vvitty conuersatioÌ„ 1. S. Thom. Moor his mariage and first vvife Chosen out of a charitable compassion against his ovvne affection His children by her Iohn More Margaret Roper Elizabeth DaÌ„cy Cecily Heron. Anne Cresacre vvife to M. Iohn More 2. His secoÌ„d mariage vvith a vvidovv Not very faire but kind stepmother M. Alington his step-daughter Margaret Clement Carefull gouernment his famyly 3. His knovvledge and rare integrity in profession of the lavv He is made Iudge of the sherif of Londons court His pleÌ„tyfull but honest gaines 4. K. Henry the 7. offended with S. Tho. For crossing him in parlement in an vnjust imposition Sir Iohn More the father imprisond to be reuenged vpon the soÌ„ne Bad couÌ„cel giuen by a politik bishop Auoided by councel of the religious bishops chaplain He retires to his quieter studies Empson and Dudley put to death for vvicked couÌ„sel The happines of a good conscieÌ„ce 5. The beginning of S. Th. Mores fauour vvith K. Henry 8. Warily at the first declined by S. Th. He is employed by the K. on an embassage into FraÌ„ce To Flanders and BurguÌ„dy 6. His more serious vvritings His Vtopia greatly esteemed by all learned men By Budaeus By I. Paludanus By P. Aegidius By Buslidius By Paulus Iouius His story of K. Richard the 3. He vvas vvonderfully studious amidst his serious affaires The office of a discreet housholder His lectures publik vpoÌ„ S. Austin de ciuit Dei 7. By pleading for the Pope against the K. he makes him of his priuy Councel K. HeÌ„rie 8. learning and courtesy A gracious King for his first tvveÌ„ty yeares S. Thom. More knighted and made Threasurer of the exchequer The familiarity of K. HeÌ„ry with S. Thom. More Discreetly lessened by S. Th. himself He is seÌ„t by the K. to appease the prentises of London 8. He is by the King chosen speaker of the lovver house of Parlament A suÌ„mary of his first speetch in ParlameÌ„t 9. Cardinal Wolseys entry into parlament And a motioÌ„ to the lovver house Frustrated by S. Tho. Mores vvisdome Who pleasantly and vvittily diuerteth the Cardinals displeasure And obtaineth against him not to be sent Leger embassadour into Spaine 10. He is made ChauÌ„cellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster S. Thom. Mores iudgemeÌ„t of K. HeÌ„râ—es extraordinary fauour Queen Catherins iudgement of S. Th. Mores loyalty Cardinal VVolseys vaniglory Flattered by most men But nothing at all by S. Th. More 1. His courteous behaueour in midst of honour His meeknes in repreheÌ„ding 2. His readines of vvitt in all occasions 3. His frindship and estimatioÌ„ vvith the learned of all Christendom Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of Durrham Tunstall a glorious confessour in Q. Elizabeths dayes Frindship of S. Th. More vvith B. Fisher. With Cardinal Poole in his yonger dayes VVith D. Lea Archebishop of yorke VVith Lapsetus Grocinus Linacre Montjoy G. Latimer I. Crocus 4. With learned meÌ„ of other nations as I. Coclaeus G. Badaeus M. Dorpius Lascarus Philip Beroaldus Hierom Buslidius Peter Aegidius B. Rhenanus Cranuild Viues C. Goclenius Sir Tho. Mores frindship to D. Erasmus Roderodamus ForsakeÌ„ vvhen he perceaued Erasmus hate in ReligioÌ„ Erasmus liued alvvayes a Catholique Priest S.T. Mores constancy in frindship His pleasaunt coÌ„uersation proceeding froÌ„ a quiet conscieÌ„se A vvitty and mery repreheÌ„sion His candour and innocence 1. S.T. Mores home-entertainments deuotioÌ„s The excellent order of his family His vviues employmeÌ„t His seruants discipline Euening prayers Vigils His deuotioÌ„ on good fryday His tabletalke 2. His behaueour tovvard his vvife and children and counsels giueÌ„ theÌ„ To desire heaueÌ„ly matters To beare afflictioÌ„s patieÌ„tly So vvithstand teÌ„ptations of the diuel Against too much curiosity in dressing A happy houshold Their ordinary recreations 3. S.T. More studiously vvrate against heresies in midst of of his affaires The praise of his Dialogue His ansvver to the Supplication of beggars The Supplication of soules of Purgatory The vvofull effects of heresy Against Tindal Frith and Barnes Apology Debellation of Salem Bizance Comfort in tribulation 4. A vievv of many vvitty pithy speeches of S. Th. Mores The vulgar no true judge of things Sinners distasted Why fevv do feare death No man sure of long life VVorlds vanity VVorldly losses hurt not The folly of old misers Madnes of couetous meÌ„ Fruicts of tribulation Hovv fonde it is to loue this vvorld Against Confessours that flatter their ghostly ChildreÌ„ AfflictioÌ„ more profitable then pleasure Against differring of ameÌ„dment Visions and illusions Pusillanimity a daungerous teÌ„ptation Danger of prosperity Of riches and honours All riches of this vvorld none of our ovvne Couetousnesse Bad marchants A prediction of heresy Riche are not goods The vvorst affection Almes deeds An the vvorld a prison To suffer for God The vvorld no recoÌ„penser Heresy impudeÌ„ Prayer Detraction Ingratitude Faith the mistresse of reason No truth among heretikes Better preuent then redresse Hereticall traÌ„slations Auoid heresy Fasting Desire of heauen Monasticall life Faith and good vvorkes Bad life no miracle School-diuinity Heretikes Impugning of heresie Heretiks falsplay Their contumelies His hatred against heresy in good earnest 5. His profound skill in diuinyty None handled Luther more kindly Sir Thomas More vvell studied in S. Thomas doctrin And other school-diuines His epistle against Pomeranus 1. Cardinal Wolsey his ambition Pope AdriaÌ„s humility Wolsey the author of K. H. 8. fall LonglaÌ„d B. of LoÌ„doÌ„ Wolseys instrumeÌ„t 2. K. Henry communicateth vvith S. T. More his scruple concerning his first marriage Sir Tho. Mores discreet ansvver to the kings scruple His most vpright conscieÌ„ce and constant zeal of the truth 3. He foresavv in spirit the fall of religion in England 4. The miraculous reductioÌ„ of his sonne Roper from heresy by his prayers The hot spirit of heresy The great piety and charity of his sayd soÌ„ne M. Roper 5. Another miraculous cure vvrought by prayer vpon his daughter Margaret 6. Sir Tho. Mores domestiqs schoole Modesty the ornament of vvemen Learning to be desired for vse not for praise In vvhat coÌ„sisteth deiectioÌ„ of spirit What ornameÌ„t Sir Tho. More required in his children A vvomaÌ„ may attaine to learning as vvell as a man The end to vvhich all learning must be directed He desireth it may by all meanes be beaten from his children 7. The delight Sir T.M. bad in his childreÌ„s learning They studied Astronomy He discourieth pleesauÌ„tly He willeth theÌ„ to write with care and premeditation His earnest care of his childreÌ„s good employmeÌ„t The care his children had to please him in their studies Bookes dedicated by learned men to his children He payes his daughters letters with gold 8. The learning and piety of his daughter Margaret The esteeÌ„ that the B. of excester had of her learning Some of her writings Her traÌ„slation of Eusebius Her skill in Astronomy Why humanity is best studied in our yonger yeares 1. Charity of Sir Tho. More to his neighbours His three wishes for the good of Christedom Vnity in peace Vnity in
anie other or else more harme will fall vpon vs because we haue not followed the foote stepps of our worthie Forefather according as Moyses commaunded the Israelites saying in his Canticle Interroga patrem tuum annunciabit tibi maiores tuos diâ—ent tibi which the Apostle also counselleth Christians in these wordes Quorum videntes Conuersationem imitaminifidem But should I therefore wish I had not bene his Grandchilde because I haue incurred a greater bond and shall runne into greater infamie by forsaking my dutie noe God forbidde yea rather this will I boldely affirme not vpon vaine glorie but vpon the confidence I haue of this singular man's blessing if God would haue giuen me choice before he created me of nothing wether I would be the sonne of some famous Emperour magnificent King noble Duke couragious Lord or his whose I was I would most willingly haue chosen to be the same I am to Gods eternall glorie be it spoken 5. Wherefore relying vpon the assistance of this most excellent Saint I will endeauour briefly to sett downe for mine owne instructioÌ„ and my Childrens the life death of Sr. THOMAS MORE who was as a bright starre of our Countrie in the tempestuous stormes of persecution in which we sayle to our heauenlie Cittie on whome God heaped a number of most singular endewments as aboundance of witt profound wisedome happie discretion perfect Iustice exceeding Temperance sweete affabilitie and all excellencies of nature and moralitie besides supernaturall and Theologicall guifts as Charitie in a high degree both towards God and his neighbour a Fayth most coÌ„stant which would not be daunted with anie threates or disgraces that his Prince or Counsellours could thunder out against him nay not with death it selfe a magnanimitie not to be ouercome either by feare of anie losses or hope of anie dignities religion and such deuotion as scarcely could be looked for in anie of a lay profession which perfections beganne to shine in his infancie and continued in the progresse of his actions and did not ende but increased by his most glorious death which was an enterance into a most happie kingdome wherein he both can and will haue compassion and helpe vs in these our miseries because he was raysed by God to be one of the first famous warriours in this our long persecution Wherefore he may worthily be sett before our eyes as a perfect patterne and liuelie example to be imitated by vs for he had more to loose then most men in the land being second to none but to the Chiefest either in worldlie dignitie or his Prince's fauour and yet did he willingly forgoe all yea life it selfe rather then to wrong his Conscience in consenting to anie thing against the law of God and Iustice as by this ensuing discourse will particularly appeare THE FIRST CHAPTER SIR THOMAS MORES parentage birth education studies and first employments of youth 1. Sir Tho. Mores parents and their noble descent 2. The place day and yeare of Sir Th. Mor. birth 3. Sir T. M. his first studies 4. Sir T. M. his first workes or writings 5. His mortifications and penances 6. His deuotions and prayers 7. His diet and apparel 8. His pleasaunt and discreet dissimulation of his virtues 1. SIR THOMAS MORE was the onlie sonne of Sir Iohn More knight one of the Iustices of the kings Bench a singular man for manie rare perfections which his sonne setteth downe in his owne Epitaph extant amongst his Latine Workes tearming his father a man Ciuile that is to say Courteous and affable to all men sweete and pleasant in Conuersation that is full of merrie conceipts and wittie ieastes innocent and harmelesse to witt neither desirous of reueÌ„ge nor maligning anie for his owne priuate gaine meeke and gentle that is to say of an humble carriage in his office and dignitie merciefull and pittifull that is bountiefull to the poore and full of coÌ„passion towards all distressed persons iust and vncorrupted which are the aptest titles and epithites that can be giuen to a Iudge as if he would say that he was neuer moued with frieÌ„dshipp stirred vp with hope of gaine nor wrested by anie threates but still performed his dutie and that he shutt vp alwaies his left eie to all affection of friendshipp and from all briberie Cambden also reporteth of him for proofe of his pleasantnesse of witt that he would compare the multitude of women which are to be chosen for wiues vnto a bagge full of snakes hauing amongst them but one eele now if a man should putt his hand into this bagg he may chance to light on the eele but it is a hundred to one he shall be stung with a snake Manie such like wittie similitudes would he vse in his priuate discourses and in publike auditorie By these his perfections of witt and grace one might guesse that this Childe was likelie to proue singular hauing so good a father but he farre surpassed him in all these and manie more excellencies so that our Familie hath bene much more dignified by this sonne then he anie way drew worth and dignitie from his Auncestours the consideration whereof hath caused manie to thinke and say that SIR THOMAS was of meane parentage and the first of his house yea some haue not stucke to write by birth no gentleman grounding their errour vpon these wordes which he setteth downe in his Epitaphe Thomas More borne of no noble familie but of an honest stock which is true as we here in England take Nobilitie and Noble For none vnder à Baron except he be of the Priuie Councell doth challenge it and in this sence he meaneth it but as the Latine word Nobilis is taken in other Countries for Gentrie it was otherwise For Iudge More bare Armes from his birth hauing his Coate quartered which doth argue that he came to his inheritannce by descent and therefore although by reason of king Henries seasure of all our Euidences we cannot certainely tell who were Sir Iohn's Auncestours yet must they needes be Gentlemen and as I haue heard they either came out of the Mores of Ireland or they of Ireland came out of vs. And as for SIR THOMAS he was as I haue sayd a Knight's eldest sonne and sole heyre to a Iudge of this realme But whatsoeuer the Familie was or is if Vertue can ennoble anie surely it hath by these two excellent men bene made much more to be respected yet if we as God forbidde we should degenerate from their footestepps we may cause it soone to be base of small reckoning vice being the chiefe stayne that tainteth euen the noblest Families The name of SIR THOMAS his mother was Handâ—ombe of Holievvell in the Countie of Bedford yet Doctour Stapleton had not heard so much who sayth that her name was vnknowne by reason of which wordes some haue taken greate exceptions as though she had bene a base woman though he doth in the same place
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 outward 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 fayned matters cunningly to haue heard them of others which he himself had inuented as in his preface to his Vtopia he artificially discourseth as though Raphaël 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 Luther's 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 kinsmen about the Turkes persecution 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 vvith 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. More 10. Sir Tho. made chauncellour of the Duchy of Lancaster 1. 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 Colie 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 sweete 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 fauoured 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 Iane Colt 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 pietie 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 Cicilie 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 Alice 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
presence amongst you and I finde no cause I thanke God to recken myselfe here in worse case then in mine owne house For me thinkes God by this imprisonment maketh me one of his wantons and setteth me vpon his lappe and dandeleth me euen as he hath donne all his best friends S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter S. Paule and all his holie Apostles martyrs and his most especiall fauorites whose examples God make me worthie to imitate By which discourse of his it appeareth most euidently that all the troubles which euer happened vnto him were no painefull punishments but by his admirable patience and alacritie most profitable exercises My aunte Rooper contrariewise either because she would haue more familiar accesse vnto her father or else because in deede she would really perswade him to follow the king's fancie beganne to diuerte him from such zealours discourses and forcibly to vrge him with manie reasons and motiues to the taking of this oath that they might enioy his presence at his house at Chelsey first because he was more bounde to the king then anie man in England and therefore ought the rather to obey his will in a case that was not euidently repugnant to Gods lawe secondly it seemed not credible that so manie wise and learned men as were in England should all impugne the will of God thirdly that he should beware how he pinned his soule vpon Bishopp Fisher being one of the meanest bishops in England fourthly that there were so manie Bishops Doctours and learned men that had taken it so that he being a lay man seemed bound in her iudgement to accommodate his conscience to theirs and lastly euerie one thought him bound in conscience to approue that which a whole parlement of the realme had so vniformely enacted for which reasons manie haue condemned you Father sayd she either of inconsideration rashnesse or obstinacie To the first Sir THOMAS answered as may appeare by a letter of my aunte Rooper's yet extant which contayneth all this their discourse and by that letter of Sir THOMAS his written to Mr. Cromevvell that he had not slightly considered of this matter but for these seauen yeares space since the time that king Henry had vvritten against Luther he had diligently read ouer all the fathers both Greeke Latine vvho all from Ignatius S. Iohn Euangelist's disciple euen to these late Diuines vvith one consent doe agree of the Popes Supremacie which hath bene also accepted of throughout all Christendome these thousand yeares and more and he savv not hovv one member of the Church as England was could vvithdravv itself from the vvhole bodie yet when he saw this controuersie beganne to be disputed of he alwaies had tempered his speaches against Tindall that ex professo he neuer argued vpon that theame but now being putt to his choice whether he should offende his Conscience or the king whether he should fall into temporall danger or eternall hazard of his soule I cannot saith he resolue otherwise then anie wise man would To the second he sayde he would not condemne anie bodie for taking it for some saith he may doe it vpon temporall hopes or feare of greate losses for vvhich I vvill neuer thinke anie hath taken it for I imagine no bodie is so fraile and fearefull as myselfe some may hope that God vvill not impute it vnto them for a sinne because they doe it by constrainte some may hope to doe pennance presently after and others are of opinion that God is not offended vvith our mouth so our heart be pure but as for my parte I dare not ieoparde my selfe vpon these vaine hopes To the third he saith it was altogeather improbable because he refused this oath before it was tendered to Bishopp Fisher or before he knewe whether he would refuse it or no. To the fourth though there vvere neuer so manie learned prelates vvithin this realme that should take it yet being manie more in other partes of Christendome vvhich thinke as I doe I am not boūd to cōforme myselfe to these alone hauing the Doctours of the Church on my side vvho could not be dravven neither for hopes nor feares Finally to the last he wisely answered that although to denye the decree of a generall Councell vvere a damnable acte yet to vvithstande a statute of one realme's making vvhich contradicteth the constant opinion of the vvhole Church is neither a rash deede nor an obstinate but most laudable and Christianlike All which disputation my aunte Rooper sett downe in a letter to her sister Alington printed togeather with Sir THOMAS his letters After all this my aunte Rooper sought to fright him with the danger of death which might perhaps moue him to relente when he cannot hinder his mishappes but now he might preuēt all being yet not too late wherevnto how hūbly he speaketh of his owne frailtie and how confidently he relyeth vpon Gods mercie may be seene at large whose wordes are so humble so zealous so godlie that they are able to pierce anie mans hart that will reade them in the latter ende of his workes they breathe out an Angelicall spiritt farre different from the presumptuous speaches of either heretike or desperate man Lord helpe me yf God for my manie and grieuous sinnes vvill suffer me to be damned his Iustice shal be pmised in me but I hope he vvill procure for me that his mercie shall haue the vpper hand nothing can happen but that vvhich God pleaseth and vvhat that is though it should seeme euill vnto vs yet it is truly the best 4. At another time when he had questioned with my aunte Rooper of his wife childrē and state of his house in his absence he asked her at last how Q. Anne did In fayth Father sayd she neuer better there is nothing else in the Courte but dancing and sporting Neuer better sayd he alas Megg alas it pittieth me to remember vnto what miserie poore soule she will shortly come these dances of hers will proue such dances that she will spurne our heads of like foote bals but it will not be lōg ere her head will dance the like dance And how prophetically he spoke these words the ende of her Tragedie proued it most true Mr. Lieutenant coming into his chamber to visite him rehearsed the manie benefitts and friendshipps that he had often receaued from him and therefore that he was bound to entertaine him friendly and make him good cheare but the case standing as it did he could not doe it without the king's displeasure wherefore he hoped that he would accept of his good will of the poore fare he had whereto he answered I verily belieue you good Mr. Lieutenant and I thanke you most hartily for it and assure yourselfe I doe not mislike my fare but whensoeuer I doe then spare not to thrust me out of your doores Now whereas the oath of
religion End of the kings controuersie He neuer asked anything of the King Liberality to his parish Churche His mercifull workes to his poor neighbours 2. The beginning of K. Hēries separation from the Church Scruple of his mariage with Q. Catherin Cōmissioneirs frō Rome about it The dispensatiō questiōd And supplied by a new cōfirmatiō K. Henry appeals to a generall councel and falls 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 Strokesly 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 Tho. More elected L Chauncelor Only worthy of the place in Cardinal Wolseys iudgement 4. The honourable ceremony with whiche he was enstalled The Duke of Norfolks oratiō in 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. Mores 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 well 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 5. The behaueour of S. Thomas in the dignity of L. Chancellour Towards his father the auncientest iudge of the realme Towards all sutours 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 inheritance Rare pouerty in a L. high Chancellour Yet could it not stop Q. Annes malice against him 2. His admirable zeal in cause of catholike religion A liberal reward profered him nobly by the Bishops of Enggland As nobly and magnanimously refused by him only for Gods sake The heretiks calumny against him True glorie to be hated by heretikes Perfect patience always ioined with true perfectiō 3. Cheerfull mirth An vnmānerly reprehēsiō mannerly returnd on the reprehender A bold debtour pretily told his owne A mery arbitrement between his Lady a beggar A pleasaunt cēsore of a witlesse writing A mery mistaking 4. His earnest deuotiō in the seruice of God He vsed to sing in his surplice in his parishe churche To cary the crosse in procession on foote Cōfessed communicated before any importāt businesse 5. Patience in temporall lesser An excellent resignatiō to the prouidence of God More care to supply his neighbours losses then his owne Godly care of his poor seruants God rewardeth true resignation euen in this world Vanity of iudgement of worldlings 6. S. Thomas resigned vp his office of L. Chancellour The neerer his end the more replenished with the loue of God A notable 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 insinuated the matter to his wife A pleasaūt ieast to diuere her from sorow 7. Prouident dispositiō of his houshold after his resignement Of his seruants all well rec2ommended Of his children liuing with him An incōparable resolutiō after so great an honour to beare cheerfully so low an estate Honourable pouerty of so great a personage 8. How earnestly and cōsideratly he deposed his office An excellent letter to Archbishop Warrhā to such a purpose Great offices dāgerously vndertaken and as dangerous to be giuen ouer A true valuatiō of virtuous actions S. Thom. Mores humble estimation of himself He sends his Vtopia to the Archbishop His innocence in his office Testified in priuat and publik by the King The chief cause of his resignemēt to serue God more freely As thākfull to the K. for permitting his resignement as for the office it self Another cause for his weak health Contēpt of all vainglory 1. His remote preparatiō to Martyrdome 1 Hatred to heresie Yet in his tyme no heretik pur to death 2. Continuall talk of spirituall matters 3. Desire to suffer for Christ 2. A notable lesson for all statesmen giuē to M. Cromwel But not kept by the sayd M. Crōwell Bad Counsellours make bad Princes The reward of bad coūsel exāplified in Crōwell Of good Counsellours in S. Tho. More 3. The mariage of Q. Anne Archbis Crāmers good qualities He concludes the mariage to be lawful The cause of Englāds separation frō Rome Sir Tho. Mores propheticall ghesse of the oath of supremacy 4. Sir Tho. M. refused to be at Q. Annes coronatiō His coūsel and predictiō to the Bishops his good frinds A notable story wonderfully and prophetically applied His purpose rather to be deuoured then defloured Q. Annes hatred to Sir Thomas And the kings displeasure Sir Thomas disposeth him self more immediatly to suffer death A Christiā stratagem 5. The first occasiō of calling into question for Q. Anne The holy Nunne of Kent Warned by reuelation to rebuke K. Hēry Conferreth her reuelatiōs with B. Fisher Her talk with Sir Thomas More Waryly handled by him 6. Accusations procured against Sir Thomas That he impugned the K. mariage Quarrels picked against his Chaūcellourship A supposed bribe pleasantly confuted A courteous refusall of an honest reward Another of like nature Sir Tho. More a wise marchāt traffiking for heauen 7. Sir T. M. his first examination A parlament to attaint true men of treasō The Kings deputies to examin Sir Tho. M. The Deputies faires words to 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 refutatiō Wise wary counsel of Sir Tho. to the King The king acknowledgeth obligatiō of his crowne to Rome 8. His merry hart after his examination A fall giuen to the diuel The Kings indignatiō against Sir Tho. Prudent and politik aduise in so bad a cause Proceeding against Sir Tho. M. differed A braue answer to a frinds feare 1. The oath of supremacy Sir Tho. M. cited to take it His preparation before his going His discreet behaueour in that cause He refuseth the oath for consciēce sake All the clergy but Bishop fisher and D. Wilson did take the oath Vnder what cōditiōs Sir T. M offered to set downe his reason of refusall Sir