seemeth to make it then do I my Lord see little cause why that thing in my conscience should make any change for I do not doubt but of the learned and vertuous men that are yet alive I speak not only of this Realm but of all Christendome about there aâ—e ten to one that are of my mind in this matter But if I should speak of those learned Doctors and vertuous Fathers that are already dead of whom many are Saints in Heaven I am sure that there are far more who all the while they lived thought in this Case as I think now And therefore my Lord I think my self not bound to conform my conscience to the Councell of one Realm against the generall consent of all Christendome Now when Sir Thomas had taken as many exceptions as he thought fit for the avoiding of this Inditement the Lord Chancellor having bethought himself being unwilling now to have the whole burthen of his condemnation to lye upon himself asked openly there the advice of the Lord Chief Justice of England Sir John Fitz James whether this Inditement were sufficient or no who answered thus My Lords all by S. Gillian that was ever his Oath I must needs confesse that if the Act of Parliament be not unlawful then in my Conscience the inditement is not insufficient Whereupon the Lord Chancellor said to the rest of the Lords Loe my Lords loe You hear what my Lord Chief Justice saith and so immediately he pronounced this Sentence THat he should be brought back to the Tower of London by the help of Will. Bingston Sheriffe and from thence drawn on a hurdle through the City of London to Tiburn there to be hanged till he be half dead after that cut down yet alive his privie parts cut off his belly ripped his bowels burnt and his four quarters set up over four Gates of the City his head upon London bridge This Sentence was by the Kings pardon changed afterwards into only beheading because he had born the highest Office in the Kingdome Of which mercy of the Kings word being brought to Sir Thomas he answered merrily God forbid the King should use any more such to any of my friends and God blesse all my posterity from such pardons After his Sentence pronounced the Judges courteously offered him that if he had any thing else to alleadge in his defence they would grant him favourable audience who answered I have nothing to say my Lords butthat Like as the Blessed Apostle St. Paul as we read of in the Acts of the Apostles was present and consented to the death of S. Stephen and kept their cloaths that stoned him to death yet be they now both twain holy Saints in Heaven and shal continue there friends for ever So I verily trust shal therefore right heartily pray that though your Lordships have been now judges on Earth to my condemnation we may yet hereafter all meet together in Heaven merrily to our everlasting salvation And so I pray God preserve you all and especially my Soveraign Lord the King and send him faithful Counsellors CHAP. XV. 1 The manner how Sir THOMAS MORE was led back to the Tower 2 His daughter Margarets great expression of love to him now condemned 3 How devoutly and resolutely Sir T. expected his execution 4 Notice of the time of his death sent him by the King 5 The manner and form of his death 6 The Kings sadnesse there pon 7 Physiognomy of Sir THOMAS MORE NOW after his condemnation he was conducted from the Bar to the Tower again an Axe being carried before with the edge towards him and was led by Sir William Kingston who was then Constable of the Tower and his very dear friend who when he had brought him from Westminster to the old Swan on his way to the Tower he there with a sad heart the tears running down his cheeks took his leave of him Sir Thomas M. seeing him so sorrowful with a cheerful countenance began to comfort him saying Good Mr. Kingstone trouble not your self but be of good chear for I will pray for you and my good Lady your Wife that we may meet in Heaven together where we shall be merry for ever and ever A little after this Sir William talking with Mr. Rooper thereof said In good faith Mr. Rooper I was ashamed of my self that at parting with your Father I found my heart so weak and his so stout that he was fain to comfort me who should rather at that time have comforted him But a conscience clear and at ease is a comfort which no earthly power can either give or take away the which by his demeanour and expressions it doth plainly appear he had Now that I may not omit what before I should have spoken of I will here mention a great experiment of love in the only Son of Sir Thomas More who upon his fathers landing at the old Swan like a most dutifull child did cast himself down at his feet humbly craving his blessing not without tears whom he therefore blessed and kissed most lovingly When Sir Thomas More was now come to the Tower wharf his best beloved daughter Margaret wife to Mr. Rooper being very desirous to see her father whom she thought she should never see in this world more diligently attended his comming at the Tower-wharf where she was certain he must pass by whom as soon as she had espied after she had on her knees received his fatherly blessing she ran hastily unto him and without consideration or care of her self passing through the midst of the throng and guard who with Bils and Halberts compassed him about there openly in the sight of them all embraced him took him about the neck and kissed him not able to expresse any words but these My Father O my Father He liking well this most naturall and dear affection of hers towards him gave her his blessing and told her That whatsoever he should suffer though he were innocent yet it was not without the will of God and that she knew well enough all the secrets of his heart counselling her to conform her will to Gods blessed pleasure and bad her be patient for her losse From whom after she was departed she not satisfied with the former Farewell like one who had forgotten her self ravished with the entire love of so worthy a father having neither respect to her self nor the presse of people about him suddenly ran to him took him about the neck and many times together most lovingly kissed him whereat he spake not one word but carrying still his gravity tears also fell from his eyes nay they were but sew in all the throng who at the sight of this could refrain from weeping no not the guard themselves yet at last with a most sorrowful heart she was forced to depart from him O what singular act of affection was this for a woman of nature bashful by education
to cause him thereby to confesse his offence against the King that so his Highnesse might with the better colour have occasion to revenge his displeasure against him But when he came from the Bishop he fell into discourse with one Mr. Whitford his familiar friend then Chaplain to that Bishop and after a Father of Sion and related to him what the Bishop had said desiring his advice therein who for the Passion of God prayed him in no wise to follow his Counsel For my Lord my Master said he to serve the Kings turn will not stick to consent to his own fathers death So Sir Thomas returned to the Bishop no more and had not the King soon after dyed he was determined to have gone over Sea because that being in the Kings indignation he thought he could not live secure in England and therefore he studyed the French tongue at home sometimes recreating his tyred spirits on the Viol where he also got most of the liberal Sciences as Musick Arithmetick Geometrie and Astronomie and grew to be a perfect Historian CHAP. III. 1 His integrity in the profession of the Law 2 The beginning of his favour with King HENRY the eighth 3 The first honors bestowed by King HENRY the eighth upon Sir THO. MORE 4 He is made Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament AFter this he was made one of the Under-Sheriffs of London some say Recorder but most the other by which Office and his learning together as he hath been heard to say he gained without grudge of conscience at the least 400 l. per annum Since there was at that time in none of the Kings Courts any matter of importance in Controversie wherein he was not of Councel with one of the parties choosing the justest side and therefore for the most part he went away victorious and such was the estimation which for his learning wisdom knowledge and experience men had of him that before he was come to the service of King Henry the eighth at the suit and instance of the English Merchants he was by the Kings consent made twice Ambassadour in certain great causes between them and the Merchants of the Steel-yard whose wise and discreet dealing therein to his high commendation when the King understood he caused Cardinal Woolsey then Lord Chancellour to procure him to his service which although the Cardinal according to the Kings request laboured earnestly with him to effect among many other his perswasions alleadging unto him how dear his service must needs be unto his Majesty who could not with his honour allow him lesse then he should yearly lose by changing his former estate but that rather he would enlarge his fortunes and recompense him fully Yet he loath to change his condition made such means unto the King by the Cardinal to the contrary that his Majesty for that time was well satisfied to forbear him Now it fortuned shortly after that a great Ship of the Popes arrived at Southampton which the King claiming for a forfeiture the Popes Embassadour by suit unto his Grace obtained that he might for his Master the Pope have Councel learned in the Laws of this Kingdom and the business in his own presence being himself a singular Civilian in some publique place be openly heard At which time there could none of our Law be found so fit to be of Councel with this Embassador as Sir Thomas More who could report to the Embassadour in Latine all the reasons and arguments by their learned Councel on both sides alleadged Upon this the Counsellors on either part in presence of the Lord Chancellour and other the Judges in the Star-chamber had audience accordingly Where Sir Thomas More not only declared to the Embassadour the whole sense of all their opinions but in defence on the Popes side argued so learnedly that both the foresaid forfeiture was restored to the Pope and himself among all the hearers for his just and commendable demeanor therein so greatly renowned that now for no intreaty would the King any longer be induced to forbear his service at whose first entry thereunto he made him Master of the Requests having then no better place void and within a Month after Knight and one of his privie Councel and so from time to time advanced him continuing still in his singular favour and trusty service twenty years and above during a good part whereof the King used upon Holy days when he had done devotions to send for him into his Travers and there sometimes in Astronomie Geometrie Divinity and such other faculties and sometimes of his worldly affairs to sit and confer with him and at other whiles in the night would he have him up into his leads there to discourse with him of the diversities courses motions and operations of the Planets And because he was of a very pleasant disposition it pleased the King and Queen after the Councel had supt to call for him to be merry with them whom when he perceived so much to delight in his talk that he could not once in a moneth get leave to go home to his wife and children whose company he most desired and that he could not be absent from the Court two days together but that he must be sent for again He much misliking this restraint of his liberty began thereupon somewhat to dissemble his nature and so by little and little to disuse himself from his former mirth that he from thenceforth at such times was no more so ordinarily sent for Then one Mr. Weston Treasurer of the Exchequer dying the King of his own offer without any asking freely gave his office unto Sir Thomas More In the fourteenth year of his Majesties Reign was there a Parliament held whereof Sir Thomas More was chosen Speaker who being very unwilling to take that place upon him made an oration not now extant for his discharge thereof Whereunto when his Highnesse would not consent he spake unto him in manner following A Summary of his First Speech in Parliament SInce I perceive most renowned Soveraign that it is not your Majesties pleasure to reform this Election and cause it to be changed but have by the mouth of the Right Reverend Father in God the Legat your High Chancellour thereunto given your assent and have of your great goodnesse determined far above my deserts or abilities to repute me worthy this so weighty Office rather then you should seem to impute unto your Commons that they had unmeetly chosen me I am therefore and always shall be ready obediently to conform my self to the accomplishment of your high Commands most humbly beseeching your most noble Majesty that â—may with your Graces favour before I further enter thereinto make my humble intercession to your Highness for the grant of two lowly Petitions the one privately concerning my self the other this whole Assembly For my self gracious Soveraign That if I should chance
not being more carefull telling them that their negligence was the cause that so many Cut-purses were brought thither which when Sir Thomas More observed him so often to repeat at one time especially the night after he sent for one of the chief Cut-purses that was in prison and promised him to save him harmlesse and stand his friend too if he would cut the foresaid Justices purse the next day as he sat on the Bench and then presently make a sign of it to him The fellow very gladly promiseth him to do it The next day therefore when they sat again that thief was called among the first who being accused of his fact said That he did not doubt but he could sufficiently excuse himself if he were permitted to speak to some of the Bench in private he was therefore bid to choose one whom he would and presently he chose that grave old man who then had his Pouch at his girdle as they wore them in those daies and whilest he whispered him in the ear he cunningly cuts his purse and then solemnly taking his leave returns to his place Sir Thomas knowing by a private sign that the businesse was dispatched presently took occasion to move the Bench to distribute some almes upon a poor needy fellow that was there and for good example began himself to do it when the old man came to open his purse he sees it cut away and much wondring said he was confident he brought it with him when he came thither that morning Sir Thomas replyed pleasantly What will you charge any of us with felony but his choler rising and he being ashamed of the thing Sir Thomas cals the Cutpurse and bids him give him his purse again and withal advised the good old Justice hereafter not to be so bitter a censurer of innocent mens negligence when as himself could not secure his purse in that open assembly Another time when he was Lord Chancellor one of the house of the Manors whom the King had then lately preferr'd to a great Honour who before that had been a great friend of Sir Thomas Mores but perceiving now that the world began somwhat to frown upon him because he was not so forward as other men to perswade the King to the Divorce and being desirous to pick some quarrel against him he said unto him My Lord Honores mutant Mores Sir Thomas readily replyed It is so indeed my Lord but Mores signifieth in english Manners not More he was with this so put out of countenance that he had nothing more to say So also he wittily twitted another to whom he had lent money of whom when afterwards he demanded his due he bad him remember he must die and God knew how soon and that then he would have little use of money adding the sentence in Latine the better to please Sir Thomas Momento Morieris to which Sir Thomas presently replyed What say you Sir Me thinks you put your self in mind of your duty herein saying Memento Mori aeris remember Mores money It hapned on a time that a beggars little Dog which she had lost was sent to the Lady More for a Present and she had kept it about a week very carefully but at last the beggar having notice where her dog was presently came and complained to Sir Thomas as he was sitting in his Hall that his Lady kept her dog from her Presently my Lady was sent for and the dog brought with her which Sir Thomas taking in his armes he caused his Wife to stand at the upper end of his Hall and the begger at the lower end and then saying that he sat there to do every one justice he bad each of them call the dog which when they did the dog ran presently to the begger forsaking his Lady When he saw this he bad his Wife be contented for it was none of hers yet she repining at his sentence agreed with the beggar and gave her a piece of Gold so all parties were satisfied every one smiling at this strange discovery of truth Another time a certain friend of his taking great pains about a Book which he intended to publish being well conceited of his own wit which no body else thought worth commendation and because he would Sir Thomas should oversee it ere it were printed he brought it to him who perusing it and finding no thing therein worthy the Presse said with a grave countenance If it were inverse it were more worth upon which words he went and turned it into verse and then brought it to Sir Thomas who looking thereon said soberly Yea marry now it is somewhat for now it is Rhime before it was neither Rhime nor Reason And indeed whatsoever jest he brought forth he never laughed at any himself but spoke them so seriously that few could discern by his look whether he were in earnest or in jest as once talking with another in dispute of his Dialogues by some occasion they hapned to speak of a dogs turd at that very instant one of his men came to tell him that dinner was ready to whom he said Look that there be better meat provided for us then that who presently went and told his Lady that his Lord would have better meat provided for his dinner which caused a great disturbance in the house till at last the mistake being known they all fell a laughing Some few of Sir THO. MORE' 's Apophthegms collected out of Dr. Stapleton A Sinner saith he cannot taste spiritual delights because all carnall are first to be abandoned By an excellent similitude he teacheth us why few do fear death thus Even as they which look upon things afar off see them confusedly not knowing whether they be men or trees even so he that promiseth unto himself long life looketh upon death as a thing afar off not judging what it is how terrible what griefs and dangers it brings with it that none ought to promise himself long life he proveth thus even as two men that are brought out of Prison to the gallows one by a long way about he other by a direct short path yet neither knowing which is which untill they come to the gallows neither of these two can promise himself longer life by reason of the uncertainty of the way even so a young man cannot promise himself longer life then an old mā Against the vanity of worldly honour he speaketh thus Even as that Criminal person who is led to execution shortly should be accounted vain if he should engrave his Coat of Arms upon the prison Gate even so are they vain who endeavour to leave with great industry monuments of their dignity in the prison of this world By a subtile Dilemma he teacheth us why we are not to think that we can be hurt by the iosse of our superfluous goods in this manner He that suffereth any losse of his goods he would either have bestowed them with