and at his departure our of this world with tears taking him about the neck most lovingly kissed and embraced him commending his Soul into the merciful hands of Almighty God and so departed from him who left him now better'd but with a small increase of estate because his chief house and Lands at Gubbins in Hartfordshire his last wife enjoyed who outlived Sir Thomas some ten years and therefore Sir Thomas never enjoyed almost any inhericance from his Father insomuch that he affirmed in his apology which he wrote about this time that in all his revenues and pensions except that which had been granted by Letters Patents from the King of his meer liberality viz. the Manours of Duckingtan Frinkford and Barly-park in Oxfordshire all the rest he saith amount not to above fifty pound per annum as those which he had either by his Father or by his Wife or by his own purchase Surely a most rare saying and as honourable to him as his profession that one of the Kings Councell who had gone through so many Offices for almost twenty years should not be able to purchase one hundred pounds land CHAP. XI 1 Sir THOMAS MORE 's contempt of worldly honour declared in deposing the great Dignity of Chancellorship 2 His Resolution to live poorly 3 He prepareth himself for his sufferings as foreseeing them 4 He refuseth to be present at Queen Anne's Marriage NOw when the Duke being often solicited by Sir Thomas More had at length obtained of the King a clear discharge of his Office then at a convenient time by his Highnesse appointment here-paired to his Grace to yield up unto him the Great Seal of England which as his Majesty with thanks and praise for his worthy service in that Office courteously received at his hands so also he said more unto him that for the good service he before had done him in any suit which he should after have unto him that either should concern his honour or his profit he should find him very good unto him After he had thus given over the Chancellorship and placed all his Gentlemen Yeomen with Bishops and Noble men and his eight Watermen with the Lord Audly who succeeded him in his Office to whom also he gave his great Barge Then calling all his Children unto him and asking their advice how they might now in this decay of his ability so much impaired by the surrender of his Office that he could not now as he was wont and gladly would bear out the whole charges of them all himself so that from henceforth they should not be able to live and continue together as he wisht they might when he saw them all silent and none of them ready to shew their opinions therein Then will I said he shew my poor mind unto you I have been brought up at Oxford at an Inne of Chancery at Lincolns-Inne and also in the Kings Court and so forth from the lowest degree unto the highest and yet have I now in yearly Revenues left me little above one hundred pounds by the year so that we must hereafter if we will live together be contented to become contributaries but by my counsel it shal not be best for us to fall to the lowest fare first we will not therefore descend to Oxford fare nor to the fare of New Inne but we will begin at Lincolns-Inne diet where many right worshipful and of good years do live full well which if we find our selves not able the first year to maintain then will we the next year go one step down to New-Inne fare wherewith many an honest man is well contented If that exceed our ability too then we will the next year after descend to Oxford fare where many grave learned and ancient fathers are continually conversant which if our purses stretch not to maintain neither then may we yet with bags and wallets go a begging together and hoping that for pity some good people will bestow on us their Charity at every mans door sing a Salve Regina and so still keep company and be merry together Truly a worthy resolution wherein he seems to express much love to his Children but more to God taking so patiently whatsoever might befal him for surely he that provides for the worst will be much the better prepar'd to endure lesser afflictions And whereas you have heard before how he was by the King from a very handsome livelihood 400 l. per annum taken into his Graces service to deal in the greatest and weightiest Causes that concerned his Highnesse and the Kingdome in which so painful cares and trouble as well beyond the seas as at home he had spent and consumed in effect the whole substance of his life yet with all the gain he got theeeby being never a wastful spender thereof was he not able after the resignation of his Office of the Lord Chancellor for the maintainance of himself and such as necessarily belonged unto him sufficiently to find meat fuel drink apparel and such other necessary charges All the land that ever he purchased which also he purchased before he was Lord Chancellor was not saith Mr Rooper above the value of twenty mark a year And after his debts paid as the same Mr. Rooper testifies he had not his Chain excepted in Gold and Silver left him the worth of one hundred pounds and therefore all his Children went to live of themselves And whereas upon the holy dayes during his High-Chancellorship one of his Gentlemen when service at the Church was done alwaies used to come to his Ladies pew and said Madam My Lord is gone the next holy day after the surrender of his Office and departure of his Gentlemen he came to his Wives pew himself and making a low congy said unto her Madam My Lord is gone She imagining al this to be but some humour of his in order to some design took little notice of it but when upon the way as they were going home he sadly affirmed unto her that it was true what he said for he had resigned up his Office and the King had gratiously accepted it she being very sorry to hear it said unto him Tille valle What will you do Mr. More will you sit and make Goslings in the Ashes Is it not better to rule then to be ruled But to requite her brave mind he began to find fault with her dressing for which she chiding her daughters that none of them could espy it they still saying they could find none Sir Tho merrily said Do you not perceive that your Mothers nose standeth somewhat awry At which words she stept away from him in a rage All which he did to mâ—ke her think the lesse of her decay of honour which else would have much troubled her In the time somewhat before his troubles he would discourse with his wife and children of the joies of Heaven and pains of Hell of the lives of holy
to cause him thereby to confesse his offence against the King that so his Highnesse might with the better colour have occasion to revenge his displeasure against him But when he came from the Bishop he fell into discourse with one Mr. Whitford his familiar friend then Chaplain to that Bishop and after a Father of Sion and related to him what the Bishop had said desiring his advice therein who for the Passion of God prayed him in no wise to follow his Counsel For my Lord my Master said he to serve the Kings turn will not stick to consent to his own fathers death So Sir Thomas returned to the Bishop no more and had not the King soon after dyed he was determined to have gone over Sea because that being in the Kings indignation he thought he could not live secure in England and therefore he studyed the French tongue at home sometimes recreating his tyred spirits on the Viol where he also got most of the liberal Sciences as Musick Arithmetick Geometrie and Astronomie and grew to be a perfect Historian CHAP. III. 1 His integrity in the profession of the Law 2 The beginning of his favour with King HENRY the eighth 3 The first honors bestowed by King HENRY the eighth upon Sir THO. MORE 4 He is made Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament AFter this he was made one of the Under-Sheriffs of London some say Recorder but most the other by which Office and his learning together as he hath been heard to say he gained without grudge of conscience at the least 400 l. per annum Since there was at that time in none of the Kings Courts any matter of importance in Controversie wherein he was not of Councel with one of the parties choosing the justest side and therefore for the most part he went away victorious and such was the estimation which for his learning wisdom knowledge and experience men had of him that before he was come to the service of King Henry the eighth at the suit and instance of the English Merchants he was by the Kings consent made twice Ambassadour in certain great causes between them and the Merchants of the Steel-yard whose wise and discreet dealing therein to his high commendation when the King understood he caused Cardinal Woolsey then Lord Chancellour to procure him to his service which although the Cardinal according to the Kings request laboured earnestly with him to effect among many other his perswasions alleadging unto him how dear his service must needs be unto his Majesty who could not with his honour allow him lesse then he should yearly lose by changing his former estate but that rather he would enlarge his fortunes and recompense him fully Yet he loath to change his condition made such means unto the King by the Cardinal to the contrary that his Majesty for that time was well satisfied to forbear him Now it fortuned shortly after that a great Ship of the Popes arrived at Southampton which the King claiming for a forfeiture the Popes Embassadour by suit unto his Grace obtained that he might for his Master the Pope have Councel learned in the Laws of this Kingdom and the business in his own presence being himself a singular Civilian in some publique place be openly heard At which time there could none of our Law be found so fit to be of Councel with this Embassador as Sir Thomas More who could report to the Embassadour in Latine all the reasons and arguments by their learned Councel on both sides alleadged Upon this the Counsellors on either part in presence of the Lord Chancellour and other the Judges in the Star-chamber had audience accordingly Where Sir Thomas More not only declared to the Embassadour the whole sense of all their opinions but in defence on the Popes side argued so learnedly that both the foresaid forfeiture was restored to the Pope and himself among all the hearers for his just and commendable demeanor therein so greatly renowned that now for no intreaty would the King any longer be induced to forbear his service at whose first entry thereunto he made him Master of the Requests having then no better place void and within a Month after Knight and one of his privie Councel and so from time to time advanced him continuing still in his singular favour and trusty service twenty years and above during a good part whereof the King used upon Holy days when he had done devotions to send for him into his Travers and there sometimes in Astronomie Geometrie Divinity and such other faculties and sometimes of his worldly affairs to sit and confer with him and at other whiles in the night would he have him up into his leads there to discourse with him of the diversities courses motions and operations of the Planets And because he was of a very pleasant disposition it pleased the King and Queen after the Councel had supt to call for him to be merry with them whom when he perceived so much to delight in his talk that he could not once in a moneth get leave to go home to his wife and children whose company he most desired and that he could not be absent from the Court two days together but that he must be sent for again He much misliking this restraint of his liberty began thereupon somewhat to dissemble his nature and so by little and little to disuse himself from his former mirth that he from thenceforth at such times was no more so ordinarily sent for Then one Mr. Weston Treasurer of the Exchequer dying the King of his own offer without any asking freely gave his office unto Sir Thomas More In the fourteenth year of his Majesties Reign was there a Parliament held whereof Sir Thomas More was chosen Speaker who being very unwilling to take that place upon him made an oration not now extant for his discharge thereof Whereunto when his Highnesse would not consent he spake unto him in manner following A Summary of his First Speech in Parliament SInce I perceive most renowned Soveraign that it is not your Majesties pleasure to reform this Election and cause it to be changed but have by the mouth of the Right Reverend Father in God the Legat your High Chancellour thereunto given your assent and have of your great goodnesse determined far above my deserts or abilities to repute me worthy this so weighty Office rather then you should seem to impute unto your Commons that they had unmeetly chosen me I am therefore and always shall be ready obediently to conform my self to the accomplishment of your high Commands most humbly beseeching your most noble Majesty that â—may with your Graces favour before I further enter thereinto make my humble intercession to your Highness for the grant of two lowly Petitions the one privately concerning my self the other this whole Assembly For my self gracious Soveraign That if I should chance
the old holy Doctors and at his coming next to the Court in talking with his Majesty of the foresaid matter he said To be plain with your Grace neither my Lord of Durham nor my Lord of Bath though I know them both to be wise vertuous learned and honourable Prelates nor my self with the rest of your Councel being all of us your Majesties own servants so much bound unto your Highnesse for your great favours daily bestowed upon us be in my judgment meet Councellors for your Grace herein but if your Highnesse please to understand the very truth you may have such Councellors devised as neither for respect of their own worldly profit nor for fear of your Princely authority will be inclined to deceive you and then named S Hierome S. Austine and divers other holy Doctors both Greeks and Latines and also shewed what authority he had gathered out of them which although the King as not agreeing with his desires did not very well like of yet were they by Sir Thomas More who in all his communication with the King in that business had alwaies most discreetly demeaned himself so wisely tempered that both at that present he took them in good part and often afterwards had thereof conference with him again After this were there certain questions propounded among his Councell Whether the King in the case of his first marriage needed to have any scruple at all and if he had what way were best to remove it The most of his Councel were of opinion that there was good cause because Queen Katherine being married before to Prince Arthur King Henrie's elder brother was not to be wife to two brothers and therefore for discharging of this suit was to be made to the See of Rome where the King by liberality hoped to obtain his desires wherein as it appeared afterwards he was much deceived Then was there for the triall and examination of this matrimony procured from Rome a Commission in which Cardinal Campegius and Cardinall VVolfey were joyned Commissioners who for the determination thereof sat at the Black-Friers in London where a Libell was put in for annulling the former Matrimony alledging that marriage between the King and the Queen to be utterly unlawfull but on the other side for proof that it was lawfull there was brought in a Dispensation In which after divers disputations thereupon held there appeared an imperfection which by an instrument or brief upon search found in the Treasury of Spain and sent to the Commissioners into England was supplyed and so judgement should have been given by the Pope accordingly had not the King upon intelligence thereof before the said judgment appealed to the next generall Councel after whose appellation the Cardinal upon that matter sate no longer It fortuned before the businesse of the said Matrimony was brought in question when this foresaid Mr. Rooper in discourse with his father-in-law of a certain joy commanded unto him the happy estare of this Kingdom that had so Catholick a Prince that no Heretick durst shew his face so vertuous and learned a Clergie so grave and sound a Nobility so loving and obedient Subjects all agreeing together in one faith and dutifulnesse as though they had Cor unum Animam unam one Heart and one Soul Sir Thomas replyed In truth it is indeed son Rooper as you say and in commending all degrees and estates of the same far exceeded him and yet son Rooper I pray God said he that some of us as high as we seem to it upon the mountains treading Hereticks under our feet live not the day that we gladly would wish to be at a league and composition with them to let them have their Churches quietly to themselves so that they would be content to let us have ours quietly to our selves When his son had told him many reasons why he had no cause so to expresse himself VVell said he I pray God son Rooper some of us live not till that day yet shewing him no reason why he should put any doubt therein To whom he said By my troth Sir it is very desperately spoken but withall recants that term who by these words perceiving him in some choler said merrily unto him VVel well son Rooper it shall not be so it shall not be so whom as I have said before in all the time of continuall residence with him he could never perceive so much as once disturbed with anger But now to return again where I left after the supplying of the imperfections of the Dispensation sent as is before related to the Commissioners into England the King taking the matter for ended and then intending to proceed no further in it assigned the Bishop of Durham and Sir Thomas More to goe Embassadors to Cambray a place then neither Imperiall nor French to treat of a peace between the Emperour the French King and him In the concluding whereof Sir Thomas More so worthily behaved himself procuring in our league farre more advantages unto this Kingdome then at that time by the King or his Councel was thought possible that for his good service in that employment the King made him Lord Chancellor and caused the Duke of Norfolke openly to declare unto the people as you shall see here hereafter more at large how much all England was bounden unto him CHAP. VIII 1 The Cardinal degraded of his Office 2 Sir THOMAS MORE made Lord High Chancellor of England Now upon the coming home of the Bishop of Durham and Sir Thomas More from Cambray the King was as earnest in perswading Sir Thomas More to agree to his second marriage as before by many and divers wayes provoking him thereunto for which cause as it was thought he the rather soon after made him Lord Chancellor and further told him that though at his going over the sea to Gambray he was in utter despair thereof yet he had conceived since some good hope to bring it about for although his marriage being against the positive Lawes of the Church and the written Lawes God was holpen by the Dispensation yet was there another thing found out of late he said whereby his marriage appeared to be so directly against the Law of Nature that it could in no wife be dispensable by the Church as Dr. Stokely whom he had then preferred to be Bishop of London and in that case chiefly credited was able to inform him with whom he prayed him in that point to conferre But for al his conference with him he saw nothing of such force as could induce him to change his opinion therein yet the Bishop relating to the King their conference so favourably reported of Sir More 's carriage therein that he said he found him very desirous to finde some matter in his Highnesse cause wherein he might truly serve his Grace to his contentation This Bishop Stokely being by the Cardinall not long before openly disgraced and awarded
Rome about it The dispensation questioned And supplyed by a new confirmation He foresaw the fal of his Religion in England Sir Thomas More 's Embassie for peace and his happy successe therein Bishop Stokely his quirk in Queen Katharines marriage His conference with Sir Thomas about it Stokely undermines the Cardinal The Cardinals fal Sir Thomas More elected Lord Chancellor The honorable Ceremony with which he was enstald The Duke of Norfolk's Oration in behalf of Sir Thomas More Of his worthiness for so great an employment The first Lay-man that ever was made Lord Chancellor Good reasons why that old custome was now salt red Sir Tho. Mores modest and discrete reply He acknowledgeth his own unworthiness The Dukes love The Kings favour bounty Which he esteems beyond his deserts All which increase in him a resolution to discharge well this so great charge He desireth favourable interpretation of his endeavours A wise consideration of his predecessors example The dangeâ—s of high honours A warning to use them well Sir Thomas Mores behaviour to all suitors especially to the poorer sort No access to Bribery Means how great men may do favours in justice Notable integrity Even against his own kindred * Long delaies in Law the misery of poor Clients remedied by Sir Tho. More A pleasant Tale of a Tub. Sir Thomas More 's humble behaviour towards his Father the antientest Judg of the Kingdome His admirable zeal in the cause of his Religion A liberal reward proffered him nobly by the Bishops of England As nobly and magnanimously refused by him only for Gods caused Sir Thomas More his penances Hair-shirt His merâ—ciful works to his poor neighbours Liberality to his parish Church K. Henry desires Sir Thomas to allow his divorce Sir Thomas Mores refusal for the time accepted by the King A Parliament called for Q. Annes marriage Sir Thomas sues to depose his Office Sir More 's humbleness in the height of his Honours A remarkable Record that no Cause was left undecided in the Chancery The death of Sir John More Sir Tho. never enjoied his Fathers inheritance Rare poverty in a Lord High Chancellor Upon Sir Thomas his suite to resign up his Office the King graciously accepteth his desire Of his Children living with him All his Children hitherto dwelt with him An incomparable resolution after so great an honour to bear chearfully so low an estate Honourable poverty in so great a personage A pleasant jest to divert his wife from sorrow His remote preparations for suffering Continual talking of spiritual matters A good lesson for a Statesman The marriage concluded at St. Albans to be lawfull Sir Thomas More refuseth to be at Q Anns marriag His counfell and prediction to the Bishops his friends A notable story prophetically applyed His resolution rather to be devoured then deflowred The kings displeasure Sir Thomas his more immediate preparation for death A Christian stratagem The first occasion of calling him in question for Q. Anne The Nun of Kent warned by revelation to rebuke K. Henry She conferreth her revelation with Bish Fisher Her talk with Sir Tho. More Accusatians procuredagainst Sir Tho. More That he impugned the Kings marriage â—…rrels picked against his Chancellorship A supposed Bribe pleasantly confuted A courteous refususal of an honest reward Another of like nature Sir Thomas his first examinations The kings Deputies to attach Sir Thomas More Their fair words to win him Fairly answered with a mild and constant refusal The Deputies threats Sir Thomas More accused for Author of the Kings Boâ—k for the Pope His evident refutation Wise and wary counsel of Sir Tho. to the King the King acknowledgeth the obligation of his Crown to Rome His merry heart after his examination A fall given to the Devil The Kings indignation against Sir Tho. More Prudent and politique advine in so bad a Cause Proceeding against Sir Tho. More deferred A gallant answer to a friends fear The Oath of supremacy Sir Tho. cited to take it His preparation before his going His discreet behaviour in that cause He resuseth the Oath for conscience sake All the Clergie but Bish Fisher and D. Wilson did take the Oath Upon what conditions Sir Tho. offered to set down his reasons of refusal Sir More 's offer proceedeth not of uncertainty but because he was sure his reasons were unaswerable All Christendome of more authority then all England The Oath of succession Sir More 's imprisonment first in Westminster Then by Q. Annes importunity in the Tower The upper garment the Porters Fee His mans Oath His discourse with his daughter Margaret Prevented with Prayers The comfort he found in his impriâ—onment Sir Thomas More foretelleth Q Annes death His pleasant answer to his Keepers honest excuse The ignorance of the Oath makers His meditation on death upon the execution of 24 Religious men Secretary Cromwel hiâ— visit A pretty dialogue between Sir Tho. More and his Lady His answer The prisâ—n as neer heaven as his own house Eternity to be preferred before Temporality Another visit Mr. Rich his Case Surely a poor ground for an Inditement of Treason An accident very remarkable if true at the taking away of his Books His merry jest upon it The substance of the inditement The Arraignment of Sir Tho. More His Inditement The Judges charges His resolution Sir Thomas his answer to the inditement 1. How sincerely he had alwaies told the King his mind concerning the marriage The continuation of his imprisonment and afflictions 2. Why he refused to tell his judgment of the law of Supremacy Lay-men not concerned in this Law No law can punish silence that is without malice Whether his silence were malicious Obedience first to God then to man 3. That he never counselled or induced B. Fisher The contents of his letters to the said Bishop 4. The law of Supremacy like a two-edged sword Mr. Rich his Oath against Sir Tho. More Disproved by Sir Th. Oath to the contrary His exception against the witnesse as unworthy of credit If it had been true there had been no Malice Malice in Law The improbability of Mr. Rich's deposition Mr. Rich his witnesses do fail him The Jury verdict guilty Excepted against by Sir Tho. The Act of Parliament against Gods Law No Lay-man may be head of the Church Against the Laws of the Kingdom Against the Kings own Oath Against the peculiar Obligation of England to Rome The Lord Chancellors reply The condemnation of Sir Th. More The Sentence Mitigated by the King Sir More 's charity to his Judges The manner of Sir Th. his return to the Tower Great constancy courtesie and chariâ—y A great experiment of love in the only son of Sir Th. More The great passion of his daughter Margaret A consideration of this mutuall passion of father daughter How devoutly and cheerfully he attended his execution His pleasant comceit upon a Courtier His last letter to his daughter Margaret His blessing to his heir His hair-shirt and Discipline Notice given him from the King of of the day of his death Most welcome unto him He must use but few words at his execution His wife and children permitted to be at his burial His comfortable courage He puts on his best apparell that day His liberality to his executioner The manner of his death His words at his death His prayers Words to the Executioner He covereth his eyes himself His death The K. sadnesse at the news of his execution The imprisonment of his daughter Margaret The favour and physiognomy of Sir Thomas More The judgment of Charles the fifth Emperour and King of Spain concerning Sir Th. More 's death Circumstances worthy some consideration in his death A witty reprehension An unmannerly reprehension mannerlyreturned on the reprehender A bold debter handsomly told his own A pleasant arbitrament between his Lady and a begger A witty censure of a witlesse writing A merry mistake Sinners distasted Why few fear death No man sure of long life Worlds vanity Worldly losses hurt not The folly of old misers How fond it is to love this world Affliction more profitable then pleasure Against deferring of amendment Pusillanimity a dangerous temptation Danger of prosperity Of riches and honours All riches of this world none of our own Covetousnesse Bad Merchants Riches are not goods The worst affection Almes-deeds The world a prison To suffer for God Prayer Detraction Ingratitude Faith the mistresseâ— of reason Better prevent then redresse Desire of heaven Bad life no miracle School Divinity An Apologie for Sir Tho. M pleasantnesse of wit
hereafter in any thing that is in the behalf of your Commons to mistake my Message and for lack of good utterance by my mis-reporting pervert or impair their prudent instructions It may then please your most Noble Majesty of your abundant grace to pardon my simplicity giving me leave to repair again to them to confer with them and to take their more serious advice what thing and in what manner I shall on their behalf speak before your Highness that so their prudent advises and affairs be not by my folly hindred or prejudiced which thing if it should happen as likely it were in me if your graces goodnesse relieved not my oversight it would not fail to be during my life a perpetual grudge and heavinesse to my heart The help and remedy whereof in manner aforesaid remembered is most gracious Soveraign my first humble suit unto your Majesty My other humble request most excellent Prince is this Forasmuch as there be of your Commons here by your high Commandment assembled for your Parliament a great number which after the accustomed manner are appointed to treat and consult of the common affairs amongst themselves apart and albeit most dread Soveraign that according to your prudent advise by your honourable Writs every where declared there hath been as due diligence used in sending up to your Highnesse Court of Parliament the most discreet persons out of every quarter that men could esteem worthy thereof whereby it is not to be doubted but that there is a very able Assembly of wise and politique persons yet most victorius Prince since among so many wise men neither is every man wise alike nor among so many men like well-witted every man like well-spoken And it often happeneth that as sometimes much folly is uttered in painted polished Speech so many though rude in language are of sound judgements and prove the wisest Counsellors And since also in matters of greatest importance the minde is often so taken up in them that a man rather studies what to say then how by reason whereof the wisest man and best spoken in a whole Countrey fortuneth sometimes his minde being fervent in the business somewhat to speak so as he he could afterwards wish to have been uttered otherwise and yet no worse will had when he spake then when he would so gladly change Therefore most gracious Soveraign considering that in all your High Court of Parliament nothing is treated of but matter of weight and importance concerning the Kingdom and your own Royal estate it could not fail to hinder and put to silence many of your discreet Commons from giving their advice and counsel to the great hinderance of the common affairs except that every of them were utterly discharged of all doubt and fear how any thing spoken among them should be taken of your Highnesse And in this thing your well known and approved clemency puts every man in very good hope yet such is the weight of the matter such the reverend dread that the timorous hearts of your natural Subjects conceive towards your Highnesse our most undoubted Soveraign that they cannot in this point rest satisfied except your gracious bounty therein declared put away the scruple of their timorous mindes and animate and encourage them from all doubt may it therefore please your Majesty our most gracious King of your great goodnesse to pardon freely without doubt of your dreadful displeasure whatsoever shall happen any man to speak in the discharging of his conscience interpreting every mans words how unseemly soever couched yet to proceed of good zeal to the prosperity of the Kingdom and the honour of your royal person the happy estate and safety whereof most excellent Soveriagn is the thing all we your most humble loving subjects according to the most bounden duty of our natural allegiance most highly desire and pray for CHAP. IV. 1 Cardinal Wolsey's proposition in Parliament frustrated by Sir THO. MORE 2 Sir THO. MORE made Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster 3 His gentle disposition on all occasions AT this Parliament Cardinal Wolsey was much offended with the Burgesses thereof for that nothing was so soon done or spoken therein but that it was immediately blown abroad into every Ale-house It fortuned after this that a very great Subsidie was demanded which the Cardinal fearing it would not passe the lower House resolved for the furtherance of it to be there present himself before whose coming after long debating whether it were better but with a few of his Lords as the general opinion of the House was or with his whole train royally to receive him there among them Masters said Sir Thomas More for as much as my Lord Cardinal not long since as ye all know laid to our charge the lightnesse of our tongues for things spoken out of this House it shall not in my judgement be amisse to receive him with all his pomp his Maces his Pillars his Pole-axes his Crosses his Hat and Great Seal too that so if he blame us hereafter we may be the bolder to excuse our selves and lay it upon those that his Grace bringeth hither with him Whereupon the House wholly agreeing he was received accordingly where after he had in a solemn Oration by many reasons proved how necessary it was the demands there moved should be granted and further shewed that lesse would not serve the Kings turn who seeing the House silent answering nothing thereunto and contrary to his expectation shewing in themselves no inclination towards his request he said unto them Masters You have many wise and learned men among you and since I am by the Kings own person sent hither unto you for the preservation of your selves and all the Kingdome I think it fit you give me some reasonable answer But when every man still held his peace then he spake in particular to one Mr. Murrey afterwards Lord Murrey who making him no answer neither he severally asked the same question of divers others accounted the wisest of the House to whom when none of them all answered any thing being before ahreed as the custome was to make answer by their Speaker Masters said the Cardinall unlesse it be the manner of your House as very likely it may by your Speaker only in such cases to expresse your mindes here is without doubt a marvellous obstinate silence and thereupon he required answer of Mr. Speaker who first reverently upon his knees excused the silence of the House aâ— abashed at the presence of so noble a personage and after by many probable arguments proved that for them to make answer was neither expedient nor agreeable with the ancient liberty of the House in conclusion for himself he declared that though they all had trusted him with their voices yet except every of them could put their severall wits into his head he alone in so weighty a matter was not able to make his Grace sufficient answer Whereupon the Cardinall displeased
with Sir Thomas More that had not in this Parliament in all things satisfied his desires suddenly arose and departed and afterwards in his Gallery at White-hall in Westminster uttered unto him all his grief saying Would to God Mr. More you had been at Rome when I made you Speaker Your Grace not offended so would I too my Lord said Sir Thomas and to put it out of the Cardinalls head he began to talk of that Gallery of his saying I like this Gallery of yours my Lord better then your other at Hampton-Court With which so wise digression he broke off the Cardinals displeasant talk so that at that time he said no more to him But yet afterwards in revenge of his displeasure he counselled the King to send him Embassador Lieger into Spain commending unto his Highnesse his wisdome learning and fitnesse for that employment and the difficulty of the Cause considered he said there was none better able to serve his Grace therein which when the King had broken to Sir Tho. More and he had declared unto his Majesty how unfit a journey it was for him to undertake the nature of the Countrey and disposition of his complexion so disagreeing that he was never likely to do his Grace acceptable service therein knowing for certain that if his Grace sent him thither he should send him to his grave yet neverthelesse shewing in himself a readinesse according to his duty although with the peril of his life to fulfill his Majesties pleasure therein the King allowing well his answer said unto him It is not our meaning Mr. More to do you hurt but to do you good we would be glad we therefore will think of some other and imploy your service otherwise And such entire favour did the King bear him that he made him Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster upon the death of Sir Richard Wingfield who had that office before King Henry took so great pleasure in Sir Thomas his company that he would suddenly sometimes come to his house at Chelsey to be merry with him whither on a time unlooked for he came and dined with him and after dinner in a fair garden of his walked about an hour holding his arm about his neck As soon as his Grace was gone his son-in-law Mr. Rooper rejoycing thereat told him how happy he was whom the King had so familiarly entertained as he had never seen him do to any before except Cardinall Wolsey whom he saw his Majesty once walk with arm in arm I thank our Lord son Rooper said he I finde his Grace my very good Lord indeed and I beleeve he doth as singularly favour me as any subject within this Kingdome yet sonne Rooper I may tell thee I have no cause to be proud of it for if my Head would winne him a Castle in France for then there was war between us it would not fail to go off By which words he evidently shewed how little he joyed either in the Kings favour or in his worldly honour who knew well King Henrie's nature that what shew of friendship soever he made to any yet he loved none but for his own ends Sir Thomas More though in great honour and favour with his Prince was not therefore puft up with pride disdain or arrogancy but was of such a milde behaviour and excellent temper that he could never be moved to any passion or anger as his son-in-law witnesseth who affirms that in sixteen years time and more that he dwelt in his house and was continually conversant with him he could never perceive him so much as once in a passion and one Margaret Gigs who was brought up with Sir Thomas his children and used no otherwise then one of them being a singular learned woman saith that sometimes she would commit a fault for the nonce to hear Sir Thomas chide her he did it with such gravity such moderation such love and compassion His meeknesse also was very perspicuous in this if it had fortuned him with any learned men resorting to him from Oxford Cambridge or elsewhere as there did divers come for desire of his acquaintance some for the famous report of his wisdome and learning and some for suits of the Universities to have entred into disputation wherein few were comparable to him and so far to have discoursed with him therein that he might perceive they could not without some inconvenience hold out much further argument against him then lest lie should discourage them as he that sought not his own glory ever shewing himself more desirous to learn then to teach he would by some witty invention break off into some other matter and give over Upon a time the Water-bailiffe of London sometime his servant hearing where he had been at dinner certain Merchants liberally to rail against his old Master was so discontented at it that he hastily came to him and told him what he had heard and Were I said he in such favour and authority with my Prince as you are such men surely should not be suffered so villainously and falsely to misreport and slander me wherefore I could wish you would call them before you and to their shame for their malice punish them who smiling on him said Why Mr. Water bailiffe would you have me punish those by whom I receive more benefit then by you all that be my friends let them a Gods name speak as basely as they please of me and shoot never so many arrowes at me so long as they do not hit me what am I the worse but if they should once hit me then indeed would it not a little trouble me yet I trust by Gods help there shall none of them all be able to touch me I have more cause I assure thee Mr. Water-bailiffe to pity them then to be angry with them Such height of perfection had he now attained that he was neither allured by hopefull gains nor deterr'd one whit from his duty by evil tongues still carrying one and the same alacrity in all crosses and adversities as in the following discourse it will more appear CHAP. V. 1. Sir Thomas Mores prompt and ready wit 2. His charity to his neighbours 3. His friendship with learned men at home and abroad SIR Thomas More was a man of such readinesse of Wit that at such time as he attended upon his Highnesse in his progresse either to Oxford or Cambridge where he was received with very eloquent Orations his Majesty alwayes appointed him to answer them extempore as he that was most prompt and ready for it Sir Thomas being Chancellour of the Dutchy was made Embassador twice joyned in commission with Cardinall Wolsey once to the Emperour Charls into Flanders the other time to the French King into France whose manner was whensoever he had occasion to be in any University not only to be present at their Readings and Disputations but also learnedly to dispute himself amongst them to the great
to the Fleet not brooking this contumelious usage and thinking that forasmuch as the Cardinal for lack of such forwardness in setting forth the Kings Divorce as his Grace expected was out of his Highnesse favour he bad now a good occassion offered him to revenge himself of him He yet more to incense the Kings displeasure against him endevoured all he could to invent some colourable device for the Kings furtherance in that behalf which as is before mentioned he revealed to his Grace hoping thereby to procure the Kings greater affection to himself and disaffection to the Cardinall whom his Highnesse therefore soon after displaced of his Office and the rather to move him to incline to his side committed the same to Sir Thomas More in his stead who between the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk being brought through Westminster-Hall to his place in the Chancery the Duke of Norfolk in audience of all the people there assembled shewed that he was from the King himself streightly charged by speciall commission there openly in presence of them all to make Declaration how much all England was beholding to Sir Thomas More for his good service and how worthy he was of the highest preferment in the Kingdome and how dearly his Grace loved and trusted him A Copy of the Oration THE Kings Majestie which I pray God may prove happy and fortunate to the whole Realm of Engl. hath raised to the most high dignity of Chancellorship Sir Tho. More a man for his extraordinary worth and sufficiency well known to himself and the whole Realm for no other cause or earthly respect but for that he hath plainly perceived all the gifts of Nature and Grace to be heaped upon him which either the people could desire or himself wish for the discharging of so great an Office For the admirable wisdome integrity and innocency joyned with most pleasant facility of wit that this man is indued withall have been sufficiently known unto all English from his youth and for these many years also to the Kings majesty himself This hath the King abundantly found in many and weighty affairs which he hath happily dispatched both at home and abroad in divers Offices which he hath borne in most honourable Embassies which he hath undergone and in his daily Counsells and Advices upon all other occasions He hath perceived no man in this Realm to be more wife in deliberating more sincere in opening to him what he thought nor more eloquent to adorn the matter which he uttered Wherefore because he saw in him such excellent endowments and that of his speciall care he hath a particular desire that this Kingdome and people might be governed with all equity and justice integrity and wisdome he of his own most gratious disposition bath created this singular man Lord Chancellor that by his laudable performance of this Office his people may injoy peace and justice and honour also and fame may redound to the whole kingdome It may perhaps seeme to many a strange and an unusall matter that this Dignity should be bestowed upon a Lay-man none of the Nobility and one that hath wife and Children because heretofore none but singular learned Prelates or men of greatest Nobility have possessed this place But what is wanting in these respects the admirable virtues the matchlesse gifts of wit and wisdome of this man doth most plentifully recomPense the some for the Kings Majesty hath not regarded how great but what a man he was he hath not cost his eyes upon the Nobility of his bloud but on the worth of his Person he hath respected his sufficiency not his profession finally he would shew by this choice that he hath some rare subjects amongst the row of Gentlemen and Lay-men who deserve to manage the highest Offices in the Realm which Bishops and Noblemen think they only can deserve The rarer therefore it was so much both himselfe held it to be the more excellent and â—o his people he thought it would be more gratefull Wherefore receive this your Chancellor with joyfull acclamations at whose hands you may expect all happinesse and content Sir Thomas More according to his wonted modesty was somewhat abashed at this the Dukes Speech in that it sounded so much in his praise but recollecting himself as that place and time would give him leave he answerd in manner following Although most Noble Duke and you Honourable Lords and Worshipful Gentlemen I know all these things which the Kings Majesty it seemeth hath been pleased it should be spoken of me at this time and place and your Grace hath with most eloquent words thus amplified are as far from me as I could wish with all my heart they were in me for the better performance of so great a charge And although this your Speech hath caused in me greater fear then I can well expresse in words yet this incomparable favour of my dread Soveraign by which he sheweth how well yea how highly he conceiveth of my Weaknesse having commanded that my Meanesse should be so greatly commended cannot be but most acceptable unto me And I cannot choose but give your most noble Grace exceeding thanks that what his Majesty hath willed you briefly to utter you of the abundance of your love unto me have in a large and eloquent Oration dilated As for my self I can take it no otherwise but that his Majesties incomparable favour towards me the good will and incredible propension of his Royal mind where with he hath this many years favoured me continually hath alone without any desert of mine at all caused both this my new honour and these your undeserved commendations of me For who am I or what is the House of my Father that the Kings Highnesse should heap upon me by such a perpetuall stream of affection those so high Honours I am far lesse then any the meanest of his benifits bestowed on me how can I then think my self worthy or fit for this so peerlesse dignity I have been drawn by force as the Kings Majesty often professeth to his Highnesse service to be a Courtier but to take this dignity upon me is most of all against my will yet such in his Highnesse benignity such is his bounty that he highty esteemeth the small dutifulnesse of his meanest Subjects and seeketh still magnificently to recompense his Servants not only such as deserve well but even such as have but a desire to deserve well at his hands in which number I have alwaies wished my self to be reckoned because I cannot challenge my self to be one of the former which being so you may all perceive with me how great a burthen is laid upon my back in that I must strive in some sort with my diligence and duty to correspond with his Royall benevolence and to be answerable to that great expectation which he and you seem to have of me Wherefore these so high Praises are by
together in one parish whereas your self can well tell I am sorry you compel me to speak it you were alwaies esteemed very light of your tongue a great dicer and gamester and not of any commendable fame either there or at your house at the Temple where hath been your bringing up Can it therefore seem likely to your Honourable Lordships that in so weighty a cause I should so unadvisedly overshoot my self as to trust M. Rich a man alwaies reputed of me for a man of so little truth and honesty so farre above my Soveraign Lord the King to whom I am so deeply indebted for his manifold favours or any of his noble and grave Counsellors that I would declare only to Mr Rich the secrets of my Conscience touching the Kings Supremacy the special point only mark so long sought for at my hands which I never did nor ever would reveal after the statute once made either to the Kings Highnesse or to any of his noble Counsellors as it is well known to your Honours who have been sent for no other purpose at sundry several times from his Majesties person to me in the Tower I refer it therefore to your judgments My Lords whether this can seem a thing credible to any of you And if I had done as Mr. Rich hath sworn seeing it was spoken but in familiar secret talk affirming nothing but only in putting of Cases without any unpleasing circumstances it cannot justly be taken for Maliciously and where there is no malice there â—an be no offence Bâ—sides this My Lords I cannot think that so many worthy Bishops so many honourable personages and so many worshipful vertuous and well learned men as were in the Parliament assembled at the making of that Law ever meant to have any man punished by death in whom there could be found no malice taking Malitia for Malevolentia for if Malitia be taken in a generall signification for any sin no man is there that can excuse himself thereof Quia siâ—dixerimus quod pecatum non habemus nosmetipsos seducimus verit as in nobis non est Wherefore this word Malitiously is only materiall in this Statute as the word forcible is in the Statute of Forcible Entry for in that Case if any enter peaceably and put his adversary out forcibly it is no offence but if he enter forcibly he shal be punished by that Statute Besides this the unspeakable goodnesse of the Kings Highnesse towards me who hath been so many waies my singular good Lord and gracious Soveraign He I say who hath so dearly loved and trusted me even from my first coming into his Royall service vouchsafing to grace me with the honour of being one of his privie Councell and hath most liberally advanced to offices of great credit and worship finally with the chief dignity of his Majesties High Chancellour the like whereof he never did to any temporal man before which next his Royal Person is the highest Office in this noble Reaâ—m so far above my merits and qualities honouring and exalting me of his incomparable benignity by the space of these twenty years and more shewing his continual favours towards me and now at last it hath pleased his Highnesse at mine own humble suit to give me licence with his Majesties favour to bestow the residue of my life for the better provision of my soul in the service of God to discharge and disburthen me of that weighty dignity before which he had still heaped honours more and more upon me all this his Highnesse goodnesse so liberally extended to me were in my mind matter sufficient to convince this slanderous accusation so wrongfully by this man surmised and urged against me which I commit to your Lordships honourable considerations whether this Oath be likely to be true or no. Mr. Rich seeing himself so evidently disproved and his credit so foully defaced caused Sir Rich. Southwel and Mr. Palmer who in the time of their communication were in the same Chamber with them to be there sworn what words had passed betwixt them whereupon Mr. Palmer upon his deposition said that he was so busie in the trussing up of Sir Thomas his Books into a sack that he took no heed to their talk Sir Rich. Southwel said likewise that because he was appointed only to look to the conveighing of the Books he gave no ear unto them And after this Sir Thomas alleadged many other reasons in his own defence to the discredit of Mr. Rioh his foresaid evidence and for proof of the clearnesse of his own conscience But for all that ever he could do or say the Jury found him guilty Wherefore the Lord Chancellor as chief judge in that matter began presently to proceed to judgment which Sir Thomas hearing said unto him My Lord when I was towards the Law the mannet in such Cases was to aske the prisoner before Sentence whether he could give any reason why judgment should not proceed against him Upon which words the Lord Chancellor staying his Sentence wherein he had already partly proceeded asked Sir Thomas what he was able to say to the contrary who presently made answer as followeth Forasmuch as my Lords this Inditement is grounded upon an Act of Parliament directly repugnant to the Laws of God and his holy Church the Supreme Government of which or of any part thereof no Temporal person may by any Law presume to take upon him as rightfully belonging to the See of Rome it is therefore in Law among the Catholique Christians insufficient to charge any Christian man to obey He also further declared for proof of his assertion that like as this Realm alone being but one member and a small part of the Church might not make a particular Law disagreeing with the general Law of the universal Catholique Church no more then the City of London being but one poor member in respect of the whole Realm might make a law against an Act of Parliament to bind the whole Realm So also he further shewed that this law was contrary to the laws and statutes of the land yet unrepealed as they might evidently perceive in Magna Charta where it is said Quod Ecclesia Anglicana libera sit habeat libertates suas illaesas And also contrary to that sacred Oath which the Kiâ—â— Highnesse himself and every other Christian Prince alwaies with a great solemnity received at their Coronations Alledging moreover that no more might this Kingdome refuse obedience to the See of Rome then might the child to his natural father To these words the Lord Chancellor replyed that seeing all the Bishops Universities and best learned men of this Realm had agreed to this Act it was much marvelled that he alone should so stifly stick thereat and so vehemently argue there against it To which words Sir Thomas answered That if the number of Bishops and Universities were so material as his Lorship
brought about nine of the clock out of the Tower and from thence led to the place of execution where going up the scaffold which seemed to him so weak that was ready to fal he said merrily to the Lieutenant I pray you Mr. Lieutenant see me safe up and for my coming down let me shift for my self Then desired he all the people to pray for him and to bear witnesse with him that he should then suffer death in and for the faith of the holy Catholique Church a faithful servant both of God and the King Which done he kneeled down and after his prayers ended he turned to the Executioner and with a chearful countenance said Pluck up thy spirits man and be not afraid to do thine office my neck is very short take heed therefore thou strike not awry for saving thine honesty when the executioner would have covered his eyes he said I will cover them my self and presently he did so with a cloth he had brought with him for that purpose then saying his head upon the Block he bad the Executioner stay untill he had removed aside his beard saying That that had never committed any treason So with great alacrity and spiritual joy he received the fatall blow of the Axe which at once severed his head from his body Thus passed Sir Thomas More out of this world on the very same day on which himself had most desired When news of his death was brought to the King who was at that time playing at Tables Queen Anne looking on he cast his eyes upon her and said Thou art the cause of this mans death and presently leaving his play he betook himself to his chamber an there fell into a melancholy fit But whether this were from his heart or to seem lesse cruell then he was indeed it is hard to conjecture for on the one side the remembrance of his faithful service so many years employed for the good of the whole Kingdome could not but make the Kings heart somwhat to relent and on the other side his unmerciful dealing with his son and heir his small allowance to his wife his cruelty against all his children shewed that he had an implacable hatred against him for the cause aforesaid His daughter Margaret was the most gently dealt with and yet very sore threatned both because she kept her fathers head for a relique which being to be thrown off London-Bridge into the Thames she had procured and that she intended to publish her fathers works yet for all that after a short imprisonment she was at last sent home to her husband Sir Thomas More was of a mean stature well proportioned his complexion tending to phlegmatick his colour white and pale his hair neither black nor yellow but between both his eies gray his countenance amiable and chearful his voice neither big nor shrill but speaking plainly and distinctly it was not very tunable though he delighted much in musick his body reasonable healthful only that towards his latter end by using much writing he complained much of his breast In his youth he drank much water wine he only tasted of when he pledged others he loved salt meats especially poudred beef he was a great lover of milk cheese eggs and fruit and usually he did eat of brown bread which he rather used to punish his taste then any love he had unto it Now when intelligence of Sir More 's death was brought to the Emperour Charles the fift he sent for Sir Thomas Eliot Embassador there resident and said unto him My Lord Embassador we understand that the King your Master hath put his faithful Servant and grave Wise Counsellor Sir Thomas More to death but Sir Thomias Eliot seeming to excuse the matter by some doubt of the report the King told him It was too true and this will we say said the Emperour that if we had been Master of such a Servant of whose doings our selves have had these many years no small experience we would rather have lost the best and strongest City of our Dominions then have lost so worthy a Counsellor To conclude if with more care we look into the story of this worthy mans life it will not appear to us that his death could any way redound to the honour of the King for first he was put to death by a statute wherein he had never offended either by word or deed and that too which concern'd not temporal policy but religion only which as being fearful to offend his conscience though he refused to approve of himself yet did he never reprove it or any other mâ—n for taking it Secondly that he would have no respect unto his eminent qualities who was a man of known humanity of mild behaviour affability bounty eloquence wisdome innocency of life wit learning exceedingly beloved and admired of all men all which might be motives sufficient to pardon a guilty offender Thirdly that he would not consider him that had done him so much good service and the whole Kingdome such good offices his faithfull Counsellor for twenty years together his wise Embassador his just Lord Chancellor and indeed the very flower of the Kingdome who at last drawing towards old age obtained an honourable dismission from his Office and lived privately at home with his Wife children and nephews never committing the least offence against any burthensome to no man but of such courtesie to all and of such excellency of nature that he would not suffer any one to part from him if any thing qualified without some gift none was so great a stranger to him whom he would not seek to do some favour for To be short his bounty had so engraven him in every ones hearts that at his death there was a generall lamentation for his losse Nay Erasmus saith that he saw tears come from those men who never had seen Sir Thomas More nor received any benefit from him and he professes that while he was writing of him the tears gushed from him whether he would or no. Now Reader I will keep thy eye no longer upon this dolefull Subject which as it made the Spectators weep so it cannot but fetch a Tear or two from thee if thou art any friend to an innocent worth yet I would not send thee away sad neither wherefore I have after this Tragicall story prepared an entertainment in the following Chapter which looks like a Comedy and may serve as Wine and Bisket at a Funerall to allay thy sadnesse A view of Sir MORE 's Wit and Wisdome SIR Thomas More whose only merry jests and witty sayings were they all together were sufficient to fill a Volume when he lived in the City of London being one of the Justices of peace he used to go to the Sessions at Newgate where it fell out that one of the antientest Justices of the Bench was wont to chide the poor men whose purses had been cut for