THE MIRROR OF VIRTUE in Worldly Greatness. OR THE LIFE OF SIR Thomas More Knight, sometime Lo. Chancellor of England.  
AT PARIS. M. DC. XX VI.    

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LADY ELIZABETH COUNTESS OF BAMBURY, etc.  
RIGHT Honourable,  
It was my good hap not long since, in a Friend's House, to light upon a brief History of the Life, Arraignment, and Death of that Mirror of all true Honour, and Virtue Sir Thomas More, who by his Wisdom, Learning, & Santity, hath eternised his Name, Country, & Profession, throughout the Christian World, with immortal Glory, and Renown.  
Finding, by perusal thereof, the same replenished with incomparable Treasures, of no less Worthy, and most Christian Facts, then of Wise, & Religious Sentences, Apothegms, & Say; I deemed it not only an error to permit so great a light to lie buried, as it were, within the walls of one private Family: but also judged it worthy the Press, even of a golden Character (if it were to be had) to the end, the whole World might receive comfort and profit by reading the same.  
Having made this Resolution, a Difficulty presented itself to my Thoughts, under whose Shadow, or Patronage I might best shelter the Work: unto which strife, Your LADYSHIP, occurring to my cogitations, put an end, with he BEAMS of your ●…VORTH, & HONOUR; so dazzling my ●…yes, as I could discern ●…one other more 〈◊〉, or Worthy to embrace, &c ●…rotect so Glorious and Memorable Examples.  
Of whose GOODNESS I am so confident, ●…at without further de●…te, ●…iudge, this Enter●…ange of Friendship ●…ay worthily be made ●…etweene the SAINT and YOU. YOU (Madam) shall Patronise his HONOUR here on Earth; and HE, shall become a Patron, and Intercessor for YOU in Heaven.  
By him, that am your Ladyship's professed Servant. T. P.   

THE PREFACE of the Author.  
FORASMUCH, as Sir Thomas More Knight, so●…tymes Lord Chancellor of England, a Man of singular Ver●…ue, and of an unspotted Conscience; & (as witnesseth Erasmus) more pure, and white than snow: of so Angelical a Wit (saith he) ●…hat England never had the like before, nor ever shall again: A Man (I say) universally well studied, not only in the Laws of our own Realm (a Study able to occupy the whole life of a man) but also in all other Sciences both Humane & Divine; was in his own days (& much more deservedly in these) esteemed worth●… of perpetual Memory: I Willia●… Roper his most unworthy Sonne-in●… law (by Marriage of his eldest Daughter) knowing no man living ●… this day, able to speak more of 〈◊〉 Life and Conversation, than myself who was continually resident in 〈◊〉 House for the space of sixteeneye●…res and more; have at the request ●… diverse worthy friends, put down writing, such things, touching 〈◊〉 same, as I can at this present well 〈◊〉 to remembrance (having through 〈◊〉 negligence, forgotten many other v●…ry notable passages thereof) to the 〈◊〉 that all should not utterly perish 〈◊〉 posterity. The which I have here performed, to my ability, in a plain an●… humble style; leaving the same as a 〈◊〉 subject to a more skilful, and exqu●…site Pen, when Time, and Occasio●… shall offer themselves, to dilate thereof   

THE LIFE OF Sir Thomas More.  
SIR Thomas More was borne in London of worshipful Parents. His Father was a Student of Lincoln's Inn, and brought him up in the Latin-tongue, at S. Antony's School in London, who was very shortly after, by his Father's procurement, received into the hou●… of that Worthy, and Learn●… Prelate, Cardinal Mor●…on; wher●… though he was but young in years, he would in the time of Christmas, suddenly step in amongst the Players, and there ex tempore, without any study of the Matter, or least stay, or stammering in his speech, make a part of his own present wit, amongst them: which was more delightful, and pleasing to the Nobles, & Gentlemen that used to be at Supper with the Cardinal, than all the premeditated parts of the Players.  
This Cardinal took more delight in his wit, and towardness, than he did of any other temporal Matter whatsoever; & would often say of him, unto diverse of his familiar friends, who used dinner & supp●…r with him: This Child here, wayting-at the table, whosoever shall live to see it, will prove a m●…ruailous Man.  
And for his better furtherance in learning, he placed him at Oxford; where when he was well instructed in the Greek & Latyn tongues, he was then, for the Common Laws of the kingdom, put to an Inn of Chancery, called New Inn; where in small time he profited so well, that he was from thence admitted into Lincoln's Inn, with very small ●…llowance; continuing there his study, until he was made Barrister.  
After this, to his high Commendations, he read for a good space, a public Lecture of S. Augustine de Civitate Dei in the Church of S. Laurence in the Old ●…ewry in London, whereunto resorted one Doctor Corsin, an excellent Scholar, and agreat Divine, and all the chief learned in, and about the City of London.  
Then was he made Reader of Furuivalls Inn, where he remained for the space of above three years; and then he gave himself wholly to devotion & prayer in the Charter-house at London, living there Religiously four years without vow; during which time he often resorted to the house of one M. Col●… (a Gentleman in Essex) who used many times to invite him thither.  
This M. Colt had three daughters, whose honest and virtuous ●…ducations were the chief Motives, that induced him to place his affection there: and albeit his mind was most inclined towards the second Sister, for that he thought her the fairest, and best favoured: yet when h●… considered, it would be both a great grief, & some shame also to the eldest, to see her younger Sister preferred in Marriage before her, he out of a kind of pity, than framed his affection towards the eldest, and shortly after married her. After this he continued his study of the Law at Lincoln's Inn until he was called to the bench, and had there read twice, which is as often, as ordinarily any judge of the Law readeth. He dwelled all this while at ●…cklers-bury in London, where he had, by his wife three daughters, & one Son, all brought up in virtue & learning, from their very infancy: for he would always exhort them, to take Virtue and Learning for their meat, and Play for their sauce.  
Before he had ever been Reader in Court, he was in the later time of King Henry the seaventh made a Burgess of the Parliament: In which, was by the King demanded three fifteen for the Marriage of his eldest daughter unto the King of Scots. At the debating whereof he alleged such arguments & reasons against the said demand, that the King's expectation was utterly overthrown  
Whereupon one M. Til●…r a Gentleman of the King's privy Chamber, being their present, with all speed carried word to the King from the Parlament-House, That a beardless boy, had disappointed his Grace's purpose. Upon which report the King conceived great displeasure against M. More, & would not rest satisfied, until upon a pretended causeless quarrel, his Father was committed to the Tower, and there kept prisoner until he had paid an hundred pounds, for a fine.  
Shortly hereupon it happened, that M. More coming about a suit to D. Fox, Bishop of Winchester, one of the King's privy Council; the Bishop called him a side, and pretending great favour towards him, promised him, That if he would be ruled by him he would not fail to restore him again into the King's favour; meaning forsooth, as he afterwards conjectured, to make him confess a fault against the King, whereby his Highness might with the better colour take occasion of displeasure against him. As he came from the Bishop, by chance he met with one M. Whitford his familiar friend, than the Bishop's Chaplain, but afterwards a Monk of Zion; and amongst other talk M. More told him what the Bishop had said unto him, desiring his opinion and advice therein. Whereupon M. Whitford prayed him, for the passion of God, in no wise to follow the Bishop's counsel: For my Lord my master (quoth he) to serve the King's turn, will not stick to ●…gree to the death of his own Father. So M. More returned no more to the Bishop: and had not ●…he King soon after died, he ●…as purposed to have left the ●…alme, and gone to some other ●…arts beyond the Seas, knowing ●…at being in the King's displea●…ure, he could not live in En●…and, without great danger.  
After this he was made one of the Under sheriff's of London, by which 〈◊〉, and his learning 〈◊〉, he hath been often ●…eard to say, that he gained, with ●…ut grief of conscience, not so 〈◊〉 as four hundred pounds' 〈◊〉 the year: For that there was 〈◊〉 matter of importance depen●…ing at that time in controversy 〈◊〉 any of the King's Courts, con●…erning the laws of the Realm, wherein he was not with one párty in counsel.  
For his wisdom and learning he was held in such honour and esteem, that before he came to the service of King Henry the Eight, at the suit and instance of our English Merchants, he was, with the King's consent, twice sent Ambassador, about certain business in controversy betwixt them and the Merchants of the Stillyard. Whose wise and discreet dealings therein, to his high Commendations, coming unto the King's ea●…e, he called immediately unto him Cardinal Wols●…y, than ●…ord Chancellor, and willed him by all means to procure, & work●… M. More into his service.  
Whereupon the Cardinal accordin●… to the King's pleasure, earnestly laboured with him, & amongst many other his persuasions, he alleged unto him, how dear his service must needs be to the King, who could not out of Honour seem to recompense him with less, than he should otherwise yearly lose thereby. Yet was he loath to change his estate, and made such means to the King, by the Cardinal, to the contrary, that his Majesty at that time, rested well satisfied.  
Shortly after, there happened a great ship of the Popes, to ar●…ue at Southampton, which was claimed by the King as a forfeiture. But the Pope's Ambassador, by suit made unto the King, obtained, that he ●…he might for his Master hau●… Council learned in the Laws of this Realm, and the matter in his own presence (being himself an excellent Civilian) to be openly hard and discussed in some public place. At which ●…tyme there was none, for our Laws, found more fit to be of Council with the 〈◊〉, then M. More, who could report unto him in Latyn, all the reasons and arguments on both sides alleged.  
Whereupon Councillors on both parties, in the presence of the Lord Chancellor, & other the judges of the Star-Chamber ●…ad audience accordingly where M. More declared unto the Ambassador the whole effect of all ●…eyr opinions, and beside, in ●…efence of his Client argued so earnedly himself, that thereby ●…ot only the Forfeiture afore●…aid was again restored unto ●…is Holiness, but also he him●…elfe amongst all the Audience, ●…or his upright and commenda●…le demeanour, was so greatly ●…enowned, that the King from ●…enceforth by no means, or in●…eaty would be moved to for●…eare his service any longer.  
Now, at his first entry into ●…he Kings service, his Majesty ●…ade him Ma●…er of Requests, ●…auing them no better place voy●…e, and within one month af●…er he was knighted, & made of 〈◊〉 privy Council. And so from ●…me to time did the King still. ●…duance him, to places of Ho●…our; and he continued still in his favour, and trusty service for more than twenty years. In which time the King used often, especially upon 〈◊〉 days (after he had done his own D●…otions) to send for him into his own Traverse, and there in matters of Astronomy Geometry, Divinity, and such like Faculties (yea and often times of his temporal astayres to sit, and confer with him. Many times also in the night the King would have him up into his leads, there to consider with him the diverse situations, courses, motions, & apparitions of the Stars, & Planets. And for that he was ever of a merry & pleasant disposition, it pleased the King and Queen very often to send for him, at time of dinne●… ●…nd supper, as also many other ●…ymes, to come & recreate with 〈◊〉.  
But when he perceived the King to take so much delight in ●…is company, & discourse, that 〈◊〉 could not scarce once in a month get leave to go home to 〈◊〉 wife and children, nor that 〈◊〉 could not be absent from court two days together, without sending for again, he disliking this restraint of his liberty, did thereupon begin, somewhat to dissemble his merry nature, retiring himself by little and little from his accustomed mirth, so that he was from thenceforth, sent for orderly by the King, at such times as was convenient.  
In this mean time died one M. W●…sto Treasurer of the Exchequer, whose office after his decease, the King of his own free gift, and offer, bestowed upon Sir Thom●…s Mor●…. And in the fourteenth year of his Majesties' reign, there was a Parliament holden at Westmynster, whereof Sir Tho. More was chosen Speaker: who being very unwilling to take that office upon him, made an oration (not now extant) to the King's Majesty, for his discharge thereof. Whereunto wh●… the King would not consent, he spoke unto his Majesty in this form, as followeth.  
Sith I perceive (most undoubted Soveraygne) that it standeth not with your high Pleasure to reform this my Election, and cause it to be changed, but ●…aue by the mouth of the most ●…euerend Father in God, your ●…ighnesse Chancellor, there●…nto given your Royal assent, ●…nd of your gracious benignity ●…etermined, far above that I am ●…le to bear, to strengthen me, ●…nd repute me fit for this office, ●…s chosen thereunto by your Cō●…ons; I am therefore now, and ●…wayes shallbe ready obediently 〈◊〉 conform myself to the ac●…omplishment of your high Cō●…aundement, in most humble ●…ise. Yet with your Grace's fa●…our, before I further enter ●…erinto, I make humble inter●…ssion unto your Highness, for ●…o lowly Petitions: The one ●…iuatly concerning myself, the ●…her concerning your whole ●…sembly of Commons in Parliament. For myself (Gracious Soveraygne) that if it sha●… happen me to mistake, in an●… thing, on the behalf of you●… Commons in your highness' 〈◊〉 or for want of good utterance 〈◊〉 rehearsal of things, to preuert o●… impair their prudent instructions; It may then like you●… most Royal Majesty, with you●… abundant grace, in the Eye o●… your accustomed Pity, to 〈◊〉 my simplicity, giving me leau●… to repair again unto the Common House, there to conferre●… new with them, and take the●… more substantial advice, wh●… thing, and in what wise, I sh●… on their behalf utter & speak●… before your M●…esty, to the in●…tent their prudent advices an●… 〈◊〉 be not by my simplicit●… ●…d folly hindered or impaired. ●…hich thing, if it should hap●…n unto me (as it is not vnlike●… if your Gracious Benignity ●…lieued not my oversight ther●…, it could not but during my 〈◊〉 be a perpetual grudge and ●…uines unto my hart. And this my first petition unto your 〈◊〉 Majesty.  
My other suit (most Excel●…t Prince) is, that for as much there be of your Commons 〈◊〉 assen●…led in Parliament, 〈◊〉 your high commandment, ●…ynber, which after the ac●… manner, are appoyn●…d by the common House, to ●…t and advice of the common ●…yres apart, amongst them●…: And albeit (most Liege ●…d) that according to your most prudent advice, by yo●… Honourable Writs, every whe●… declared, there hath been a d●… diligence used in sending up 〈◊〉 your Highness' Court of Parl●…ment, the most discreet person●… out of every quarter, esteem●… most fit thereto, whereby the●… is gathered, no doubt, a ver●… substantial Assembly of right wise and politic Persons: Y●… (most virtuous Prince) sith ●…mongst so many, every man 〈◊〉 not alike witted, or so well spoken, as other; and it often happeneth, that much folly is uttered, in a painted speech; As l●… kewise, many that are boyst●… rous & rude in language, do y●… give right good substantial Counsel; And moreover in matters 〈◊〉 great Importance, the myn●… happeneth to be so busied, that often times a man studieth rather what to say, then how to speak, by reason whereof the wisest man, & best speaker in a whole Country, fortuneth sometimes (his mind being fervent in the matter) to speak in such wise, as he would afterwards wish, to have been otherwise spoken, and yet no worse will had he, when he spoke it, than he hath, when he would so gladly change it: Therefore (most gracious Sovereign) considering that in your High Court of Parliament nothing is treated of, but matter of weight & importance, and which doth chief, & merely concern this your most ●…ourishing Realm, and your own Royal Estate, it would please your Royal Majesty, out of your abundant Clemency and favour, to give to all your Commons here assembled, your most gracious licence, and pardon, freely, without fear of your high displeasure, every man to discharge his Conscience, & boldly, in every thing incident amongst us, to declare his advice. And whatsoever any man shall happen to say, that it may like your Royal Majesty, of your inestimable Goodness, to take all in good part, interpreting every man's words (how unwisely soever they be spoken) to proceed of good zeal towards the profit of your Realm, & dignity of your Royal Person; the prosperous Estate & preservation whereof (most dread Sovereign) is the thing which ●…l we your most humble, & loving ●…ubiects, according to the boū●…n duty of our natural Alle●…iance, most highly desire, and ●…ray for.  
At this Parliament Cardinal ●…olsey found himself much grie●…d with the Burgesses thereof, ●…or that nothing was either ●…oken, or done in the Parla●…ent house, but was immediat●…y blown abroad in every Ale●…ouse and Tavern. It fortuned ●…lso at this Parliament, that a ve●…y great Subsidy was demaun●…d, which the Cardinal fea●…ing would ●…t 〈◊〉 the Lower 〈◊〉, did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…or the furtherance thereof, to 〈◊〉 there personally present. Against whose coming, after long debate there made, whether it were better to receive him, but with a few of his Lords, or with his whole train: Maister●… (quoth Sir Thomas More) for a●… much, as my Lord Cardinal (ye wots well) lately laid to our charge, the lightness of our tongues, for things uttered out of this house, therefore in my mind it shall not be amiss to receive him with all Pomp, with his Maces, his Pillars, his Pole-axes, his Crosses, his Hat, & the great Seal too, to the intent, that if he find the like fault with us hereafter, we may be the bolde●… from ourselves to lay the blam●… upon himself, and those followers which his Grace bringeth hither with him. Whereunto the whole House agreed ●…nd received him accordingly.  
After he was come & recea●…ed in manner aforesaid, the whole house of Parliament sitting ●…till in silence, and answering ●…othing to what he demanded, ●…ut rather contrary to his expectation, seemed not any way to ●…nclyne to his Request, he said unto them: Masters, you have ●…re many wise & learned men amongst you, and sith I am sent 〈◊〉 from the Kings own Person, for the preservation of yourselves, and all the Realm, me thinks you should give me ●…ome reasonable answer. Whe●…at every man continuing si●…nt; then began he to speak to ●…ne M. Warney, who making him no answer neither, he se●…erally asked the same Question of diverse others that were accounted the wisest men of the house: To whom when none of them all would answer so much as a word, it being before agreed among them, to answer only by their speaker: Masters (quoth the Cardinal) unless it be the custom of your house, as of likelihood it is, by the mouth of your speaker, whom you have chosen for trusty and wise (as indeed he is) in such cases to utter your minds, without doubt here is a marvellous obstinate silence, and thereupon he required answer of M. Speaker. Who first reverently upon his knees excusing the silence of the House, abashed at the presence of so Noble a Personage, able to amaze the wisest & best learned in a kingdom; & after by many probable arguments proving that for them to make answer, was neither expedient nor agreeable with the ancient Liberty of the House; in conclusion for himself showed, that although they had with all their voices chosen and trusted him to speak, yet except every one of them could put into his own head all their several wits, he alone in so weighty a matter, was far unmeet to make his Grace answer.  
Whereupon the Cardinal displeased with Sir Thomas More (who had not in this Parliament satisfied his desire) suddenly arose and departed. And after the Parliament was ended, at his House in the Gallery at Whit●… Hall in Westminister, he uttered unto him his griefs, saying: I would to God M. More, you had been at Rome when I first made you Speaker of the ParlamentHowse. Your Grace not offended, I would I had been there my Lord (quoth Sir Thomas.) And to wind these quarrels out of the Cardinal's head he began to commend that Gallery, and said: I like this Gallery of yours my Lord, much better than your Gallery at Hampton-Court; wherewith he so wisely broke off the Cardinal's displeasant talk, that the Cardinal at that ●…yme, as it seemed, knew not what more for the present to ●…ay unto him.  
But yet for a Revenge of his displeasure, the Cardinal counselled the king to send Sir Tho●…is More Ambassador over in●… Spain, commending unto 〈◊〉 his wisdom, learning, & ●…tnes for the voyage; and fur●…er told the King that the diffi●…ulty of the cause considered; ●…ere is none (quoth the Cardi●…all) so meet, or able to per●…rme your Majesties' service ●…rin, as he. Which when the ●…ing had broken to Sir Thomas More, and that he had satisfied ●…is Majesty how unfit a voyage 〈◊〉 was for him, the nature of the ●…ountrey, and disposition of his ●…omplexion considered, that he ●…hould never be able, nor likely ●…o do his Grace acceptable serui●…e there, knowing right well, ●…hat if his Majesty sent him thi●…her, he should send him to his Grave; yet showing himself ●…uerthelesse ready, according 〈◊〉 his duty, although it were wi●… the loss of his life, to fulfil 〈◊〉 Graces pleasure in that behalf●… the King well allowing of h●… answer said unto him. It is n●… our meaning M. More, to 〈◊〉 you the least hurt, but rather th●… best good; we will therefore f●… this purpose devise upon som●… other, and employ your serui●… otherwise.  
And indeed such entire aff●… ction did the King at that tym●… bear unto him, that he mad●… him Chancellor of the Duch●… of Lancast●…r, upon the death 〈◊〉 Sir Richard Wingfield, who ha●… that Office before. And the kin●… took so much pleasure in hi●… company, that oftentimes 〈◊〉 Majesty would on the sudden go up to his house at Chelsey, to be merry with him; whither on a time coming to dinner, he walked in Sir Thomas Moor's garden by the space of an hour, and held his arm about Sir Thomas Moor's neck.  
As soon as his Majesty was gone, M. William Roper, a Gentleman of Gray's Inn, who had married Sir Thomas Moor's eldest daughter said unto him: Father, how happy a man are you, whom the King hath thus familiarly entertained (for he never was seen to do the like unto any man, except Cardinal Wols●…y, with whom the King did often walk arm in arm:) I thank our Lord God, Son Roper (quoth he) I find his Grace my very good Lord indeed. And I think he doth as singularly favour me, as any subject within this Realm; Howbeit, Son Roper, I may tell thee, 〈◊〉 have no great cause to be proud thereof. But if my Head could win his Majesty a Castle in France (for then there was war with France) it should not fail to go.  
Amongst many other his virtues he was of such M●…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 diverse, some for desire of his acquaintance, some for the famous report of his wisdom and learning, and some about suits for ●…he Vniversityes) although very few were comparable unto him as well witnesseth Erasmus:) & ●…f 〈◊〉 discourse, he so pressed them that they could not well hold 〈◊〉 it longer disputation against ●…im; then lest he should discou●…age them (as one that sought not ●…is own Glory) he would seem ●…onquered, & by some wise de●…se, courteously break off into ●…me other matter, & give over. Of whom for his wisdom and earning the king had such an o●…ion, that at such times as he ●…ttended his person, in his pro●…resse either to Oxford, or Cam●…ridge, where he was received with very eloquent Orations, ●…is Majesty would always as●…gne Sir Thomas More, as one ●…rompt, and ready therein, to make Answer thereunto, ex tempore.  
His custom also was, that whensoever he came to any University, either here or beyond the Seas, not only to be present at Disputations and readings, but also to dispute very learnedly himself, to his high Commendations, and general applause of all the assembly.  
During the time of his Chauncellorship for the Duchy of Lancaster, he was sent twice Ambassador, joined in commission with Cardinal Wolsey, once unto the Emperor Charles into Flanders, the other time unto the French King at Paris.  
About this time, it happened that the Water-bayly of London who had sometimes been Sir Thomas Moor's servant, hearing certain Merchants to speak so●… what lavishly against his old 〈◊〉, was so displeased thereat, that he came with all speed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More, & told him what he h●… heard, & of whom. Sy●… (quoth he) if I were in such 〈◊〉 and authority with my Pr●…ce, as you are, such men as these should not surely be 〈◊〉, so uncharitably & falsely to misreport & s●…under me. Wherefore I with you to call them before you & punish them. Sir Thomas 〈◊〉 smiling upon him said: Why, M. Water-bayly, would you have me punish them, by whom I receive more benefit than by all you, that are my ●…riends? Let them a Gods Name ●…peake as lewdly of me as they list, and shoot never so many darts at me. So long as they do not hit me, what am I the wor●…? But if they should once hit me, than would it not indeed a little trouble me: Howbeit I trust by God's help, there shall none of them all be able to touch me. Therefore I have more cause, 〈◊〉 assure thee M. Water-baily to pity, th●…n to be angry with them. Such sruitefull communication would he often times have with his familiar Friends.  
So on a time walking a long the Thames side at Chels●…y, with his Son in law M. Roper, and discoursing of many things, amongst other speeches he said thus unto him: Now I would to our Lord God, Son Roper, that three things were well established in Christendom, upon con●…ition that I were here presently ●…ut into a sack, & cast into the 〈◊〉 of the Thames. What great ●…hings be those Sir (quoth M. Ro●…er) that move you so to wish? ●…ouldest thou know Son Ro●…er, quoth he? May it so please ●…ou Sir, with a very good will, ●…yd M. Roper. In ●…ayth Son 〈◊〉, they be these: First, that where the most part of Chri●…tian Princes are now at mortal ●…arres, I would they were all ●…tan universal peace. The second 〈◊〉, that where the Church is at ●…his present, sore afflicted with Errors & heresies, that it were ●…etled in a perfect uniformity ●…f Religion. The third is, that where the King's matter of his ●…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. Rop●… supposed) he ●…ged, that there would be a great disturbance, through the mo●… pa●… of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
Thus di●… Sy●… Th●…. More through the whole course of his li●…, by his ac●…ons make it appe●…e, that all hi●… 〈◊〉 and pay●…, without thought of earth●… 〈◊〉 ●…ther to himself or any of his, were only for the seru●… of God, his King and the Common Wealth, wholly bestowed & ●…mployed. And he was oftentimes, in his latter days heard to say, That he never asked of the King for himself, the value of one Penny. His daily custom was, if he were at home, besides his pri●…ate prayers with his wife, chil●…ren, and family, often to retire ●…lone, and excercise himself in ●…riuate, and godly devotions: as iso every night before he went ●…o bed, he used to go to his chap●…ell with his whole Family a●…oresaid, & there upon his knees ●…euoutly to say, certain Le●…yes, Psalms & Collects with them.  
And because he was always ●…yrous of private Exercise, & ●…hat he might the better withdraw himself from worldly cō●…any, he built himself a lodging a good distance from his Man●…ion house, called the New Buildin●…, wherein he placed a Chapel, Library, and a Gallery to walk, spending many days in the week in P●…ayer, and Study together. And always on the ●…day, he did usually 〈◊〉 there from Morning until Night, be●…owing hi●… time only in me●…ation, reading, and such ●…ly 〈◊〉.  
And the more to stir up & 〈◊〉 his wife, and children, to the ●…yre of heavenly things, he would oftentimes use these speeches unto them: It is no ma●…stery for you, my Children to go to heaven; for every body giveth you good counsel, and likewise many show you good Examples. You see Virtue rewarded, and Vice punished; so that you are carried up to heaven, even by the chin: But if you live to the time, that no ●…an will give you good coun●…ell, nor show you good exam●…le; when you shall see Virtue ●…unished, and Vice rewarded; if ●…hen you will stand fast & stick ●…irmely unto God; upon pain ●…f my life, though you be but ●…alfe good, yet God will allow ●…ou for wholly good.  
If his wife, children, or any ●…f his How should, had been ●…cke, or troubled at any time with any infirmity, he would ●…y unto them: We may not look ●…t our pleasure to go to Heaven 〈◊〉 feather beds; it is not the way: ●…or our Blessed Lord himself went thither with great pain, ●…nd by many Tribulations; and ●…ard was the pathway wherein he so walked: Nor may the Servant, look to be in better case, than his Master.  
And as he would in this man ne'er always persuade them t●… take their pains and sickness patiently, so would he in like for●… teach them to withstand the d●…uell, & his temptation's valiant●… lie saying: Whosoever shall mar●… well the devil and his temptations, shall find him therein muc●… like unto an Ape. For as an Ap●… not well looked unto, will b●… busy, and bold to do shrewd turns, and being espied will suddenly leap back, and aduenture no further so the devil fi●… ding a man idle, slothful, an●… without resistance, ready to receiue his temptations, waxeths●… hardy, that he will not stick t●… continue still with him, until 〈◊〉 hath wrought him thoroughly 〈◊〉 his purpose. But on the contrary side, if he see a man with diligence persevere to prevent, and withstand his temptations, he waxeth so weary, that in the end ●…e utterly forsaketh him. For as ●…he devil by disposition is a spi●…it of so high a Pride, that he can●…ot abide to be mocked; so is he ●…f nature so Envious, that he ●…eareth to assault a virtuous man, lest he should thereby not ●…nly catch a fou●…e fall himself, ●…ut also minister unto the man, ●…ore matter of merit.  
Thus he ever delighted, not ●…nly to busy himself in virtuous ●…xercises, but also to exhort his ●…ife, children, and how should to ●…brace, and follow the same. 〈◊〉 who me for his notable ver●…es, God shown, as it seemed, a miraculous and manifest token of his love, and favour towards him, at such time, as his daughter Roper lay dangerously sick of the sweeting sickness (as many others did that year) and continued in such extremity of that disease, that by no skill of Physic, or other art in such case●… commonly used, (although she had diverse both expert and learned Physicians continually attendant about her) she could be kept from sleeping, so that the Physicians themselves utterly despaired of her recovery, and quite gave her over. Her Father Sir Th●…, More, as one that m●… intierely loved and tendered he●… being in great grief and hea●…, and seeing all human●… helps to fa●…le, determined t●… have recourse to God by prayer for remedy. Whereupon going up after his accustomed manner, into his aforesaid New Building, he there in his Chapel, upon his knees with tears, most devoutly besought Almighty God, that it would please his divine Goodness, unto whom nothing was impossible, if it were his blessed will, to vouchsafe graciously to hear his humble petition. And suddenly it came into his mind, that a Glister might be the only way to help her; of which when he had told the Physicians, they all instantly agreed, that if there were any hope of remedy, that was the most likelist; and marvelled much, that themselves had not before remembered the same. Then was it instantly ministered unto her sleeping, & after a while she awaked, and contrary to all their expectations immediately began to recover, & in short time was wholly restored unto her former health. Whom, if it had pleased God to have taken away, at that time, her Father said, that he would never after have meddled with worldly business.  
Now whilst Sir Tho●…as More was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Sea of Rome chanced to be void, by the death of Pope Leo the X. which was the cause of much trouble; for that Cardinal Wol●…y a man of a very high and ambitious spirit, aspiring unto that sea & dignity, was therein crossed and prevented by the Emperor Charles 〈◊〉 fifth, who had commended 〈◊〉 Cardinal Adrian (some●…me his Schoolmaster) unto 〈◊〉 Conclave of Cardinals in ●…ome, at the time of election, & 〈◊〉 highly praised him for his ●…orth and Virtue, that he was ●…ereupon chosen Pope. Who ●…mming from Spayn●… (where 〈◊〉 was then resident) to Rome, ●…tred into the City towards 〈◊〉 Palace barefooted with such ●…umility, that all the people ●…ad him in very great Reue●…ence.  
Upon this & other like occa●…ons, Card. Wolsey enraged with ●…nger, studied all the ways he ●…ould device to be revenged of ●…e Emperor, which as it was ●…he beginning of a most lamen●…ble Tragedy, so some part thereof, not impertinent to my pr●…sent purpose, I have thought 〈◊〉 here to insert.  
The Cardinal, not ignorant o●… King Henry's inconstant & mutable disposition, used all meaned●… to avert his Majesty, from hi●… wife Queen Katherine, the Emperor's Aunt, well knowing he would easily incline to tha●… motion upon any sleight occasion. And so meaning to mak●… the King's flexible Nature, th●… instrument to bring about hi●… ungodly purpose, he devised to allure his Majesty (who was al●… ready, contrary to the Cardina●… mind, and knowledge, fallen i●… love with the Lady Anne Bullen to affect the French Kings Sister Which thing, because of th●… wars, and hatred that was the●… ●…etweene the French King, and ●…e Emperor (whom the Car●…inall now mortally hated) he ery●… earnestly endeavoured to ●…rocure. And for the better fur●…ering this his purpose, he re●…uested one Langland, Bishop of ●…incolne, and Ghostly Father to 〈◊〉. Hen●…y, to put a scruple into ●…he K. head; that it was not law●… for him to marry his Brother's ●…ife; which thing the King (not ●…ry to hear of) related first to 〈◊〉 Thomas More, & required his ●…ounsell therein, and with all ●…ewed himsome places of scripture which seemed somewhat 〈◊〉 serve his purpose. Sir Thoma●…●…ore: perusing the said places, ●…ereupon (as one that had ne●…r professed Divinity) excused ●…mselfe unto his Majesty, and said, he was fare unfit to meddle with such affairs.  
The King not satisfied with this answer, pressed and urged him the more; which he perceauing said unto his Majesty: that for as much as such a business required good advice and deliberation, he besought his Highness to give him sufficient respite to consider advisedly of the same. Wherewith the King well contented, replied, That Tonstall & Clark, Bishops of Durham & Bath, with others learned of his privy Counsel should also be dealers therein.  
So Sir Thomas More departed, and conferred those places of Scripture with the Expositions of diverse of the ancient Fathers, and Doctors of the Church, and at his coming to Court & talking with the King of the aforesaid matter, he said: To be plain with your Grace, neither my Lord of Durham, nor my Lord of Bath, though I hold ●…hem to be both learned. ver●…uous, & holy Prelates, nor my ●…elfe, with any other of your Counsel (being all your Maie●…ties own servants, & so great●…y bound unto you for your ma●…ifold benefits daily bestowed upon us) be in my judgement fit Counsellors for your Grace he●…ein. But if your Majesty desire ●…o understand the Truth, such Counsellors may be found, as ●…either for respect of world●… commodity, nor for fear of ●…our Princely authority, will ●…ny way be drawn to deceiu●…●…ou. And then he named unto the King S. Hierome, S. Augustine and diverse others ancient Fathers & Doctors of the Church, both Greek an Latin; and further showed his Majesty, what authority he had gathered forth of them: of which although the King (as not fitting to his purpose) did not very well like, yet were they by Sir Thomas More●… so wisely alleged, and so tempered with discretion, that the King at that time, took it in good part, and had oftentimes conference with him again, about the same matter.  
After this there were certain questions propounded to th●… King's Counsel whether in this case the King needed to have any scruple at all; and if he had, what was the best way to fre●… him of it? The greater part of the Counsel were of opinion, that there was good cause of scruple, and that for his Majesty's discharge therein, it was fit suit should be made unto the Sea of Rome, where the King thought that by his liberality, he might with ease obtain his purpose.  
Then was there procured from Rome a commission for the try all of this Marriage, wherein Cardinal Campegius, and Cardinal Wolsey were joined commissioners, who for the determination thereof, sat at the Blackfriars in London, where a Libel was put in for the anulling of the said M●…triomony, affirming the Marriage between the King and Q●…eene to be unlawful. Then again, for proof thereof to be lawful, there was produced 〈◊〉 dispensation, in which (after diverse disputations thereupon holden) there appeared an imperfection; which notwithstanding by an other instrument, or Breu●… found out upon search, in th●… Treasury of Spain, & sent oue●… to the commissioners in England●… was supplied; & so should judgement have been given by the Pop●… accordingly, had not the King upon intelligence thereof befor●… the same judgement, appealed to a General Council. After whose Appellation, the Cardinal's sat●… no more upon that business.  
It happened, before the sa●… matter of Marriage brought in Question, that M. Roper being one day in discourse with Sy●… Tho. More, did with a kind of ●…oy, congratulate with his said Father, for the happy Estate of the Realm that had so Catho●…ique a Prince, as no Heretic durst show his face, so virtuous and learned a Clergy, so grave and sound a Nobility, and so lo●…ing and obedient Subjects, all ●…n one faith agreeing together. Troth, it is so indeed, Son Ro●…er (quoth he:) and then commended all degrees and estates of the same, far beyond M. Roper. And yet Son Roper (quoth he) I pray God, that some of us (as high as we seem to sit upon the Mountains, treading Hereti●…ques under our feet like Aunts) ●…ue not to see the day, when we gladly would wish to be in league and composition with those whom you call Heretics, & to let them have their Church●… quietly to themselves, upon condition, that they would be content to let us have ours, quie●… to ourselves.  
Then M. Roper produce●… many reasons to the contrary & saw no cause why any shoul●… say so. Well, well. Son Rop●… (quoth he) I pray God some 〈◊〉 us live not till that day, and 〈◊〉 no more. To whom M. 〈◊〉 replied, By my troth Sir, th●…s 〈◊〉 desperately spoken, seeming 〈◊〉 be half angry with Sir 〈◊〉 More: who perceiving the 〈◊〉 said merrily unto him: Well, 〈◊〉 Son Rop●…r, It shall not be then since you will not have it so●… Thus was he of so excellent 〈◊〉 temper, that those who lived, & were continually conversant with him in his house, for the space 〈◊〉 twenty years and upwardly, ●…ould never perceive him to be ●…nce moved, or to make the ●…ast show of anger.  
But to return again where ●…eft. After the supplying of the ●…spensation, sent unto the com●…ioners into England, as is ●…efore rehearsed, the King ta●…ng the business to himself, as ●…t then mynding to proceed ●…y further in the matter, assi●…ed the Bishop of Durham and 〈◊〉 Thomas More to go Embassa●…urs to Cambray (a place nei●…er Imperial, nor French) to ●…eat a Peace between the Em●…rour, the French King, & him●…fe; in the concluding whereof ●…r Tho. More so worthily man●…ged the business, that he procured thereby much more benefit for the Kingdom, than was at that time by the King and his Counsel thought possible could be compassed. For whose good service in that Embassy, the King (when he after made him Lord Chancellor) caused the Duke of Norfolk, to declare openly to the people, how much all ●…ngland was bounden unto him, as you shall see hee●…after more 〈◊〉 large.  
Now upon the coming home of the Bishop of Durham, and Sy●… Thomas More from Cambray aforesaid, the King began to rene●… again his old suit, and wa●… very earnest in persuading Sy●… Thomas More to agree unto th●… matter of his marriage, vsin●… all the ways, and means 〈◊〉 could device to draw him to his part, and as it was thought did the rather for that end soon af●…er create him Lord Chauncel●…our of England. And the King said further unto him, that al●…hough at his going to Cambray, he was in utter despair to ob●…ne dispensation thereof; yet ●…ow he had conceived some go●…d hope to compass the same; ●…eaging, that albe●…t his Mar●…iage, as being against the posi●…ue Law of the Church, & the ●…itten Law of God, was hol●…en by the dispensation; yet is ●…here another thing found out ●…flate (quoth the King) whereby ●…his Marriage appeareth so dire●…tly against the law of Nature, ●…hat it can in no wise, by the Church be dispensable, as Do●…or Stokesley (whom he had then preferred to the Bishopric of London) can well instruct you, with whom, upon this point, I would have you to confer.  
So they conferred togeather●… But for all this Conference, Sir Thomas More could not be induced to change his opinion therein: Yet notwithstanding did the Bishop in his Report o●… him to the King, affirm falsely that he found Sir Thomas More, in the King's cause, very forward, as being desirous to find some good matter, wherewith he might serve the King's contentment, in that case.  
Now, this Bishop Stokesley having a little before, been by Cardinal Wolsey openly rebuked in the Sarre-chamber, & awarded 〈◊〉 the Flecte, he not well broo●…ing this contumelious usage; ●…nd knowing that forasmuch 〈◊〉 the Cardinal, for his backe●…ardnes in pursuing the King's ●…uorse, was falling out of his ●…ghnes favour; and that he had ●…ow espied a fit opportunity to ●…euenge his quarrel against the ●…ardinall, and to incense the ●…ing further against him; at ●…ast prevailed so far, that the Cardinal was soon after dis●…laced from his office of high Chancellorship, and the same was conferred upon Sir Thomas ●…ore, hoping thereby so to win ●…im to his side, that he would ●…ield his consent for the matter ●…f divorce.  
Then was Sir Thomas More between the Dukes of 〈◊〉 and N●…rfolke, brought throug●… 〈◊〉 Hall, to his place 〈◊〉 the Chancery, and the Duke 〈◊〉 Norfolk●… in the audience of 〈◊〉 the people there assembled, 〈◊〉 wed, that he was from the 〈◊〉 himself straitley charged 〈◊〉 special commi●…ion, to 〈◊〉 the●…e openly in the presence 〈◊〉 them all, how much all 〈◊〉 was beholding to Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, for his good service: an●… how worthily he de●…erued th●… highest room in the Kingdom and further how dear his Majesty loved & trusted him; wher●…in (quoth the Duke) he hat●… great cause to rejoice, & prays●… Almighty God.  
Whereunto Sir Thomas Mor●… (amongst diverse other wise and ●…arned speeches) made answer ●…nd replied, that although he ●…ad good cause to take comfort 〈◊〉 his Highness' singular favour ●…wards him, to whom there●…ore he acknowledged himself ●…ost deeply bounden; yet ne●…erthelesse he must for his own ●…art needs confess, that in all ●…ose things, by th●… Duke's Grace ●…here alleged, he had done no●…hing, but what was his duty. ●…nd furthermore said, That he ●…as very unfit for that dignity, ●…herein (considering how wise ●…nd worthy a Prelate, had lately ●…efore taken so great a fall) he ●…aid he had no great cause to re●…oyce. And as they had before in ●…he King's behalf, charged him 〈◊〉 minister justice uprightly & ●…ndifferētly to the people, without corruption or affection: 〈◊〉 did he likewise charge them again, that if they saw him, at any time to digress, in the least thing, touching any part of hi●… duty, in that honourable Office, even as they would discharge their own duty and fidelity 〈◊〉 God and the King, they would not fail to decla●…e the same to his Ma●…esty; who otherwise, might have just caùse to lay the fault wholly upon them, and to their charge.  
Now, when he was Lord Chancellor, on a time being at leisure (as seldom he was) a Son in law of his, who had married one of his daughters, spoke merrily unto him saying: When Cardinal Wolsey was Lord Chancellor, not only ●…iuers of his privy Chamber, but ●…uch also as were but his very ●…oor-keepers got much profit: ●…nd now sith I have married one ●…f your daughters, and give my ●…ayly attendance upon you●…, I ●…hinke I might of reason look ●…or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…oyle all 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you be so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to hear every 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p●…re as rich; & be●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no doors shut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which is to me no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and discoura●…ēt; whereas otherwise some ●…or friendship, some for kyn●…red, but most for profit, would 〈◊〉 glad to have 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 themselves, as I 〈◊〉 able to do for them. Which thin●… though it be in you very com●… mendable, yet to me your Son●… I find it nothing profitable.  
You say well, Son (quo●… Sir Thomas More) I do not m●… like that you are so scrupulo●… of conscience, for there be m●…ny other ways, wherein I ma●… both do you good, and pleasur●… your friend also; for sometym●… may I by my word stand yo●… friend instead, and sometim●… I may by my letters help hi●… or if he have a cause dependi●… before me, at your request I m●… hear him before another; o●… his cause be not altogether 〈◊〉 the best, yet may I move the pa●… ties to fall to some reasonab●… end, or compound by arbitrement: Howbeit this one thing Son, I assure thee, on my Faith, that if the parties will at my hands call for justice, then if ●…it were my Father that stood on the one side, and the Devil on the other side, his cause being good, the Devil surely should have right.  
So offered he to his Son as much favour as he thought he could in reason require. And that he would for no respect digress never so little from justice, did plainly appear by another of his Sons in law, one M. Giles H●…ron, who had a sorry suit depending before him in the Chancery, yet presuming much upon his Father's favour, would in no ways be persuaded by him to come to an indifferent composition with his adversary; whereupon in trial of the matter, Sir Thomas M●…re pronounced sentence against him.  
He used every afternoon to sit in his open Hall, to the end, that whosoever had any suit unto him, they might the more bolder come to his presence, and there to open their Complayints before him. Also his manner was, to read every Bill himself, before he would grant any Sub poena, and having read it, he would either set his hand unto it, or else cancel it.  
Whensoever he passed through Westminster Hall, to his place in Chancery, by the Court of Kings Bē●…h, if his Father (one of the judges thereof) had been there set before he came, he would go into the same Court, & there most reverently upon his knees before the whole Assembly, ask his Father blessing. As likewise, if his Father and he chanced to meet at the Lecture in Lincoln's In●…e (as oftentimes they did) yet, notwithstanding his high place & Office, would he offer in Argument, the pre-eminence unto his Father; nor would himself accept thereof, until his Father had refused it.  
And for further declaration of his natural affection, & love towards his Father, when he lay sick upon his death bed, he did not only (according to his duty) oftentimes come and visit him, with all manner of comfort, but also at his departure out of the world, he took him about the Neck, kissed, & embraced him, commending his soul into merciful hands of Almighty God, and so departed.  
Whilst he was Lord Chancellor, he granted but few Injunctions; yet were they by some of the judges of the Law misliked, which M. Roper understanding, declared the same unto Sir Thomas More, who answered, that they should have little cause to find fault with him therefore. Whereupon he caused one M. Crook, chief of the six Clerks to make a Docket containing the whole number and causes of all such Injunctions, as either in his time had already passed, or at the present depended in any of the King's Courts at Westminster before ●…im; which done, he one day in●… all the judges to dinner with him in the Counsel Chā●…er at Westminster, and after ●…ynner, when he had broken with them, what complaints he had heard of his Injunctions, & moreover had showed them the ●…umber and causes of every one ●…n order, truly & plainly, they were all enforced to confess, ●…hat themselves in like cases could have done no otherwise. Then made he this offer unto ●…hem, That if the judges of eue●…y Court (unto whom the reformation of the rigour of the Law, by reason of their Office most especially appertained) would upon reasonable considerations in their own discretions (as he thought they wer●… bound to do in conscience) mitigate, and reform the rigour of the law themselves, there should from thenceforth be no more Injunctions granted out by him. Whereunto when they refused to condescend, than said he unto them: For as much as yourselves (my Lords) force me to that necessity, of granting out Injunctions, for relief of the people's injuries, you cannot hereafter any more justly blame me.  
After that, he spoke privately to M. Roper saying: I percive why they liked not so to do, for they see that they may by the verdict of the jury, cast all quarrels upon those whom they account their chief defence, and therefore am I compelled, to abide the adventure of all such Reports.  
Now in the time of his Chancellourshippe, although he had but little leisure, to busy himself in the study of holy Scriptures and Controversies in Religion, with other such like Exercises, being in a manner continually employed about the affairs of the King and Kingdom; yet did he take many watchful pains in setting forth diverse profitable works, in the defence of Christian Religion, against Heresies, that then were blown abroad. In so much that the Bishops, to whose Pastoral care that Reformation chief belonged, seeing themselves, by his travel (wherein by their own confession, they were not any way able to compare with him) in great part discharged of the●…r duties in that behalse; & considering, that for all the Prince's favour, & his great Office he was no rich man, nor had in yearly revenues advanced himself as his worthiness deserved, therefore at a Convocation, holden amongst themselves, and others of the Clergy, they agreed to recompense him with a sum of five thousand pounds, for his pains taken in their behalf.  
To the payment whereof every Bishop, Abbot, and others of the Clergy, according to the rates of their abilities, became liberal Contributaries; hoping that this their liberality would give him good content. Whereupon Bishop Tonstall of Durhan, Bishop Clerk of Bath, & D. Voysey Bi●…hop of Exeter repaired unto 〈◊〉 Tho. More, declaring how ●…hankefully, to their discharge ●…n God's cause, they reckoned ●…hemselues unto him; and albeit ●…hey could, not according to his deserts, so worthily requite his ●…ours, & therefore must refer ●…he same to God's gracious good●…esse: yet for a small gratuity, in ●…espect of his Estate so uneqúall ●…o his Worth, in the Name of their whole Convocation, they presented unto him the foresaid ●…umme, desiring him to accept of it in good part. But Sir Tho●…as More refusing this their ten●…er, said unto them: That, as it was no small comfort unto him ●…hat so wise and learned men accepted of his weak labours, for which he never intended to receive any other reward, but at the hands of God, to whom alone all the thankes thereof were chief to be ascribed: So gave he most humble thankes unto all their Honours, for their so friendly and honourable consideration, and earnestly entreated them to return every man his money again.  
Wherefore when after much pressing him to accept thereof, & could not prevail, they besought him, that they might bestow it upon his Wife, and Children Not so my Lords (quoth he,) had rather see it cast into the Thames, then either I, or any 〈◊〉 mine should have the value 〈◊〉 one penny thereof. For, my Lords, though your offer indeed be very fair and friendly, yet set I so much by my pleasure, & so little by my profit, that I would not, in good faith, for so much, and much more, to have lost so many a good night's sleep, as I spent upon the same. And yet I would wish, for all that, upon condition that Heresies were suppressed, that all my Books were burned, & my labour lost. Thus departed they from him, and were driven to return every man his own money again.  
This Lord Chancellor, although he was well known, both to God and the world to be a man of most eminent Virtue, though not so considered of every man; yet for the avoiding of singularity would he appear to the eye of the world no otherwise then other men, as well in his apparel, as behaviour. And albeit he appeared outwardly Honourable, like to one of his Dignity & Calling, yet inwardly did he esteem all such thing●… for mere vanity: for next to hi●… naked body he wore almost continually a shirt of hair; the 〈◊〉 a young Gentlewoman, named M. rs More, by chance on day 〈◊〉 pying as he sat in his doublet & hose at dinner in the summer time, and seemed to smile thereat, his daughter Roper perceiving the same (being not ignorant of this his austerity) gave him private notice thereof, and he did presently amend the fault, seeming withal sorry, that she had feene it. He also wore another plain course shirt without ruff or collar, upon his shirt of hair; And many times he likewise punished his body with whips, made of knotted cords; the which thing was only known to his daughter Roper, who for her secrecy, above all the r●…st he especially trusted, for that as need required she did always wash & mend his shirt of hair, which he would not discover unto any other whatsoever.  
Now, in this mean space, whilst he was Lord Chancellor of England, the King did one day greatly move him, & desire him, well to weigh and consider of his great matter, concerning his divorce. Sir Thomas More falling upon his knees, most humbly besought his Majesty to stand still his gracious Sovereign, as ever since his entry into his Royal Service, he had found him; and said, that there was nothing in the world more grievous to his hart, then that he was not able with the loss of one of his limbs, to find any thing for that matter, whereby he might with safe conscience serve his Majesty's turn. And that he had always borne in mind the most Godly words, that his Highness spoke unto him, at his first coming into his Royal service (the most virtuous Lesson, that ever Prince taught a Subject) to wit, that he should first look unto God, & after God, unto his King: as in good faith (said he) I have ●…ost sincerely done, or else might your Grace account me a most ●…nworthy servant.  
To this the King replied; ●…hat if he could not therein with ●…is conscience serve him, he was well content to accept of his ●…eruice otherwise, and use the ●…duice of some others of his pri●…y Counsel, whose conscien●…es would agree well enough ●…herewith, nor would he neuer●…helesse discontinue his gracious ●…auour towards him, nor trou●…le his conscience any further with that matter, for the time ●…orward.  
But Sir Thomas More per●…eiued by little and little, that ●…he King fully determined to ●…roceede in his Marriage with Queen Anne, when he, with the Bishopps and Nobles of the Higher House of Parliament, were for the furtherance of that matter, commanded by the King to go unto the Commons of the lower House, & show unto them, what the Universities aswell of other parts beyond the seas, as of Oxford, and Cambridge had done in that behalf, testifying the same with their seals and subscriptions. All which things (at the King's request, not showing of what mind he was therein himself) he opened to the Lower House of Parliament.  
Nevertheless doubting greatly, lest further inconveniences might follow, into with (contrary to his conscience) by reason of his Office, he was likely to be fall, he made humble suit to the Duke of Norforke (his singular dear friend) to be a means unto the King, that he might, with his Grace's favour, be discharged from his Office of Chancellourship, in which for certain infirmities of his body, he pretended himself not able any longer to serve.  
This good Duke of Norfolk coming on a time to Chelsey to dine with Sir Thomas More, found him in the Church, singing in the Quire, with a Sur●… on his back: to whom (after Mass was done) as they went towards his house, together arm in arm, the Duke ●…aid: God's body, God's body, my Lord Chancellor, what turned ●…arish Clerk? You dishonour th●… King and his Office very much. Nay (quoth Sir Thomas More smiling upon the Duke) your Grace may not think, that the King your Master and mine willbe offended with me for serving God his Master, or thereby account his Service any way dishonoured.  
Now, when the Duke (at the special entreaty and importunate suit of Sir Thomas More) had obtained of the King, that he should be discharged of his Chancellorship, at a conuenien●… time appointed by the King, he repaired unto the Court, to yield up the great Seal, which his Majesty received of him with praise, and thankes for hi●… good service done to his perso●… and the Realm in that Office. And he further said unto him in a gracious manner, that if in any suit he should hereafter have unto him, that either concerned his Honour (for that word it pleased the King to use unto him,) or appertained to his profit, he should ever find his Highness, a very good, and gracious Lord.  
After he had thus resigned the Office, and Dignity of the Chancellorship, and placed all his Gentlemen & Yeomen with Bishops and Noble men, and his eight Watermen with the Lord Audley (who succeeded him in his Office) to whom also he gave his great Barge; he than called all his children unto him, & asked their advices how he might now in the decay of his ability, which by the surrender of his Office was so impaired, that he could not, as he was wont, maintain them to live all together, according to his desire; whereat when he saw them all silent, & unwilling in that case to show their opinions unto him: Why then will I (quoth he show unto you my poor mind.  
I have been brought up, (said he) at Oxford, at an june of Ch●…ncery, at Lincoln's Inn, and also in the King's Courts, and so forth, from the lowest degree to the highest; and yet I have in yearly Revenues, left me at this present, little above a hundred pounds by the year. So that now, we must hereafter if we will live together, be content to become Contributours to each other; but by my counsel it shall not be best for us, to fall to the lowest fare first. We will not therefore descend to Oxford far, nor the fare of New ●…nne; but we will begin with Lincoln's Inn diet, where many right Worshipful of good years do live full well; which if we find not ourselves the first year able to maintain, then will we the next year go one step down to New-inn fare, wherewith, many an honest man is well contented. Then, if that exceed our abilities, will we the next year after descend to Oxford far, where many grave, learned, & ancient Doctors be continually resident; which if our powers be not able to maintain neither, then may we yet with bags and wallets go a begging together, hoping that for pity some good people will give us their Charity, at their door, to sing Salue Regina, and so still may we keep company together, and be as merry as Beggars.  
And whereas you have heard before, that he was by the King, taken from a very good living, and advanced to his Majesty's service, wherein he spent with painful cares and travels, aswell beyond the Seas, as within the Kingdom, in a manner the whole substance of his life: yet with all the gain that he got thereby (being never wasteful spender) he was scarce able, after the Resignation of his office of Chancellorship, for the maintenance of himself, and such 〈◊〉 necessarily belonged unto ●…im, sufficiently to find meat●…●…rinke, apparel, and other such ●…ecessaryes; all the land which 〈◊〉 ever purchased (which he ●…id also, before he was Lord Chancellor) not amounting 〈◊〉 above the value of Twenty ●…arkes a year. And after his ●…ebts paid, he had not (his Chain only excepted) in gold ●…nd silver, left him the worth of 〈◊〉 hundred pounds.  
In the time of his Chancel●…rship, upon the Sundays and ●…oly days, when Mass, or Euē●…nge were ended, one of his Gentlemen did usually go to his ●…dyes Pew in the Church, & 〈◊〉 unto her: Madam, my Lord ●…gone. The next Sunday after the surrender of his Office, & departure of his Gentlemen, he went unto his Lady's pew himself, and with his Cap in hand, he made her low Courtesy, saying unto her; Madam My Lord is gone.  
In the time, before his troubles, he would talk with hi●… Wife and Children of the joys of heaven, & the pains of hel●… & of the lives of the Holy Martyrs, of their grievous Martyrdoms, of their marvellous Patience, and of their sufferings & deaths, & that they died mos●… willingly rather than they woul●… offend God: also what a happy & blessed thing it was for the lou●… of God to suffer loss of goods imprisonment, loss of life, an●… lands. Moreover he would f●…r there say unto them, That upon his Faith, if he could but perceive, that his wife & Children would encourage him to dye in a good cause, it would be such a comfort unto him, that for very joy thereof he would run merrily to his death. By this discourse, and other such like, he gave them feeling what troubles might afterwards chance to happen unto him, whereby he had so fare encouraged them before the time, that afterwards when th●…y happened unto him indeed, they seemed a great deal the less.  
Now after the Resignation of his Office, there came unto him to Chels●…y, M. Thomas Cromwell (then in the Kings his favour) with a message from his Majesty, about which when they had fully conferred together privately; M. Cromwell (quoth Sir Thomas More) you are now newly entered into the ●…eruice of a mos●… Royals, Wise, & liberal Prince and if you follow my poor advice, you shall in your Counsell●… giving, ever tell him what h●… ought to do, but never what h●… is able to do. So shall you show yourself a true and faithful servant, & a right worthy Counsellour: for if a Lion knew hi●… own strength, it were hard fo●… any man to rule him.  
Within a short time afte●… his, there was a Commissio●… granted forth, and directed 〈◊〉 M. Cranmer (then Archbishop 〈◊〉 Canterbury) to determine th●… matter of the Marriage between the King, & Queen Katherine, at S. Alban. Where at last, it was fully determined, and concluded, according to the King's desire: and then began he to complain, that since he could have no justice at the Pope's hands, he would therefore from thenceforth separate himself from the Sea of Rome, and thereupon he presently married the Lady Anne Bullen.  
Which, when Sir Tho. More understood, he said to M. Roper; God grant, God grant. Son Roper, that these matters within a while, be not confirmed by Oath.  
About this time, Queen Anne was to pass through London from the Tower to Westminster, to her Coronation, & some few days before, Sir Thomas More received a letter fr●… the Bishops of Durham, Bath, & Winchester requesting him, both to keep them company from the Tower to Westminster to the said Coronation, and withal to accept of Twenty Pounds, which by the Bearer thereof they had sent unto him to buy him a gown; which he thankfully received, but yet went not, staying still at home until the Coronation was passed. At his next meeting with the said Bishops, he spoke merrily unto them, saying; My Lords, by the letter which you sent lately unto me, you required of me two things, one whereof since I was well contented to grant, therefore I thought I might be the boulder to deny you the other: ●…nd also, because I took you ●…r no Beggars, and myself I ●…ow to be no rich man, I ●…ought I might the rather ac●…pt of your liberality with the ●…ore honesty. But indeed your ●…her Request put me in mind 〈◊〉 a certain Emperor (I have ●…ow forgotten his name) that ●…ade a law, that whosoever cō●…itted a certain offence (which do not now neither remem●…er,) should suffer death, by be●…g devoured of wild beasts, ex●…ept it were a Virgin that of●…ended against the same, such ●…euerence did he bear unto Vir●…inity. Now, it so fell out, that ●…he first who committed the of●…ence, was indeed a Virgin, ●…her of the Emperor hearing,  
ruption, by doing wrong, or taking bribes; it would without doubt in this so troublesome a time, of the King's displeasure against him, have been deeply laid to his charge, thereby to have found any the least hole in his coat. But he always kept himself so clear, even of suspicion of any such thing, that no man was once able therewith to blemish him; although the same was shrewdly many times attempted, specia●…y in the case of one Parne●…, against whom Sir Thomas More whilst he was Lord Chancellor, in the suit of one Vaugham (Parnels adverary) had passed a sentence or decree, by way of justice..  
Whereupon Parnell made a most grievous complaint unto the King, that Sir Thomas More 〈◊〉, for passing of the foresaid 〈◊〉, taken from the said Vau●… unable for the Gout to travel abroad himself) by the hands of his wife, a fair great gilded cup for a bribe. Upon this a●…ulation Sir Thomas More was by the King's appointment, called before the whole body of the Counsel, where this matter 〈◊〉 heinously laid to his charge. He forthwith confessed, that for as much as that cup was long after the passing of a foresaid decree, brought unto him for a new year's gift, he at the Gentlewoman's importune pressing it upon him, of courtesy refused not toreceive it.  
Then the Earl of Wiltshire, Sir Thomas Bullen, Father to Queen Anne, a verý great enemy to Sir Thomas M●…re, and chief complayner of this business against him to the King, with much rejoicing said unto the Lords there present: Lo, did I not tell you, my Lords, that you should find this matter true?  
Whereupon when Sir Thomas More had stood silent a while, smiling upon the Lord of W●…shire, he at length earnestly desired their Lordships, that as they had courteously heard him tell the one part of his Tale, so they would be pleased to vouchsafe him the indifferent hearing of the other.  
Then he further declared unto their Honours, That albert indeed, he had with much entreaty received the cup, yet immediately thereupon he caused his Butler to fill it with wine, and of that cup he drank unto her, and she pledged him. Then as freely as her husband had given it unto him, even so, freely gave he the same back again to her, to give unto her husband for his New-year's gift, which at his request (though much against her will) she received again; as herself and diverse others there present, were deposed before them. So was this great Mountain, was turned presently into Molehill.  
So likewise at another time, upon a New years day, there c●…me unto Sir Thomas More one 〈◊〉 Croker a rich widow, for whom with no small pains, he had passed a Decree in the Chancery, against the Lord Arundel, to present him with a pair of gloves, and forty pounds in Angels within them for a New years gift. Of whom he thankfully receiving the Gloves, but refusing the money said unto her: Mistress, sin●… 〈◊〉 were against good manners to refuse a Gentlewoman's New-year's gift, I am content to take your Gloves, but for your Money I utterly refuse it; & much against her mind, he restored her the Gold back again.  
Another time also one 〈◊〉 Gresham having a cause ●…ding before him in the Ch●…ncery, sent him for a New 〈◊〉 gift a fair Gilded cup: The ●…shon whereof he very well ●…king, caused one of his own cups (though not to his mind of so good a fashion, yet much better in value) to be brought forth of his Chamber, which he willed the Messenger in recompense to redeliver unto his Mistress, for with other condition he would in no wise receive it.  
Now when the King plainly saw, that he could not by any means win Sir Thomas More to his side, he went about by terror, and threats to enforce him thereunto; the beginning whereof, was occasioned, in this manner. There was a certayn●…. Nun dwelling in Canterbury, commonly called The holy Maid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, who for the exterior show of her Virtue, and Holin●…e, grew into great esteem amongst the common People first, and then amongst others and for that cause many Religious persons, many Doctors of Divinity, and diverse others of very great account of the Laity used to resort unto her. This holy woman affirmed, to have had a Revelation from heaven, to give the King warning of his wicked life, and of the abuse of the Sword and Authority committed unto him by God; and understanding, the Bishop of Rochester, Doctor Fisher, to be a man of notable virtuous life & great learning, she repaired to Rochester, and there disclosed to him her said Revelation, desiring his advice and counsel therein; which the Bishop well perceiving might stand with the laws of God, and holy Chu●…h, ●…uised her (as she before inten●…ed, and had warning to do to 〈◊〉 unto the King herself, and ●…are unto him, all the cir●…stances thereof. Whereupon 〈◊〉 w●…nt, and told unto his Ma●… her said Revelation, and so 〈◊〉 home to Cant●…rbury.  
Within a short time after, this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…oly Nun, made a ●…orney to the Monastery of Zion 〈◊〉 upon the Thames, a little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, & by means of 〈◊〉 M. R●…old, a Father of the ●…ame house, 〈◊〉 the Religious ●…erof. At which time it hap●… Sir Thomas More to be at 〈◊〉 visiting some of his aquain●…ance there, & talking with the ●…nne about some of her Re●…lations, especially that which did concern the King's Supremacy and Marriage: which he said) he might freely and safely do, without any danger of the law, by reason the same was then neither established by Statute, nor confirmed by Oath, as he himself had long before prognosticated, nevertheless in all the discourse, and passages of speech which he had with the said Nun (as it after ward appeared) he had carried himself so discreetly, that he rather deserved commendations, than blame.  
At the Parliament following, there was a bill put up for the attaynting of the foresaid Nun of Cant●…ury, & of some other Monastical persons, of High Treason: as also Bishop Fish●… of 〈◊〉, S●…r Thomas More and diverse others, of 〈◊〉 of Treason. With which the King veri●…y thought Sir Thomas More would be so terrified, that it would enforce him to relent, & condescend to his purpose; wherein as it seemed, his Grace was much mistaken.  
To this Bill, Sir Thomas More was s●…ter to be received person●…ly to make answer for him●… in his own defence. But the King not liking that, assign●…d the Bishop of Canterbury, 〈◊〉 Lord Chancellor, the Duke of No: folk, and M. Cromwell at a day, and place apppointed, to 〈◊〉 Sir Thomas More before them. At which time M. Roper thinking his Father had now fit opportunity, advised him to labour th●…se Lords for the help of his discha●…ge, forth of the Parliament Bill, who answered M. Roper, that he would  
At his coming before the Lords, according to their appointment, they interta●…ned him very ●…iendly, and willed him to 〈◊〉 down with them, which in no wise he would 〈◊〉 began the Lord Chancellor to declare unto him, how many ways the ●…ing had shewe●… his love and favour towards him; how gladly he would have had him continue in his Office; and how willing he would have been to have heaped more Benefits upon him; how he could ask no worldly Honour, or Profit at the King's hands, that was likely to be ●…enyed him; hoping by this declaration of the Kin●… favours towards him, to 〈◊〉 ●…im to favour his Highness' bu●… of the marriage. And lastly he requested his consent unto no more, but what the Parliament, the Bishops, and 〈◊〉 had already admitted, and 〈◊〉.  
To this Sir T●…omas M●…re 〈◊〉 ma●…e answer, s●…ying; There is no man liu●…ng, my Lords that would with better will, do the thing that might be a●…table to the King's Highness than myself, who nee●…es must confess his manifold goo●…nesse, and bountiful benefits, m●…st 〈◊〉 bestowed upon me: Howbeit I verily thought, that I should never have heard more of this matter, considering, that from time to time, even from the first beginning here of I have declare●… my mind plainly & truly to his 〈◊〉 which his ●…ighnes eue●… 〈◊〉 to me, like a most graciou●… 〈◊〉, very well to a●…ept, ●…uer mynding as he said) to 〈◊〉 me further therewith. ●…nce 〈◊〉 time I could neu●…r 〈◊〉 further matter, that was 〈◊〉 to move me to any other 〈◊〉; wh●…ch if I could, there is n●…t a man in all the word that would have b●…ne more glad th●…of, than myself.  
M●…ny things more, of like sort, were here uttered on both sides: and in the end when they saw they could not by any manner of persuasion, remove him from his former determination; then they began to touch him more ne●…rely, telling him, that ●…he King's Majesty had given ●…hem in commandemet, 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 by no gentle mean●…s win 〈◊〉, to charge him in his Name with great ●…gratitude, & that ●…here was never found servant ●…o his Sovereign so vngrate●…, nor subie●…t to his Prince so 〈◊〉 as he: for t●…at by his 〈◊〉 & sinister 〈◊〉 he had mo●…t unnaturally urged, & procu●…ed his 〈◊〉 to set forth ●…a Book, Of the Asertion of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and mayn●…nance of the Pope's Authori●… and thereby caused him, to 〈◊〉 great dishonour throughout 〈◊〉, to put a sword into the Pop●…s hands, to fight against himself.  
Now wh●…n th●…y had thus laid 〈◊〉 these, and all other such like terrors & 〈◊〉 which they could imagine ag●…ynst him; My Lords quoth he these be but Bugbears, only to 〈◊〉 Children, and not me B●…t to answer that, wherewith you do 〈◊〉 accuse me, I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the King's 〈◊〉, out of his Honour, wil●…●…euer lay any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to my ch●…rge; for th●…e is no man in the world, th●…t can in that 〈◊〉, s●…y 〈◊〉 in my excuse, th●…n his 〈◊〉 himself who knoweth right well, that 〈◊〉 ver was his procurer, or Counsellor thereunto, but after it was fi●…ished by his H●…hnes appointment, and consent of the makers thereof, I only was made use of, as a setter out, or a placer of some principal matters therein contained; wherein, when I found the Pope's Authority so highly advanced, and with so strong Arguments mightily defended, I said unto his Grace: I must put your Highness in remembrance of one thing, and that is this, The Pope as your Highness well knoweth is a Prince as you are, & in leag●…e with all other Christian P●…nces, it may hereafter so fall o●…t, that your Highness and he may vary upon some points of league, whereupon may grow br●…ch of amity yea and wars betwixt you; I think it therefore best that, that place be amended, & his Authority more advisedly touched. Nay quoth the King) that shall it not, for we are so much bound to the S●…a of Rom●…, that we cannot do to much honour thereunto Then did I further put his Mai●…sty in remembrance of the Statute of 〈◊〉, whereby a great p●…t of the Pope's Provisions, were pared away. To that his Majesty answered, that whatsoever impediment were to the contrary, yet should his Authority be set forth to the v●…ermost: for (q●…oth he, we received from that Sea, this our Crown Imperial; of which th●…ng until his Grace told me with his own mouth I never heard before. So that I trust when his Majesty sha●…be once truly informed of this, ●…nd call to remem●…rance my pla●…ne an●… honest d●…ling therein, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will never speak of it 〈◊〉, but ●…ather quite 〈◊〉 me thereof himself. Thus ●…ded the Assembly for that time, & the Lords soin what displeasantly departed.  
Then took Sy●… Thom●…s More h●…s boat hom wards to his house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, together with M. Ro●…, and bv the way was very ●…easant. Which M. R●…per see●…, was very glad thereof, ho●… that he had gotten himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to h●…s ho●…se, they we●…t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 G●…den, and there walked to 〈◊〉 a g●…od wh●…le. No●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: I trust 〈◊〉, all 〈◊〉 well, because you are so 〈◊〉. It is so in ●…eed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (qu●…th he, I 〈◊〉 our L●…rd God Are you then put out of the Parl●…ent bill Sir (quoth M. Roper?) By my troth son R●…per (quoth he, I never rem●…mbred it. Never remembered it, Sir, (quoth M. R●…per) a matter that touch●…th yourself so near, & all us for your sake. Truly Sir, I am ve●…y sorry to hear it, for I v●…ly hoped, when I saw you so merry, that all had been well. Well, well Son Roper (quoth he) will't thou know why I was so merry indeed? That would I gladly Sir, said M. Roper. In good Faith, Son Roper, I reioyce●… that I had given the Devil a 〈◊〉 fall, and that with these Lords, I had gone so fare, as without great shame I could not go back again. At wh●…h wo●…des M Rop●…r waxed sad, and then they went both in.  
Now, upon the report made by the Lord Chancellor, and the other Lords, to the King of their former discourse, and proce●…dings with Sir Thomas More, the King was so highly offended with him, that he plainly told them, he was fully purposed that the aforesaid ParlamentB●…ll should proceed forth against him. To whom the Lord Chancellor, and the rest of the Lords said, they perceived the upper House so precisely bend to hear him spoke for himself & to make answer in his own defence that if he were not put out of the bill, it would without fail be rejected of all. But for all this, the King would needs have his own will therein, or else (quoth he) at the passing thereof, I will myself be personally present. Then did 〈◊〉 Lord Chancellor, and the rest (seeing him so vehemently ben●… therein) upon their knees, beseech his Grace in most humble wise, to for bear the same considering, that if he shoul●… 〈◊〉 his own presence receive 〈◊〉 overthrow, it would not only encourage his Subjects ever 〈◊〉: to contemn him; but 〈◊〉 throughout all Christendom redound to his great dishonour Adding thereunto, that they doubted not in time, to find some other matter against him which might serve his Majesty purpose far better; for in th●… former business, especially tha●… of the Nun, he is accounted (quoth they) so innocent and clear, that he is judged of most m●…n, rather worthy of praise, than reprehension. Whereupon at length, through their earnest persuasions the King was contented to yield himself to their counsel.  
On the Morrow after, M. Cromwell meeting with M. Ro●… in the Parliament house, willed him to tell his Father, that he was put out of the Parliament Bill; which news M. Roper sent home immediately to his wife, willing her to make the same known to her Father. Whereof when he heard: In good faith Meg (quoth he) Quod differtur, non aufertur. After this it happened that the Duke of Norfolk & Sir Tho. More met together, and falling into familiar talk, the Duke said unto him: By the Mass M. More, it is perilous striving with Princes, & therefore I would wish you somewhat to incline to the King's pleasure: For by God's body, M. More, Indignatio Pri●…cipis Mors est. Is that all my Lord (quoth he?) Then in good Faith, there is no more difference between your Grace and me, but that I may dye to day, & you to morrow.  
In this Parliament was a statute made for the Oath of Supremacy, and lawfulness of the King's Marriage; and within a while after all the Priests of London, and Westminster, & with them Sir Thomas More only, & no lay man beside, were cited to appear at Lambeth, before the Bishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and Secretary Cromwell, Commissioners, apppointed there to tender the Oath unto them.  
Upon this strange citation Sir Tho. More, as his accustomed manner ever was, always before he entered into any business of importance (as when he was first chosen of the King's privy Council, when he was sent Ambassador, appointed Speaker of the Parlament-House, created Lord Chancellor, or when he took any weighty matter upon him) prepared himself to Confession, heard Mass, and was housled, in the Morning, the self same day that he was to appear●… before the Lords at Lambeth.  
And as he used often at othe●… times of his departure from hi●… wife and Children (whom he tenterly loved) to have them bring him to his boat, & there to kiss them all, and bid them farewell; at this time he would not suffer any of them to follow him further than his gate, where with a heavy hart (as by his countenance appeared) he took his leave of them, & with M. Rop●…r and four servants entered into his boat, towards Lambeth: wherein sitting still sadly for a while, at last he rounded M. Roper in the ear, & said: Son Roper, I thank our Lord God, the field is won. What he meant by that, they did not well understand, yet loath to seem ignorant, M. Roper said; Sir, I am very glad thereof. And as they after conjectured, it was for that the love he had to God, wrought in him so effectually, that it utterly conquered all his ●…arnall affections.  
At his coming to Lambet●…, he behaved himself so discreetly before the Commissioners, at the ministration of the foresaid Oath, (as may be seen at large in certain Letters of his scent to M. rs Roper, extant in a printed volume of his works) as they had little, or nothing to lay unto his charge; yet durst they not, as it seemed, dismiss him, but committed him to the cu●…tody of the Abbot of Westminster for 4. or 5. days; during with time the King consulted with his Counsel, what order were best to be taken with him. ●…nd albeit in the beginning, it was resolved that he should upon his oath be discharged; yet did Queen Anne, through her importunate clamours, so fare prevail 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 chain of gold about his N●…cke, M. ●…chard Cr●…mwell, who had the charge of conveying him to prison, advised him to send home his Chain to his wife, or to some of his Children. Nay (quoth he) that will I not, for if I were taken in the field by mine enemy, I would he should far somewhat the better for me. At his landing at the Tower gate, M. Lieutenant was ready there to receive him, where the Gentleman Porter demanded of him his upper garment Why here it is (quoth he) & presently took o●…f his Cap, and delivered it unto him, saying; I am very sorry M. Porter, that it is no better for you. Nay (quoth the Porter) I must have your Gown Syr. HEY cry you mercy, good M. Porter, for now indeed I remember, that my Cap is not my upper garment, but only the thatch of my poor old Tenement.  
So then was he by M. Lieutenant conveyed to his Lodging, where he called unto him one john Wood his own servant, apppointed there to attend him, who could neither write nor read, and swore him before the Lieutenant, that if he should hear or see at any time, his Master write, or speak any manner of thing against the King, Council, or State of the land, he should reveal it to the Lieutenant, that the Lieutenant might make the same known to the Counsel.  
After he had remained in the Tower about a month, his daughter Roper (having greatly desired to see her Father) made earnest suit, & got leave to visit him: at whose coming after the saying of the seven Psalms & litanies, which he was ever accustomed to say with her) before they fell into discourse of any other matter, among other speeches he said unto her: I believe Meg, that they who have put me here, think they have done me a great displeasure: But I assure thee on my faith (mine own good daughter) if it had not been for my wife & you my Children, whom I account the chief part of my charge, I would not have failed long ere now, to have enclosed myself in a straighter room than this. But since I am come hither, without mine own desert, I trust that God of his goodness will disburden me of my care, and with his gracious help supply my want amongst you. And I find no cause (I thank God Meg) to reckon myself in worse case here, then in mine own house. For me thinks in this case, God maketh me even a wanton, setting me upon his knee, and dandling me.  
Thus by his patiented suffering, and cheerful demeanour in all his tribulations and disasters, it plainly appeared, that nothing seemed painful unto him, but rather a profitable Exercise, for the good of his soul. Then when he had questioned a while with his daughter about his wife Children, and household state in his absence, he asked her how Queen Anne did? Never better Father (quoth she.) Never better Meg (quoth he:) Alas, alas, it pitieth me to remember into what misery (poor Soul) she will shortly come.  
After this, M. Lieutenant coming one to day his chamber to visit him, & recounting the many courtesies, and benefits that he had heretofore received at his hands, and therefore how much the more bound he was to ent●…ertayne him friendly, & make him good cheer, which, the case standing as it did, he could not (as he would) do, without the King's high displeasure, & therefore hoped he would accept of his good will and of such poor cheer as he had. Ma●…ster Lieu●…nant (quoth Sir Thomas More) now verily I believe, all you have said to be true, for which I do most heartily thank you. And assure yourself, M Lieutenant, when you see me mislike my cheer, than thrust me out of your doors, as a very unthankful Guest.  
Now whereas the Oath above mentioned made to confi●…me the K. Supremacy & marriage, was comprised in very few wo●…des, the Lord Chaunc●…llour & Secretary Cromw●… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 own heads, add more wo●…s v●…to it, to make it appea●…e of more force, and to 〈◊〉 better in the King's ear: whi●…h Oath so amplified, they had caused to be ministered to Sy●… T●…mas More, & to all others throughout the Kingdom. The which Sir Thomas More perceiving said one day to his daughter Roper: I may tell thee M●…gge, they that committed me hither for refusing the Oath, not agreeable to the Statute, are not by their own law able to justify my imprisoment. And surely Daughter, it is great pi●…y, that any Christian Prince should, by so flexible a Counsel ready to follow his affe●…tions, & by so weak a Clergy wanting grace to stand constantly to their Religion, with ●…attery be so gros●…ely abused. But at length the Lord Chancellor, & M. Secretary espying their own oversight in that behalf, were glad afterwards to sinned a means that another Sta●… should be made for the con●…mation of the said Oath so amplified, with their additions.  
And whereas Sir Thomas More had made a conveyance for the disposing of his lands, reserving only unto himself, an estate for term of life, and after his descease some part thereof to his wife & children, & other some to his Son Ropers wife, for a jointure, in consideration she was an 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of more than a hundred 〈◊〉 by the year: And like●…se other some to M. 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in recompense of then 〈◊〉 money, with diuer●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over and beside: All which conveyances and as●…urances, being made and finished long before any matter (whereof he was attainted) could be made an offence: yet by Statute were they now all clearly avouded, and all the lan●…s that he had in such sort assured upon his wife and children by the said 〈◊〉 (contrary to order of the laws) taken from them, and forfayt●…d into the King's hands, except only that po●…tion which he had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉 & his wife, by reason that after the 〈◊〉 conveyance, which was 〈◊〉 to ●…selfe for the term of his life, he had, upon further consideration, w●…thin two ●…ayes af●…r, by another conu yance given the same immediately to M. 〈◊〉 and his w●…e, in present posse●…on. So as the Sta●… had only avoided the fi●…st c●…nueyance, for fa●…ting no more unto the King than had been passed ther●…n and the seco●…d conneyance passed to M. 〈◊〉 and his wife (being dated two da●…es after) falling without the compass of the law, was ad●…dged good, and valide.  
Sir Thomas More being now prisoner in the Tower, and one day looking f●…th at his window, saw a Father of Zion (named M. R●…ynolds) and three monks of the Ch●…rter house, going out of the Tower to ex●…cution, for that they had refused the Oath of Suprema●…: wherupo, he langui●…hing it were with desire to bear them comp●…ny say●… unto his da●…ghter 〈◊〉 then pre●…nt: Loo●…e 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 thou not see that these blessed Fathers be now going as cheerfully to their deaths, as B●…degromes to their marriages? By whi●…h thou m●…yst see (mine own d●…re daughter) what a great differen●…e there is between s●…ch as have spent all their days in a religious, h●…rd, and penitential life, and such as have, in this world, like wretches (as thy poor Father here hath done) consume all their time in pleasure and ease For which God, o●…t of his gracious Goo●…nes w●…l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them to remay●…e 〈◊〉 in this vale of misery a●…d 〈◊〉, but wi●…l speed●…y 〈◊〉 them hence into the 〈◊〉 of his ever lasting D●…ty W●…ras ●…ny si●…ly Fathe●…, 〈◊〉, who 〈◊〉 a mo●…t wicke●… 〈◊〉 hath 〈◊〉 the whole course of his ●…serable life most 〈◊〉 God t●…king him not worthy to 〈◊〉 so ●…oone thereunto, l●…ueth here him 〈◊〉 the world, to be furth●…r tried, plunge●…, & and turmoiled in misery.  
Within a why●…e after, M. Secretary came to him from the King, and pretending much friendship towards him said, that the King's Highness was his good and gracious Lord, not mynding any matter thence forward, wherein he should have cause of scruple to trouble his cons●…ience. As soon as 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉 was departed to express what comfo●…t the 〈◊〉 of his speeches, he took a coal (for pen & ink t●…en he had none) & wrote the●…e lines following.  
〈◊〉, 〈◊〉, look 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉,  
Nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pleasantly, begin to 〈◊〉,  
As 〈◊〉 thou wouldst my ruins all 〈◊〉;  
During my life thou shalt not me 〈◊〉.  
Tru●…t I shall, God, to enter in a while Thy 〈◊〉 of Heavens, sure and uniform.  
Eu●…r after a calm, look I for a sterme.  
Now Sir Thomas More, had continued almost six weeks in the Tower, before the Lady his wife could obtain licence to visit him. Who at her first coming to him (like a good simple worldly woman) bluntly saluted him in this manner: What a good-care M. More, I merua●…le that you, who have been always hitherto taken for so wise a man, will now so play the fool to lie here in this close filthy prison, and be content to be thus shut up amongst mice and rats, when you m●…ght be abroad at your liberty, with the favour and good will both of the King and his Counsel, if you would bu●… do as all the Bishops, & best lea●…ned of the Realm have done? And since you have at Chelsey a right fair house, your Library, your Books, your Garden, your Orchard, & all other necessaries handsome about you where also you might, in the company of me your wife, Children and household be merry; 〈◊〉 muse what a Gods Name you mean thus fond to tarry here?  
After he had a while quietly heard her, with a cheerful countenance he said unto her. I pray thee good 〈◊〉 Alice tell me one thing. What is that, quoth she? Is not this house as near Heaven as mine own? whereto after her accustomed homely fashion not liking such spea●…hes she answered: Tille-valle, ●…valle. How say you 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉, is it not so (quoth he?) 〈◊〉 Deus, bone 〈◊〉, man, will your old Tricks never be left (quoth she again?) Well then M. rs Alice, said he, if it be so, it is very well; for I see no great cause, why I should joy much either in my gay house, or in any thing belonging thereunto, when as if I should but live seven years under ground, and then rise again and come thither, I should not fail to find some dwelling therein, that would bid me get out of doors, & tell me it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mine. What cause then have I to love such a house, as would so soon●… forget his old Master? So as her persuasions moved him nothing at all.  
Not long after this there came unto him, the Lord Chancellor, the Dukes of Norfolk, and Su●…folke, with Master Secretary, and diverse of the privy Counsel, at two sever all times, wh●… used all possible policy to procure him either precisely to cō●…fesse the Supremacy, or directly to deny it. Whereunto (〈◊〉 appeareth by the book of hi●… Examinations) they could ne ver bring him, or justly tax him for the contrary.  
Shortly hereupon, one M 〈◊〉 (created after wards Lor●… Rich) that then was newly mad●… the King's So●…citour, Sir Richard Southwell, & one M. Pa●…mer servant to the Secretary; were sent unto Sir Thomas More under colour of fetching hi●… Books away from him. An●… whilst Sir Richard Southwell, an●… M. Palmer were busy in p●…king them up, M. Rich pretending friendly discourse with him, amogst other things (of set purpose as it seemed) said thus unto him: For as much as it is well known M. More, that you are a man both wise, and well learned, aswell in the laws of the Realm, as otherwise, I pray you therefore, let me in courtesy, and good will be so bold to put you this case. Admit there were Sir (quoth he) an Act of Parliament, that all the Kingdom should take me for King, would not you then M. More, take me for King? Yes marry, (quoth Sir Thomas More) that would I Then I put case further (quoth M. Rich: Admit there were an Act of Parliament, that all the Realm should take me for Pope, would not you the●… M. More take me for Pope? For answer (quoth Sir Thomas More) to your first case, the Parliament may well (M. Rich) meddle with the state of temporal Princes; but to make answer to your later case: Suppose the Parliament would make a law, that God should not be God: would you M. Rich, then say, that God were not God? No Sir (quoth he) that would I not. No more (quoth Sir Thomas More) as M. Rich after reported of him, could the Parliament make the King supreme head of the Church. And so M. Rich, with the rest departed.  
Now upon the only report of this speech Sir Thomas More was indicted of Treason, upon the Statute, whereby it was made Treason to deny the King to be supreme head of the Church: into which Indictment, were put these heinous words, 〈◊〉, Traitorously, and 〈◊〉. Whereupon presently after he was brought from the Tower 〈◊〉 answer the Indictment at the King's Bench bar; & being there arraigned before the judges, he openly told them; That he could be content to have abidden the rigour of the law by this their indictment, but then he should thereby be driven to confess falsely of himself the matter indeed, which was the deny all of the King's Supremacy, and which he protested was most untrue. Wherefore he pleaded there to not guilty, and so reserved unto himself advantage to be taken of the body of the matter, after verdict, to avoid that Indictment. And moreover he added; That if these only odious terms Maliciously, Traitorously, & Diabolically were left out of the Indictment, he saw nothing therein, wherewith justly to charge him.  
Then for proof alleged unto the jury, that Sir Thomas More was guilty of this Treason, M. Rich was called forth, to give evidence upon his Oath, as he did against him. To whom, having thus sworn, Sir Thomas More spoke in this wise: If this Oath of yours be true M. Rich, than I pray God, that I may never see him in the face in his Kingdom; which I would not say, were it otherwise, to gain the whole world. Then recounted he to the Court, the whole discourse, of all their conference, and putting of Cases in the Tower, according to the Truth. And turning to M. Rich he said: In good faith M. Rich, I am more sorry for your Perjury then for mine own peril. And beside, you shall understand, that neither I, nor any man else to my knowledge, ever took you to be a man of such credit, as to communicate unto you any matter of importance; and (you well know) I have been acquainted with you no small while, and have known you, & your Conversation from your very youth; for we dwelled long together in one Parish, where, as yourself can tell best, (I am sorry you compel me so to say) you were esteemed very light of your tongue, a great Dicer, and of no commendable Fame, or Name: Can it therefore seem likely to your Lordships, that I would in so weighty a matter, so unadvisedly overshoot myself, as to trust M. Rich (a man reputed always by me, and others for one of little truth, as your Lordships have 〈◊〉, so fare, above my Sovereign the King, or above any of his noble Counselors, that I would utter unto him the secrets of my Conscience, touching the King's Supremacy? The special point and only mark so long aimed at in all my actions? The thing which I never did, or ever would offer to the King's Majesty himself; or to any of his Honourable Counsel, as it is not unknown unto your Honours, who sundry times have been sent unto me, into the Tower from his Highness own person, for no other purpose. Can this in your judgements, my Lords, seem to stand with truth, in any likely hood? And yet if I had so said indeed (my Lords) as M. Richardo hath falsely sworn, since it was spoken, as he saith, in familiar talk, affirming nothing, and only in putting of cases, without other displeasant circumstances, it cannot justly be taken to be spoken Maliciously, and where there is no Malice, there can be no Offence.  
And besides this (my Lords,) I can never think, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many worthy Bishops, so 〈◊〉 honourable Personages; and 〈◊〉 many other worshipful; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and well learned men, as were assembled at the making of that Law in the Parliament, ever meant to have any man punished by death, in whom there could be found no Malice: for if Malice be taken for Sin generally, then is there no man that can excuse himself thereof: Si 〈◊〉, quòd peccatum non habemus etc. And as for the term Maliciously, it is not in this Statute to be taken for Material; as in like case you know the term Forcible, is meant in Forcible Entry; by which Statute if a man enter patiently, and put not his Adversary our forcibly, it is no offence: but if he put him out forcibly, by that Statute it is an Offence, and so shallbe punished by this Term forcible.  
Moreover (my Lords) the manifold goodness of the King's Highness himself, who hath been so many ways my singular good Lord, &c gracious sovereign, who hath always so dear affected me, and even at my first coming unto his Royal service, advanced me to the dignity of his Honourable privy 〈◊〉, vouchsafing to admit me afterward to 〈◊〉 of great 〈◊〉 and Honour, and lastly to 〈◊〉 me to that weighty room of his Majesties' high Chancellor, (the like whereof he never did to any temporal man his subject before) next to his own Royal person the highest Office in this noble kingdom, so fare above my merit or desert, and this for the space of above twenty years together, showing his continual favour towards me, until at mine own poor suit (giving me his gracious licence to bestow the little residue of my life, in the service of God, for the good of my soul) it pleased his Highness of his especial goodness, to discharge and disburden me thereof: now all this his highness' favour (Isay) thus bountifully extended, & so long continued towards m●… considered, as it ought, in my mind is sufficient to convince this slanderous surmise of M. Rich, so wrongfully sworn against me.  
When Sir Thomas More had thus spoken, M. Rich seeing himself so disproved, and his credit so fòuly disgraced, caused Sir Richard Southwell, & M. Palmer (who were also present at the time of their Conference in his Chamber) to be sworn, what words had passed betwixt them. Whereupon M. Palmer upon his deposition said; That he was so busy, in putting up Sir Thomas Moor's Books into a sack, that he took no heed of their speeches. Sir Richard Southwell likewise upon his deposition said; That because he was only apppointed to look unto the conveyance of his Books, he gave no great ear unto what they said.  
After this, many other reasons & arguments were alleged by Sir Thomas More, in defence of his own Innocency, & to the discredit of M. Rich, in the foresaid point; Notwithstanding all which, the jury found him guilty, and immediately upon their verdict, the Lord Chancellor (for that business there chief commissioner) beginning to proceed to judgement against him, Sir Tho. More said unto him.  
My Lord, when I myself was towards the Law, the manner in such cases was, to ask the Prisoner before sentence of Condemnation, why judgement should not be given against him? Whereupon the Lord Chancellor staying the sentence (wherein he had partly begun to proceed) demanded of him, What he was able to say for himself, to the contrary? Then Sir Tho. More, in this sort, most humbly made answer.  
For as much as, my Lords, (quoth he) this judgement is grounded upon an Act of Parliament directly repugnant to the laws of God & his holy Church the supreme government of which, or any part thereof, no ●…emporall Prince may presume by a●…y temporal law, to take vpo●… him, as rightfully belongin●… to the Sea of R●…me; a spirttuall preheminenc●… conferred, and granted, by the mouth of ou●… saviour himself, being personally present upon the Earth, only unto S. Peter the Apostle, and his lawful Successors, Bishops of the same Sea, by special prerogative; It is not therefore 〈◊〉 enough for one Christian Catholic man to charge, and convince another Christian Catholic man, & say, that this Realm of England (being but a member, & a small part only of the Church of Christ) hath power and authority to make a particular law, disagreeable to the general law of Christ's Universal Catholic Church; no more than the City of London, being but one poor member in respect of the whole Kingdom, might make a law agay●…st an Act of Parliament, to b●…nd the whole Realm. And further he shown, that it was contrary both to the ancient Laws, & Statutes of our own Realm not then repealled, as they might well see in Magna Carta; Quod 〈◊〉 libera sit, & habeat omnia iura integra, & libertates suas 〈◊〉; and contrary likewise to that sacred Oath, which the King's Highness himself, and en●…ry other Christian Prince of this realm with great Solemnity, hath ever taken at their Coronation. Alleging moreover, that no more might this Realm of England refuse obedience to the Sea of R●…me, than the child might refuse Obedience to his natural Father: for as S. Paul saith of the 〈◊〉, I have regenerated you my Children in Christ; so might holy S. Gregory Pope of Rome, of whom (by S. Augustine his messenger) we Englishmen first received the Christian faith, truly say, You are my Children, be●…caus●… I have given you everlasting salvation (a fare, and better, & more noble Inheritance, than any carnal Father can leave to his Children) & by regeneration made you my Children in Christ.  
To this speech of Sir Thomas More the Lord Chancellor answered; That seeing all the Bishops, Universities, & best learned of the Realm, had to this Act of Parliament agreed, it was very greatly to be admired, that he alone, against them all, would so stiffly stick, and argue so vehemently against it.  
To this Sir Thomas More a gain replied, saying: If the number of Bishops and Universities be so material, as your Lordship seemeth to take it; then I see little cause, my Lord, why that thing should make any change at all in my Conscience. For I nothing doubt (though not in this Realm yet in Ch●…istendome round about, the number of learned men and Bishops to be fare greater, who will defend and maintain the contrary; and therefore am I not bound to conform my conscience to the Council of one Kingdom, against the general Council of Christendom.  
Now, when Sir Thomas More for the avoiding of the Indictment had taken as many exceptions as he thought fit, the Lord Chancellor loath to have the burden of that judgement wholly to depend upon ●…fe there openly asked the advice of the Lord Fitz-Iames (than Lord chief justice of the King's B●…nch and joined in commission with him) whether this In●… were 〈◊〉 or no. Who, like a 〈◊〉 man, answered: My Lords (quoth he) by S. 〈◊〉 (that was ever his oath, I must needs confess, that if the Act of Parliament be not unlawful, then is not the Indictment in my conscience insufficient. Whereupon the Lord Chancellor said to the rest of the Commissioners; Lo my Lords, you all hear what my Lord chief justice saith, & so immediately he gave judgement. Which being done the commissioners, yet further offered him courteously, all favourable audience, if he would speak: who answered; I have no more to say my Lords, but that like as the Blessed Apostle S. Paul (as we read in the Acts of the Apostles was present, and consente●… to the death of S. Stephen, & kept their clothes that stoned him to death, and are now both ho●…y Saints in heaven; so I verily trust, and shall right heartily pray, that though your Lordships have now here in earth been judges to my Condemnation, yet may we hereafter meet all together in everlasting glory.  
After his condemnation he departed from the Bar towards the Tower again, led by Sir William Kingston a tall strong and comely knight) Constable of the Tower, & his very dear fri●…d, who when he had brought him a part of the way towards the Tower, with a heavy heart, the tears running down his cheeks, bade him farewell. The which Sir Thomas More seeing, comforted him with as good words as he could, saying: Good M Kingston, trouble not yourself, but be of good cheer, for I will pray for you, and my good Lady your wife that we may meet together in Heaven, where we shallbe merry for ever and ever. And a little after Sir William Kingston meeting with M. Roper said: In good faith M. Roper, I was ashamed of myself that at my departure from your Father, I found myself so feeble, and he so strong, that he was fain to comfort me, who should rather have comforted him.  
As Sir Th●… More came near unto the Tower, his Daughter Roper desirous to see her Father once more before his death, and to receive his last blessing, gave attendance about the Tower-wharf, where he was to pass, & so soon as she saw him, hastening unto him, without respect or care of herself, pressed in among the throng of the Guard, that with halberds went round about him, and there openly in the sight of all ask him blessing on her knees embraced him, took him about the neck, and kissed him. Who with a merry countenance, nothing at all dejected, gave her his Fatherly blessing, with many Godly words of comfort, & then departed.  
So remained he in the Tower more than eight days after his condemnation, from whence, the day before he suffered, he sent his shirt of hair (not willing to have it seen) to his said Daughter Roper, and a Letter written with a coal (printed in the aforesaid book of his works) expressing plainly the fervent desire he had to suffer on the Morrow, in these words following: I cumber you, good Margaret very much, but I would be sorry if it should be any long, then to Morrow; for to Morrow is S. Thomas of Canterbury his Eve, & the Octave of S. Peter, & therefore to Morrow long I to go to God; it were a day very meet, and convenient for me. I never liked you manner better towards me then when you last embraced me, and when daughterly love, and dear charity, have no leisure to look towards worldly courtesy.  
Upon the next Morrow, according as he wished, early in the morning there came unto him Sir Thomas Pope, his singular good friend, with a message from the King and Counsel, that he must before nine of the clock, the same morning, suffer death, and that he should forth with prepare himself thereto. M. Pope (quoth he) for your good tidings, I most heartily thank you. I have always been much bound to the King's highness, for the many benefits, and honours that he hath still from time to time most bountifully heaped upon me; especially that it hath pleased his Majesty, to put me here in this place, where I have had convenient time and leisure to remember my last End; and now most of all am I bound unto his Grace, that I shall be so shortly rid out of the miseries of this wretched life, & therefore will I not fail to pray earnestly for his Grace, both here & in the other world also.  
The King's pleasure is further (quoth Sir Thomas Pope) that at your execution you shall not use many words. M. Pope (quoth he) you do well to give me warning of the King's pleasure, for otherwise I might have offended his Majesty against my will. I had indeed purposed at that time, to have spoken somewhat, but of no matter of offec●… to his Grace; nevertheless whatsoever I intended, I am ready to conform myself obediently to his commandment. And beseech you, good M. Pope, be a means unto his Majesty that my daughter Margaret may be at my Burial. The King is contented already (quoth Sir Thomas Pope) that your wife, children, and other of your Friends have liberty to be present thereat. O how much am I bound unto his grace quoth Sir Thomas More) that vouchsafeth to have so gracious a consideration of my poor Burial. Whereupon Sir Tho. Pope taking his leave could not forbear weeping: which Sir Tho. More perc●…yuing, comforted him in this wise. Q net yourself good M. Pope, and be not discomforted, for I trust we shall one day ●…e each other in heaven, where we shall be sure to live, and love together in joyful bliss eternally.  
Upon Sir Thomas Pope's departure, he changed himself into his best apparel, as one that had been invited to some solemn feast, which M. Lieutenant seeing, advised him to put it off, saying, that he that was to have it, was but a javel. What M. Lieutenat (quoth ●…he) shall I account him a javel that shall do me this day so singular a benefit? Nay I assure you were it cloth of Gold, I would account it very well bestowed upon him, as S. Cyprian did, who gave to his Executioner, thirty pieces of Gold. Yet through the Lieutenant's persuasions he altered his Apparel, and after the Example of the foresaid holy Martyr, he gave that little money he had left, to his Executioner, which was one Angel of Gold.  
Then was he by M. Lieutenant brought out of the Tower, & from thence led towards the place of Execution, upon the Tower-hil, where going up the Scaffold which was weak, & ready to fall, he said smilingly to M. Lieutenant: I pray you, good M. Lieutenant see me safe up, & for my coming down let me shift for myself. Then desired he all the people about him to pray for him, & to bear witness, that he should now there suffer death in & for the faith of the Holy Catholic Church. Which done he kneeled down, and after his prayers said he turned to the Executioner, & with a cheerful countenance spoke thus merrily unto him: Pluck up thy spirits man, and be not afraid to do thine Office: my neck is somewhat short, therefore take heed thou strikest not awry, for saving of thine honesty: but if thou dost, upon my word I will not hereafter cast it in thy teeth. So, at one stroke of the Executioner, passed Sir Thomas More out of this world, to God, upon the same day, which himself had m●… desired. 6. julij. 15●…5.  
Soon after his death, intelligence thereof came unto the Emperor Charles the fifth, whereupon he sent for Sir Thomas Elio●…, than Ambassador there, & said unto him: My Lord Ambassador, we understand, that the King your M●…ister hath put his faithful servant, & grave Coū●… 〈◊〉 ●…eath, 〈◊〉 Thom●… 〈◊〉 Whereunto Sir Thomas E●… answered, that he had heard nothing thereof. Well (quoth the Emperor) it is too true, & 〈◊〉 will I say, that if I had been Master of such a Servant (of whose counsels, and performance in State matters myself have had th●…se many years no small experience) I would rather have lost the best City of my dominions, them such a worthy Counsellor. Whic●…●…peach of the Emperor was afterward related by Sir Thomas Eliot unto M. William Roper, & his wife, being with him at supper; in the presence of one M. Clement; ●…. H●…ywood, and their wives.  
FINIS.