and mortall enmitie betweene the French king and Charles the Fift For the better compassing whereof the Cardinal requested Longland Bishopp of London who was the king's ghostlie father to putt a scruple into king Henrie's head that he should as it were another S. Iohn Baptist though the case were nothing like tell his Maiestie that it was not lawfull for him like another Herode to marrie his brothers wife And although K. Henrie's conscience had bene quiett now aboue twentie yeares togeather yet was he not vnwilling to hearken herevnto but entertayning it opened his scruple to Sir THOMAS MORE whose counsell he required herein shewing him certaine places of Scripture that somewhat seemed to serue the turne and his appetite VVhich when Sir THOMAS had seriously perused and had excused himself saying he was vnfitt to meddle with such matters being one that neuer had professed the studie of Diuinitie The king not satisfyed with this answer knowing well his iudgement to be sound in whatsoeuer he would apply himselfe vnto pressed him so sore that in conclusion he condescended to his Maiesties request being as it were a commaunde and for that the cause was of such weight and importance hauing neede of greate deliberation he besought his Maiestie to giue him sufficient respite aduisedly to consider of it with which the king very well satisfyed sayd that Tunstall and Clarke two worthie Bishops one of Durham the other of Bathe with others the learnedest of his priuie Councell should also be his Coadiutours Sir THOMAS taking his leaue of the king went and conferred with them about those places of Scripture adding thereto for their better meanes to search out the truth the expositions of the ancient Fathers and Doctours of the Church and at his next coming to the Courte talking with the king about this matter he spake thus To deale sincerely with your Maiestie neither my Lo of Durham nor my Lo of Bathe though I knowe them both wise vertuous learned and honourable prelates nor my self with the rest of your Councell being all your Grace's owne seruants and subiects for your manifolde benefitts daily bestowed vpon vs so much bound vnto your Highnesse none of vs I say nor we all togeather are in my iudgement meete counsellers for your Maiestie herein but if your princelie disposition purpose to vnderstande the verie truth hereof you may haue such counsellers as neither for respect of their owne worldlie commoditie nor feare of your princelie authoritie will beenclined to deceaue you and then he named S. Hierome S. Austine and diuerse others both Greeke and Latine Fathers shewing him moreouer what authorities he had gathered out of them that he neede not haue anie further scruple thereof and that marrying of a new wife whilst his owne was aliue was wholy repugnāt to their doctrine and the meaning of the Scriptures All which though king Henrie did not very well like of because it was disgustfull to his passionate lust yet the manner of Sir THOMAS his discourse and collection was so wisely tempered by his discreete communication that he tooke them at that present in good parte and often had conference of them againe By which manner of Sir THOMAS his counsell and sincere carriage one may easily gather what vnspotted conscience this vpright man had who for no hope of gaine or anie feare of disgrace would once swarue from the true dictamen of his Conscience and if the rest of king Henrie's counsell had bene as backward to hinder this beginning of dissolution as Sir THOMAS was no alteration of religion had by all likelyhood happened in England for from this onlie spring of K. Henrie's intemperance proceeded all the succeeding calamities which haue daily increased yet haue not anie hope of amendement All which change Sir THOMAS MORE either like a very wise man foresawe long before or rather like a prophete prophecied thereof to my vncle Rooper who on a time of a certaine ioy beganne to commende to his father-in lawe the happie estate of this realme that had so Catholike and zealous a prince that no heretike durst shew his face so learned and vertuous a Clearg e so graue and sounde a Nobilitie such louing and obedient subiects all agreing togeather in one faith and dutiefulnesse as though they had cor vnum animam vnam but one hart and one soule Sir THOMAS thus replyed againe Truth it is indeede sonne Rooper as you say and going through all estates with his commēdations of them he went farre beyond my vncle and yet sonne quoth he I pray God that some of vs as high as wee seeme to sitt now vpon the mountaines treading heretikes vnder our feete like auntes doe not liue the day that we gladly would wish to be in league with them to suffer them to haue their churches quietly to themselues so that they would he content to lett vs haue ours peaceably to our selues VVhen mine vncle Rooper had tolde him manie reasons why he had no cause to say so well sayd he I pray God some of vs liue not till that day and yet shewed he noe reason for all these his speaches whereat my vncle sayd in a choller By my troath Sir it is very desperately spoken I cry God mercie saith my vncle I vsed vnto him that very word By which speach Sir THOMAS perceauing him to be some what angrie sayd merrily well sonne Rooper it shall not be so it shall not be so But yet himself founde the predictiō too true for he liued vntil the fiueteenth yeare of Q. Elizabeth's raigne when he saw religion turned topsie turuie and no hope of anie amendement This spiritt of prophecie no doubt was a signe of Gods loue vnto Sir THOMAS being so deare in his sight that he would make him partaker of some parte of his secretts but that which he wrought in the conuersion of this his sonne in lawe was not a signe only but an euident demonstratiō of God's great fauour vnto him For when M. r VVilliam Rooper was a yong man he vsed austeritie to himselfe more then discretion afforded and by this meanes he grew wearie of the Catholike fasts and religious discipline and hearing of a new and easie way to heauen which the preachers of nouelties did promise to their followers he beganne to reade diligently the bookes of heresies which came ouer and were spread in euerie place of England in so much that being wearie of Auricular Confession fasting the lent and vigiles he grew vehement in his new opinions and zealous in breaking of them to others so as that he would be alwaies talking what a readie way to heauen was now found out no bodie needing to sue to Saints or mens prayers but Gods eare was open still to heare and his mercie readie to forgiue anie sinner whatsoeuer when he shall call to him by fayth which was only necessarie to saluation and hauing that only which he assured himself of he needed not
your loue because I see you rather haue testifyed vvhat your loue tovvards me did suggest then the authoritie of a Censor Hovvsoeuer the matter is I cannot expresse hovv much I ioye that you haue cast your vvhole account in liking my doings For I almost persvvade myself all those things to be true vvhich you speake thereof knovving you to be most farre from all dissembling and my self more meane then that you should neede to flatter me and more deare to you then that I should expecte a mocke frō you Wherefore vvhether that you haue sene the truth vnfainedly I reioyce hartily in your Iudgement or vvhether your 〈◊〉 to me hath blinded your iudgement I am for all that no lesse delighted in your loue and truly vehement and extraordinarie great must that loue be vvhich could bereaue 〈◊〉 of his iudgement And in another letter he sayth You deale very courteously vvith me in that you giue me in your letter such hartie thankes because I haue bene carefull to defende the causes of your friendes amplifying the small good turne I haue done you therein by your great bountie but you deate somevvhat too fearefully in regarde of the loue vvhich is betvveene vs if you imagine that you are indebted vnto me for anie thing I haue donne and do not rather challenge it of right to be due vnto you c. The Amber vvhich you sent me being a precious sepulcher of flyes vvas for manie respects most vvellcome vnto me for the matter thereof may be compared in coulour and brightnesse to anie precious stone and the for me is more excellent because it representeth the figure of a a hart as it vvere the hieroglificke of our loue vvhich I interprete your meaning is that betvveene vs it vvill neuer fly avvay and yet be alvvaies vvithout corruption because I see the fly vvhich hathvvings like Cupide the sonne of Venus and is as fickle as he so shutt vp here and inclosed in this glevvie matter of Amber as it cannot flye avvay and so embalmed and preserued therevvith as it cannot perish I am not so much as once troubled that I cannot sende you the like guift againe for I knovve you do not expect anie enterchange of tokens and besides I am vvilling still to be in your debt yet this troubleth me somevvhat that my estate and condition is so meane that I am neuer able to shevv myself vvorthie of all and singuler your friendshipp VVherefore though I cannot giue testimonie myselfe herein before other men yet must be satisfyed vvith mine owne inward testimonie of minde and your gentle acceptance He dedicated one of his bookes vnto him saying in this wise When I considered to vvich of all my friends I should dedicate these my Collections out of manie Authors I thought you most fitt for the same in respect of the familiar conuersation vvhich of long time hath bene betvveene vs as also in respect of the sinceritie of your minde because you vvould be alvvaies readie to take thankefully vvhatsoeuer in this vvorke should seeme gratefull vnto you and whatsoeuer should be barren therein you vvould make a courteous construction thereof vvhatsoeuer might be vnpleasing you vvould be vvilling to pardon I vvould to God I had as much vvitt and learning as I am not altogeather destitute of memorie As for Bishopp Tunstall he was a learned man and wrote a singuler booke of the reall presēce And although during king Henrie's raigne he went with the sway of the time for who almost did otherwise to the great griefe of Sir THOMAS MORE yet liuing to the time of Q. Elizabeth whose Godfather he was when she berayed the fonte in his olde age seing her take strange courses against the Church he came from Durham and stoutely admonished her not to change religiō which if she presumed to doe he threatned her to leese Gods blessing and his She nothing pleased with his threates made him be cast into prison as most of the Bishops were where he made a glorious ende of a Confessour and satisfyed for his former crime of Schisme contracted in the time of king Henrie's raigne Sir THOMAS MORE' 's friendshipp with the glorious Bishop of Rochester was neither short nor small but had long continued and ended not with their famous martyrdomes See how good Bishop Fisher writeth vnto him Lett I pray you our Cambridge men haue some hope in you to be fauoured by the king's Maiestie that our schollars may be stirred up to learning by the countenance of so vvorthie a prince VVe haue fevv friends in the Court vvich can or vvill commende our causes to his royall Maiestie and amongst all vve accounte you the chiefe vvho haue alvvaies fauoured vs greatly euen vvhen you vvere in a meaner place and novv also shevv vvhat you can doe being raised to the honour of knighthood and in such great fauour vvith our prince of vvhich vve greately reioyce and also doe congratulate your happinesse Giue furtherance to this youth vvho is both a good schollar in Diuinitie and also a sufficient preacher to the people For he hath hope in your fauour that you can procure him greate furtherance and that my commendations vvill helpe him to your fauour To this Sir THOMAS MORE answereth thus This Priest Reuerend Father vvhome you vvrite to be in possibilitie of a Bishopricke if he might haue some vvorthie suiter to speake for him to the king I imagine that I haue so preuayled that his Maiestie vvill be no hindrance thereto c. Yf I haue anie fauour vvith the king vvhich truly is but litle but vvhatsoeuer I haue I vvill employ all I can to the seruice of your Fatherhood and your schollars to vvhome I yeelde perpetuall thankes for their deare affections tovvards me often testifyed by their louing letters and my house shall be open to them as though it vvere their ovvne Farevvell vvorthie and most courteous prelate and see you loue me as you haue donne His loue and friendshipp with yong Poole afterwards a famous Cardinal may be seene by their letters he maketh mention of him with great praise in a letter he wrote to his welbeloued daughter Margaret Rooper in this wise I cannot expresse in vvriting nor scarcely can conceyue it by thought hovv gratefull to me your most eloquent letters deare daughter Margarett are Whilst I vvas reading them there happened to be vvith me Reinald Poole that most noble youth not so noble by birth as he is singularly learned and excellently endevved vvith all kinde of vertue to him your letter seemed as a miracle yea before he vnderstoode hovv neare you were besett with the shortenesse of time and the molestation of your vveake infirmitie hauing notvvithstanding sent me so long a letter I could scarce make him belieue but that you had some helpe from your Maister vntill I tolde him seriously that you had not only neuer a maister in your house but also neuer another man that needed not your helpe rather in
vvriting anie thing then you needed his And in another to Doctour Clement a most famous phisitian and one that was brought vp in Sir THOMAS his owne house he sayth thus I thanke you my deare Clement for that I finde you so carefull of my health and my childrens so that you prescribe in your absence vvhat meates are to be auoided by vs. And you my friend Poole I render double thankes both because you haue vouchsafed to sende vs in vvriting the counsell of so great a phisitian and besides haue procured the same for vs from your mother a most excellent and noble matrone and vvorthie of so great a sonne so as you do not seeme to be more liberall of your counsell then in beslovving vpon vs the thing it selfe vvhich you counsell vs vnto VVherefore I loue and praise you both for your bountie and fidelitie And of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's friendship Cardinal Poole boasteth much after his martyrdome in his excellent booke De vnitate Ecclesiae saying yf you thinke that I haue giuen scope to my sorrowe because they were my best beloued friends that were putt to death meaning Sir THOMAS MORE and Bishop Fisher I do both acknowledge and professe it to be true most willingly that they both were deare vnto me aboue all others For how can I dissemble this seing that I doe reioyce more of their loue towards me then if I should boaste that I had gotten the dearest familiaritie withall the princes of Christendome His frienshipp also with Doctour Lea afterwards the worthie Archbishopp of Yorke was not small nor fayned although he had written an excellent booke against Erasmus his Annotations vpon the new Testament Erasmus being then Sir THOMAS his intire friend and as it were the one halfe of his owne hart For Sir THOMAS writeth thus vnto him Good Lea that you request of me not to suffer my loue to be diminished tovvards you trust me good Lea it shall not though of myselfe I incline rather to that parte that is oppugned And as I could vvish that this Cittie vvere freed from your siege so vvill I alvvaies loue you and be glad that you do so much esteeme of my loue He speaketh also of Lupset a singular learned man of that time in an epistle to Erasmus Our friend Lupsett readeth with great applause in both toungs at Oxford hauing a great auditorie for he succeedeth my Iohn Clement in that charge What familiaritie there was betwixt him and Doctour Collett Grocine Linacre and Lillie all singuler men we haue spoken of heretofore VVilliam Montioy a man of great learning and VVilliam Lattimer not Hugh the heretike that was burnt but another most famous for vertue and good letters were his verie great acquaintance as also Iohn Croke that read Greeke first at Lipsia in Germanie and was after King Henrie's Greeke maister to whome he writeth thus VVhatsoeuer he vvas my Crocus that hath signifyed vnto you that my loue is lessened because you haue omitted to vvrite vnto me this great vvhile either he is deceaued or else he seeketh cunningly to deceaue you and alshough I take great comfort in reading your letters yet am I not so proude that I should chalenge so much interest in you as though you ought of dutie to salute me euerie day in that manner nor so vvayvvard nor full of complaints to be offended vvith you for neglecting a little this your custome of vvriting For I vvere vniust if I should exact from other men letters vvhereas I knovve myselfe to be a great sluggard in that kinde Wherefore be secure as concerning this for neuer hath my loue vvaxed so colde tovvards you that it neede still to be kindled and heated vvith the continuall blovving of missiue epistles yet shall you do me a great pleasure if you vvrite vnto me as often as you haue leasure but I vvill neuer persvvade you to spende that time in saluting your friends vvhich you haue allotted for your ovvne studie or the profiting of your schollars As touching the other parte of your excuse I vtterly refuse it fo there is no cause vvhy you should feare my nose as the trunke of an elephant seing that your letters may vvithout feare approche in the sight of anie man neither am I so long snovvted that I vvould haue anie man feare my censuring As for the place vvhich you requirre that I should procure you both M. r Pace and I vvho loue you dearely haue putt the king in minde thereof 4. But now as concerning the familiaritie he had with the most famous men of other nations it may be likewise seene by his letters to them as to that famous Iohn Cochlee who was Luther's scourge he writeth thus It cannot be expressed most vvorthie Sir how much I holde myself indebted vnto you for certifying me so often of those occurrences vvhich happen in your Countrie For Germanie novv daily bringeth forth more monsters yea prodigious things then Africk vvas vvont to doe For vvhat can be more monstrous then the Anabaptists yet hovv haue those kinde of plagues risen forth and spread for manie yeares togeather I for my parte seing these sects daily to grovve vvorse and vvorse do expect shortly to heare that there vvill arise some vvho will not sticke to preache that Christ himselfe is to be denyed neither can there arise so absurde a knaue but he shall haue fauourers the madnesse of the people is so greate In which letter he foretelleth of Dauid George the Hollander who called himself Christ and had diuerse followers at Basile So was there in England the like desperate fellowe called Hackett whose disciples were Arden and Coppinger At another time he writeth thus vnto the same man I vvould haue you persvvade yourself deare Cochlie that I haue not receaued anie letter from anie of my friends these manie yeares more gratefull then your last vvere to me and that for tvvo causes especially the first for that I perceaue in them your singular loue vnto me vvhich though I haue sufficiently found heretofore yet do these shevv it most plentifully and I account it as a great happinesse for to left passe your benefitts donne me vvho vvould not highly esteeme the friendshipp and fauour of such a friend Secondly because in these letters you certifye me of the nevves of manie actions of Princes c. Afterwards he had also intire familiaritie with Budaeus which was often renewed by letters and once by personall meeting in France when the kings of England and France had a parlie togeather For Budaeus was in great fauour with his king Francis yea one of his priuie Councell as Sir THOMAS was to king Henrie all which may be perceaued by his letter to Budeus in this manner I knovve not my good Budie vvhether it vvere good for vs to possesse anie thing that vvere deare vnto vs except vve might still keepe it For I haue imagined that I should be a happie man if I
doubt but that he was an elect and saued soule so that it was impossible for him to sinne or fall out of God's fauour Of this dangerous poison of securitie he hauing druncke a full draught he came on a time to Sir THOMAS to request him because he was highly in the king's fauour that he would gett him a licence to pieache what the spiritt had taught him for he was assured that God had sent him to instruct the world not knowing god wote anie reason of this his mission but only his priuate spirit to whome Sir THOMAS in a smiling manner replyed Is it not sufficient sonne Rooper that we that are your friēds should knowe that you are a foole but that you would haue your follie proclamed to the world After this he often disputed with him about matters of religion yet neuer could he bring him to hearken to anie reason euerie day seeming more obstinate then other vntill at length he sayd in sober sadnesse I see sonne noe disputation will doe thee good henceforth therefore I will dispute with thee no more only will I pray for thee that God will be so fauourable as to touch thy hart and so committing him to God they parted And he earnestly powred out his deuotions before the Diuine mercie for that intent And beholde my vncle not long after being inspired with the light of grace beganne to detest his heresies and as another S. Austin was wholy conuerted so that euer after he was not only a perfect Catholike but liued and dyed a stoute and valiant Champion thereof whose almes in charitable vses was so great that it is sayd that he bestowed euerie yeare to the value of fiue hūdred pounds especially in his latter daies in which he enioyed an office of great gayne and commoditie and after his death I haue heard it reported by thē that were seruants in his house that whilst his bodie lay vnburied for three or foure daies there was heard once a day for the space of a quarter of an hower the sweetest musike that could be imagined not of anie voices of men but angelicall harmonie as a token how gratious that soule was to Almightie God and to the quires of Angells Now this was a more speciall fauour which God grāted to Sir THOMAS his deuout prayers then the raysing of a dead man to life by how much more the death of the soule is of more danger then the death of the bodie yet it is certaine also that this glorious man begged also corporall life for some of his deare friends On a time his daughter Margaret wife to this William Rooper fell sicke of the sweating sickenesse of which maniedyed at that time who lying in so great extremitie of the disease that by no inuentions nor deuises that anie cunning phisiciā could vse at that time hauing cōtinually about her most learned wise and expert that could begotten she could by no meanes be kept from sleepe so that euerie one about her had iust cause to despaire of her recouerie giuing her vtterly ouer her father as he that most loued her being in noe small heauinesse at last sought for remedie of this her desperate case from God wherefore going as his custome was into his new building there in his Chappell vpon his knees most deuoutly euen with manie teares besought Almightie God vnto whome nothing was impossible of his goodnesse if it were his blessed will that at his meditation he would vouchsafe gratiously to graunt this his humble petition where presently came into his minde that a glister was the onlie way to helpe her which whē he tolde the phisicians they confessed that it was the best remedie indeede much marueling of thēselues they had not remembred if which was immediately ministred vnto her sleeping for else she would neuer haue bene brought to that kinde of medicine And although whē she awaked throughly Gods markes an euident and vndoubted token of death plainely appeared vpon her yet she contrarie to all expectation was as it were miraculously and by her fathers feruēt prayer restored to perfect health againe whome if it had pleased God at that time to haue taken to his mercie her father solemnely protested that he would neuer haue medled with anie worldlie matters after such was his fatherlie loue and vehement affection vnto this his Iewell who most neerely of all the rest of his Children expressed her fathers vertues although the meanest of all the rest might haue bene matched with anie other of their age in England either for learning excellent qualities or pietie they hauing bene brought vp euen frō their infancie with such care and industrie and enioying alwaies most vertuous and learned maisters So that the schoole of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's children was famous ouer the whole world for that their witts were rare their diligence extraordinarie and their maisters most excellent men as aboue the rest Doctour Clement an excellent Grecian and phisician who was after reader of the phisicke-lecture in Oxford and sett out manie bookes of learning After him one William Gūnell who read after with greate praise in Cambridge and besides these one Drue one Nicolas and after all one Richard Hart of whose rare learning and industrie in this behalfe lett vs see what may be gathered out of Sir THOMAS his letters vnto them and first to M. r Gunnell thus I haue receaued my deare Gunnell your letters such as they are vvont to be most elegant full of affection Your loue towards my children I gather by your letter their diligence by their owne for euerie one of their letters pleaseth me very much yet most especially I take ioy to heare that my daughter Elizabeth hath shevved as greate modestie in her mother's absence as anie one could doe if she had bene in presence lett her knovve that that thing liked me better then all the epistles besides for as I esteeme learning vvhich is ioyned vvith vertue more then all the threasures of kings so vvhat doth the fame of being a great schollar bring vs if it be seuered from vertue other then a notorious and famous infamie especially in a vvoman vvhome men vvill be readie the more vvillingly to assayle for their learning because it is a rare matter and argueth a reproche to the sluggishnesse of a man vvho vvill not stick to lay the fault of their naturall malice vpon the qualitie of learning supposing all their ovvne vnskillfullnesse by comparing it vvith the vices of those that are learned shal be accounted for vertue but if anie vvoman on the contrarie parte as I hope and vvishe by your instruction and teaching all mine vvill doe shall ioyne manie vertues of the minde vvith a little skill of learning I shall accounte this more happinesse then if they vvere able to attaine to Craesus's vvealth ioyned vvith the beautie of fayre Helene not because they vvere to gett great fame thereby although that inseparably follovveth all vertue as
D. O. M. S. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SIR THOMAS MOORE Lord high Chancellour of England WRITTEN BY M. T. M. and dedicated to the Queens most gracious Maiestie TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCESSE OVR MOST GRATIOVS QVEENE AND SOVERAIGNE MARIE HENRIETTE QVEENE OF GREAT BRITAINE FRANCE AND IRLAND LADIE OF THE ILES OF THE British Ocean MOST GRATIOVS AND SOVERAIGNE LADIE The authour of this Treatise eldest sonne by descent heire by nature of the family of that vvorthy Martyr vvhose life is described in it had he liued himselfe to haue set it forth to the vievv of Christian eies vvould not haue thought vpon any other patron and protectour to dedicate it vnto then your most excellēt Maiestie For he vvas most constantly affected alvvayes to the French Nation and crovvne next after the dutifull obedience vvhich he ought to his ovvne natural Lord and soueraigne And this his affection did he manifest in all occasions but especiallie in the treatie of the happie mariage of your highnes vvith the King our soueraigne Lord and maister Assembling at his ovvne costes and charges vvith vnvvearied industrie all the English persons of note and esteeme that then vvere in and about Rome vvith thē all as the mouth of thē all supplicating to his Holines for the dispatch of this most hope-full and happie contract yeelding such reasons for the effecting thereof as highlie pleased the chiefe Pastour of the Church vnder Christ our Sauiour The same affection did he testifie sufficiently in the last period of his life leauing his bodie to be buried in the French church at Rome vvhere vvith great contēr of the French Nobilitie it lieth interred This being the affection of the author of this treatise I should much vvronge his memorie if these labours of his should be offred to the patronage of anie other then of your roiall Maiestie The glorious Martyr himselfe demāds likevvise that his life should be read vnder your Maiesties protection since he lost his life in this vvorld to gaine it in the next in defence of an innocent stranger Queene for reasons not to be mētioned by vs debarred from her lavvfull bed Although God be praised and magnified therefore the heauens haue rained such graces vpon your Maiestie that there neuer can happen any such causes of defence your glorious Husband and Lord our soueraigne King so dearlie affecting you and the hope-full yssue the chiefest bond of matrimonial loue so povverfully knitting your hearts together and your gratious Maiesties goodnes virtues and debonnaire discretion so recommending you to him first and then to all his true loyall subiects of this great vnited Monarchie That vve may vndoubtedlie expect from almightie God a long and prosperous enioyāce of your jointgouerment and a glorious race of happie successours to this crovvne frō your royall loines vvhich happines and heauen after long prosperitie on earth vpon my knees I vvish vnto your royall grace remaining for euer Your Maiesties loyall and obedient subiect seruant M. C. M. E. The Preface to the Reader 1. AS I cannot but daily thinke of the rare and admirable vertues both of nature and grace which did shine most perspicuot in the blessed life and glorious death of that worthie Champion of Christs Church Sr. THOMAS MORE so also haue I often had an earnest desire especially for the spirituall behoofe of my selfe and my Children who are as small brookes deriued by naturall propagation frō that spacious sea of rare perfections or like tender twigs drawing sappe from the fruitfull roote of his noble excellēcies to giue them a taste according to my poore abilitie of some few of his most heroical vertues professing my self vtterly vnable to sett downe his life in writing as he deserueth 2. For if that Apelles the principall paynter that euer liued was thought only fitt to drawe with his pencell the pourtraicture of Alexander the Great or if Lysippus the most curious engrauer was the onlie man which was suffered to carue in brasse the beauteous feature of the same so worthie a personage for feare least that some vnskillfull workeman might rather blemish his fauour then anie waies grace it what courage can I haue to vndertake a worke of so great difficultie as this who know my selfe a verie puney in comparison of so manie famous men that haue vndergone this businesse alreadie finding in the verie beginning of this mine enterprise my small capacitie ouerwhelmed with the plentie and copiousnesse of this subiect and vf I should boaste my witt and skill to be equall with learned Stapleton's who at large and with great diligence and dexteritie hath sett forth the life of this great seruant of God in his booke intituled The three Thomases I should vanish away in mine owne pride knowing my self right well most vnworthie to be compared vnto him or if I should challenge vnto my selfe more certaintie of the matter related then my great vncle Mr. William Rooper could haue euerie one might iudge me both vaine and arrogant of whose sin ceritie none that euer knewe him or heard of him can doubte I being the third in descent from S. THOMAS and he his owne sonne-in law with whome he had familiarly conuersedy space of sixteene yeares togeather as he himself confesseth yet for all this I haue now at last ventured to discourse a little of the life and death of this glorious Martyr for so without enuie I hope I may call him non vt electus ex 〈◊〉 sed quasi relictus ex omnibus not as one that may be thought fitt to sett his life forth with good grace but as he who only vpon a naturall affection to his Ancestour trusting 〈◊〉 of Gods ayde and this Saint's holie praiers is emboldened to say somewhat thereof this being one propertie of affection to suppose that whosoeuer hath spoken or whatsoeuer hath benesayd of him whome we loue all that we thinke nothing if we ourselues haue not sayd somewhat in his praise although alas we are often the vnfittest men for that purpose we being not able to vtter what we conceaue because our passion taketh away much of our conceipt and therefore we vtter for the most parte either broken words or vnperfect sentences more intelligible to him that searcheth the secretts of mens harts then to others that heare them spoken or reade them in our writings 3. But one may aske me why I should challenge more affection to this man then anie other of my kinne of whome few or none haue endeauoured to write any thing hitherto I answer that though I haue had more cause perhaps then anie man else to loue him and honour him which is best knowen to my selfe and not fitt to be related vnto all men secretum meum mihi yet will I not ascribe to my selfe so great a priuiledge of louing him best I being the yongest and meanest of all my familie lett this suffice him that is a curious searcher of this my deede that
a most learned man of all others But as often as I reade your vvritings I am enamoured therevvith as yf I vvere conuersing vvith you in presence Wherefore nothing troubleth me more then that your letters are no longer yet haue I found a meanes to remedie that because I reade them ouer againe and againe I do it leasurely that my suddaine reaaing them may not bereaue me of my pleasure But so much for this That vvhich you vvrite concerning our friend Viues vvho hath made a discourse of vvicked vvomen I agree so well vvith your opinion that I thinke one cannot liue vvithout inconueniencies vvith the verie best vvoman For if anie man be married he shall not be vvithout care and in my conceipt Metellus Numidicus spoke truly of vviues vvhich I vvould speake the rather if manie of them through our ovvne faultes vvere not made the vvorse But Viues hath gotten so good a vvife that he may not shunne only as much as possible any man all the troubles of marriage but also thereby he may receaue great contentment yet novv mens mindes are so busied vvith publike garboiles vvhilst the furie of vvarres doth so rage euerie vvhere that no man is at leasure to thinke of his priuate cares vvhere fore if anie housholde troubles haue heretofore oppressed anie they are novv all obscured by reason of common mischiefes But this suffiseth for this matter for that I returne to your self vvhose courtesies and friendshipp tovvards me as often as I thinke of vvhich is verie often it shaketh from me all sorrovv I thanke you for the booke you sent me and I vvish much ioy vvith your nevv childe not for your ovvne sake only but for the Common vvealthes vvose great benefitt it is that such a parent should encrease it vvith plentie of children For from you none but excellent children can be borne Farevvell and commende me carefully and hartily to your vvife to vvhome I pray God sende happie health and strength My vvife and children also vvish you health to vvhome by my reporte you are as vvell knovven and as deare as to myself Againe farevvell London 10. Aug. 1524 Another letter he wrote vnto him in this sorte I am ashamed so God help me my deare Cranuilde of this your great courtesie tovvards me that you do salute me vvith your letters so often so louingly and so carefully vvhenas I so seldome do salute you againe especially seing you may pretende yea alleage as manie troubles of businesses as I can but such is the sinceritie of your affection and such the constancie thereof as although you are readie to excuse all things in 〈◊〉 friends yet you yourselfe are alvvaies readie to perfourme euery thing and to goe forvvard vvithout omitting that vvhich might be pardoned in you But persvvade yourself good Cranuild that if there happen anie thing at anie time wherein I may really shew vnto you my loue there God vvilling I vvill neuer be vvanting Commende me to my Mistrisse your vvife for I dare not novv inuerte the order begunne and to your vvhole familie vvhome mine doth vvith all their harts salute From my house in the Countrie this 10.th of Iune 1528. Conradus Goclenius a Westphalian was commended by Erasmus vnto Sir THOMAS MORE thus I praise your disposition my dearest MORE exceedingly for that your content is to be rich in faithfull and sincere friends and that you esteeme the greatest felicitie of this life to be placed therein Some take great care that they may not be cosened vvith counterfaite ievvells but you cōtemning all such trifles seeme to yourself to be rich enough if you can but gett an vnfayned friend For there is no man taketh delight either in Cardes dice Chesse hunting or musike so much as you doe in discoursing vvith a learned and pleasant conceyted Companion And although you are stored vvith this kinde of riches yet because that I knovve that a couetous man hath neuer enough and that this manner of my dealing hath luckily happened both to you and me diuerse times heretofore I deliuer to your custodie one friend more vvhome I vvould haue you accept vvith your vvhole hart His name is Conradus Goclenius a Westphalian vvho hath vvith great applause and no lesse fruit lately taught Rhetorick in the College nevvly erected at Louaine called Trilingue Novv I hope that as soone as you shall haue true experience of him I shall haue thankes of you both for so I had of Cranuilde vvho so vvholy possesseth your loue that I almost enuie him for it But of all strangers Erasmus challenged vnto himself his loue most especially which had long continued by mutuall letters expressing great affection and increased so much that he tooke a iournie of purpose into England to see and enjoy his personall acquaintance and more intire familiaritie at which time it is reported how that he who conducted him in his passage procured that Sir THOMAS MORE and he should first meete togeather in London at the Lo Mayor's table neither of them knowing each other And in the dinner time they chanced to fall into argument Erasmus still endeauouring to defende the worserparte but he was so sharpely sett vpon and opposed by Sir THOMAS MORE that perceauing that he was now to argue with a readier witt then euer he had before mett withall he broke forth into these wordes not without some choler Auttues Morus aut nullus whereto Sir THOMAS readily replyed Aut tues Erasmus aut diabolus because at that time he was strangely disguised and had sought to defende impious propositions for although he was a singular Humanist and one that could vtter his minde in a most eloquent phrase yet had he alwaies a delight to scoffe at religious matters and finde fault with all sortes of Clergie men He tooke a felicitie to sett out sundrie Commentaries vpon the Fathers workes censuring them at his pleasure for which cause he is tearmed Errans mus because he wandreth here and there in other mens haruests yea in his writings he is sayd to haue hatched manie of those eggs of heresie which the apostata Fryer Luther had before layde not that he is to be accounted an heretike for he would neuer be obstinate in anie of his opinions yet would he irreligiously glaunce at all antiquitie and finde manie faultes with the present state of the Church Whilst he was in England Sir THOMAS MORE vsed him most courteously doing manie offices of a deare friend for him as well by his word as his purse whereby he bound Erasmus so straytely vnto him that he euer after spoke and wrote vpon all occasions most highly in his praise but Sir THOMAS in successe of time grew lesse affectionate vnto him by reason he saw him still fraught with much vanitie and vnconstancie in respect of religion as when Tindall obiecteth vnto Sir THOMAS that his Darling Erasmus had translated the word Church into Congregation and Priest into Elder euen as himself
builde them vp againe at his owne charge He telleth that heretikes vse to frame Catholikes arguments very weake and friuolous that they may the more easily confute them euen as little children make houses of tyleshardes which they cast downe with great sporte againe presently Of their contumelious speaches against himself he sayth I am not so voyde of reason that I can expect reasonable matter from such vnreasonable men When they sayd his writings were nothing but ieasting toyes he sayth I scarce belieue that these good brethren can finde anie pleasant thing in my bookes for I write nothing in them that may be pleasing vnto them When the heretike Constantine had broken prison in his house he bad his man goe locke the doore fast and see the place mended sure least he should come back againe and when the heretikes reported that he was sone for this that he could not for anger eate in three daies he answered that he was not so harsh of disposition to finde fault with anie man for rising and walking when he sate not at his ease All his English workes were sett out togeather in a great volume whilst Q. Marie raigned by Iudge Rastall Sir THOMAS his sister's sonne by which workes one may see that he was verie skillfull in Schoole-Diuinitie and matters of Controuersie for he argueth sharpely he confirmeth the truth profoundly and citeth both Scriptures and Fathers most aptely besides he vrgeth for the aduerse parte more a great deale then anie heretike euer did that wrote before him But to see how he handleth Luther vnder the name of one Rosse would do anie man good faining that Rosse wrote his booke from Rome against the most ridiculous and scurrilous pāphlett which Luther had made against King Henrie the eighth who of good zeale had sett out with great praise a booke in defence of the Seauen Sacraments the Pope's authoritie for which Pope Leo the tenth gaue him the tile of Defender of the Faith Wherefore in defence of his Soueraigne whome Luther had most basely rayled at calling him often Thomistical asse that he would beray the king's Crowne who was not worthie to wipe his shoes with manie other scurrilous speaches Sir THOMAS painteth out the sowle mouthed fellowe in his liuelie coulours and made him so enraged that it stung him more then anie other booke that euer was sett out against him Finally in euerie one of his bookes whensoeuer he toucheth anie controuersie he doth it so exactly that one may see that he had diligently read manie great Diuines and that he was very well seene in S. Thomas the father of all Diuinitie this may be an euident signe which his Secretarie Iohn Harris a man of sound iudgement and great pietie reported of him that on a time an hereticall booke newly printed and spread abroad was brought to Sir THOMAS which when he read being in his boate going frō Chelsey to London he shewed certaine of the author's arguments with his fingar to M. r Harris saying Loe here how the knaue's argument is taken out of the obiections of S. Thomas in 2. 2. in such and such an article but the lewde fellow might haue seene the solutions which are presently added there He maintayned also in a learned Disputation with Fa Atphonsus the Franciscan Q. Catherin's ghostlie Father Scotus his opinion of Attrition and Contricion as more safely to be followed then that of Occhamus by all which it may be gathered that he had great in sight in the diuersitie of Scholasticall opinions He wrote also a booke in Latine against Pomeran the heretike and indeede laboured very much rather to reduce such men vnto the Catholike Faith then to punish them for their reuolte yet in his epitaphe he sayth of himself that he was to theeues murtherers and heretikes grieuous and Simon Grineus a Luther an boasteth in his translation of Produs dedicated to my grandfather how courteously Sir THOMAS his father vsed him whē he was in Englād THE FIFTH CHAPTER K. HENRIES FIRST scruples in his Mariage Sir THOMAS MORES care in the education of his children 1. The ambition of Cardinall Wolsey occasion of K. Henry his fall 2. K. Henry communicates his scruple about his marriage with S. T. More 3. S. T. Mores pradiction of the fall of England from religion 4. He reduceth his sonne Roper miraculously from heresy 5. He obtaineth his daughter Margarets health of God by prayer 6. S. T. Mores domestique schoole 7. His delight and contentment in the studies of his children 8. How his daughter Margaret proued excellent for her sex in learning 1. VVhile Sir THOMAS MORE was Chācellour of the Duchie the Sea of Rome chanced to be vacant and Cardinall Wolsey a man of vnsatiable ambition who had crept vp in the fauour of Charles the Fift so that the Emperour still writing vnto him called him Father and the other called him sonne hoped now by his meanes to attaine to the popedome but perceauing himself of that expectation frustrate and disappoynted because the Emperour in the time of their election had highly commended another to the whole Colledge of the Cardinalls called Adrian who was a Flemming and had bene sometime his schoole maister a man of rare learning singular vertue who therevpō allthough absent and little dreaming of it was chosen Pope and then forth with going from Spayne where he was then resident came on foote to Rome Before he entred into the Cittie putting of his hose and shoes barefoote and bare leggd he passed through the streetes towards his pallace with such humilitie deuotion that all the people not without cause had him in greate reuerence and admiracion but as I sayd Cardinall Wolsey a man of contrarie qualities waxed therewith so wroth and stomacked so the Emperour for it euer after that he studyed still how he might reuenge himselfe anie wates against him which as it was the beginning of a lamentable tragedie so the ende thereof we cannot yet see although there haue bene almost one hundred yeares sithence This VVolsey therefore not ignorant of King Henrie's vnconstant mutable disposition inclined to withdrawe his affections vpon euerie light occasion from his owne most noble vertuous and lawfull wife Q. Catherine the Emperour 's owne aunte and to fixe this amourous passions vpon other women nothing comparable vnto her either in birth wisedome vertue fauour or externall beautie this irreligious prelate meaning to make the king's lightnesse an instrument to bring about his vnconscionable intent endeauoured by all the meanes he could to allure the king to cast his fancie vpon one of the French king's sisters the king being fallen in loue alreadie he not suspecting anie such thing with the ladie Anne Bullen a woman of no nobilitie no nor so much as of anie worthie fame This French matche he thought to plott to spite the Emperour because at that time there was great warres
praise of his Dialogue His ansvver to the Supplication of beggars The Supplication of soules of Purgatory The vvefull effects of heresy Against Tindal Frith and Barnes Apology Debellation of Salem Bizance Comfort in tribulation 4. A vievv of many vvitty pithy speeches of S Th. Mores The vulgar no true judge of things Sinners distasted Why fevv do feare death No man sure of long life VVorlds vanity VVorldly lesses hurt not The fally of old misers Madnes of couetous mē Fruicts of tribulation Hovv fonde it is to loue this vvorld Against Confessours that ffatter their ghostly Childre Afflictiō more profitable then pleasure Against differring of a mēdment Visions and illusions Pusillanimity a daungerous tēptation Danger of prosperity Of riches and honours All riches of this 〈◊〉 none of our ovvne Couetousnesse Bad marchants A prediction of heresy Riche are not goods The vvorst affection Almes deeds An the vvorld a prison To suffer for God The vvorld no recōpenser Heresy impudēt Prayer Detraction Ingratitude Faith the mistresse of reason No truth among heretikes Better preuent then redresse Hereticall trāslations Auoid heresy Fasting Desire of heauen Monastl call life Faith and good vvorkes Bad life no miracle School-diuinity Heretikes Impugning of heresie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Their 〈◊〉 His hatred against he resy in good earnest 5. His profound skill in diuinyty None handled Luther more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas More 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas 〈◊〉 And other school 〈◊〉 His epistle against Pomeranus 1. Cardinal Wolley his ambition Pope Adriās humility Wolsey the author of K. H. 8. tail Longlād B. of Lōdō Wolseys instrumēt 2. K. Henry commnnicateth vvith 〈◊〉 T. More his scruple concerning his first marriage Sir Tho. Mores discreet ansvver to the kings scruple His most vpright consciēce and constant real of the truth 3. He foresavv in spirit the fall of religion in England 4. The miraculous reductiō of his senno Roper from heresy by his prayers The hot spirit of heresy The great piety and charity of his sayd 〈◊〉 M. Roper 5. Another miraculous cure vvrought by prayer vpon his daughter Marga. rot 6. Sir Tho. Mores domestiqs schoole Modesty the ornament of vvomen Learning to be desired for vse not for praise In vvhat cōsisteth deiectiō of spirit What ornamēt Sir Tho. More required in his children A vvomā may attaine to learning as vvell as a man The end to vvhich all learning must be directed He 〈◊〉 it may by all 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 from his children 7. The delight Sir T. M. bad in his childrēs learning they 〈◊〉 Astronomy He discourieth pleasan̄tly He willeth thē to write with care and premeditation His earnest care of his childrēs good employmēt The care his children had to please him in their studies Bookes dedicated by learned men to his children He payes his daughters letters with gold 8. The learning and pioty of his daughter Marga. ret The esteē that the B. of excester had of her learning Some of her writings 〈◊〉 of Ensebius Her skill in Astronomy Why humanity is best studied in our yonger yeares 1. His three wishes for the good of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace 〈◊〉 in religion End of the kings contronersie He neuer asked anything of the King Liberality to his parish Churche His merciful workes to his poor neighbours The beginning of K. 〈◊〉 Separation from the Church Scruple of his mariage with Q. Catheriu Cōmissioneirs 〈◊〉 Rome about it The dispensatiō questiōd And supplied by a new cōfirmatiō K. Henry appeals to a generall councel and fall from the Pope His iniurie to S. Thomas of Canterburies body Q. Anne Bolēs incontinēcy 3. Cardinall Wolseys disgrace downfall Sir Tho. Mores embassage for peace happy successe therin Bishop Stokelies quirk in Q. Catharins marriage His conference with Sir Thomas about it Stokesly vndermines the Cardinall For backwardnes in the kings diuorce forwardnes for a frenche matche The Cardinal discontented Arrested and depriued of all honours riches Sir 〈◊〉 More elected I. Chauncelor Only worthy of the place in Cardinal Wolseys indgement 4. The honourable ceremony with whiche he was 〈◊〉 The Duke of Norfolks oratiō on behalf of Sir Tho. More Of his worthinesse for so great a place The first lay man that euer was mad Lord Chauncellour Good reasons why that ould custom was altered Sir Tho. Moros modest and discreet reply He acknowledgeth his owne vnworthinesse The Dukes loue And the kings fauour and bounty Which he esteems beyond his deserts Al which encrease in him a full purpose to discharge will so great a charge And desireth fauorable interpretation of his endeuours A wise ponderation of his predecessour Cardinals example The danger of highe honours A warning to vse them well Commō ioy of S. Thomas his promotion 〈◊〉 The behaueour of S. Thomas in the dignity of L. Chancellour Towards his father the aunclentest iudge of the realme Towards all 〈◊〉 especially the poorer sort No accesse to bribery Means how great men may do fauours in iustice Notable integrity Euen against his owne kinred Long delayes in law the misery of poor clients remedied by Sir Thomas A pleasaūt tale of a table 6. King Hēry desire Sir Thomas to allow his diuorce Sir Thomas noble and discreet refusall Accepted for the time by the king 1. The death of Sir Iohn More Sir Thomas neuer enioyed his fathers iohericance Rare pouerty in a L. high Chancellour Yet could it not stop Q Annes malice against him 2. 〈◊〉 table 〈◊〉 in cause of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A liberal reward 〈◊〉 him nobly by the Bishops of Enggland As nobly and 〈◊〉 mously refused by him only for Gods sake The heretiks calumny against him True glorie to be hated by heretakes Perfect patience always ioined with true perfectiō 〈◊〉 Cheerfull mirth An vnmānerly reprehēsiō mannerly returnd on the reprehender A bold debtour 〈◊〉 told his owne A mery arbitrement between his Lady a beggar A pleasaunt cēsure of a witlesse writing A mery mistaking 4. His earnest deuotiō in the seruice of God He vsed to sing in his sur plice in his parishe churche To cary the crosse in procession on foote 〈◊〉 communicated before any importāt businesse 5. patience in temporall lesser An excellent resignatiō to the prousdence of God More care to 〈◊〉 his neighbours losses then his owne Godly care of his poor seruants God rewardeth true resignation euen In this world Vanity of iudgement of wordthing 6. S. Thomas resigned vp his office of I. 〈◊〉 The neerer his end the more replenished with the loue of God A notablo record that no cause was left vndecyded in the Chācery A parlement called for Q Annes marriage Sir Tho. More sues to depose his office The king graciously accepteth his desire How merely he 〈◊〉 the matter to his wife A pleasaūt ieast to diuers her from sorow 7. 〈◊〉 dispositiō of his 〈◊〉 after his resignement Of his seruants all well recommended Of his children liuing with him An in cōparable resolutiō after so great an honour to 〈◊〉 cheerfully