Poole so liked that when he had read it he would not belieue it could be anie womans in answer whereof Sir THOMAS did sende her the letter some parte whereof we haue seene before the rest is this which though there were no other testimonie of her extraordinarie learning might suffice In the meane time saith her father I thought vvith myself hovv true I found that novv vvhich once I remember I spoke vnto you in ieaste vvhen I pittied your hard happe that men that read your vvritings vvould suspect you to haue had helpe of some other man therein vvhich vvould derogate somevvhat from the praises due to your vvorkes seing that you of all others deserue least to haue such a suspition had of you for that you neuer could abide to be decked vvith the plumes of other birds But you svveete Megg are rather to be praised for
this kinde of learning our Iudgements are either gotten or certainly much helped there by I could vvishe deare Megg that I might talke vvith you a long time about these matters but beholde they vvhich bring in supper interrupt me and call me avvay My supper cannot be so svveete vnto me as this my speach vvith you is if I vvere not to respect others more then myself Farevvell dearest daughter commēde me kindely to your housband my louing sonne vvho maketh me reioyce for that he studieth the same things you doe and vvhereas I am vvont alvvaies to counsell you to giue place to your husband novv on the other side I giue you licence to striue to maister him in the knovvledge of the sphere Farevvell againe againe Commende me to all your schoole-fellovves but to your maister especially And hauing vpō this occasiō of speaking of Sir THOMAS his childrē how tēderly he loued thē how earnestly he sought to make thē schollars with their schollarshipp to haue thē ioyne vertue made sōewhat a lōger digressiō thē I thought we will returne as we had begūne to speake of the alteratiō of religiō in our Coūtrey how therevpō Sir THOMAS MORE fell into trouble THE SIXT CHAPTER SIR THOMAS MORE made Lord high Chauncellor of England 1. The excellent charity of Sir Tho. More tovvard his neighbours 2. The beginning of King Henries separation from the Churche of God 3. Cardinall Wolseys disgrace dovvnfall and death 4. Sir Thomas More installed in the office of Lord Chancellour 5. His incomparable behaueour in that high place of honour 6. He refuseth to allovv of K. Henries diuorcement I. VHilst this vnluckie diuorce was so hotely pursued by the king it happened that my vncle Rooper walking with his father along by the Thames side neare Chelsey amongst other talke Sir THOMAS sayd now would to our Lord sonne Rooper that vpon condition three things were established in Christendome I were putt into a sacke and here presently cast into the Thames What greate things are those good Sir sayd he that should moue you so to wish Wouldst thou knowe them sonne Rooper yea Marry Sir with a good will sayd he if it would please you In Faith sonne they be these First that where the most parte of Christian princes be at mortall warre they were at an vniuersall peace secondly whereas the Church of Christ is at this time sore afflicted with manie errours and he resies it were settled in a perfect vniformitie of religion Thirdly that whereas the matter of the king's marriage is now in question it were to the glorie of God and quietnesse of all parties brought to a good conclusion Whereby one might well gather that otherwise this would be a disturbance to a great parte of Christendome The first he saw in some sorte granted him by his meanes the other two are this day to be seene what tragedies they haue raised in England and else where Thus did he by his words and deedes shew throughout the whole course of his life that all his thoughts trauailes and paines were only for the honour of God without respect either of his owne glorie or regarde of any earthlie cōmoditie For it may be seene by manie things as well deedes as letters how much he contemned the honours which were heaped vpon him daily by his Prince's speciall bountie and fauour towards him and my vncle Rooper testifyeth from his owne mouth in his latter daies that he professed vnto him that he neuer asked of the king for himselfe the value of one penny The like may be sayd of his contempt of riches and worldlie wealth but a fitter place to speake thereof may be had hereafter All which excellent endowments of his minde proceeded no doubt from the speciall fauour of Almightie God and the feruentzeale of this his seruat to attaine to perfectiō of all vertues He built a Chappell in his parish Church at Chelsey where the parish had all ornaments belonging therevnto abundantly supplyed at his charge and he bestowed there on much plate often speaking those wordes Good men giue it and badde men take it away He seldome vsed to feaste noble men but his poore neighbours often whome he would visite in their houses and bestowe vpon them his large liberalitie not groates but Crownes of golde yea more then that according to their wants He hired a house also for manie aged people in Chelsey whome he daily relieued and it was my aunte Rooper's charge to see them want nothing And when he was a priuate lawyer he would take no fees of poore folkes widowes nor pupills 2. A little before he was preferred to the dignitie of Chancellourshipp there were questions propounded to manie whether the king in the case of his first marriage needed haue anie scruple at all and if he had what way were best to deliuer him from it The most parte of his Counsell were of opinion that there was good cause of scruple because Q. Catherine was married before to Prince Arthur king Henrie's elder brother wherefore she was not to be wife to two brothers and therefore to ease the king's minde suite was to be made to the pope and the Sea of Rome where the king hoped by liberall guifts to obtaine what he desired but in this as after it appeared he was farre deceaued After this there was a Commission procured from Rome for triall and examination of this marriage in which the Cardinalls Wolsey and Campegius were ioyned togeather who for the determination hereof sate at the Black Fryers at London where a bill was putt in for the annulling of the former matrimonie alleadging that that marriage was vtterly vnlawfull but on the orher side for proofe that it was lawfull and good a Dispensation was brought forth which was of verie good force as touching the power which the Pope had to dispēce in a law that was neither contrarie to Gods positiue law in the olde Testament but rather agreable thereto nor to the law of Nature and it was commaunded in Leuiticus that if the brother dyed without issue the next in kindred to him in a manner should be forced to marrie his wife But there was found an imperfection in the Dispensation yet that same was lawfully supplyed by a publike Instrument or briefe found in the Threasure of Spaine which was sent immediately to the Commissioners in England and so should iudgement haue bene giuen by the Pope accordingly that the first marriage stoode in force had not king Henry vpon intelligence thereof before the iudgement was pronounced appealed to the next Generall Councell Hincillae lachrimae hence came the deadly enmitie betweene the king and the Pope hence proceeded that bitternesse of king Henry that he commaunded none should appeale to Rome nor none should so much as goe thither no Bishops nor Spirituall men should haue anie Bulles of authoritie frō thence all spirituall
Iurisdiction beganne now neuer before thought of to be inuested from God immediately vpon the Imperiall Crowne of England but this not all at once yea he grew afterwards vnto such height of malice that he caused the name of Pope to be raized out of euerie booke that could be found either printed or written He caused S. Thomas of Canterburie to be attaynted of high treason after he had bene three hūdred yeares accoūted a blessed Martyr of the whole Church yea so acknowledged by king Henry the second who was cause of his death but this king most strangely cast his sacred bones out of his renowned shreene after numbers of miracles and caused them to be burnt This was the strange passe king Henry was brought vnto doting on Anne Bullen though God knowes she had no qualities wherefore he should so doate on her as appeared euidently when for fowle matters he after a short time cutt of her head and proclaymed himself in open Parlement to be a Cuckolde which no doubt he neuer had bene if he had kept himself to his first vertuous wife Q. Catherine but all these things happened a good while after and manie other extreame violences and ensuing miseries as we doesee and feele as yet 3. Whilst those things were a doing as is before sayd about the king's diuorce and nothing yet brought to anie conclusion the king sent Tunstall bishopp of Durham Sir THOMAS MORE Embassadours to Cambray to treate of a peace betweene him and the French king and Charles the Emperour in which iourney Sir THOMAS so worthily behaued himself that he procured in our league with the sayd Princes farre more benefitts to our realme then at that time was thought possible by the king and all his Councell insomuch that his Maiestie caused it afterwards openly to be declared to the people when he was made Chancellour how much all England was bound to Sir THOMAS MORE And now at his returne the king againe was verie earnest with him to haue him agree to his second marriage for which cause also it is thought and Cardinall Poole te stifyeth it in a letter he made him the rather Lo Chancellour telling him that though the dispensation was good in respect of the lawes of the Church yet now it was found out to haue bene against the lawe of nature in which no dispensatiō could be had as Doctour Stokeley whome for that quirke foūd out he had lately preferred to the Bishopricke of London was able to instruct him with whome he willed Sir THOMAS to conferre in that point But for all the conferences he could haue with him Sir THOMAS could no way induce himselfe to change his former opinion therein Yet the Bishopp relating to the king their Conference so fauourably reported of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's carriage therein that he sayd he found him verie toward and desirous to finde out good 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 Ma.tie 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
to giue ouer all care of husbandrie and lett out our farme to others vntill vve haue better and at more leasure considered of it yet if vve haue more vvorkemen in our house then vve haue neede of such may be dismissed if they can be cōmodiously placed vvith other maisters but I vvill not suffer anie to be sent avvay to runne at randon vvithout a place to dvvell in At my returne to the king I see things go so as it is likelie I shall stay vvith him a good vvhile yet because of this misfortune perhaps I shall gett leaue to come and see you some time this next vveeke vvhen as vve vvill cōferre more at leasure about these our housholde affaires Farevvell from the Court. At Woodstock 13. Sept. 1539. But marke how God rewarded this his patience for it was in October next that he was made Lo Chancellour by which office he might easily haue purchased manie faire houses if his minde had aymed at worldlie riches and not rather thirsted after heauenlie rewards Some haue not stucke to say that if Sir THOMAS had bene so happie as to haue dyed of his naturall death about this time he had bene a very fortunate man liuing and dying in all mens fauour in the highest iudgements of the world and prosperous also to his posteritie for he had left them a fayre and great inheritance especially by the king's gracious guift But in my minde they are all carnally wise that affirme this and no way haue tasted of heauenlie wisedome For the last Scene of this Tragedie is the best and not to be wished to haue bene omitted for all the land king Henry enioyed though you adde the abbeylands and all after which now his fingars endes beganne to itche For that Card. Wolsey had shewed already a president thereof by getting leaue of the Pope to dissolue certaine small Abbyes for the building and maintenance of that great College of Christ-Church in Oxford which for that cause as I thinke is S. Peter's worke and lieth still vnfinished 6. Though in all his life time Sir THOMAS had shewed liuelie examples of manie excellent vertues as pietie zeale of God's honour wisedome Iustice liberalitie contempt of the world riches yea what not yet his most heroicall vertues towards his ende he hath expressed more liuely and exactly as his magnanimitie cōtempt of honours of wife children possessions life it selfe and whatsoeuer can be of vs desired and in steede thereof hath chosen disgraces extreame aduersities imprisonment losse of dignities goods and inheritance and hath taken vp his Crosse and followed Christ in sheding of his bloud to his honour no champion is crovvned till he hath gotten the victorie And beholde he most gloriously triumpheth ouer the flesh by forsaking his life and leauing it the world by despising it and the diuell by resisting manfully all his temptations When Sir THOMAS had behaued himselfe in his office of the Chācelour-shipp for the space of two yeare and a halfe so wisely that none could mende his doings so vprightly that none could take exception against him or his iust proceedings and so dexterously that neuer anie man did before or since that which he did For he had taken such order for the dispatching of all mens Causes that on a time sitting as ludge there and hauing finished one cause he called for the next to be heard whereto was answered that there was not one Cause more depending This he caused to be sett downe vpon recorde whereas at this day there are little fewer then a thousand if not more whereof some lye in the suddes by the space of diuerse yeares When as I say Sir THOMAS had deserued high commendations of euerie one and now perceaued that the king was fully determined to proceede to the vnfortunate marriage of Anne Bullen and for that cause a Parlement was called wherein Sir THOMAS being the chiefe Officer of the higher house was with diuerse Bishops and Noble men commaunded by the king to goe downe to the lower house to shew vnto them both what manie vniuersities beyond the seas Oxford and Cambridge at home had donne in that behalfe with their publike zeales testifying the same All which matters at the king's commaunde he opened to the Lower house not shewing his minde therein yet doubting as good cause he had least further attemps should after follow which contrarie to his conscience by reason of his office he was likelie to be putt vnto he made great suite to the Duke of Norfolke his singular good friēd that he would be a meanes to the king that he might be discharged with his Maiesties fauour of the Chancellourshipp wherein for certaine infirmities of his bodie he pretended himself vnable anie longer to serue The Duke being often thereto by Sir THOMAS sollicited at length obtayned of the king when at a time cōuenient by his Maiestie appointed Sir THOMAS repaired to the king to yeelde vp vnto him the great Seale of England which his Maiestie courteously receaued at his hands with greate praise thankes for his worthie seruice in that office at which time it pleased his highnesse to say thus vnto him That for the seruice he had hitherto done vnto him in anie suite that he should hereafter haue vnto him that either should concerne Sir THOMAS his honour that very word it liked his Highnesse to vse vnto him or that should appertaine to his profitt he should not fayle to finde him a good gracious Lord. But how true these wordes proued lett others be ludges when the king not only not bestowed vpon him the value of one pennie but tooke from him and his posteritie all that euer he had either giuen by himselfe or left him by his father or purchased by himselfe The next morning being holieday few yet knowing what had bene donne he went to Chelsey church with my Ladie and his children and familie after masse was donne because it was a custome that one of my Lord's gentlemen should then goe to my Ladie 's pewe and tell her my Lord was gone before then did he himselfe come making vnto her a courtesie with his cappe in his hād sayd may it please your Ladieshipp to come forth now my Lo is gone whereto she imagining it to be but one of his ieastes as he vsed manie vnto her he sadly affirmed vnto her that it was true for he had resigned vp his office and the king had graciously accepted it This was the way that he thought fittest to breake this matter vnto his wife who yet was full sorie to heare it it may be she spoke then those wordes which I haue rehearsed before Tillivally what will you doe M. r MORE will you sitt and make goslings in the ashes it is better to rule then to be ruled But to requite her braue minde he beganne to finde fault with her dressing for he saw a greate fault about
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 sickle 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 Iust 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 therevnto 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 Fonta yne a Frenchman in his French historie Onuphrius Patauinus in Paulo III. an Italian Nicolas Cardinall of Capua in his French letters Iohn Secundus of Hague yea Carion and Sleidan himselfe speake honourably of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's death 6. But of all Protestants Iohn Riuius speaketh most passiionately of K. Henrie's cruell fact and Sir THOMAS'S pietie in these wordes lib. 2. de Conscientia He that is in a Prince's Courte ought freely yf he be asked his Iudgement rather to tell his minde plainely what is most behoofefull for his Prince's good then to speake placentia tickeling his eares with flatterie neither ought he to praise things which are not prayse worthie nor to dispraise matters that are worthie of high commendations yea although he be in danger of getting no fauour by perswading it but rather punishment and disgrace for gainesaying men's appetites then bringing Papinianus that great lawyer for a liue lie example thereof who chose rather to dye then to iustifye the Fmperour Caraculla's killing of his owne brother against his owne conscience he addeth Such a man was lately in our memorie that singular and excellent for learning and pietie yea the onlie ornament and glorie of his Countrie THOMAS MORE who because he would not agree nor approue by his consent against his owne conscience the new marriage of the king of England who would needes be diuorced from his first wife and marrie another he was first cast into prison one that had singularly well deserued of the king himselfe and of England and when he constantly continued in his opinion which he truly thought to be most iust most lawfull and godlie emboldened to defende it by a sincere conscience he was putt to death by that wicked parricide that most hatefull and cruell tyrant a crueltie not heard of before in this our age Oh ingratitude and singular impietie of the king's who could endure first to consume and macerate with a tedious and loathsome imprisonment such a sincere and holie good man one that had bene so careful of his glorie so studious of his Countrie 's profitt he that had perswaded him alwaies to all lustice and honestie dissuaded him from all contraries and not conuinced of anie crime nor found in anie fault he slew him oh miserable wickednesse not only being innocent but him that had deserued high rewardes and his most faythfull and trustie Councellour Are these thy rewardes o king is this the tankes thou returnest him for all his trustie seruice and good will vnto thee doth this man reape this commoditie for his most faythfull acts and employments But oh MORE thou art now happie and enioyest eternall felicitie who wouldest leese thy head rather then approue anie thing against thine owne conscience who more esteemest righteousnesse iustice and pietie then life it selfe and whilst thou art depriued of this mortall life thou passest to the true and immortall happinesse of heauen whilst thou art taken away from men thou art raysed vp amongst the numbers of holie Saints and Angells of blisse 7. Last of all I will recounte what the good Emperour Charles the Fift sayd vnto Sir Thomas Eliott then the king's Embassadour in his Court after he had heard of Bishopp Fisher and Sir THOMAS MORE' 's martyrdomes on a time he spoke of it to Sir Thomas Eliott who seemed to excuse the matter by making some doubt of the reporte to whome the Emperour replyed It is too true but yf we had had two such lights in all our kingdomes as these men were we could rather haue chosen to haue lost two of the best and strongest townes in all our Empire then suffer ourselues to be depriued of them much lesse to endure to haue thē wrongfully taken from vs. 8. And though none of these should haue written anie thing hereof yet the matter
praise of his Dialogue His ansvver to the Supplication of beggars The Supplication of soules of Purgatory The vvefull 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 lesses hurt not The fally of old misers Madnes of couetous mē Fruicts of tribulation Hovv fonde it is to loue this vvorld Against Confessours that ffatter their ghostly Childre Afflictiō more profitable then pleasure Against differring of a mēdment Visions and illusions Pusillanimity a daungerous tēptation Danger of prosperity Of riches and honours All riches of this 〈◊〉 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 recōpenser Heresy impudēt Prayer Detraction Ingratitude Faith the mistresse of reason No truth among heretikes Better preuent then redresse Hereticall trāslations Auoid heresy Fasting Desire of heauen Monastl call life Faith and good vvorkes Bad life no miracle School-diuinity Heretikes Impugning of heresie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Their 〈◊〉 His hatred against he resy in good earnest 5. His profound skill in diuinyty None handled Luther more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas More 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas 〈◊〉 And other school 〈◊〉 His epistle against Pomeranus 1. Cardinal Wolley his ambition Pope Adriās humility Wolsey the author of K. H. 8. tail Longlād B. of Lōdō Wolseys instrumēt 2. K. Henry commnnicateth vvith 〈◊〉 T. More his scruple concerning his first marriage Sir Tho. Mores discreet ansvver to the kings scruple His most vpright consciēce and constant real of the truth 3. He foresavv in spirit the fall of religion in England 4. The miraculous reductiō of his senno Roper from heresy by his prayers The hot spirit of heresy The great piety and charity of his sayd 〈◊〉 M. Roper 5. Another miraculous cure vvrought by prayer vpon his daughter Marga. rot 6. Sir Tho. Mores domestiqs schoole Modesty the ornament of vvomen Learning to be desired for vse not for praise In vvhat cōsisteth deiectiō of spirit What ornamēt Sir Tho. More required in his children A vvomā may attaine to learning as vvell as a man The end to vvhich all learning must be directed He 〈◊〉 it may by all 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 from his children 7. The delight Sir T. M. bad in his childrēs learning they 〈◊〉 Astronomy He discourieth pleasan̄tly He willeth thē to write with care and premeditation His earnest care of his childrēs good employmēt 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 pioty of his daughter Marga. ret The esteē that the B. of excester had of her learning Some of her writings 〈◊〉 of Ensebius Her skill in Astronomy Why humanity is best studied in our yonger yeares 1. His three wishes for the good of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace 〈◊〉 in religion End of the kings contronersie He neuer asked anything of the King Liberality to his parish Churche His merciful workes to his poor neighbours The beginning of K. 〈◊〉 Separation from the Church Scruple of his mariage with Q. Catheriu Cōmissioneirs 〈◊〉 Rome about it The dispensatiō questiōd And supplied by a new cōfirmatiō K. Henry appeals to a generall councel and fall from the Pope His iniurie to S. Thomas of Canterburies body Q. Anne Bolēs incontinēcy 3. Cardinall Wolseys disgrace downfall Sir Tho. Mores embassage for peace happy successe therin Bishop Stokelies quirk in Q. Catharins marriage His conference with Sir Thomas about it Stokesly vndermines the Cardinall For backwardnes in the kings diuorce forwardnes for a frenche matche The Cardinal discontented Arrested and depriued of all honours riches Sir 〈◊〉 More elected I. Chauncelor Only worthy of the place in Cardinal Wolseys indgement 4. The honourable ceremony with whiche he was 〈◊〉 The Duke of Norfolks oratiō on behalf of Sir Tho. More Of his worthinesse for so great a place The first lay man that euer was mad Lord Chauncellour Good reasons why that ould custom was altered Sir Tho. Moros modest and discreet reply He acknowledgeth his owne vnworthinesse The Dukes loue And the kings fauour and bounty Which he esteems beyond his deserts Al which encrease in him a full purpose to discharge will so great a charge And desireth fauorable interpretation of his endeuours A wise ponderation of his predecessour Cardinals example The danger of highe honours A warning to vse them well Commō ioy of S. Thomas his promotion 〈◊〉 The behaueour of S. Thomas in the dignity of L. Chancellour Towards his father the aunclentest iudge of the realme Towards all 〈◊〉 especially the poorer sort No accesse to bribery Means how great men may do fauours in iustice Notable integrity Euen against his owne kinred Long delayes in law the misery of poor clients remedied by Sir Thomas A pleasaūt tale of a table 6. King Hēry desire Sir Thomas to allow his diuorce Sir Thomas noble and discreet refusall Accepted for the time by the king 1. The death of Sir Iohn More Sir Thomas neuer enioyed his fathers iohericance Rare pouerty in a L. high Chancellour Yet could it not stop Q Annes malice against him 2. 〈◊〉 table 〈◊〉 in cause of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A liberal reward 〈◊〉 him nobly by the Bishops of Enggland As nobly and 〈◊〉 mously refused by him only for Gods sake The heretiks calumny against him True glorie to be hated by heretakes Perfect patience always ioined with true perfectiō 〈◊〉 Cheerfull mirth An vnmānerly reprehēsiō mannerly returnd on the reprehender A bold debtour 〈◊〉 told his owne A mery arbitrement between his Lady a beggar A pleasaunt cēsure of a witlesse writing A mery mistaking 4. His earnest deuotiō in the seruice of God He vsed to sing in his sur plice in his parishe churche To cary the crosse in procession on foote 〈◊〉 communicated before any importāt businesse 5. patience in temporall lesser An excellent resignatiō to the prousdence of God More care to 〈◊〉 his neighbours losses then his owne Godly care of his poor seruants God rewardeth true resignation euen In this world Vanity of iudgement of wordthing 6. S. Thomas resigned vp his office of I. 〈◊〉 The neerer his end the more replenished with the loue of God A notablo record that no cause was left vndecyded in the Chācery A parlement called for Q Annes marriage Sir Tho. More sues to depose his office The king graciously accepteth his desire How merely he 〈◊〉 the matter to his wife A pleasaūt ieast to diuers her from sorow 7. 〈◊〉 dispositiō of his 〈◊〉 after his resignement Of his seruants all well recommended Of his children liuing with him An in cōparable resolutiō after so great an honour to 〈◊〉 cheerfully
so low an estate Honourable pouerty of so great 〈◊〉 personage 8. How 〈◊〉 and confidently he deposed his office An excellent letter to 〈◊〉 shop 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 parpose Great offices 〈◊〉 vndertaken and as dangrous to be given ouer A 〈◊〉 valuar 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S 〈◊〉 Mores humble estimation of himself He sends his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 His innocence in his office Testified in priuat and publik by the King The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of As thaÌ„kfull to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for as for the office itself Another 〈◊〉 for his weak health ConteÌ„pt of all vaioglory 1. His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 1 Hatred to heresie Yet in his 〈◊〉 no heretik pur to death 2. Continuall talk of spirituall matters 3. Desire to suffer for Christ 〈◊〉 A notable lesson for all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to M. r 〈◊〉 But not kept by the sayd M. CroÌ„well Bad Counsellours make bad Princes The reward of bad couÌ„sel exaÌ„plified in CroÌ„well Of good Counsellours in S. Tho. More 3. The 〈◊〉 of Q. Anne 〈◊〉 CraÌ„mers good qualities He concludes the mariage to be lawful The cause of EnglaÌ„ds separation froÌ„ Rome Sir Tho. Mores propheticall ghesse of the oath of supremacy 4. Sir Tho. M. refused to be at Q. Annes coronatioÌ„ His couÌ„sel and predictioÌ„ to the Bishops his good fâ—â—nds A notable story wonderfully and prophetically applied His purpose rather to be denoured then 〈◊〉 Q Annes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas And the kings displeasure Sir Thomas disposeth him self more immediatly to suffer death A ChristiaÌ„ 〈◊〉 5. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occasioÌ„ of calling into question for Q. Anne The holy Nunne of Kent Warned by reuelation to rebuke K. HeÌ„ry Conferreth her reuelations with B. Fisher Her talk with Sir Thomas More Waryly handled by him Accusations pronounced against Sir Thomas That he impugned the K. mariage Quarrels picked against his ChauÌ„cellourship A supposed bribe pleasantly consuced A contteous refusall of an honest reward Another of like nature Sir Tho. More a wise marchaÌ„t traffiking for heauen 7. Sir T. M. his first 〈◊〉 A parlament to attaint true 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The Kings deputies 〈◊〉 examin Sir Tho. M. The 〈◊〉 saires words 〈◊〉 winne Sir Tho. Fairly answered with a mild and constant refusall The Deputies threats Sir T. M. accused for autour of the kings book for the Pope His constant reply and euident 〈◊〉 Wise 〈◊〉 wary counsel of Sir Tho. to the King The king acknowledgeth obligatioÌ„ of his crowne to Rome 8. His merry hart after his examination A fail giuen to the 〈◊〉 The Kings indignatioÌ„ against Sir Tho. Prndent and politikaduise in so bad a cause Proceeding against Sit Tho. M. disterred A braue answer to a frinds feare 1. The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. M. cited to takesit His preparation before his going His discreet behaue our in that cause He refuseth the sath for conscieÌ„co sake All the clergy but Bishop fisher and D. Wilson did take the oath Vnder what coÌ„ditioÌ„s Sir T. M of 〈◊〉 to set 〈◊〉 his reason of refusall Sir T. M offer proceede h not of uncertaly but because he was certain his reasons were unanswerable All Christendom of more autority then all england The oath of 〈◊〉 2. Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prisonmeÌ„t First in Westminster Then by Q. Anne importunity in the Tower His vvillingnesse to leese all for Christ. The vpper garment the porters fee. His mans oath His wonderfull courage 3. His 〈◊〉 with his daughter 〈◊〉 PreueÌ„ted with prayers The coÌ„fort he found in his emprisonment Fiue reasons vsed by his daughter to make him 〈◊〉 1. Obedience to the King 2. Autority of wise meÌ„ 3 Only B. Fisher of his mind 4. Him self a lay man 5. against a pariament Sir T. M. answers All the saints of God acknowleged the Popessupremacy Why he 〈◊〉 touche i that point in his writings 〈◊〉 with which many deceaue their owne coÌ„sciences He knew not of B. Fishers mind The Doctours of the Church greater then Doctours of England And generall CouÌ„cels then a ParlameÌ„t His trust in Gods mercy against the fear of death A heaueÌ„ly resignation 4. Sir T. M. Prophecieth Q. Annes death His plesant answer to his 〈◊〉 honest excuse The 〈◊〉 constaÌ„cy andignorance of the oath makers His meditation vpon the martyrdom of 24. religious meÌ„ Maister Secretary Cromwells visit Sir T. M. writ in the tower his book of comfort 5. A prety dialogue between Sir T. M. and his wife Her worldly obiectioÌ„ His heauenly answer Prison as neer heauen as our owne house Eternity to be preferred before temporallity An other visit 6. M. Rich his sophisticall case A poor ground for an inditement of treasoÌ„ 7. A remarkably accident at the taking away his bookes His mery ieast vpoÌ„ it 8. How great care he took not to offend the king The substance of his inditement 1. The arrangement of Sir Th. More His Iudges His 〈◊〉 The iudges chargos His Christian resolution 2. Sir Th. his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 1. How sincerly he had always told the K. his mind touching the 〈◊〉 The durance of his emprisonment and afflictioÌ„s 2. Why he refused to tell his iudgemeÌ„t of the law of supremacy Lay men not touched withthat law No law can punish fileÌ„ce that is without malice 〈◊〉 his silence were malicious ObedieÌ„ce first to God and then to man 3. That he neuer counselled or induced B. Fisher. The contents of his letters to the said Bishop 4. The law of supremacy like a two ed ged sword 3. M. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against Sir T 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Sir Tho. Mores oath to contrary By iust exceptioÌ„ against the witnesse vnworthy of credit Yf it had been true that had been no malice Malice in law The improbability of M. Rich his deposition M. Rich his witnesses do faile him 4. The Excepted against by Sir Thomas The act of parlament against Gods law No lay man can be head of the churche Against the lawes of the realme Against the kings owne oath Against the peculiar obligation of England to Rome Against all Christendom that euer 〈◊〉 5. The 〈◊〉 of S. Tho. More By yfs ands 〈◊〉 no proofes The sentence Mitigated by the king 6. Sir Thomas fully deliuereth his iudgement of the act of suoremacy to be vnlawfull Against all the churche of God 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. Mores blessed charity to his Iudges The truth of this relation froÌ„ present witnesses of credit 1. The manner of Sir Thomas his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 His soÌ„ne asketh him blessing Great costancy courtesy and 〈◊〉 2. His childrens 〈◊〉 to him His daughter Matgarets laudable passion A ponderation vpon this mutuall passioÌ„ of Father daughter Cardinal Pooles estimatio of Sir Thomas his death 3. How deuoutly cheerfully he 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 A pleasaunt coÌ„ceipt vpoÌ„ a leight courtyer His last letters To Antony BoÌ„uise To his daughter Margaret His desito dy vpoÌ„ the octaue of S. Peter which was also S. Thom. of Canterburys commemoratioÌ„ An blessing to his heire God graÌ„ted him his desires to dy the day he wished His heir-shirt and discipline 4. Aduertisment giuë him of the day of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the K. Most welcome vnto him The K. willed him to vse but few words at his exequution His wise childreÌ„ permitted to be at his 〈◊〉 His com fortable courage He put on his best apparell that day Liberally to his executioÌ„ 5. The for me of his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Persons hired to disgrace him A good 〈◊〉 He freeth one from the teÌ„tation of despairo by his prayers His 〈◊〉 at his death His prayers 〈◊〉 couereth his eyes himself His happy 〈◊〉 6. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 The place of his buriall A notable accideÌ„t about his windnig sheet His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His head His martyrdom encouraged many other to the like M. r Gardiner Euen his 〈◊〉 Parish priest 7. A 〈◊〉 vpon the blessing which he gaue to his 〈◊〉 children A praisa of M. Iohn More sonne heire to Sir Thomas The 〈◊〉 dealing of K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. Mores heires With the Lady his widow M. Iohn More coÌ„mitted to the tovver for denial of the oath The imprisonment of his daughter Margaret 8. The fauour and physiognomie of 〈◊〉 Tho. 〈◊〉 1. Cardinal Pooles lamentatioÌ„ vpon Sir Tho. Mores death 2. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 3. Doctour Cochleus of Germany Iob 12. 4. Bishop Iouius of Italy 5. W Paradin a 〈◊〉 historiaÌ„ of France 6. Riuius a ProtestaÌ„t 7. Charles the Emperour 8. Circumstances notable in the death of Sir Tho. More From the kings part From Sir Thomas Mores part Nota. An apology for his mery 〈◊〉 A fit coÌ„parison between 〈◊〉 seuerity and Sir T. M. his pleasauÌ„t disposition 10. Sir Tho. More a lay man martyr for Ecclesiasticall autority neuer before questioned Epigrammes History of K. Richard the 3 in English and Latin His 〈◊〉 Many deemed Vtopia to be a true nation and country Sheep deuour men in England Sir Tho. More his book against Luther His epistle against Pomeranus His English writings The dialog with the messinger Great sincerity in his writing and loue of the truth He writt neither for 〈◊〉 nor report His 〈◊〉 almost incredible in so greate a man Sir Tho. M no partiall 〈◊〉 to the clergy Tindals false traÌ„slation of the scripture CoÌ„suted learnedly by Sir Th. M. The wilfulnes of heretikes Tindal falsifieth Sir T. M. words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The notable disagreemeÌ„t of heretikes among theÌ„acute selues Hereticall scoffing Heretikes Hypoctisy Against the supplication of beggars Against Iohn Frith Sir Tho. Mores Apologie How heretikes recite the catholik argumeÌ„ts Touching the length of Sir Tho. Mores bookes Heretiks blaspheming the fathers would theÌ„selues be reuerently handled WheÌ„ heretikes railings are to be neglected Heretikes excellent railours The pacificatioÌ„ CoÌ„futed by Sir T. M. The debellation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Bizance How the Pacifier 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in controuersy Sir T. M. his book of the blessed Sacrament The heretiks supper of the Lord wants the best dishe Sir Tho Mores bookes written in the tower Comfort in tribulation Of CoÌ„munion Of the Passion The 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of Comfort The said book a preparation against the persequutioÌ„ which he did forsee Written when 〈◊〉 had no book about him Written with 〈◊〉 Like Esaias his cole that purified his lippes