ParlamentHowse Your Grace not offended I would I had beene there my Lord quoth Syr Thomas And to wynd these quarrels out of the Cardinalls head he began to commend that Gallery and said I like this Gallery of yours my Lord much better theÌ„ your Gallery at Hampton-Court wherewith he so wisely brake off the Cardinalls displeasant talke that the Cardinall at that â—…yme as it seemed knew not what more for the present to â—…ay vnto him But yet for a Reuenge of his displeasure the Cardinall counselled the king to send Syr Thoâ—…is More Embassadour ouer inâ—… Spayne commending vnto 〈◊〉 his wisdome learning â—…tnes for the voyage and furâ—…er told the King that the diffiâ—…ulty of the cause considered â—…ere is none quoth the Cardiâ—…all so meete or able to perâ—…rme your Maiestyes seruice â—…rin as he Which when the â—…ing had broken to Syr Thomas More and that he had satisfied â—…is Maiesty how vnfit a voyage 〈◊〉 was for him the nature of the â—…ountrey and disposition of his â—…omplexion considered that he â—…hould neuer be able nor likely â—…o do his Grace acceptable seruiâ—…e there knowing right well â—…hat if his Maiesty sent him thiâ—…her he should send him to his Graue yet shewing himselfe â—…uerthelesse ready according 〈◊〉 his duty although it were wiâ—… the losse of his life to fullfill 〈◊〉 Graces pleasure in that behalfâ—… the King well allowing of hâ—… answere said vnto him It is nâ—… our meaning M. More to 〈◊〉 you the least hurt but rather thâ—… best good we will therefore fâ—… this purpose deuise vpon somâ—… other and imploy your seruiâ—… otherwise And indeed such entire affâ—… ction did the King at that tymâ—… beare vnto him that he madâ—… him Chancellour of the Duchâ—… of Lancastâ—…r vpon the death 〈◊〉 Syr Richard Wingfield who haâ—… that Office before And the kinâ—… tooke so much pleasure in hiâ—… company that oftentymes 〈◊〉 Maiesty would on the suddaine go vp to his howse at Chelsey to be merry with him whither on a tyme comming to dynner he walked in Syr Thomas Mores garden by the space of an houre and held his arme about Syr Thomas Mores necke As soone as his Maiesty was gone M. William Roper a Gentleman of Grayes Inne who had married Syr Thomas Mores eldest daughter said vnto him Father how happy a man are you whome the King hath thus familiarly entertayned for he neuer was seene to do the like vnto any man except Cardinall Wolsâ—…y with whome the King did often walke arme in arme I thanke our Lord God Sonne Roper quoth he I find his Grace my very good Lord indeed And I thinke he doth as singularly fauour me as any subiect within this Realme Howbeit Sonne Roper I may tell thee 〈◊〉 haue no great cause to be proud thereof But if my Head could wyn his Maiesty a Castle in France for then there was warre with France it should not fayle to goe Amongst many other his vertues he was of such Mâ—…kenes that if he happened to enter into argument or dispute with any learned man resorting to him from Oxford Cambridge or other place as there did diuers some for desyre of his acquaintaÌ„ce some for the famous report of his wisdome and learning and some about suites for â—…he Vniuersityes although very few were comparable vnto him as well witnesseth Erasmus â—…f 〈◊〉 discourse he so pressed â—…heÌ„ that they cold not well hold 〈◊〉 it longer disputation agaynst â—…im then least he should discouâ—…age theÌ„ as one that sought not â—…is owne Glory he wold seeme â—…onquered by some wise deâ—…se courteously breake off into â—…me other matter giue ouer Of whome for his wisdome and earning the king had such an oâ—…ion that at such tymes as he â—…ttended his person in his proâ—…resse either to Oxford or Camâ—…ridge where he was receiued with very eloquent Orations â—…is Maiesty would alwayes asâ—…gne Syr Thomas More as one â—…rompt and ready therein to make Answere thereunto ex tempore His custome also was that wheÌ„soeuer he came to any Vniuersity eyther heere or beyond the Seas not only to be present at Disputations and Readinges but also to dispute very learnedly himselfe to his high Commendations and generall applause of all the assembly During the tyme of his ChauÌ„cellorship for the Duchy of Lancaster he was sent twice Embassador ioyned in coÌ„mission with Cardinall Wolsey once vnto the Emperour Charles into Flanders the other tyme vnto the French King at Paris About this tyme it hapned that the Water-bayly of London who had somtimes byn Syr Thomas Mores seruant hearing certayne Merchants to speake soâ—… what lauishly agaynst his old 〈◊〉 was so displeased therat that he came with all speed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More told him what he hâ—… heard of whom Syâ—… quoth he if I were in such 〈◊〉 and authority with my Prâ—…ce as you are such men as these should not surely be 〈◊〉 so vncharitably falsly to misreport sâ—…under me Wherfore I with you to call theÌ„ befor you punish them Syr Thomas 〈◊〉 smyling vpon him sayd Why M. Water-bayly would you haue me punish them by whome I receyue more benefit then by all you that are my â—…riends Let them a Gods Name â—…peake as lewdly of me as they list and shoote neuer so many darts at me So long as they do not hit me what am I the worâ—… But if they should once hit me then would it not indeed a little trouble me Howbeit I trust by Gods helpe there shall none of them all be able to touch me Therefore I haue more cause 〈◊〉 assure thee M. Water-baily to pitty thâ—…n to be angry with them Such sruitefull communication would he often tymes haue with his familiar Friends So on a tyme walking a loÌ„g the Thames syde at Chelsâ—…y with his Sonne in law M. Roper and discoursing of many things amongst other speaches he sayd thus vnto him Now I would to our Lord God Sonne Roper that three things were well established in Christendome vpon coÌ„â—…itioÌ„ that I were heer presently â—…ut into a sacke cast into the 〈◊〉 of the Thames What great â—…hings be those Sir quoth M. Roâ—…er that moue you so to wish â—…ouldest thou know Sonne Roâ—…er quoth he May it so please â—…ou Syr with a very good will â—…yd M. Roper In â—…ayth Sonne 〈◊〉 they be these First that where the most parte of Chriâ—…tian Princes are now at mortal â—…arres I would they were all â—…tan vniuersall peace The secoÌ„d 〈◊〉 that where the Church is at â—…his present sore afflicted with Errors Heresyes that it were â—…etled in a perfect vniformity â—…f Religion The third is that where the Kings matter of his â—…arriage is now come into question I wish it were to the glory of God and 〈◊〉 of all parties brought to a good conclusion By which three things as M. Ropâ—… supposed he â—…ged that there would be a great disturbance through the moâ—… paâ—… of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus diâ—… Syâ—… Thâ—… More
matter of his marriage vsinâ—… all the wayes and meanes 〈◊〉 could deuise to draw him to his part and as it was thought did the rather for that end soone afâ—…er create him Lord Chauncelâ—…our of England And the King said further vnto him that alâ—…hough at his going to Cambray he was in vtter despaire to obâ—…ne dispensation thereof yet â—…ow he had conceiued some goâ—…d hope to coÌ„passe the same â—…eaging that albeâ—…t his Marâ—…iage as being agaynst the posiâ—…ue Law of the Church the â—…itten Law of God was holâ—…en by the dispensation yet is â—…here another thing found out â—…flate quoth the King wherby â—…his Marriage appeareth so direâ—…tly agaynst the law of Nature â—…hat it can in no wise by the Church be dispensable as Doâ—…or Stokesley whome he had then preferred to the Bishopricke of London can well instruct you with whome vpon this point I would haue you to confer So they conferred togeatherâ—… But for all this Conference Syr Thomas More could not be induced to change his opinion therein Yet notwithstanding did the Bishop in his Report oâ—… him to the King affirme falsely that he found Syr Thomas More in the Kings cause very forward as being desirous to find some good matter wherewith he might serue the Kings contentment in that case Now this Bishop Stokesley hauing a litle before byn by Cardinall Wolsey openly rebuked in the Sarre-chamber awarded 〈◊〉 the Flecte he not well brooâ—…ing this contumelious vsage â—…nd knowing that forasmuch 〈◊〉 the Cardinall for his backeâ—…ardnes in pursuing the Kings â—…uorse was falling out of his â—…ghnes fauour and that he had â—…ow espied a fit opportunity to â—…euenge his quarell agaynst the â—…ardinall and to incense the â—…ing further agaynst him at â—…ast preuayled so far that the Cardinall was soone after disâ—…laced from his office of high Chancellorship and the same was conferred vpon Syr Thomas â—…ore hoping therby so to win â—…im to his syde that he would â—…ield his consent for the matter â—…f diuorse Then was Syr Thomas More betweene the Dukes of 〈◊〉 and Nâ—…rfolke brought througâ—… 〈◊〉 Hall to his place 〈◊〉 the Chancery and the Duke 〈◊〉 Norfolkâ—… in the audience of 〈◊〉 the people there assembled 〈◊〉 wed that he was from the 〈◊〉 himselfe straitley charged 〈◊〉 speciall commiâ—…ion to 〈◊〉 theâ—…e openly in the presence 〈◊〉 them all how much all 〈◊〉 was beholding to Syr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for his good seruice anâ—… how worthily he deâ—…erued thâ—… highest roome in the Kingdom and further how deere his Maiesty loued trusted him wherâ—…in quoth the Duke he hatâ—… great cause to reioyce praysâ—… Almighty God Whereunto Syr Thomas Morâ—… amongst diuers other wise and â—…arned speches made answere â—…nd replyed that allthough he â—…ad good cause to take comfort 〈◊〉 his Highnes singular fauour â—…wards him to whome thereâ—…ore he acknowledged himselfe â—…ost deeply bounden yet neâ—…erthelesse he must for his owne â—…art needes confesse that in all â—…ose things by thâ—… Duks Grace â—…here alleaged he had done noâ—…hing but what was his duty â—…nd furthermore said That he â—…as very vnfit for that dignity â—…herein considering how wise â—…nd worthy a Prelate had lately â—…efore taken so great a fall he â—…aid he had no great cause to reâ—…oyce And as they had before in â—…he Kings behalfe charged him 〈◊〉 minister Iustice vprightly â—…ndiffereÌ„tly to the people without corruption or affection 〈◊〉 did he likewise charge them agayne that if they saw him at any time to digresse in the least thing touching any part of hiâ—… duty in that honourable Office euen as they would discharg their owne duty and fidelity 〈◊〉 God and the King they would not fayle to declaâ—…e the same to his Maâ—…esty who otherwise might haue iust caùse to lay the fault wholy vpon them and to their charge Now when he was Lord Chauncellour on a tyme being at leasure as seldome he was a Sonne in law of his who had marryed one of his daughters spake merrily vnto him saying When Cardinall Wolsey was Lord Chancellour not onely â—…iuers of his priuy ChaÌ„ber but â—…uch also as were but his very â—…oor-keepers got much proffit â—…nd now sith I haue maryed one â—…f your daughters and giue my â—…ayly attendance vpon youâ—… I â—…hinke I might of reason looke â—…or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…oyle all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you be so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to heare euery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pâ—…re as rich beâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no doores shut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to me no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and discouraâ—…eÌ„t whereas otherwise some â—…or friendshippe some for kynâ—…red but most for profit would 〈◊〉 glad to haue my furtherance 〈◊〉 bring them to your presence And now as the case stands if 〈◊〉 should take any thing of them know I should do them much wrong for that they may do 〈◊〉 much for themselues as I 〈◊〉 able to do for theÌ„ Which thinâ—… though it be in you very comâ—… mendable yet to me your Sonâ—… I find it nothing profitable You say well Sonne quoâ—… Syr Thomas More I do not mâ—… like that you are so scrupuloâ—… of conscience for there be mâ—…ny other wayes wherein I maâ—… both do you good and pleasurâ—… your friend also for sometymâ—… may I by my word stand yoâ—… friend insteed and sometimâ—… I may by my letters help hiâ—… or if he haue a cause dependiâ—… before me at your request I mâ—… heare him before another oâ—… his cause be not altogether 〈◊〉 the best yet may I moue the paâ—… tyes to fall to some reasonabâ—… end or compound by arbitrement Howbeit this one thing Sonne I assure thee on my Fayth that if the parties will at my hands call for iustice then if â—…it were my Father that stood on the one side and the Diuell on the other side his cause being good the Diuell surely should haue right So offered he to his Sonne as much fauour as he thought he could in reason require And that he would for no respect digresse neuer so litle froÌ„ iustice did plainely appeare by another of his Sonns in law one M. Giles Hâ—…ron who had a sorry suite depending before him in the ChaÌ„cery yet presuming much vpon his Fathers fauour would in no wayes be perswaded by him to come to an indifferent compositioÌ„ with his aduersary wherevpon in triall of the matter Syr Thomas Mâ—…re pronounced sentence agaynst him He vsed euery afternoone to sit in his open Hall to the end that whosoeuer had any suit vnto him they might the more boulder come to his presence and there to open theyr Complayints before him Also his manner was to read euery Bill himselfe before he would grant any Sub poena and hauing read it he would either set his hand vnto it or else cancell it Whensoeuer he passed throgh Westminster Hall to his place in Chancery by the Court of Kings BeÌ„â—…h if his Father one of the Iudges therof had bin there set before he came he would go into the same Court there most reuerently vpon his
Syr I am very glad thereof And as they after coÌ„iectured it was for that the loue he had to God wrought in him so effectually that it vtterly conquered all his â—…arnall affections At his comming to Lambetâ—… he behaued himselfe so discreetly before the Commissioners at the ministration of the forsaid Oath as may be seene at large in certayne Letters of his sent to M. rs Roper extant in a printed volume of his works as they had litle or nothing to lay vnto his charge yet durst they not as it seemed dismisse him but coÌ„mitted him to the cuâ—…tody of the Abbot of Westminster for 4. or 5. dayes during with tyme the King consulted with his Counsell what order were best to be taken with him â—…nd albeit in the beginning it was resolued that he should vpoÌ„ his oath be discharged yet did Queene Anne through her importunate clamours so farre preuaile with the King against him that contrary to the Commissioners expectation he was committed to the Tower Now as he was conducted thitherward by water wearing as he commonly did a chayne of gold about his Nâ—…cke M. â—…chard Crâ—…mwell who had the charge of conueying him to prison aduised him to send home his Chayne to his wife or to some of his ChildreÌ„ Nay quoth he that will I not for if I were taken in the field by myne enemy I would he should fare somwhat the better for me At his landing at the Tower gate M. Lieutenant was ready there to receiue him where the Gentleman Porter demanded of him his vpper garmeÌ„t Why heere it is quoth he presently tooke oâ—…f his Cap and deliuered it vnto him saying I am very sorry M. Porter that it is no better for you Nay quoth the Porter I must haue your Gowne Syr. OI cry you mercy good M. Porter for now indeed I remember that my Cappe is not my vpper garmeÌ„t but only the thatch of my poore old Tenement So then was he by M. Lieutenant conueyed to his Lodging where he called vnto him one Iohn Wood his owne seruant appoynted there to attend him who could neither write nor reade and swore him before the Lieutenant that if he should heare or see at any time his Maister write or speake any manner of thing agaynst the King Councell or State of the land he should reueale it to the LieutenaÌ„t that the LieutenaÌ„t might make the same knowne to the Counsell After he had remayned in the Tower about a moneth his daughter Roper hauing greatly desired to see her Father made earnest suite got leaue to visit him at whose coÌ„ming after the saying of the seauen Psalmes Letanyes which he was euer accustomed to say with her before they fell into discourse of any other matter among other speaches he said vnto her I belieue Megge that they who haue put me heere thinke they haue done me a great displeasure But I assure thee on my fayth myne owne good daughter if it had not ben for my wife you my Children whome I accoÌ„pt the chiefe part of my charge I would not haue failed long ere now to haue inclosed my selfe in a straiter roome then this But since I am come hither without myne owne desert I trust that God of his goodnes will disburden me of my care and with his gracious help supply my want amongst you And I find no cause I thanke God Megge to reckon my selfe in worse case heere then in myne owne house For me thinkes in this case God maketh me euen a wanton setting me vpon his knee and dandling me Thus by his patient suffering and cheerfull demeanour in all his tribulations and disasters it plainly appeared that nothing seemed painfull vnto him but rather a profitable Exercise for the good of his soule Then wheÌ„ he had questioned a while with his daughter about his wife Children and houshold state in his absence he asked her how Queene Anne did Neuer better Father quoth she Neuer better Megge quoth he Alas alas it pittieth me to remember into what misery poore Soule she will shortly come After this M. Lieutenant coÌ„ming one to day his chamber to visit him recouÌ„ting the many courtesies and benefits that he had heertofore receiued at his hands and therfore how much the more bound he was to entâ—…ertayne him friendly make him good chere which the case standing as it did he could not as he would do without the Kings high displeasure therfore hoped he would accept of his good will and of such poore cheere as he had Maâ—…ster Lieuâ—…nant quoth Syr Thomas More now verily I belieue all you haue said to be true for which I do most hartily thanke you And assure your selfe M Lieutenant when you see me mislike my cheere then thrust me out of your doores as a very vnthankefull Guest Now wheras the Oath aboue mentioned made to confiâ—…me the K. Supremacy mariage was coÌ„prised in very few woâ—…des the Lord Chauncâ—…llour Secretary Cromwâ—… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 owne heads adde more woâ—…s vâ—…to it to make it appeaâ—…e of more force and to 〈◊〉 better in the Kings eare whiâ—…h Oath so amplified they had caused to be ministred to Syâ—… Tâ—…mas More to al others throghout the Kingdome The which Syr Thomas More perceiuing said one day to his daughter Roper I may tell thee Mâ—…gge they that committed me hither for refusing the Oath not agreable to the Statute are not by their own law able to iustify my imprisoment And surely Daughter it is great piâ—…y that any ChristiaÌ„ Prince should by so flexible a Counsell ready to follow his affeâ—…tions by so weake a Clergy wanting grace to stand constantly to their Religion with â—…attery be so grosâ—…ely abused But at length the Lord Chancellour M. Secretary espying their owne ouersight in that behalfe were glad afterwards to sind a meanes that another Staâ—… should be made for the conâ—…mation of the sayd Oath so amplifyed with theyr additions And wheras Syr Thomas More had made a conueyance for the disposing of his laÌ„des reseruing onely vnto himselfe an estate for terme of life and after his descease some part therof to his wife children other some to his Sonne Ropers wife for a ioynture in consideration she was an 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of more then a hundred 〈◊〉 by the yeare And likeâ—…se other some to M. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in recompence of then 〈◊〉 money with diuerâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ouer and besides All which coÌ„ueyances and asâ—…urances being made and finished longe before any matter wherof he was attaynted could be made an offence yet by Statute were they now all clearely auovded and all the lanâ—…s that he had in such sort assured vpon his wife and children by the sayd 〈◊〉 coÌ„trary to order of the lawes taken from them and forfaytâ—…d into the Kings handes except only that poâ—…tion which he had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his wife by reasoÌ„ that after the 〈◊〉 conueyaÌ„ce which was 〈◊〉 to â—…selfe for the terme of
knees before the whole Assembly aske his Father blessing As likewise if his Father and he chanced to meet at the Lecture in Lincolnes Inâ—…e as oftentymes they did yet notwithstanding his high place Office would he offer in Argument the preheminence vnto his Father nor would himselfe accept thereof vntill his Father had refused it And for further declaration of his naturall affection loue towardes his Father when he lay sicke vpon his death bed he did not only according to his duty oftentymes come and visit him with all manner of comfort but also at his departure out of the world he tooke him about the Necke kissed imbraced him commending his soule into mercyfull hands of Almighty God and so departed Whilest he was Lord Chancellour he graunted but few Iniunctions yet were they by some of the Iudges of the Law misliked which M. Roper vnderstanding declared the same vnto Syr Thomas More who answered that they should haue litle cause to find fault with him therfore Whereupon he caused one M. Crooke chiefe of the six Clarkes to make a Docket conteyning the whole number and causes of all such Iniunctions as either in his tyme had already passed or at the present depended in any of the Kings Courts at Westminster before â—…im which done he one day inâ—… all the Iudges to dinner with him in the Counsell ChaÌ„â—…er at Westminster and after â—…ynner when he had broken with them what coÌ„playnts he had heard of his Iniunctions moreouer had shewed them the â—…umber and causes of euery one â—…n order truly playnely they were all inforced to confesse â—…hat themselues in like cases could haue done no otherwise Then made he this offer vnto â—…hem That if the Iudges of eueâ—…y Court vnto whome the reformation of the rigour of the Law by reason of their Office most especially appertayned would vpon reasonable considerations in their owne discretions as he thought they werâ—… bound to do in conscience mitigate and reforme the rigor of the law themselues there should from thenceforth be no more Iniunctions graunted out by him Whereunto when they refused to condescend then said he vnto them For asmuch as your selues my Lordes force me to that necessity of granting out Iniunctions for reliefe of the peoples iniuries you cannot hereafter any more iustly blame me After that he spake priuatly to M. Roper saying I perciue why they liked not so to do for they see that they may by the verdict of the Iury cast all quarrels vpon those whome they account their chiefe defence and therefore am I compelled to abide the aduenture of all such Reports Now in the tyme of his Chancellourshippe allthough he had but litle leasure to busy himselfe in the study of holy Scriptures and Controuersies in Religion with other such like Exercises being in a manner continually imployed about the affaires of the King and Kingdome yet did he take many watchfull paines in setting forth diuers profitable workes in the defence of Christian Religion agaynst Heresies that then were blowne abroad In so much that the Bishops to whose Pastorall care that Reformation chiefly beloÌ„ged seeing themselues by his trauell wherein by their owne confession they were not any way able to compare with him in great part discharged of theâ—…r dutyes in that behalse considering that for all the Princes fauor his great Office he was no rich man nor had in yearly reuenewes aduaÌ„ced himselfe as his worthynes deserued therefore at a Conuocation holden amongst themselues and others of the Clergy they agreed to recompence him with a summe of fiue thousand pounds for his paynes taken in their behalfe To the payment wherof euery Bishop Abbot and others of the Clergy according to the rates of their abilityes became liberall Contributaries hoping that this their liberality would giue him good content Wherevpon Bishop Tonstall of DurhaÌ„ Bishop Clarke of Bath D. Voysey Biâ—…hop of Exceter repayred vnto 〈◊〉 Tho. More declaring how â—…hankefully to their discharge â—…n Gods cause they reckoned â—…hemselues vnto him and albeit â—…hey could not according to his deserts so worthily requite his â—…ours therefore must refer â—…he same to Gods gracious goodâ—…esse yet for a small gratuity in â—…espect of his Estate so vneqúall â—…o his Worth in the Name of their whole Conuocation they presented vnto him the forsaid â—…umme desiring him to accept of it in good part But Syr Thoâ—…as More refusing this their tenâ—…er said vnto them That as it was no small comfort vnto him â—…hat so wise and learned men accepted of his weake labours for which he neuer intended to receiue any other reward but at the hands of God to whome alone all the thankes therof were chiefly to be ascribed So gaue he most humble thankes vnto all their Honours for their so friendly and honourable consideration and earnestly intreated them to returne euery man his money agayne Wherfore when after much pressing him to accept therof cold not preuaile they besought him that they might bestow it vpon his Wife and Children Not so my Lords quoth he had rather see it cast into the Thames then either I or any 〈◊〉 myne should haue the value 〈◊〉 one penny therof For my Lordes though your offer indeed be very fayre and friendly yet set I so much by my pleasure so litle by my profit that I would not in good fayth for so much and much more to haue lost so many a good nights sleepe as I spent vpon the same And yet I would wish for all that vpon conditioÌ„ that Heresies were suppressed that all my Bookes were burned my labour lost Thus departed they from him and were driuen to returne euery man his owne money agayne This Lord Chancellour although he was well knowne both to God and the world to be a man of most eminent Vertue though not so considered of euery man yet for the auoyding of singularity would he appeare to the ey of the world no otherwise then other men as well in his apparell as behauiour And albeit he appeared outwardly Honourable like to one of his Dignity Calling yet inwardly did he esteme all such thingâ—… for meere vanity for next to hiâ—… naked body he wore almost coÌ„tinually a shirt of hayre the 〈◊〉 a young Gentlewoman named M. rs More by chance on day 〈◊〉 pying as he sat in his doublet hose at dynner in the soÌ„mer tyme and seemed to smile therat his daughter Roper perceiuing the same being not ignorant of this his austerity gaue him priuate notice thereof and he did presently amend the fault seeming withall sorry that she had feene it He also wore another playne course shirt without ruffe or collar vpon his shirt of hayre And many tymes he likewise punished his body with whips made of knotted cordes the which thing was only knowne to his daughter Roper who for her secresy aboue all the râ—…st he especially trusted for that as need required she did alwayes wash
mend his shirt of hayre which he would not discouer vnto any other whatsoeuer Now in this meane space whilst he was Lord ChaÌ„cellour of England the King did one day greatly moue him desire him well to weigh and consider of his great matter concerning his diuorce Syr Thomas More falling vpon his knees most humbly besought his Maiesty to stand still his gratious Soueraigne as euer since his entry into his Royall Seruice he had found him and said that there was nothing in the world more grieuous to his hart then that he was not able with the losse of one of his lymbes to find any thing for that matter wherby he might with safe conscience serue his Maiesties turne And that he had alwayes borne in mynd the most Godly wordes that his Highnesse spake vnto him at his first comming into his Royall seruice the most vertuous Lesson that euer Prince taught a Subiect to wit that he should first looke vnto God after God vnto his King as in good fayth said he I haue â—…ost sincerely done or els might your Grace accompt me a most â—…nworthy seruant To this the King replyed â—…hat if he could not therein with â—…is conscience serue him he was well content to accept of his â—…eruice otherwise and vse the â—…duice of some others of his priâ—…y Counsell whose conscienâ—…es would agree well inough â—…herewith nor would he neuerâ—…helesse discoÌ„tinue his gracious â—…auour towards him nor trouâ—…le his conscience any further with that matter for the tyme â—…orward But Syr Thomas More perâ—…eiued by little and little that â—…he King fully determined to â—…roceede in his Marriage with Queene Anne when he with the Bishopps and Nobles of the Higher House of Parlament were for the furtherance of that matter coÌ„manded by the King to go vnto the Commons of the lower House shew vnto them what the Vniuersities aswell of other parts beyond the seas as of Oxford and Cambridge had done in that behalfe testifiyng the same with their seales and subscriptions All which things at the Kinges request not shewing of what mynd he was therein himselfe he opened to the Lower House of Parlament Neuerthelesse doubting greatly lest further inconueniences might follow into with contrary to his conscience by reason of his Office he was likely to be fall he made humble suite to the Duke of Norforke his singular deare friend to be a meanes vnto the King that he might with his Graces fauour be discharged from his Office of Chancellourship in which for certayne infirmityes of his body he pretended himselfe not able any longer to serue This good Duke of Norfolke comming on a tyme to Chelsey to dyne with Syr Thomas More found him in the Church singing in the Quier with a Surâ—… on his backe to whome after Masse was done as they went towardes his house together arme in arme the Duke â—…aid Gods body Gods body my Lord Chancellour what turned â—…arish Clarke You dishonor thâ—… King and his Office very much Nay quoth Syr Thomas More smyling vpon the Duke your Grace may not thinke that the King your Maister and myne wil be offended with me for seruing God his Maister or therby accompt his Seruice any way dishonoured Now when the Duke at the speciall intreaty and importunate suite of Syr Thomas More had obtayned of the King that he should be discharged of his Chancellorship at a conuenienâ—… tyme appointed by the King he repayred vnto the Court to yield vp the great Seale which his Maiesty receaued of him with prayse and thankes for hiâ—… good seruice done to his persoâ—… and the Realme in that Office And he further sayd vnto him in a gracious manner that if in any suite he should heerafter haue vnto him that either concerned his Honour for that word it pleased the King to vse vnto him or appertayned to his profit he should euer find his Highnes a very good and gracious Lord. After he had thus resigned the Office and Dignity of the Chancellorship and placed all his Gentlemen Yomen with Bishops and Noble men and his eight Watermen with the Lord Audley who succeded him in his Office to whome also he gaue his great Barge he then called al his children vnto him asked their aduises how he might now in the decay of his ability which by the surrender of his Office was so impayred that he could not as he was wont maintayne them to liue al togeather according to his desyre wherat when he saw them all silent vnwilling in that case to shew their opinions vnto him Why then will I quoth he shew vnto you my poore mynd I haue beene brought vp said he at Oxford at an Iune of Châ—…ncery at Lincolnes Inne and also in the Kings Courtes and so forth from the lowest degree to the highest and yet I haue in yearly Reuenewes left me at this present little aboue a hundred poundes by the yeare So that now we must hereafter if we will liue together be content to become Contributours to ech other but by my counsell it shall not be best for vs to fall to the lowest fare first We will not therefore descend to Oxford fare nor the fare of New â—…nne but we will begin with Lincolnes Inne dyet where many right Worshipfull of good yeares do liue full well which if we find not our selues the first yeare able to mayntayne then will we the next yeare go one steppe downe to New-Inne fare wherewith many an honest man is well contented Then if that exceed our abilityes will we the next yeare after descend to Oxford fare where many graue learned ancient Doctours be continually resident which if our powers be not able to mayntayne neyther then may we yet with bagges and wallets go a begging togeather hoping that for pitty some good people will giue vs their Charity at their doore to sing Salue Regina and so still may we keepe company togeather and be as merry as Beggars And whereas you haue heard before that he was by the King taken from a very good liuing and aduanced to his Maiesties seruice wherein he spent with paynfull cares and trauels aswell beyond the Seas as within the Kingdome in a manner the whole substance of his life yet with all the gayne that he got thereby being neuer wastfull spender he was scarce able after the Resignation of his office of Chancellorship for the maintaynance of himselfe and such 〈◊〉 necessarily belonged vnto â—…im sufficiently to find meatâ—…â—…rinke apparell and other such â—…ecessaryes all the land which 〈◊〉 euer purchased which he â—…id also before he was Lord Chancellour not amounting 〈◊〉 aboue the value of Twenty â—…arkes a yeare And after his â—…ebts payd he had not his Chayne only excepted in gold â—…nd siluer left him the worth of 〈◊〉 hundred pounds In the tyme of his Chancelâ—…rship vpon the Sundayes and â—…oly daies when Masse or EueÌ„â—…nge were ended one of his Gentlemen did vsually go to his â—…dyes Pew in the