graue speache brought forth such vrgent arguments why these exactions were not to be granted that herevpon the King's demaunde was crossed and his request denyed so that one M. r Tiler one of the King 's priuie Chamber went presently from the house and tolde his Maiestie that a beardelesse boy had disappointed him of all his expectation wherevpon the king conceaued great indignation against him and could no way be satisfyed vntill he had in some sorte reuenged it But for as much as he hauing yet but a litle could not loose much the king deuised a Causelesse quarrell against Sir Iohn More his most innocent father and clapt him vp in the Tower of London keeping him there prisoner vntill he had forced him against all Iustice to pay one hundred pounds as a fyne for a Causelesse offence Manie also then counselled Sir THOMAS MORE to aske the king mercie that his father might be released amongst whome was Doctour Fox then Bishopp Winchester one of the king's priuie Councell who pretended great loue towards M. r More purposing indeede to gett the king thereby a better meanes to reuenge his displeasure against him But when Sir THOMAS had asked the Bishop's Chaplaine Doctour Whittford a verie holie and graue man afterward a Father of Sion he that translated the Follovving of Christ into English what he were best to doe he requested him for the passion of Christ not to follow his Lord's aduise saying moreouer that the Bishop would not sticke to agree to the death of his owne father if it were to serue the king's turne For which cause he returned no more to my Lo of Winchester but determined to haue gone ouer sea thinking he could not liue in England without great danger standing now in the king's displeasure and therefore he studied the French toung at home sometimes recreating his tyred spiritts on the violl where he also perfected himself in most of the Liberall Sciences as Musike Arithmetike Geometrie and Astronomy and grew to be a perfect historian his chiefe helpe in all these labours being his happie memorie of which he modestly speaketh thus I would I had as good a witt and as much learning vt memoria non vsquequaque destituor as my memorie doth not altogeather fayle me But king Henrie dying shortly after and his sonne king Henrie the Eighth striuing at the beginning of his raigne to winne the applause of his people cast Emson and Dudley into prison and attaynted them of high treason for giuing pernicious counsell to his father their prince and when they were going to execution Sir THOMAS asked Dudley whether he had not donne betterthen they to whome with a sorrowfull hart he answered O M. r MORE God was your good friend that you did not aske the king for giuenesse as manie would haue had you donne for if you had donne so perhaps you should haue bene in the like case with vs now So that to shunne present dangers by offending God or our Countrie is not alwaies the safest way euen for our bodilie good the contrarie turning oftentimes to our great fame glorie and profitt 5. These great partes of nature and diligence which euerie one noted in Sir THOMAS MORE coming to the yong king's eare vvho was at that time greedie to entertaine all rare men into his seruice he caused Cardinal VVolsey then Lo Chancellour to moue him to come to the Court and albeit the Cardinal laboured earnestly with him to effect it alleadging how deare his seruice would be to his Maiestie who could not with his honour allowe him lesse then he should loose by changing his former estate but rather would enlarge his meanes and recompence him fully yet loath to change his estate which was certaine made such meanes to the king by the Cardinall as that his Maiestie was at that time satisfyed to forbeare him Yet did the king vse him in diuerse Embassages first sending him in to France to challenge certaine debts which the king of England demaunded to be due vnto him that had bene there vniustly kept back in which charge he satisfyed both the kings fully such was his wise demeanour and sufficiencie After this he was also sent Embassadour into Flanders to confirme a league betwixt England and Burgundie which he happily finishing the king offered him at his returne a yearelie pension which Sir THOMAS refused as he writeth to Erasmus in these words VVhen I returned from my embassage of Flanders the king's Maiestie vvould haue giuen me a yearlie pension vvhich surely if one vvould respect honour and profitt vvas not to be little esteemed yet haue I as yet refused it and I thinke I shall refuse it still because either I should be fayne to for sake my present meanes vvhich I haue alreadie in the Cittie and I esteeme it more then a better or else I must keepe it vvith some dislike of the Cittizens betvveene vvhome and his Highnesse if there should happen anie controuersie as sometimes it doth chance about their priuiledges they might suspect me as not sincere and trustie vnto them in respect I am obliged to the king vvith an annuall stipende 6. About this time he compounded his famous booke of Vtopia in latine so much praised and extolled by all the learned men of that age about the yeare of our Lord 1516. being six and thirtie yeares of age This booke was of all Nations so much applauded that very shortly after it was translated both into French Italian Dutch and English The iudgement of 〈◊〉 learned men concerning which worke I thinke good to sett downe here in English as Doctour Stapleton reciteth them in his Three Thomases in Latine And first Budaeus a singular writer in those daies sayth thus of it in an epistle to Lupsetus VVe are beholding to Thomas More for the discouery of Vtopia vverein he hath diuulged to the vvorld in this our age a patterne of a happie life and a perfect rule of good behauiour This age and our posteritie shall haue this historie as a Seminarie of most holesome doctrine and profitable instructions from vvhence they may transporte and accommodate euerie one to their ovvne Citties and Countries these excellent ordinances and decrees Iohn Paludan to Peter Giles speaketh thus thereof you may see in Vtopia as in a looking-glasse vvhatsoeuer belongeth to a perfect Communion VVealth England truly hath manie excellent learned men For what may we coniecture of the rest if More alone hath perfourmed so much being first but a yong man and then full of businesses both publike and domesticall and lastly professing anie thing rather then learning Peter Giles also to Hierome Buslidian speaketh thus and giueth it this praise So manie vvonders doe here meete togeather that I am in a doubt vvhich first to admire vvhether his most happie memorie vvhich could almost vvord for vvord relate so manie different things againe hauing but heard them once tolde
epistle to Henrie Gilford a gentleman of an ancient familie For thus he writeth The fragant odour of the most honourable fame of the Court of England vvhich spreades it selfe ouer all the vvorld it hauing a king singularly endevved vvith all princelie excellencies a Queene most like vnto him and a number of sincere learned graue and vvise personages belonging unto it hath stirred vp the prince of Berghes to putt his sonne Antony to no other schoole but that Within a while after the king had created him one of his high Councellours of state perceauing euerie day more and more his fidelitie vprightnesse dexteritie wisedome dubbted him knight and after M. r Weston's death he made him Threasurer of the exchequer a place of great trust of which increase of honour Erasmus writeth to 〈◊〉 saying VVhen you vvrite next to MORE you shall vvish him ioy of his increase of dignitie and good fortune For being before only of the king's priuie Councell novv of late by the beneuolencc and free guift of his most gracious prince he neither desiring nor seeking for it is not only made knight but Threasurer of the king's Exchequer an office in England both honourable and also commodious for the purse Yea king Henrie finding still more and more sufficiencie in Sir THOMAS vsed him with particular affection for the space of twentie yeares togeather during a good parte whereof the king's custome was vpon holie daies when he had donne his deuotions to sende for Sir THOMAS into his Trauerse and there some times in matters of Astronomie Geomitrie and Diuinitie and such other sciences to sitt and conferre with him otherwhiles also in the cleere nights he would haue him walke with him on the leads there to discourse of the diuersitie of the courses motions and operations of the starres as well fixed as the planetts And because he was of a verie pleasant disposition it pleased his Maiestie and the Queene at supper time commonly to call for him to heare his pleasant ieastes But when Sir THOMAS perceaued his wittie conceipts so much to delight him that he could scarce once in a moneth gett leaue to goe home to his wife and children whome he had now placed at Chelsey three miles frō London by the water side and that he could not be two daies absent from the Court but he must be sent for againe he much misliking this restrainte of his libertie beganne therevpon to dissemble his mirth and so by little and little to disvse himselfe that he from thēceforth at such seasons was no more so ordinarily sent for The great respect which the Cittie of London bare vnto him caused the king as a speciall man to sende Sir THOMAS to appease the apprentises which were risen vp in a mutine against the strangers that dwelt then amongst them vpon May day and surely Sir THOMAS had quicted them wholy and soone had not an extraordinarie chance hindred it in S. Martins as Stovve wittnesseth The king vsed also of a particular loue to come on a suddain to Chelsey where Sir THOMAS now liued and leaning vpon his shoulder to talke with him of secrett counsell in his gardin yea and to dine with him vpon noinuiting 8. In the fourteenth yeare of the raigne of king Henry the eight there was a parlement held and thereof which was a strange thing Sir THOMAS MORE was chosen Speaker for the Lower house being now one of the Prince Counsell who being very loath to take this charge vpon him made a worthie Oration to the King 's Ma.tie not now extant whereby he earnestly laboured to be discharged of the sayd place of Speaker shipp wherevnto his Highnesse would by no meanes giue consent At the beginning of Parlament he made another other Oration the points whereof are very wisely sett downe by my vncle Rooper in his Life of Sir THOMAS MORE and they are these Since I perceaue most redoubted Soueraigne that it accordeth not to your high pleasure to reforme this election and cause it to be changed but haue by the mouth of the right Reuerend Father in God the legate who was then Cardinal Wolsey your high Chancellour therevnto giuen your assent and haue of your benignitie farre aboue that I may be are to enable me and for this office to repute me fitt rather then that you vvould seeme to imputte to your Commons that they had vnmeetely chosen me I am therefore and alvvaies shall be readie obediently to conforme my self to the accomplishment of your high commaunde And then he maketh tvvo humble petitions the one concerning himself the other the vvhole assemblie The first that if he should chance to mistake his message or for lacke of good vtterance by misrehear sall peruert their prudent instructions that his Matie vvould then pardon his simplicitie and suffer him to repayre vnto them againe for their more substantiall aduise His other request vnto the King's Maiestie vvas that is vvould please his inestimable goodnesse to pardon freely vvithout doubt of his dreadfull displeasure vvhatsoeuer it shall happen anie man to say there interpreting euerie man's vvordes hovv vncemely soeuer they vvere couched to proceede of a good zeale tovvards the profitt of the realme and the honour of his royall person 9. Cardinal VVolsey sound himself much grieued at the Burgesses that nothing could be either donne or spoken in both the houses but it was immediately blowen abroad in euerie ale house It fortuned after that a great Subsidie was to be demaunded and the Cardinall fearing it would not passe lower house vnlesse he were there present himself before whose coming it was long debated whether they should admitt him with a few of the Lords as the most opinion of the house was or that they should receaue him with his whole trayne Maisters quoth Sir THOMAS for as much as my Lo Cardinal lately ye woote well layde to our charge the lightnesse of our toungs for things vttered out of this house it should not in my minde be amisse to receaue him with all his pompe with his Maces his Pillers his Polaxes his Crosse his hatt and the Great Seale too to the intent that if he finde the like faulte with vs then we may lay the blame vpon those whome his Grace bringeth with him Vpon which words the House wholy agreed and so he was receaued accordingly There the Cardinal with a sollemne speache by manie reasons proued how necessarie it was that the demaunde there moued should be granted but he seing the companie silent contrarie to his expectation shewing no inclination thereto demaunded of them some reasonable answer but when euerie one still held their peace he spake in particular to M. r Murrey who making no answer neither he asked others also but they all had determined to answer him by their Speaker Who spake therefore reuerently on his knees excusing the silence of the house abashed as he sayd at the sight of so noble
to giue ouer all care of husbandrie and lett out our farme to others vntill vve haue better and at more leasure considered of it yet if vve haue more vvorkemen in our house then vve haue neede of such may be dismissed if they can be cōmodiously placed vvith other maisters but I vvill not suffer anie to be sent avvay to runne at randon vvithout a place to dvvell in At my returne to the king I see things go so as it is likelie I shall stay vvith him a good vvhile yet because of this misfortune perhaps I shall gett leaue to come and see you some time this next vveeke vvhen as vve vvill cōferre more at leasure about these our housholde affaires Farevvell from the Court. At Woodstock 13. Sept. 1539. But marke how God rewarded this his patience for it was in October next that he was made Lo Chancellour by which office he might easily haue purchased manie faire houses if his minde had aymed at worldlie riches and not rather thirsted after heauenlie rewards Some haue not stucke to say that if Sir THOMAS had bene so happie as to haue dyed of his naturall death about this time he had bene a very fortunate man liuing and dying in all mens fauour in the highest iudgements of the world and prosperous also to his posteritie for he had left them a fayre and great inheritance especially by the king's gracious guift But in my minde they are all carnally wise that affirme this and no way haue tasted of heauenlie wisedome For the last Scene of this Tragedie is the best and not to be wished to haue bene omitted for all the land king Henry enioyed though you adde the abbeylands and all after which now his fingars endes beganne to itche For that Card. Wolsey had shewed already a president thereof by getting leaue of the Pope to dissolue certaine small Abbyes for the building and maintenance of that great College of Christ-Church in Oxford which for that cause as I thinke is S. Peter's worke and lieth still vnfinished 6. Though in all his life time Sir THOMAS had shewed liuelie examples of manie excellent vertues as pietie zeale of God's honour wisedome Iustice liberalitie contempt of the world riches yea what not yet his most heroicall vertues towards his ende he hath expressed more liuely and exactly as his magnanimitie cōtempt of honours of wife children possessions life it selfe and whatsoeuer can be of vs desired and in steede thereof hath chosen disgraces extreame aduersities imprisonment losse of dignities goods and inheritance and hath taken vp his Crosse and followed Christ in sheding of his bloud to his honour no champion is crovvned till he hath gotten the victorie And beholde he most gloriously triumpheth ouer the flesh by forsaking his life and leauing it the world by despising it and the diuell by resisting manfully all his temptations When Sir THOMAS had behaued himselfe in his office of the Chācelour-shipp for the space of two yeare and a halfe so wisely that none could mende his doings so vprightly that none could take exception against him or his iust proceedings and so dexterously that neuer anie man did before or since that which he did For he had taken such order for the dispatching of all mens Causes that on a time sitting as ludge there and hauing finished one cause he called for the next to be heard whereto was answered that there was not one Cause more depending This he caused to be sett downe vpon recorde whereas at this day there are little fewer then a thousand if not more whereof some lye in the suddes by the space of diuerse yeares When as I say Sir THOMAS had deserued high commendations of euerie one and now perceaued that the king was fully determined to proceede to the vnfortunate marriage of Anne Bullen and for that cause a Parlement was called wherein Sir THOMAS being the chiefe Officer of the higher house was with diuerse Bishops and Noble men commaunded by the king to goe downe to the lower house to shew vnto them both what manie vniuersities beyond the seas Oxford and Cambridge at home had donne in that behalfe with their publike zeales testifying the same All which matters at the king's commaunde he opened to the Lower house not shewing his minde therein yet doubting as good cause he had least further attemps should after follow which contrarie to his conscience by reason of his office he was likelie to be putt vnto he made great suite to the Duke of Norfolke his singular good friēd that he would be a meanes to the king that he might be discharged with his Maiesties fauour of the Chancellourshipp wherein for certaine infirmities of his bodie he pretended himself vnable anie longer to serue The Duke being often thereto by Sir THOMAS sollicited at length obtayned of the king when at a time cōuenient by his Maiestie appointed Sir THOMAS repaired to the king to yeelde vp vnto him the great Seale of England which his Maiestie courteously receaued at his hands with greate praise thankes for his worthie seruice in that office at which time it pleased his highnesse to say thus vnto him That for the seruice he had hitherto done vnto him in anie suite that he should hereafter haue vnto him that either should concerne Sir THOMAS his honour that very word it liked his Highnesse to vse vnto him or that should appertaine to his profitt he should not fayle to finde him a good gracious Lord. But how true these wordes proued lett others be ludges when the king not only not bestowed vpon him the value of one pennie but tooke from him and his posteritie all that euer he had either giuen by himselfe or left him by his father or purchased by himselfe The next morning being holieday few yet knowing what had bene donne he went to Chelsey church with my Ladie and his children and familie after masse was donne because it was a custome that one of my Lord's gentlemen should then goe to my Ladie 's pewe and tell her my Lord was gone before then did he himselfe come making vnto her a courtesie with his cappe in his hād sayd may it please your Ladieshipp to come forth now my Lo is gone whereto she imagining it to be but one of his ieastes as he vsed manie vnto her he sadly affirmed vnto her that it was true for he had resigned vp his office and the king had graciously accepted it This was the way that he thought fittest to breake this matter vnto his wife who yet was full sorie to heare it it may be she spoke then those wordes which I haue rehearsed before Tillivally what will you doe M. r MORE will you sitt and make goslings in the ashes it is better to rule then to be ruled But to requite her braue minde he beganne to finde fault with her dressing for he saw a greate fault about
a personage who was able to amaze the wisest and best learned in the realme Yet with manie probable arguments he proued this his manner of coming to be neither expedient nor agreable to the ancient liberties of that house for himself in conclusion he shewed that except all they could putt their sundrie witts into his head that he alone in so weightie a matter was vnmeete to make his Grace a sufficient answer vvherevpon the Cardinal displeased with Sir THOMAS that he had not in that parlement satisfyed his expectation suddenly rose in a rage and departed And afterwards in his gallerie at VVitehall he vttered vnto him his griefe saying I would to God you had bene at Rome M. r MORE when I made you Speaker Your Grace not offended so would I too my Lord replyed Sir THOMAS for then should I haue seene the place I long haue desired to visite And when the Cardinal walked without anie more speache he beganne to talke to him of that fayre Gallerie of his saying This Gallerie of yours my Lord pleaseth me much better then your other at Hampton court with which digression he broke of the Cardinal 's displeasant talke that his Grace at that present wist not more what to say vnto him But for a reuenge of his displeasure he counselled the king to send him his Embassadour Leger into Spayne commending to his Highnesse h's learning wisedome and fittnesse for that voyage the difficultie of manie matters considered betweene the Emperour Charles the Fift and our realme so as none was so well able to serue his Maiestie therein which the king broke to Sir THOMAS But when Sir THOMAS had declared to the king how vnmeete that iournie was for him the nature of Spayne so much disagreing with his constitution that he was vnlike to doe his Soueraigne acceptable seruice there being that it was probable that he should send him to his graue yet for all that he shewed himself readie according as dutie bound him were it with the losse of his life to full-ful his Maiestie's pleasure in that behalfe The king most gratiously replyed thereto thus It is not our meaning M. r MORE to do you anie hurt but to do you good we could be glad We will therefore employe your seruice otherwise and so would not permitt him to goe that long iourney 10. For the king's wisedome perceaued that the Cardinall beganne to growe iealous of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's greatnesse fearing that which after happened he would outstrippe him in the king's gracious fauour who stil heaped more honour vpon Sir THOMAS and although he was neuer the man that asked the king anie request for himselfe yet vpon the death of Sir Richard VVinckfield who had bene Chancelour of the Dutchie of Lancaster that dignitie was bestowed vpon Sir THOMAS MORE Of which his honour Erasmus writing to Cochlie biddes him to sende Congratulatorie letters vnto him saying that he came vnto it nec ambiens nec expetens vltroneo fauore Principis humanissimi that is neither ambitiously seeking it nor once asking it but by the meere fauour of his most gracious Prince King Henry tooke such extraordinarie loue in Sir THOMAS his companie that he would sometimes on a suddain as before I touched come ouer to his house at Chelsey and be merrie with him whither on a time vnlooked for he came and dined at his house And after dinner walked with him the space of an hower holding his arme about his necke most louingly in the gardin VVhen his Maiestie was gone my vncle Rooper reioyced thereat and tolde his father how happie he was for that the king had shewed him such extraordinarie signes of loue as he had neuer seene him doe to anie other except the Cardinal whome he saw with the king once walke arme in arme VVhereto Sir THOMAS answering sayd I thanke our Lord God I finde his Grace my verie good Lord indeede and I belieue he doth as singularly fauour me as anie other subiect within this realme how beit sonne Rooper I may tell you I haue no cause to be proude thereof for if my head would winne him a Castle in France for then there was warres betweene France and vs it should not faile to go of By which wordes he euidētly shewed how little he ioyed either in the king's fauour or in his worldlie honour piercing with his singuler eie of iudgement into king Henry's nature that what shew of friendship soeuer he made to anie yet he loued none but to serue his owne turne and no longer was anie in his fauour but as long as they applyed themselues to his humours yet could he not choose but loue Sir THOMAS for his singular partes his profound iudgement his pleasant witt and intire sinceritie for which causes the rare and admirable Queene Catherine king Henrie's first wife would often say that the king her husband had but one sound Counseller in his kingdome meaning Sir THOMAS MORE for the rest she sayd that either they spoke as the king would haue them or had not such matter of iudgement in them and as for Cardinal VVolsey who was then the greatest subiect in the realme for his owne benefitt and ende he cared not what counsell he gaue the king He was of base parentage and as they say a butchers sonne of 〈◊〉 yet had he crept vp into fauour partely by his learning partely by his nimble witt and louelie carriadge whereby he could in sinuate himself into great mens fauours he had also a readie toung and a bolde countenance and had gotten manie spirituall liuings togeather 〈◊〉 them vpon vanities as great and sumptuous buildings costlie bancketts and greate magnificence for he was vaine glorious aboue all measure as may be seene by Sir THOMAS MORE' 's booke of Comfort in Tribulation where he meaneth of him what is spoken vnder the name of a great Prelate of Germanie who when he had made an oration before a great audience would bluntely aske them that sate at his table with him how they all liked it but he that should bring forth a meane commendatiō of it was sure to haue no thankes for his labour And he there telleth further how a great spirituall man who should haue commended it last of all was putt to such a non plus that he had neuer a word to say but crying oh and fetching a deepe sigh he cast his eies into the welking and wept On a time the Cardinal had drawen a draught of certeine Conditions of peace betweene England and France and he asked Sir Thomas More 's counsell therein beseeching him earnestly that he would tell him if there were anie thing therein to be misliked And he spake this so hartily saith Sir THOMAS that he belieued verily that he was willing to heare his aduise indeede But when Sir THOMAS had dealt really therein shewed wherein that draught might haue bene amended he suddenly rose in a rage and sayd
this that seing you cannot hope for condigne praise of your labours yet for all this you goe for vvard vvith this your inuincible courrage to ioyne vvith your vertue the knovvledge of most excellent sciences and contenting yourself vvith your ovvne pleasure in learning you neuer hunte after vulgar praises nor receaue them vvillingly though they be offered you And for your singular pietie and loue towards me you esteeme me and your husband a sufficient and ample theater for you to content you vvith vvho in requitall of this your affection beseech God and our Ladie vvith as hartie praiers as possible vve can povvre out to giue you an easie and happie childbirth to encrease your familie vvith a childe most like yourself except only in sexe yet yf it be a vvench that it may be such a one as vvould in time recompēce by imitation of her mothers learning and vertues vvhat by the condition of her sexe may be vvanting such a vvenche I should preferre before three boyes Farevvell dearest daughter But see I pray you how a most learned bishopp in Englād was rauished with her learning and witt as it appeareth by a letter which her father wrote vnto her to certifye her thereof Thomas More sendeth hartie greeting to his dearest daughter Margarett I vvill 〈◊〉 passe to tell you my svveetest daughter hovv much your letter delighted me you may imagine hovv exceedingly it pleased your father vvhen you vnderstande vvhat affection the reading of it raysed in a stranger It happened me this euening to sitt vvitt Iohn Lo Bishopp of E'xeter a learned man and by all mens iudgement a most sincere man As vve vvere talking togeather and I taking out of my 〈◊〉 a paper vvhich vvas to the purpose vve vvere talking of I pulled out by chāce therevvith your letter The handvvriting pleasing him he tooke it from me and looked on its vvhen he perceaued it by the salutaciō to be a vvomans he beganne more greedily to read it noueltie inuiting him therevnto but vvhen he had read it and vnderstood that it was your vvriting vvhich he neuer could haue belieued if I had not seriously affirmed it such a letter I vvill say no more yet vvhy should not I reporte that vvhich he sayd vnto me so pure a stile so good Latine so eloquent so full of svveete affections he vvas maruelously rauis hed vvith it vvhen I perceaued that I brought forth also an Oration of yours vvhich he reading and also manie of your verses he vvas so moued vvith the matter so vnlooked for that the verie countenance and gesture of the man free from all flatterie and deceipt bevvrayed that his minde vvas more then his vvords could vtter although he vttered manie to your greate praise and forthvvith he drevv out of his pockett a portegué the which you shall receaue enclosed herein I could not possibly shūne the taking of it but he vvould needes sende it vnto you as a signe of his deare affectiō tovvards you although by all meanes I endeauoured to giue him againe vvhich vvas the cause I shevved him none of your other sisters vvorkes for I vvas afeared least I should haue bene thought to haue shevved them of purpose because he should bestovve the like courtesie vpon them for it troubled me sore that I must needes take this of him but he is so vvorthie a man as I haue sayd that it is a happinesse to please him thus write carefully vnto him and as eloquently as you are able to giue him thankes therefore Farevvell from the Court this II.th of Septemb. euen almost at midnight She made an oration to answer Quintilian defending that rich man which he accuseth for hauing poysoned a poore mans bees with certaine venemous flowers in his garden so eloquent and wittie that it may striue with his She translated Eusebius out of Greeke but it was neuer printed because Christopherson at that time had donne it exactly before Yet one other letter will I sett downe of Sir THOMAS to this his daughter which is thus Thomas More sendeth greeting to his dearest daughter Margarett There vvas noe reason my dearest daughter vvhy thou shouldst haue differred thy vvriting vnto me one day longer for feare that thy letters being so barren should not be read of me vvithout loathing For though they had not been most curious yet in respect of thy sexe thou mightest haue bene pardōed by anie mā yea euē a bleamish in the childe 's face seemeth often to a father beautiefull But these your letters Megg vvere so eloquently polished that they had nothing in them not only vvhy they should feare the most indulgent affection of your father More but also they needed not to haue regarded euen Momus his cēsure though neuer so teastie I greatly thanke M. r Nicolas our deare friend a most expert man in astronomie and doe congratulate your happinesse vvhome it may fortune vvithin the space of one moneth vvith a small labour of your ovvne to learne so manie and such high vvonders of that mightie and eternall vvorkeman vvhich vvere not found but in manie ages by vvatching in so manie colde nights vnder the open skyes vvith much labour and paines by such excellent and aboue all other mens vnderstanding vvitts This vvhich you vvrite pleaseth me exceedingly that you had determined vvith yourself to studie philosophie so diligently that you vvill hereafter recompence by your diligence vvhat your negligence hath heretofore lost you I loue you for this deare Megg that vvhere as I neuer haue found you to be a loyterer your learning vvhich is not ordinarie but in all kinde of sciences most excellent euidently shevving hovv painefully you haue proceeded therein yet such is your modestie that you had rather still accuse yourself of negligence then vainely boaste of diligence except you meane by this your speach that you vvill be hereafter so diligent that your former endeauours though indeede they vvere great and praise vvorthie yet in respect of your future diligence may be called negligence Yf it be so that you meane as I doe verily thinke you doe I imagine nothing can happen to me more fortunate nothing to you my dearest daughter more happie For as I haue earnestly vvished that you might spende the rest of your life in studying phisicke and holie Scriptures by the vvhich there shall neuer be helpes vvanting vnto you for the ende of mās life vvhich is to endeauour that a sounde minde be in a healthfull bodie of vvhich studies you haue alreadie layde some foundations and you shall neuer vvant matter to builde therevpon so novv I thinke that some of the first yeares of your youth yet flourishing may be very vvell bestovved in humane learning the liberall Arts both because your age may best struggle vvith those difficulties and for that it is vncertaine vvhether at anie time else vve shall haue the cōmoditie of so carefull so louing and so learned a maister to lett passe that by
so low an estate Honourable pouerty of so great 〈◊〉 personage 8. How 〈◊〉 and confidently he deposed his office An excellent letter to 〈◊〉 shop 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 parpose Great offices 〈◊〉 vndertaken and as dangrous to be given ouer A 〈◊〉 valuar 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S 〈◊〉 Mores humble estimation of himself He sends his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 His innocence in his office Testified in priuat and publik by the King The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of As thaÌ„kfull to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for as for the office itself Another 〈◊〉 for his weak health ConteÌ„pt of all vaioglory 1. His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 1 Hatred to heresie Yet in his 〈◊〉 no heretik pur to death 2. Continuall talk of spirituall matters 3. Desire to suffer for Christ 〈◊〉 A notable lesson for all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to M. r 〈◊〉 But not kept by the sayd M. CroÌ„well Bad Counsellours make bad Princes The reward of bad couÌ„sel exaÌ„plified in CroÌ„well Of good Counsellours in S. Tho. More 3. The 〈◊〉 of Q. Anne 〈◊〉 CraÌ„mers good qualities He concludes the mariage to be lawful The cause of EnglaÌ„ds separation froÌ„ Rome Sir Tho. Mores propheticall ghesse of the oath of supremacy 4. Sir Tho. M. refused to be at Q. Annes coronatioÌ„ His couÌ„sel and predictioÌ„ to the Bishops his good fâ—â—nds A notable story wonderfully and prophetically applied His purpose rather to be denoured then 〈◊〉 Q Annes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas And the kings displeasure Sir Thomas disposeth him self more immediatly to suffer death A ChristiaÌ„ 〈◊〉 5. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occasioÌ„ of calling into question for Q. Anne The holy Nunne of Kent Warned by reuelation to rebuke K. HeÌ„ry Conferreth her reuelations with B. Fisher Her talk with Sir Thomas More Waryly handled by him Accusations pronounced against Sir Thomas That he impugned the K. mariage Quarrels picked against his ChauÌ„cellourship A supposed bribe pleasantly consuced A contteous refusall of an honest reward Another of like nature Sir Tho. More a wise marchaÌ„t traffiking for heauen 7. Sir T. M. his first 〈◊〉 A parlament to attaint true 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The Kings deputies 〈◊〉 examin Sir Tho. M. The 〈◊〉 saires words 〈◊〉 winne Sir Tho. Fairly answered with a mild and constant refusall The Deputies threats Sir T. M. accused for autour of the kings book for the Pope His constant reply and euident 〈◊〉 Wise 〈◊〉 wary counsel of Sir Tho. to the King The king acknowledgeth obligatioÌ„ of his crowne to Rome 8. His merry hart after his examination A fail giuen to the 〈◊〉 The Kings indignatioÌ„ against Sir Tho. Prndent and politikaduise in so bad a cause Proceeding against Sit Tho. M. disterred A braue answer to a frinds feare 1. The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. M. cited to takesit His preparation before his going His discreet behaue our in that cause He refuseth the sath for conscieÌ„co sake All the clergy but Bishop fisher and D. Wilson did take the oath Vnder what coÌ„ditioÌ„s Sir T. M of 〈◊〉 to set 〈◊〉 his reason of refusall Sir T. M offer proceede h not of uncertaly but because he was certain his reasons were unanswerable All Christendom of more autority then all england The oath of 〈◊〉 2. Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prisonmeÌ„t First in Westminster Then by Q. Anne importunity in the Tower His vvillingnesse to leese all for Christ. The vpper garment the porters fee. His mans oath His wonderfull courage 3. His 〈◊〉 with his daughter 〈◊〉 PreueÌ„ted with prayers The coÌ„fort he found in his emprisonment Fiue reasons vsed by his daughter to make him 〈◊〉 1. Obedience to the King 2. Autority of wise meÌ„ 3 Only B. Fisher of his mind 4. Him self a lay man 5. against a pariament Sir T. M. answers All the saints of God acknowleged the Popessupremacy Why he 〈◊〉 touche i that point in his writings 〈◊〉 with which many deceaue their owne coÌ„sciences He knew not of B. Fishers mind The Doctours of the Church greater then Doctours of England And generall CouÌ„cels then a ParlameÌ„t His trust in Gods mercy against the fear of death A heaueÌ„ly resignation 4. Sir T. M. Prophecieth Q. Annes death His plesant answer to his 〈◊〉 honest excuse The 〈◊〉 constaÌ„cy andignorance of the oath makers His meditation vpon the martyrdom of 24. religious meÌ„ Maister Secretary Cromwells visit Sir T. M. writ in the tower his book of comfort 5. A prety dialogue between Sir T. M. and his wife Her worldly obiectioÌ„ His heauenly answer Prison as neer heauen as our owne house Eternity to be preferred before temporallity An other visit 6. M. Rich his sophisticall case A poor ground for an inditement of treasoÌ„ 7. A remarkably accident at the taking away his bookes His mery ieast vpoÌ„ it 8. How great care he took not to offend the king The substance of his inditement 1. The arrangement of Sir Th. More His Iudges His 〈◊〉 The iudges chargos His Christian resolution 2. Sir Th. his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 1. How sincerly he had always told the K. his mind touching the 〈◊〉 The durance of his emprisonment and afflictioÌ„s 2. Why he refused to tell his iudgemeÌ„t of the law of supremacy Lay men not touched withthat law No law can punish fileÌ„ce that is without malice 〈◊〉 his silence were malicious ObedieÌ„ce first to God and then to man 3. That he neuer counselled or induced B. Fisher. The contents of his letters to the said Bishop 4. The law of supremacy like a two ed ged sword 3. M. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against Sir T 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Sir Tho. Mores oath to contrary By iust exceptioÌ„ against the witnesse vnworthy of credit Yf it had been true that had been no malice Malice in law The improbability of M. Rich his deposition M. Rich his witnesses do faile him 4. The Excepted against by Sir Thomas The act of parlament against Gods law No lay man can be head of the churche Against the lawes of the realme Against the kings owne oath Against the peculiar obligation of England to Rome Against all Christendom that euer 〈◊〉 5. The 〈◊〉 of S. Tho. More By yfs ands 〈◊〉 no proofes The sentence Mitigated by the king 6. Sir Thomas fully deliuereth his iudgement of the act of suoremacy to be vnlawfull Against all the churche of God 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. Mores blessed charity to his Iudges The truth of this relation froÌ„ present witnesses of credit 1. The manner of Sir Thomas his 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 His soÌ„ne asketh him blessing Great costancy courtesy and 〈◊〉 2. His childrens 〈◊〉 to him His daughter Matgarets laudable passion A ponderation vpon this mutuall passioÌ„ of Father daughter Cardinal Pooles estimatio of Sir Thomas his death 3. How deuoutly cheerfully he 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 A pleasaunt coÌ„ceipt vpoÌ„ a leight courtyer His last letters To Antony BoÌ„uise To his daughter Margaret His desito dy vpoÌ„ the octaue of S. Peter which was also S. Thom. of Canterburys commemoratioÌ„ An blessing to his heire God graÌ„ted him his desires to dy the day he wished His heir-shirt and discipline 4. Aduertisment giuë him of the day of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the K. Most welcome vnto him The K. willed him to vse but few words at his exequution His wise childreÌ„ permitted to be at his 〈◊〉 His com fortable courage He put on his best apparell that day Liberally to his executioÌ„ 5. The for me of his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Persons hired to disgrace him A good 〈◊〉 He freeth one from the teÌ„tation of despairo by his prayers His 〈◊〉 at his death His prayers 〈◊〉 couereth his eyes himself His happy 〈◊〉 6. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 The place of his buriall A notable accideÌ„t about his windnig sheet His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His head His martyrdom encouraged many other to the like M. r Gardiner Euen his 〈◊〉 Parish priest 7. A 〈◊〉 vpon the blessing which he gaue to his 〈◊〉 children A praisa of M. Iohn More sonne heire to Sir Thomas The 〈◊〉 dealing of K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir Tho. Mores heires With the Lady his widow M. Iohn More coÌ„mitted to the tovver for denial of the oath The imprisonment of his daughter Margaret 8. The fauour and physiognomie of 〈◊〉 Tho. 〈◊〉 1. Cardinal Pooles lamentatioÌ„ vpon Sir Tho. Mores death 2. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 3. Doctour Cochleus of Germany Iob 12. 4. Bishop Iouius of Italy 5. W Paradin a 〈◊〉 historiaÌ„ of France 6. Riuius a ProtestaÌ„t 7. Charles the Emperour 8. Circumstances notable in the death of Sir Tho. More From the kings part From Sir Thomas Mores part Nota. An apology for his mery 〈◊〉 A fit coÌ„parison between 〈◊〉 seuerity and Sir T. M. his pleasauÌ„t disposition 10. Sir Tho. More a lay man martyr for Ecclesiasticall autority neuer before questioned Epigrammes History of K. Richard the 3 in English and Latin His 〈◊〉 Many deemed Vtopia to be a true nation and country Sheep deuour men in England Sir Tho. More his book against Luther His epistle against Pomeranus His English writings The dialog with the messinger Great sincerity in his writing and loue of the truth He writt neither for 〈◊〉 nor report His 〈◊〉 almost incredible in so greate a man Sir Tho. M no partiall 〈◊〉 to the clergy Tindals false traÌ„slation of the scripture CoÌ„suted learnedly by Sir Th. M. The wilfulnes of heretikes Tindal falsifieth Sir T. M. words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The notable disagreemeÌ„t of heretikes among theÌ„acute selues Hereticall scoffing Heretikes Hypoctisy Against the supplication of beggars Against Iohn Frith Sir Tho. Mores Apologie How heretikes recite the catholik argumeÌ„ts Touching the length of Sir Tho. Mores bookes Heretiks blaspheming the fathers would theÌ„selues be reuerently handled WheÌ„ heretikes railings are to be neglected Heretikes excellent railours The pacificatioÌ„ CoÌ„futed by Sir T. M. The debellation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Bizance How the Pacifier 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in controuersy Sir T. M. his book of the blessed Sacrament The heretiks supper of the Lord wants the best dishe Sir Tho Mores bookes written in the tower Comfort in tribulation Of CoÌ„munion Of the Passion The 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of Comfort The said book a preparation against the persequutioÌ„ which he did forsee Written when 〈◊〉 had no book about him Written with 〈◊〉 Like Esaias his cole that purified his lippes