procurer promotour nor counseler of his Maiestie therevnto only after it vvas finished by his Grace's appointment and the consent of the makers of the same I only sorted out and placed in order the principall matters therein wherein vvhen I had found the Popes authoritie highly aduanced and vvith strong arguments mightily defended I sayd thus to his Grace I must putt your Highnesse in remembrance of one thing and that is this the Pope as your Maiestie vvell knovveth is a Prince as you are in league withall other Christian princes it may hereafter fall out that your Grace and he may varie vpon some points of the league vvhere vpon may grovve breache of amitie and vvarre betvveene you both therefore I thinke it best that that place be amended and his authoritie more slenderly touched Nay quoth his Grace that shall it not vve are so much bound to the Sea of Rome that vve cannot doe to much honour vnto it Then did I further putt him in minde of our statute of Praemunire vvhereby a good parte of the Pope's authoritie pastoral cure vvas payred avvay to vvhich his Maiestie ansvvered vvhatsoeuer impediment be to the contrarie vve vvill sett forth that authoritie to the vttermost For vve haue receaued from that Sea our Crovvne Imperiall vvhich till his Grace vvith his ovvne mouth so tolde me I neuer heard before Which things vvell considered I trust vvhen his Maiestie shal be truly informed thereof and call to his gracious remembrance my sayings and doings in that behalfe his Highnesse vvill neuer speake more of it but vvill cleare me himselfe with which wordes they with great displeasure dismissed him parted 8. Then tooke Sir THOMAS his boate to Chelsey wherein by the way he was verie merrie and my vncle Rooper was not sorrie to see it hoping that he had gotten himself discharged out of the bill When he was landed and come home they walked in his gardin where my vncle sayd vnto him I trust Sir all is well because you are so merrie It is so indeede sōne I thanke God Are you then Sir putt out of the parlement Bill sayd my vncle by my troth sonne I neuer remembred it Neuer remembred that sayd he that toucheth you and vs all so neare I am verie sorie to heare it For I trusted all had bene well when I saw you so merrie Wouldst thou knowe sonne why I am so ioyfull In good Faith I reioyce that I haue giuē the diuell a fowle fall because I haue with those Lords gone so farre that without great shame I can neuer goe back This was the cause of his ioye not the ridding himself of troubles but the confidence he had in God that he would giue him strength willingly to suffer anie thing for Christs sake that he might say with Christ IESVS Desiderio desideraui c. I thirst greatly to drinke of the Cuppe of Christ's passtion and with S. Paule Cupio dissolui ess cum Christo. But these speaches though they liked Sir THOMAS well yet pleased they my vncle Rooper but a little Now after the reporte made of this their examinacion of Sir THOMAS to the King by the Lo Chauncellour and the rest king Henry was so highly displeased with Sir THOMAS MORE that he plainely tolde them that he was resolutely determined that the foresayd parlement-bill should vndoubtedly proceede against them Yet to this the Lo Chancellour and the rest sayd that they had perceaued that all the vpper house was so powerfully bent to heare Sir THOMAS speake in his owne defence that if he were not purtout of the Bill it would vtterly be ouerthrowen and haue no force against the rest Which words although the king heard them speake yet needes would he haue his owne will therein adding that he would be personally present himselfe at the passing of it But the Lo Aud ley and the rest seing him so vehemently bent vpon it fell downe vpon their knees and besought his Maiestie not to doe so considering that if he in his owne presence should be confronted and receaue an ouerthrowe it would not only encourage his subiects euer after to contemne him but also redounde to his Dishonour for euer throughout all Christendome and they doubted not in time but to finde some other fitter matter against him For in this Case of the Nunne they sayd all men accounted him so cleare and innocent that for his behauiour therein euerie one reckoned him rather worthie of praise thē of reproofe At which words of theirs the king was contented at their earnest perswasion to condescende to their petition yet was not his displeasure against Sir THOMAS anie whitt asswaged but much more incensed On the next morning M. r Cromevvell meeting my vncle Rooper in the parlement house tolde him that his father was putt out of the bill which message he sent presently to Chelsey and when my aunte Roper toulde her father thereof he answered In fayth Megg quod differtur non aufertur knowing as it were the verie bottome of the King's hart and all his Counsells imagining that this was not anie fauour donne vnto him but that they might finde afitter matter to worke on as it shortly after proued Within a while after the Duke of Norfolke fell into familiar talke with Sir THOMAS and amongst other speaches he sayd vnto him By the masse M. r More it is perillous striuing with princes therefore I could wish you as a friēd to encline to the king's pleasure for by God bodie M. r More Indignatio principis more est Is that all my Lord sayd Sir THOMAS in good faith then there is no more differēce betweene your Grace and me but that I shall dye to day and you to morrow Yf therefore the anger of a prince causeth but a temporall death we haue greater cause to feare the eternall death which the king of heauen can condēne vs vnto if we sticke not to displease him by pleasing an earthlie king THE NINTH CHAPTER THE REFVSALL OF the oath of supremacy cause of Sir THOMAS MORES imprisonment in the Tovver 1. The oath of supremacy and succession refused by Sir Thomas 2. His imprisonment first in vvestminster after in the Tovver 3. A notable discourse betvveen him and his daughter Margarit Roper 4. Some other passages of his in the time of his durance 5. A prety dialogue betvveen him and his vvife the Lady More 6. Maister Riche his sophisticall case put to Sir Thomas More 7. His bookes and meanes of vvriting taken from him 8. His great care to giue no occasion of offence to the King 1. NOw in this parlement in the yeare 1534. whē as Queen Elizabeth had bene borne the September before and Q. Anne had bene proclaimed Queen the 12.th of April before that and Q. Catherine declared the widowe only of prince Arthur there was I say at this parlement an oath framed whereby all English subiects should both renounce the Pope's
of those learned Doctours and vertuous Fathers that are alreadie dead of vvhome manie are Saints in heauen I am sure that there are farre more vvho all the vvhile they liued thought in this Case as I thinke novv And therefore my Lord I thinke myself not bound to conforme my conscience to the Councell of one realme against the generall consent of all Christendome 5. Now when Sir THOMAS had taken as manie exceptions as he thought meete for the auoyding of this Inditement and alleaging manie more substantiall reasons then can be here sett downe the Lo Chancellour hauing bethought himselfe and being loath now to haue the whole burthen of this Condemnatiō to lye vpon himselfe asked openly there the aduise of my Lo Chiefe ustice of England S. r Iohn Fitz Iames whether this Inditement were sufficient or no who wisely answered thus my Lords all by S. Gillian for that was euer his oath I must needes confesse that if the Act of Parlement be not vnlawfull then the Inditement is not in my conscience insufficient An answere like that of the Scribes and Pharisies to 〈◊〉 Yf this man were not a malefactour we would neuer haue deliuered him vnto you And so with yfs and ands he added to the matter a slender euasion Vpon whose words my Lo Chancellour spoke euen as Caiphas spoke in the 〈◊〉 Councell Quid adhuc desidemmus testimonium reus est mortis so presently he pronounced this sentence That he should be brought back to the Tower of London by the helpe of William Bingston Sheriffe and from thence drawen on a hurdle through the Cittie of London to Tyburne there to be hanged till he be halfe dead after that cutt downe yet aliue his priue partes cutt of his bellie ripped his bowells burnt and his foure quarters sett vp ouer foure gates of the Cittie his head vpon London-bridge This was the Iudgement of that worthie man who had so well deserued both of the king and Countrie for which 〈◊〉 Iouius calleth king Henrie another Phalaris The sentence yet was by the king's pardon changed afterwards only into Beheading because he had borne the greatest office of the realme of which mercie of the king's word being brought to Sir THOMAS he answered merrily God forbidde the king should vse anie more such mercie vnto anie of my friends and God blesse all my posteritie from such pardons 6. When Sir THOMAS had now fully perceaued that he was called to Martyrdome hauing receaued sentence of death with a bolde and constante countenance he spoke in this manner Well seing I am condemned God knovves hovv iustly I vvill freely speake for the disburthening of my Conscience vvhat I thinke of this lavve When I perceaued that the king's pleasure vvas to sifte out from vvhence the Popes authoritie vvas deriued I confesse I studyed seauē yeares togeather to finde out the truth thereof I could not reade in anie one Doctour's vvritings vvhich the 〈◊〉 anie one saying that auoucheth that a lay man vvas or could euer be the head of the Church To this my Lo Chancellour againe Would you be accounted more wise and of more sincere conscience then all the Bishopps learned Doctours Nobilitie and Commons of this realme To which Sir THOMAS replyed I am able to produce against one Bishopp vvhich you can bring forth of your side one hundred holie and Catholike Bishopps for my opinion and against one realme the consent of all Christendome for more then a thousand yeares The Duke of Norfolke hearing this sayd Now Sir THOMAS you shew your obstinate and malicious minde To whome Sir THOMAS sayd Noble Sir not any malice or obstinacie causeth me to say this but the iust necessitie of the Cause constrayneth me for the discharge of my Conscience and I call God to vvittnesse no other then this hath moued me herevnto After this the Iudges courteously offered him their fauourable audience yf he had anie thing else to alleage in his owne defence who answered most mildely and charitably More haue I not to say my Lords but that like as the blessed Apostle S. Paul as vvee reade in the Acts of the Apostles vvas present consenting to the death of the protomartyr S. Stephen keeping their cloathes that sloned him to death and yet they be novv both tvvaine holie Saints in heauen and there shall continue friends togeather for euer so I verily trust shall therefore hartily pray that though your Lordshipps haue bene on earth my Iudges to condemnation yet vve may hereafter meete in heauen merrily togeather to our euerlasting saluation and God preserue you all especially my Soueraigne Lord the king and graunt him faythfull Councellours in which prayer he most liuely imitated the example of holie S. Stephen ne statuas illis hoc peccatum yea of our Sauiour himself speaking on the crosse Pater dimitte illis quia nesciunt quid faciunt All these of Sir THOMAS his speaches were faythfully deliuered from S. r Antonie Sentleger Richard Hayvvood and Iohn Webbe gentlemen with others more of good creditt who were present and heard all which they reported to my vncle Rooper agreing all in one discourse THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER THE HOLY DEATH and glorious martyrdom of Sir THOMAS MORE 1. The manner hovv Sir Thomas was led back to the tovver from his arraignement vvhere his sonne publiquely demanded his blessing 2. Mistresse Margaret Roper his daughters noble and laudable loue to her father Sir Thomas novv condemned 3. Hovv deuoutly and magnanimously Sir T. M. expected his exequution 4. Aduertisment of the day of his death sent him from the king 5. The manner and forme of his glorious death and martyrdom 6. The kings sadnes vpon report of his death with some notable circumstances of his buriall 7. A consideration of the last blessing vvhich he gaue to his heires and their progenie after them 8. Physiognomy of Sir Thomas More 1. AFter his Condemnation he was conducted from the barre to the Tower againe an axe being carried before him with the edge towards him and was lead by S. r William Kinston a tall strong and comelie gentleman Constable of the Tower and his verie good friend but presently a dolefull spectacle was presented to Sir THOMAS and all the standers by for his onlie sonne my grand father like a dutiefull childe casteth him self at his father's feete crauing humbly his blessing not without teares whome he blessed and kissed most louingly whose loue and obedience Sir THOMAS in a letter praysed saying that this his behauiour pleased him greately When S. r William had conducted Sir THOMAS to the Olde Swanne towards the Tower there he bad him Farewell with a heauie heart the teares trickeling downe his cheekes but Sir THOMAS with a stayed grauitie seing him sorrowfull beganne to comfort him with chearefull speaches saying good M. r Kinston trouble not your selfe but be of good cheare for I will pray for you and my good Ladie
which doth demonstrate his vprightnesse his munificence his singular perfections and his diuine wisedome For what could millions of golde haue stoode him in steede but to cumber his conscience when he lost all from himselfe and his posteritie by reason of the malice of a spitefull queene who pursued him and his to death to their vtter temporall ouerthrowe shewing perfectly that saying non est malitia super malitia mulieris For the king could not by his fall promise himself anie great increase of goods as he had gotten by the Cardinall's ouerthrow 2. Now the Bishops of England at this time considering with themselues that for all his prince's fauour he was neither a rich man nor in yearelie reuenues aduanced as his worthinesse deserued weighing with themselues what paines and trauailes he had taken in writing manie learned bookes for the defence of the true Catholike faith against manie heresies secretely sowen abroad in the realme to whose pastorall charge the reformation of them principally appertained there being not one Clergie man that had matched his writings either in the greatnesse of the volumes the soundnesse of the arguments to conuince the aduersarie or the paines taken to reduce them They called therefore a Conuocation togeather whether most of the Clergie came where they concluded to offer vnto him the summe of foure thousand pound at the least thereby to recompence in parte his trauailes there in sustayned To the paymēt whereof euerie Bishop Abbott and the rest of the Clergie after the rate of their abilities were liberall contributours hoping that this summe would contente him Wherefore his deare friends Tunstall Bishopp of Durham and Clarke B. of Bath and as is supposed Ueysey of Exeter came to Sir THOMAS and spoke thus vnto him how that they held themselues bound to consider him for his paynes taken and bestowed to discharge them in Gods quarrell and albeit they could not according to his deserts requite him so worthily as they willingly would but must referre that only to the goodnesse of God yet for a small parte of recompence in respect of his estate so vnequall to his worth they presented vnto him that summe in the name of the whole Conuocation desiring him to take it in good parte And though this were a bountiefull deede in respect of those prelates yet little knew they Sir THOMAS his magnificent disposition who answered them in this manner That like as it was no small comfort vnto him that so wise and learned men accepted so well of his simple doings for which he neuer purposed to receaue anie rewarde but at the hands of God alone to whome the thankes thereof was chiefely to be ascribed so gaue he most humble thankes vnto their Lordshipps all for their so bountiefull friendlie consideration but he purposed not to receaue anie thing from them And when they with great importunitie pressed still vpon him that few would haue supposed he could haue refused it they could not for all that fasten anie whitt vpon him Then they besought him that he would be content they might bestowe it vpon his wife and children Not so my Lords quoth he I had rather see it cast all into the Thames then I or anie of mine should haue there of one pennie For though your offer my Lords be indeede very honourable yet sett I so much by my pleasure and so little by my profitt that I would not in good faith for much more monie haue lost the rest of so manie nights sleepe as was spent vpon the same and yet for all this I could wish that vpon conditiō all heresies were suppressed all my workes were burnt and my labour vtterly lost Thus they were fayne to departe and restore to euerie one his owne againe By which wise and vertuous answer euerie one may see that all his paines that he tooke were only in respect of Gods honour and not for either vaine glorie or any earthlie commoditie Yea he cared not what anie sayd of him contēning the peoples dispraise as a blast of winde For the heretikes hauing gotten it by the ende that the Clergie had offered him a great summe of monie and measuring other men by their owne couetous humours reported and wrote in pamphletts that he was bribed by the Clergie to write whome he answered mildely by a flatt deniall that he was not made richer by one pennie from the Clergie Yet some of those heretikes had spent him somewhat and besides he being Bigamus twice married could neuer hope for anie spirituall promotion The water baylife of London who had bene sometime his seruant hearing where he had bene at dinner certaine marchants somewhat drunke with this new poison liberally to rayle against Sir THOMAS in that he was so bitter against Luthemns waxed sore discontented therewith knowing wel that he little deserued anie euill reporte wherefore he hastily came to Sir THOMAS and tolde him what he had heard and were I Sir sayd he in such fauour and authoritie with my prince as you are such men should not be suffered so villanously falsely to misreporte and slander me Wherefore you may doe well Sir to call them before you and to their shame to punish them for their vndeserued malice But Sir THOMAS smiling on him sayd why M. r Water bailife would you haue me punish those by whome I reape more benefitt then by all you that are my friends lett them in Gods name speake as lewdely of me as they list and shoote neuer so manie boltes at me as long as they hitt me not what am I the worse but if they should once hitt me then would it not a little grieue me howbeit I trust by Gods grace and helpe there shall none of them all be able to touche me I haue more cause I assurethee to pittie them then to be angrie with them Loe to what heighth of perfection had he now attained that he was neither allured by hopefull gaines nor deterred one iotte from his dutie by euill toungs or slaunders al waies carrying one and the same alacritie in all his crosses and aduersities 3. When that one of the house of the Manners by the king's fauour was come lately to a noble dignitie who had bene before a great friend of Sir THOMAS but perceauing that the world beganne somewhat to frowne vpon him for that he was not so forward as other men to egge the king to the diuorce and being desirous to picke a quarrell against him sayd vnto him my Lord Honores mutant Mores Sir THOMAS readily after his merrie fashiō replyed It is so indeede my Lord but Mores signifyeth in English manners not more he was therewith so putt out of Countenance that he wist not what to say In like manner he wittily twitted another man whome he had lent monie vnto of whome he asking his due bad him remember that he should die God knoweth how soone and then he should haue
More 10. Sir Tho. made chauncellour of the Duchy of Lancaster I. SIR THOMAS MORE hauing determined by the aduise and direction of his ghostlie father to be a married man there was at that time a pleasant conceipted gentleman of an ancient familie in Essex one Mr. Iohn Colte of Nevvhall from whome Sr. Henry Colt that now liueth is lineally descended that inuited him to his house being much delighted in his companie and proffered vnto him the choyce of anie of his daughters who were yong gentlewomen of verie good carriadge and complexions and very religiously inclined whose honest and swecte conuersation whose vertuous education enflamed Sir THOMAS not a little and although his affection most serued him to the second for that he thought her the fayrest and best fauou red yet when he thought with himselfe that this would be a griefe and some blemish in the eldest to see her yonger sister preferred before her he of a kinde of compassion settled his fancie vpon the eldest and soone after married her with all her friends good liking Now when he began to be clogged with wife and familie children also began to growe fast vpō him for his wife whose name was laneColt as long as she liued with him which was but some six yeares brought vnto him almost euerie yeare a childe for whose maintenance he applyed himself busily to the practise of the law and because he would haue his wife neare vnto his father he placed her in Bucklers-bury By her he had one sonne called Iohn More my owne grandfather who was his youngest childe and three daughters his eldest daughter Margarett a woman of singular witt and wisedome rare 〈◊〉 and extraordinarie learning was wife vnto William Rooper of Eltham in the Countie of Kent Esquier whose grandchilde now liuing is Sir William Rooper his second daughter called Elizabeth was afterward matched with Sir Iohn Dancy's sonne and heyre the third called 〈◊〉 was married to Mr. Giles Heron of shakclvvell in the Countie of Middlesex esquier his sonne my grandfather married Anne Cresacre sole daughter and heyre of E'dvvard Cresacre deceased of Baronborough in the Countie of Yorke esquier whome Sir THOMAS bought of the King being his warde vpon errour for another bodie 's land lying in the same towne as was afterware proued 2. My great grandmother hauing brought forth these foure children dyed soone after and within two or three yeares he married a widdow called Mris Alce Middleton by whome he had no children this he did not of anie concupiscence for he would often affirme that Chastitie is more hardly kept in wedlock then in a single life but because she might haue care of his children that were verie yong from whome of necessitie he must be verie often absent she was of good yeares of no good fauour nor complexion nor very rich by disposition verie neare and worldlie I haue heard it reported he woed her for a friend of his not once thinking to haue her himselfe but she wisely answering him that he might speede if he would speake in his owne behalfe telling his friend what she had sayd vnto him with his good liking he married her and did that which otherwise he would perhaps neuer haue thought to haue donne And indeede her fauour as I thinke could not haue bewitched or scarce euer moued anie man to loue her but yet she proued a kinde and carefull mother-in-law to his children as he was alwaies a most louing father vnto them and not only to his owne but to her daughter also who was married to M. r Alington and mother to Sir Giles Alington He brought vp togeather with this owne children as one of them Margarett Gigs after wife to Doctour Clement a famous phisitian and she proued also very famous for her manie excellent partes as learning vertue and wisedome All these he bred most carefully to learning and godlie exercises often exhorting them to take vertue for their meate and play for their sawce getting them good meanes to maintaine them by his practise in the law which he had first studied in an Inne of Chancerie called New-Inne where he profited exceedingly and from thence went to Lincolnes-Inne of which house his father then was where he allotted him small allowance for the reasons before alleaged and as it seemed then his great patron the good Cardinal was dead 3. But he plyed that studie whereto he gaue himself being apt to anie that in short time he was made and accounted a worrhie Outer-barister yea still proceeding with most notable fame he became a double reader to which few but rare and singular lawyers doe euer attaine Euerie one beganne to admire him both for a man of iudgement vprightnesse and other excellent partes a readie deliuerie boldenesse in a iust cause and diligence in his Clients case and no great taker of money vnlesse he had througly deserued For which causes euerie man striued to haue him of their Counsell in all suits The Cittie of London chose him within a while Iudge of the Shrief's Court some say Recorder of London which I thinke not yea there was not at that time anie matter of importance in anie of the King's Courts of this realme but he was of counsell to one of the parties still choosing the iustest side and therefore for the most parte he went away victorious By all which meanes he gott yearely as he tolde his sonne Rooper without anie grudge of conscience to the value of foure hundred pounds which was a large gaynes in those daies when lawyers spedde not so well as now they doe neither were they then so plentiefull but his fame exceeded all other Wherefore he was chosen twice Agent for the Stillyard-marchents which busines he dispatched with singuler dexteritie 4. King Henrie the Seauenth then raigning was a prince of singuler vertues as wisedome and religion if that couetousnesse the roote of all mischiefe had not seized vpon him towards his latter daies which caused him to lay vpon his subiects manie Impositions and to raise sore exactions by two Caterpillers of the Common-wealth Emson and Dudley who in the beginning of Henrie the Eighth's raigne were rewarded according to their deserts for their wicked counsell to teache other men by their deathes how Iniustice and rapine is punished by God This King I say had called to geather a Parlement wherein he demaunded one Subsidie and three Fifteenes for the marriage of his eldest daughter the Ladie Margaret's Grace who then should be as she was in deede shortly after bestowed vpon the King of Scotts It chanced that Sir THOMAS was then one of the Burgesses For manie had now taken notice of his great sufficiencie When the consent of the Lower house was demaunded to these impositions most of the rest either holding their peace or not daring to gainesay them though they were vnwilling to grant them Sir THOMAS making a
graue speache brought forth such vrgent arguments why these exactions were not to be granted that herevpon the King's demaunde was crossed and his request denyed so that one M. r Tiler one of the King 's priuie Chamber went presently from the house and tolde his Maiestie that a beardelesse boy had disappointed him of all his expectation wherevpon the king conceaued great indignation against him and could no way be satisfyed vntill he had in some sorte reuenged it But for as much as he hauing yet but a litle could not loose much the king deuised a Causelesse quarrell against Sir Iohn More his most innocent father and clapt him vp in the Tower of London keeping him there prisoner vntill he had forced him against all Iustice to pay one hundred pounds as a fyne for a Causelesse offence Manie also then counselled Sir THOMAS MORE to aske the king mercie that his father might be released amongst whome was Doctour Fox then Bishopp Winchester one of the king's priuie Councell who pretended great loue towards M. r More purposing indeede to gett the king thereby a better meanes to reuenge his displeasure against him But when Sir THOMAS had asked the Bishop's Chaplaine Doctour Whittford a verie holie and graue man afterward a Father of Sion he that translated the Follovving of Christ into English what he were best to doe he requested him for the passion of Christ not to follow his Lord's aduise saying moreouer that the Bishop would not sticke to agree to the death of his owne father if it were to serue the king's turne For which cause he returned no more to my Lo of Winchester but determined to haue gone ouer sea thinking he could not liue in England without great danger standing now in the king's displeasure and therefore he studied the French toung at home sometimes recreating his tyred spiritts on the violl where he also perfected himself in most of the Liberall Sciences as Musike Arithmetike Geometrie and Astronomy and grew to be a perfect historian his chiefe helpe in all these labours being his happie memorie of which he modestly speaketh thus I would I had as good a witt and as much learning vt memoria non vsquequaque destituor as my memorie doth not altogeather fayle me But king Henrie dying shortly after and his sonne king Henrie the Eighth striuing at the beginning of his raigne to winne the applause of his people cast Emson and Dudley into prison and attaynted them of high treason for giuing pernicious counsell to his father their prince and when they were going to execution Sir THOMAS asked Dudley whether he had not donne betterthen they to whome with a sorrowfull hart he answered O M. r MORE God was your good friend that you did not aske the king for giuenesse as manie would haue had you donne for if you had donne so perhaps you should haue bene in the like case with vs now So that to shunne present dangers by offending God or our Countrie is not alwaies the safest way euen for our bodilie good the contrarie turning oftentimes to our great fame glorie and profitt 5. These great partes of nature and diligence which euerie one noted in Sir THOMAS MORE coming to the yong king's eare vvho was at that time greedie to entertaine all rare men into his seruice he caused Cardinal VVolsey then Lo Chancellour to moue him to come to the Court and albeit the Cardinal laboured earnestly with him to effect it alleadging how deare his seruice would be to his Maiestie who could not with his honour allowe him lesse then he should loose by changing his former estate but rather would enlarge his meanes and recompence him fully yet loath to change his estate which was certaine made such meanes to the king by the Cardinall as that his Maiestie was at that time satisfyed to forbeare him Yet did the king vse him in diuerse Embassages first sending him in to France to challenge certaine debts which the king of England demaunded to be due vnto him that had bene there vniustly kept back in which charge he satisfyed both the kings fully such was his wise demeanour and sufficiencie After this he was also sent Embassadour into Flanders to confirme a league betwixt England and Burgundie which he happily finishing the king offered him at his returne a yearelie pension which Sir THOMAS refused as he writeth to Erasmus in these words VVhen I returned from my embassage of Flanders the king's Maiestie vvould haue giuen me a yearlie pension vvhich surely if one vvould respect honour and profitt vvas not to be little esteemed yet haue I as yet refused it and I thinke I shall refuse it still because either I should be fayne to for sake my present meanes vvhich I haue alreadie in the Cittie and I esteeme it more then a better or else I must keepe it vvith some dislike of the Cittizens betvveene vvhome and his Highnesse if there should happen anie controuersie as sometimes it doth chance about their priuiledges they might suspect me as not sincere and trustie vnto them in respect I am obliged to the king vvith an annuall stipende 6. About this time he compounded his famous booke of Vtopia in latine so much praised and extolled by all the learned men of that age about the yeare of our Lord 1516. being six and thirtie yeares of age This booke was of all Nations so much applauded that very shortly after it was translated both into French Italian Dutch and English The iudgement of 〈◊〉 learned men concerning which worke I thinke good to sett downe here in English as Doctour Stapleton reciteth them in his Three Thomases in Latine And first Budaeus a singular writer in those daies sayth thus of it in an epistle to Lupsetus VVe are beholding to Thomas More for the discouery of Vtopia vverein he hath diuulged to the vvorld in this our age a patterne of a happie life and a perfect rule of good behauiour This age and our posteritie shall haue this historie as a Seminarie of most holesome doctrine and profitable instructions from vvhence they may transporte and accommodate euerie one to their ovvne Citties and Countries these excellent ordinances and decrees Iohn Paludan to Peter Giles speaketh thus thereof you may see in Vtopia as in a looking-glasse vvhatsoeuer belongeth to a perfect Communion VVealth England truly hath manie excellent learned men For what may we coniecture of the rest if More alone hath perfourmed so much being first but a yong man and then full of businesses both publike and domesticall and lastly professing anie thing rather then learning Peter Giles also to Hierome Buslidian speaketh thus and giueth it this praise So manie vvonders doe here meete togeather that I am in a doubt vvhich first to admire vvhether his most happie memorie vvhich could almost vvord for vvord relate so manie different things againe hauing but heard them once tolde
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
might but once see Budeus whose beautiefull picture the reading of his vvorkes had represented vnto me And vvhen God had granted me my vvishe it seemed to me that I vvas more happie then happinesse itselfe yet after that our businesse vvere so vrgent that I could not fullfill my earnest desire to enioy your svveete conuersation often and that our familiaritie scarce begunne vvas broken of vvithin a vvhile the necessarie affaires of our Princes calling vs from it so as it is novv hard to say vvhether vve shall euer againe see one another each of vs being enforced to vvayte vpon our ovvne Prince by hovv much the more ioyfull our meeting vvas by so much the more vvas my sorrovv in the parting vvhich you may lessen somevvhat if that you vvould please to make me often present by your letters yet dare I not craue them of you but my desire to haue them is greate Another friend he had called Martin Dorpe a famous reader in Louaine and a singular good man whome by letters fraught with sound arguments he brought to the loue of the Greeke toung being altogeather before auerted therefore thus he speaketh of him in a letter to Erasmus I cannot lett Martin Dorpius passe vnsaluted vvhome I respect highly for his excellent learning and for manie other respects but for this not a little because he gaue you occasion to vvrite your Apologie to Brixius his Moria He mentioneth also Iohn Lascarus as a deare friend of his as also Philipp Beroalde in a letter of his to Budeus in this manner Commende me hartily to Lascarus that excellent and most learned man for I imagine that you vvould of yourselfe remember me to Beroaldus though I should not putt you in minde thereof for you knovve him to be so deare vnto me as such a one ought to he then vvhome I haue scarcelie found a more learned man or a more pleasant friend Hierome Buslidian who built the Colledge called Trilingue in Louaine we haue mentioned before when we spake of his learned Vtopia of whome thus he speaketh in a certaine letter of his to Erasmus Amongst other things vvich delighted me much in my Embassage this is none of the least that I gott acquaintance vvith Buslidian vvho entertained me most courteously according to his great vvealth and exceeding good nature vvhere he shevved me his house built most artificially and enriched vvith costlie housholde stuffe replenished vvith a number of monuments of antiquitie vvherein you knovv I take great delight finally such an exquisite librarie yea his hart and breast more stored then anie librnrie so that it astonished me greatly And presently after in the same letter he speaketh of Peter Giles as followeth But in all my trauailes nothing happened more to my wish then the acquaintance and conuersation vvith Peter Giles of Anwerp a man so learned so merrie so modest and so friendlie that lett me be baked if I vvould not purchase this one mans familiaritie vvith the losse of a good parte of my estate And in his Vtopia he speaketh thus of him Whilst I liue here in Anwerp I am visited often amongst the rest by Peter Giles then vvhome none is more gratefull vnto me he is natiue of Anwerp and a man of good reputation amongst his countriemen and vvorthie of the best For he is such a yong man that I knovve not vvhether he is more learned or better qualifyed vvith good conditions for he is a most vertuous man and a great schollar besides of courteous behauiour tovvards all men of such a sincere carriage loue and affection tovvards his friend that you can scarce finde such another youth to sett by him that may be compared vnto him he is of rare modestie all flatterie is farre from him plainenesse vvith vvisedome are seated in him togeather moreouer so pleasant in talke and so merrie vvithout anie offence that he greately lesseneth by his pleasant discourse the desire I haue to see my Countrie my house my vvife my children of vvhose companie I am of myself too anxious and vvhome to enjoy I am too desirous Of Beatus Renanus a verie learned man he writeth in an epistle to Erasmus thus I loue Renanus maruelously and am much in his debt for his good Preface vvhome I vvould haue thanked a good vvhile agoe but that I haue bene troubled vvith such a govvte of the hand that is to say idlenesse that by no meanes I could ouercome it Cranuilde also an excellent learned man and one of the Emperour Charles his priuie Councell was brought to Sir THOMAS MORE' 's friendshipp by Erasmus for which both of them thanked Erasmus exceedingly as appeareth first by Cranuild's letter to him which is thus I cannot but thanke you greatly vvith these my though rude letters most learned in all sciences for your singular benefitt lately bestovved vpon me vvhich I shall alvvaies beare in remembrance and vvhich I esteeme so much as that I vvould not leese it far Craesus's vvealth You vvill aske me vvhat benefitt that vvas truly this that you haue brought me to the acquaintance and svveete conuersation of your friend MORE but novv I vvill call him mine vvhome after your departure I often frequented because he often sent for me vnto him vvhose bountiefull entertainement at his table I esteeme not so much as his learning his courtesie and his liberalitie Wherefore I accounte myself deepely indebted vnto you and desire God that I may be able to demonstrate vnto you a gratefull signification of this good turne donne me In his absence he sent my vvife a ring of golde the posie vvhereof in English vvas All things are measured by good will He gaue me also certaine olde peeces of siluer and golde coyne in one vvhereof vvas grauen Tiberius's picture in another Augustus vvhich I am vvilling to tell you because I am somevvhat to thanke you for all Whome Erasmus answered thus This is that sure vvhich is vulgarly spoken I haue by the meanes of one daughter gotten tvvo sonnes in lavv you thanke me because by my meanes you haue gotten so speciall a friend as MORE is and he on the other side thanketh me also for that I haue procured his knovvledge of Cranuilde I knevv vvell enough that because your vvitts and manners vvere alike there vvould easily arise a deare friendshipp betvvixt you if so vvere that you did but knovve each other but as the hauing of such friends is precious so is the true keeping of them as rare Heare how Sir THOMAS writeth to Cranuilde I both perceaue and acknovvledge hovv much I am in your debt my deare Cranuilde because you neuer cease to doe that vvhich is most gratefull vnto me in that you certifye me still of your affayres and friends For vvhat can be either more acceptable to THOMAS MORE in his aduersitie or more pleasing vnto him in his prosperitie then to receaue letters from Cranuilde except one could bring me to the speach of him
had donne Sir THOMAS answered thereto yf my darling Frasmus hath translated those places with the like vvicked intent that Tindall hath donne he shall be no more my darling but the Diuells darling Finally long after hauing found in Erasmus's workes manie thinges necessarily to be amēded he counselled him as his friend in some latter booke to imitate the example of S. Augustin who did sett out a booke of Retractations to correct in his writing what he had vnaduisedly written in the heate of youth but he that was farre different from S. Augustin in humilitie would neuer follow his counsell and therefore he is censured by the Church for a Busie fellow manie of his bookes are condemned and his opinions accounted erroneous though he alwaies liued a Catholike Priest and hath written most sharpely against all those new Gospellers who then beganne to appeare in the world and in a letter to Iohn Fabius Bishopp of Vienna he sayth that he hateth these seditious opinions with the which at this day the world is miserably shaken neither doth he dissemble saith he being so addicted to pietie that if he incline to anie parte of the ballance he will bende rather to superstition then to impietie by which speach he seemeth in doubtfull words to taxe the Church with superstition and the new Apostolicall bretheren with impietie Now to conclude this matter of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's friends lett vs heare what Erasmus speaketh of him in an epistle to Vlderick Hutten MORE seemeth to be made and borne for friendshipp vvhereof he is a most sincere follovver and a fast keeper neither doth he feare to be taxed for that he hath manie friends vvhich thing Hesiodus prayseth nothing euerie man may attaine to his friendshipp he is nothing slovve in choosing most apt in nourishing and most constant in keeping them yf by chance he falles into ones amitie vvhose vices he cannot amende he 〈◊〉 the raines of friendshipp disioynting it by little and little rather then dissoluing it suddenly vvhome he findeth sincere and constant agreing vvith his ovvne good disposition he is so delighted vvith their companie and familiaritie that he seemeth to place his chiefe vvorldlie pleasure in such mens conuersation and although he be verie negligent in his ovvne temporall affaires yet none is more diligent then he in furthering his friends causes What neede I speake manie vvords yf anie vvere desirous to haue a perfect patterne of friendshipp none can make it better then MORE In his companie there is such rare aff abilitie and such svveete behauiour that no man is of so harsh a nature but that his talke is able to make him merrie no matter so vnpleasing but he vvith his vvitt can shake from it all tediousnesse declaring plainely in these words the most pleasant disposition of Sir THOMAS MORE whose onlie merrie ieastes and wittie sayings were able to fill a whole volume if they were all gathered togeather some of which Doctour Stapleton hath sett downe in two seuerall Chapters whereof I shall also mention some hereafter but the greatest number haue neuer bene sett downe in writing as daily faling from him in his familiar discourse All which shew plainely that he had a quiett conscience full of alacritie and a wittie conceipt able to please all men that resorted vnto him and who would not be glad of his companie who was by nature most affable in his Princes fauour verie high and stored with worldlie blessings as ample possessions wealth enough and pompe of the world euen at will He vsed when he was in the Cittie of London a Iustice of peace to goe to the Cessions at Newgate as other Iustices did amongst whome it happened that one of the ancient Iustices of peace was wont to chide the poore men that had their purses cutt for not keeping them more warily saying that their negligence was cause that there were so manie Cutt purses brought thither Which when Sir THOMAS had heard him often speake at one time especially the night after he sent for one of the chiefe Cutt purses that was in the prison and promised him that he would stand his good friend If he would cutt that Iustice's purse whilst he sate the next day on the Benche and presently make a signe thereof vnto him the fellow gladly promiseth him to doe it The next day therefore when they sate againe that thiefe was called amongst the first who being accused of his fact sayd that he would excuse himselfe sufficiently if he were but permitted in priuate to speake to some one of the Benche he was bidde therefore to choose one whome he would and he presently chose that graue olde man who then had his pouche at his gyrdle and whilst he roundeth him in the eare he cunningly cutts his purse and taking his leaue sollemnely goeth downe to his place Sir THOMAS knowing by a signe that it was dispatched taketh presently an occasion to moue all the Bench to distribute some almes vpon a poore needie fellowe that was there beginning himselfe to do it When the olde man came to open his purse he sees it cutt away and wondering sayd that he had it when he came to sitt there that morning Sir THOMAS replyed in a pleasant manner what will you charge anie of vs with fellonie He beginning to be angrie and ashamed of the matter Sir THOMAS calles the cutt purse and willes him to giue him his purse againe counselling the good man hereafter not to be so bitter a censurer of innocent mens negligence when as himself could not keepe his purse safe in that open assemblie For these his wittie ieastes he may well be sayd to haue bene neither hatefull to the Nobilitie nor vnpleasing to the people Yf we reade his letters they shew greate eloquence a pure latine phrase and a religious minde for alwaies they expresse either humilitie in himselfe zeale of Gods honour loue to his neighbour compassion of the afflicted or a deare affection to his wife and children so that it may be sayd that he had pectus verè candidum a verie sincere hart and surely they breathe out matter either of wonderfull deuotion or admirable wisedome THE FOVR THE CHAPTER THE PIOVS HOME-employmente of Sir THOMAS MORES and his godly councels giuen to his vvyfe and children 1. Sir Th. Mores home-entertainements and deuotions 2. His beehauiour towardes his wyfe and children and councels giuen them 3. Sir Th. More studiously vvrote agaynst beresyes in midst of his affayres 4. A vievv of many vvitts and pithy speeches of S. T. Mores 5. Sir Th. Mores profound skill in diuinytye 1. ALthough he liued à Courtier and a lay married man yet when he came home he would both in the morning and in the euening before he went to bedde say in his Chappell certaine praiers deuoutely vpon his knees with his wife children and familie and because he was desirous sometimes to be solitarie and would sequester himselfe from the world to
vvhat notable experience vvhat a prosperous and fauourable fortune he had for a great space and hovv at the last he had a most grieuous fall and dyed inglorious I haue cause enough by my predecessours example to thinke honour but slipperie and this dignitie not so gratefull to me as it may seeme to others for both is it a hard matter to follovv vvith like paces or praises a man of such admirable vvitt prudence authoritie and splendour to vvhome I may seeme but as the lighting of a candle vvhen the sunne is dovvne and â—â—â—â—â—he sudden and vnexpected fall of so great a man as he vvas doth terribly putt me in minde that this honour ought not to please me too much nor the lustre of this glistering seate dazel mine eyes VVherefore I ascende this seate as a place full of labour and danger voyde of all solide and true honour the vvhich by hovv much the higher it is by so much greater sall I am to feare as vvell in respect of the verie nature of the thing it selfe as because I am vvarned by this late fearefull example And truly I might euen novv at this verie first entraÌ„ce stumble yea faynte but that his maiestie's most singular fauour tovvards me and all your good vvills vvhich your ioyfisll countenance doth testifye in this most honourable assemblie doth somevvhat recreate and refresh me othervvise this seace vvould be no more pleasing to me then that svvord vvas to Damocles vvhich hung ouer his head tyed only by a hayre of a horse's tale vvhen he had store of delicate fare before him seated in the chayre of state of Denis the Tirant of Sicilie this therefore shal be alvvaies freshin my minde this vvill I haue still before mine eies that this seate vvill be honourable famous and full of glorie vnto me if I shall vvith care and diligence fidelitie and vvisedome endeauour to doe my distie and shall persvvade myself that the enioying thereof may chance to be but short vncertaine the one vvhereof my labour ought to perfourme the other my predecessour's example may easily teache me All vvhich being so you may easily perceaue vvhat great pleasure I take in this high dignitie or in this most noble Dukes pruising of me All the world tooke notice now of Sir THOMAS'S dignitie whereof Erasmus writeth to Iohn Fabius Bishopp of Vienna thus Concerning the new increase of honour lately happened to THOMAS MORE I should easily make you belieue it if I should shew you the letters of manie famous men reioycing with much alacritie and congratulating the king the realme himself and also me for MORE' 's honour in being made Lo Chancellour of England 5. Now it was a comfortable thing for anie man to beholde how two great roomes of VVestminster hall were taken vp one with the sonne the other with the father which hath as yet neuer bene heard of before or since the sonne to be Lo Chancellour and the father Sir Iohn More to be one of the ancientest Iudges of the king's Bench if not the eldest of all for now he was neare 90. yeare olde Yea what a gratefull spectacle was it to see the sonne aske the father blessing euerie day vpon his knees before he sate in his owne seate a thing expressing rare humilitie exeÌ„plar obedieÌ„ce submissiue pietie Shortly beganne euery one to finde a great alteration betweene the intolerable pride of the precedent Chancellour VVolsey who would scarce looke or speake to anie and into whose onlie presence none could be admitted vnlesse his fingars were tipped with golde and on the other side this Chancelour the poorer and the meaner the suppliant was the more affably he would speake vnto him the more attentiuely he would hearken to his cause and with speedie try all dispatche him for which purpose he vsed commonly euerie afternoone to sitt in his open hall so that if anie person whatsoeuer had anie sute vnto him he might the more boldely come vnto him and there open to him his complaints VVhich his open manner of extraordinarie fauour to all my vncle Dauncy his sonne in law seemed merrily on a time to finde faulte with saying that when Card VVolsey was Chancellour not only diuerse of his inner chaÌ„ber but such as were but his doorekeepers got great gaines by him and sith I haue married one of your daughters I might of reason looke for some commoditie but you are so readie to doe for euerie poore man and keepe no doores shutt that I can finde no gaines at all which is to mee a great discouragement whereas else some for friendshipp some for profitt some for kindred would gladly vse my furtherance to bring theÌ„ to your presence now yff I should take anie thing of them I should doe them great wroÌ„g because they may freely preferre their causes to you themselues which thing though it is in you Sir very commendable yet to mee I finde it nothing profitable which word Sir THOMAS answered thus I do not mislike sonne that your conscience is so scrupulous but there be manie other waies wherein I may both doe yourself good and pleasure your friends for sometimes by my worde I may stand your friend in steede sometime I may helpe him greately by my letter if he hath a Cause depending before me I may heare him before another man at your intreatie yf his Cause be not all the best I may moue the parties to fall to somereasonable ende by arbitrament but this one thing I assure thee on my fayth that if the parties will at my hands call for iustice and equitie theÌ„ although it were my father whome I reuerence dearely that stoode on the one side and the diuell whome I hate extreamely were on the other side his cause being iust the diuel of me should haue his right What saying was this to expresse the loue to Iustice which he alwaies bore and his deedes shewed it so that no malitious toung euer could picke the least quarrell against him for the least toach of iniustice as shal be more at large spoken of when euerie light matter came to be sifted narrowly after he fell from the king's fauour and that he would for no respect of alliance digresse one iotte from equitie well appeared by another sonne in law of his my vncle Heron for when he hauing a Cause in the Chancerie before Sir THOMAS and presuming to much on his fauour because he euer shewed himself the most affectionate father to his children that was in the world by reason whereof he would by no meanes be perswaded to agree to anie indifferent order at last Sir THOMAS made a flatt decree against him Wherein he liuely expressed the practise of his former saying Now at his coming to this Office he found the Court of Chancerie pestered and clogged with manie and tedious Causes some hauing hung there almost twentie yeares Wherefore to preuent the like which was a