knees before the whole Assembly aske his Father blessing As likewise if his Father and he chanced to meet at the Lecture in Lincolnes Inâ—…e as oftentymes they did yet notwithstanding his high place Office would he offer in Argument the preheminence vnto his Father nor would himselfe accept thereof vntill his Father had refused it And for further declaration of his naturall affection loue towardes his Father when he lay sicke vpon his death bed he did not only according to his duty oftentymes come and visit him with all manner of comfort but also at his departure out of the world he tooke him about the Necke kissed imbraced him commending his soule into mercyfull hands of Almighty God and so departed Whilest he was Lord Chancellour he graunted but few Iniunctions yet were they by some of the Iudges of the Law misliked which M. Roper vnderstanding declared the same vnto Syr Thomas More who answered that they should haue litle cause to find fault with him therfore Whereupon he caused one M. Crooke chiefe of the six Clarkes to make a Docket conteyning the whole number and causes of all such Iniunctions as either in his tyme had already passed or at the present depended in any of the Kings Courts at Westminster before â—…im which done he one day inâ—… all the Iudges to dinner with him in the Counsell ChaÌ„â—…er at Westminster and after â—…ynner when he had broken with them what coÌ„playnts he had heard of his Iniunctions moreouer had shewed them the â—…umber and causes of euery one â—…n order truly playnely they were all inforced to confesse â—…hat themselues in like cases could haue done no otherwise Then made he this offer vnto â—…hem That if the Iudges of eueâ—…y Court vnto whome the reformation of the rigour of the Law by reason of their Office most especially appertayned would vpon reasonable considerations in their owne discretions as he thought they werâ—… bound to do in conscience mitigate and reforme the rigor of the law themselues there should from thenceforth be no more Iniunctions graunted out by him Whereunto when they refused to condescend then said he vnto them For asmuch as your selues my Lordes force me to that necessity of granting out Iniunctions for reliefe of the peoples iniuries you cannot hereafter any more iustly blame me After that he spake priuatly to M. Roper saying I perciue why they liked not so to do for they see that they may by the verdict of the Iury cast all quarrels vpon those whome they account their chiefe defence and therefore am I compelled to abide the aduenture of all such Reports Now in the tyme of his Chancellourshippe allthough he had but litle leasure to busy himselfe in the study of holy Scriptures and Controuersies in Religion with other such like Exercises being in a manner continually imployed about the affaires of the King and Kingdome yet did he take many watchfull paines in setting forth diuers profitable workes in the defence of Christian Religion agaynst Heresies that then were blowne abroad In so much that the Bishops to whose Pastorall care that Reformation chiefly beloÌ„ged seeing themselues by his trauell wherein by their owne confession they were not any way able to compare with him in great part discharged of theâ—…r dutyes in that behalse considering that for all the Princes fauor his great Office he was no rich man nor had in yearly reuenewes aduaÌ„ced himselfe as his worthynes deserued therefore at a Conuocation holden amongst themselues and others of the Clergy they agreed to recompence him with a summe of fiue thousand pounds for his paynes taken in their behalfe To the payment wherof euery Bishop Abbot and others of the Clergy according to the rates of their abilityes became liberall Contributaries hoping that this their liberality would giue him good content Wherevpon Bishop Tonstall of DurhaÌ„ Bishop Clarke of Bath D. Voysey Biâ—…hop of Exceter repayred vnto 〈◊〉 Tho. More declaring how â—…hankefully to their discharge â—…n Gods cause they reckoned â—…hemselues vnto him and albeit â—…hey could not according to his deserts so worthily requite his â—…ours therefore must refer â—…he same to Gods gracious goodâ—…esse yet for a small gratuity in â—…espect of his Estate so vneqúall â—…o his Worth in the Name of their whole Conuocation they presented vnto him the forsaid â—…umme desiring him to accept of it in good part But Syr Thoâ—…as More refusing this their tenâ—…er said vnto them That as it was no small comfort vnto him â—…hat so wise and learned men accepted of his weake labours for which he neuer intended to receiue any other reward but at the hands of God to whome alone all the thankes therof were chiefly to be ascribed So gaue he most humble thankes vnto all their Honours for their so friendly and honourable consideration and earnestly intreated them to returne euery man his money agayne Wherfore when after much pressing him to accept therof cold not preuaile they besought him that they might bestow it vpon his Wife and Children Not so my Lords quoth he had rather see it cast into the Thames then either I or any 〈◊〉 myne should haue the value 〈◊〉 one penny therof For my Lordes though your offer indeed be very fayre and friendly yet set I so much by my pleasure so litle by my profit that I would not in good fayth for so much and much more to haue lost so many a good nights sleepe as I spent vpon the same And yet I would wish for all that vpon conditioÌ„ that Heresies were suppressed that all my Bookes were burned my labour lost Thus departed they from him and were driuen to returne euery man his owne money agayne This Lord Chancellour although he was well knowne both to God and the world to be a man of most eminent Vertue though not so considered of euery man yet for the auoyding of singularity would he appeare to the ey of the world no otherwise then other men as well in his apparell as behauiour And albeit he appeared outwardly Honourable like to one of his Dignity Calling yet inwardly did he esteme all such thingâ—… for meere vanity for next to hiâ—… naked body he wore almost coÌ„tinually a shirt of hayre the 〈◊〉 a young Gentlewoman named M. rs More by chance on day 〈◊〉 pying as he sat in his doublet hose at dynner in the soÌ„mer tyme and seemed to smile therat his daughter Roper perceiuing the same being not ignorant of this his austerity gaue him priuate notice thereof and he did presently amend the fault seeming withall sorry that she had feene it He also wore another playne course shirt without ruffe or collar vpon his shirt of hayre And many tymes he likewise punished his body with whips made of knotted cordes the which thing was only knowne to his daughter Roper who for her secresy aboue all the râ—…st he especially trusted for that as need required she did alwayes wash
deuised to allure his Maiesty who was alâ—… ready contrary to the Cardinaâ—… mynd and knowledge fallen iâ—… loue with the Lady Anne Bullen to affect the French Kings Sister Which thing because of thâ—… wars and hatred that was theâ—… â—…etweene the French King and â—…e Emperour whome the Carâ—…inall now mortally hated he eryâ—… earnestly indeauoured to â—…rocure And for the better furâ—…ering this his purpose he reâ—…uested one Langland Bishop of â—…incolne and Ghostly Father to 〈◊〉 Henâ—…y to put a scruple into â—…he K. head that it was not lawâ—… for him to mary his Brothers â—…ife which thing the King not â—…ry to heare of related first to 〈◊〉 Thomas More required his â—…ounsell therein and with all â—…ewed himsome places of Scriture which seemed somewhat 〈◊〉 serue his purpose Syr Thomaâ—…â—…ore perusing the said places â—…ereupon as one that had neâ—…r professed Diuinity excused â—…mselfe vnto his Maiesty and said he was farre vnfit to meddle with such affaires The King not satisfied with this answere pressed and vrged him the more which he perceauing said vnto his Maiesty that for asmuch as such a busines required good aduise and deliberation he besought his Highnes to giue him sufficient respit to coÌ„sider aduisedly of the same Wherwith the King well contented replyed That Tonstall Clark Bishops of Durham Bath with others learned of his priuy CouÌ„sell should also be dealers therin So Syr Thomas More departed and conferred those places of Scripture with the Expositions of diuers of the ancient Fathers and Doctours of the Church and at his comming to Court talking with the King of the aforesaid matter he said To be playne with your Grace neither my Lord of Durham nor my Lord of Bath though I hold â—…hem to be both learned verâ—…uous holy Prelates nor my â—…elfe with any other of your Counsell being all your Maieâ—…ties owne seruants so greatâ—…y bound vnto you for your maâ—…ifold benefits dayly bestowed vpon vs be in my iudgment fit Counsellors for your Grace heâ—…ein But if your Maiesty desyre â—…o vnderstand the Truth such Counsellors may be found as â—…either for respect of worldâ—… commodity nor for feare of â—…our Princely authority will â—…ny way be drawne to deceiuâ—…â—…ou And then he named vnto the King S. Hierome S. Augustine and diuers others auncient Fathers Doctors of the Church both Greeke an Latin and further shewed his Maiesty what authority he had gathered forth of them of which although the King as not fitting to his purpose did not very well like yet were they by Syr Thomas Moreâ—… so wisely alleaged and so tempred with discretion that the King at that tyme tooke it in good part and had oftentimes conference with him againe about the same matter After this there were certayne questions propounded to thâ—… Kings Counsell whether in this case the King needed to haue any scruple at all and if he had what was the best way to freâ—… him of it The greater part of the Counsell were of opinion that there was good cause of scruple and that for his Maiesties discharge therin it was fit suite should be made vnto the Sea of Rome where the King thought that by his liberality he might with ease obtayne his purpose TheÌ„ was there procured from Rome a commission for the try all of this Mariage wherein Cardinall Campegius and Cardinall Wolsey were ioyned commissioners who for the determination therof sate at the Blacke-Fryers in London where a Libell was put in for the anulling of the said Mâ—…triomony affirming the Mariage betweene the King and Qâ—…eene to be vnlawfull Then againe for proofe therof to be lawfull there was produced 〈◊〉 dispensation in which after diuers disputations thereupoÌ„ holden there appeared an imperfection which notwithstanding by an other instrument or Breuâ—… found out vpon search in thâ—… Treasury of Spayne sent oueâ—… to the commissioners in EnglaÌ„dâ—… was supplyed so should iudgmeÌ„t haue ben giuen by the Popâ—… accordingly had not the King vpon intelligence therof beforâ—… the same Iudgment appealed to a Generall CouÌ„cell After whose Appellation the Cardinalls satâ—… no more vpon that businesse It happened before the saâ—… matter of Mariage brought in Question that M. Roper being one day in discourse with Syâ—… Tho. More did with a kind of â—…oy congratulate with his said Father for the happy Estate of the Realme that had so Cathoâ—…ique a Prince as no Heretique durst shew his face so vertuous and learned a Clergy so graue and sound a Nobility and so loâ—…ing and obedient Subiects all â—…n one fayth agreeing togeather Troth it is so indeed Sonne Roâ—…er quoth he and then commended all degrees and estates of the same far beyond M. Roper And yet Sonne Roper quoth he I pray God that some of vs as high as we seeme to sit vpon the Mountaynes treading Heretiâ—…ques vnder our feete like Ants â—…ue not to see the day when we gladly would wish to be in league and composition with those whome you call Heretiques to let them haue their Churchâ—… quietly to themselues vpon coÌ„â—… dition that they would be content to let vs haue ours quieâ—… to our selues Then M. Roper produceâ—… many reasons to the contrary saw no cause why any shoulâ—… say so Well well Sonne Ropâ—… quoth he I pray God some 〈◊〉 vs liue not till that day and 〈◊〉 no more To whome M. 〈◊〉 replyed By my troth Syr thâ—…s 〈◊〉 desperatly spoken seeming 〈◊〉 be halfe angry with Syr 〈◊〉 More who perceiuing the 〈◊〉 said merily vnto him Well 〈◊〉 SoÌ„ne Ropâ—…r It shall not be then since you will not haue it soâ—… Thus was he of so excellent 〈◊〉 temper that those who liued were coÌ„tinually coÌ„uersant with him in his house for the space 〈◊〉 twenty yeares and vpwardes â—…ould neuer perceiue him to be â—…nce moued or to make the â—…ast shew of anger But to returne agayne where â—…eft After the supplying of the â—…spensation sent vnto the comâ—…ioners into England as is â—…efore rehearsed the King taâ—…ng the businesse to himselfe as â—…t then mynding to proceed â—…y further in the matter assiâ—…ed the Bishop of Durham and 〈◊〉 Thomas More to go Embassaâ—…urs to Cambray a place neiâ—…er Imperiall nor French to â—…eat a Peace betweene the Emâ—…rour the FreÌ„ch King himâ—…fe in the concluding wherof â—…r Tho. More so worthily manâ—…ged the busines that he procured therby much more benefit for the Kingdome then was at that tyme by the King and his CouÌ„sell thought possible could be coÌ„passed For whose good seruice in that Embassy the King when he after made him Lord Chauncellour caused the Duke of Norfolke to declare openly to the people how much all â—…ngland was bounden vnto him as you shall see heeâ—…after more 〈◊〉 large Now vpon the coÌ„ming home of the Bishop of Durham and Syâ—… Thomas More from Cambray aforsayd the King began to reneâ—… agayne his old suite and waâ—… very earnest in persuading Syâ—… Thomas More to agree vnto thâ—…
mend his shirt of hayre which he would not discouer vnto any other whatsoeuer Now in this meane space whilst he was Lord ChaÌ„cellour of England the King did one day greatly moue him desire him well to weigh and consider of his great matter concerning his diuorce Syr Thomas More falling vpon his knees most humbly besought his Maiesty to stand still his gratious Soueraigne as euer since his entry into his Royall Seruice he had found him and said that there was nothing in the world more grieuous to his hart then that he was not able with the losse of one of his lymbes to find any thing for that matter wherby he might with safe conscience serue his Maiesties turne And that he had alwayes borne in mynd the most Godly wordes that his Highnesse spake vnto him at his first comming into his Royall seruice the most vertuous Lesson that euer Prince taught a Subiect to wit that he should first looke vnto God after God vnto his King as in good fayth said he I haue â—…ost sincerely done or els might your Grace accompt me a most â—…nworthy seruant To this the King replyed â—…hat if he could not therein with â—…is conscience serue him he was well content to accept of his â—…eruice otherwise and vse the â—…duice of some others of his priâ—…y Counsell whose conscienâ—…es would agree well inough â—…herewith nor would he neuerâ—…helesse discoÌ„tinue his gracious â—…auour towards him nor trouâ—…le his conscience any further with that matter for the tyme â—…orward But Syr Thomas More perâ—…eiued by little and little that â—…he King fully determined to â—…roceede in his Marriage with Queene Anne when he with the Bishopps and Nobles of the Higher House of Parlament were for the furtherance of that matter coÌ„manded by the King to go vnto the Commons of the lower House shew vnto them what the Vniuersities aswell of other parts beyond the seas as of Oxford and Cambridge had done in that behalfe testifiyng the same with their seales and subscriptions All which things at the Kinges request not shewing of what mynd he was therein himselfe he opened to the Lower House of Parlament Neuerthelesse doubting greatly lest further inconueniences might follow into with contrary to his conscience by reason of his Office he was likely to be fall he made humble suite to the Duke of Norforke his singular deare friend to be a meanes vnto the King that he might with his Graces fauour be discharged from his Office of Chancellourship in which for certayne infirmityes of his body he pretended himselfe not able any longer to serue This good Duke of Norfolke comming on a tyme to Chelsey to dyne with Syr Thomas More found him in the Church singing in the Quier with a Surâ—… on his backe to whome after Masse was done as they went towardes his house together arme in arme the Duke â—…aid Gods body Gods body my Lord Chancellour what turned â—…arish Clarke You dishonor thâ—… King and his Office very much Nay quoth Syr Thomas More smyling vpon the Duke your Grace may not thinke that the King your Maister and myne wil be offended with me for seruing God his Maister or therby accompt his Seruice any way dishonoured Now when the Duke at the speciall intreaty and importunate suite of Syr Thomas More had obtayned of the King that he should be discharged of his Chancellorship at a conuenienâ—… tyme appointed by the King he repayred vnto the Court to yield vp the great Seale which his Maiesty receaued of him with prayse and thankes for hiâ—… good seruice done to his persoâ—… and the Realme in that Office And he further sayd vnto him in a gracious manner that if in any suite he should heerafter haue vnto him that either concerned his Honour for that word it pleased the King to vse vnto him or appertayned to his profit he should euer find his Highnes a very good and gracious Lord. After he had thus resigned the Office and Dignity of the Chancellorship and placed all his Gentlemen Yomen with Bishops and Noble men and his eight Watermen with the Lord Audley who succeded him in his Office to whome also he gaue his great Barge he then called al his children vnto him asked their aduises how he might now in the decay of his ability which by the surrender of his Office was so impayred that he could not as he was wont maintayne them to liue al togeather according to his desyre wherat when he saw them all silent vnwilling in that case to shew their opinions vnto him Why then will I quoth he shew vnto you my poore mynd I haue beene brought vp said he at Oxford at an Iune of Châ—…ncery at Lincolnes Inne and also in the Kings Courtes and so forth from the lowest degree to the highest and yet I haue in yearly Reuenewes left me at this present little aboue a hundred poundes by the yeare So that now we must hereafter if we will liue together be content to become Contributours to ech other but by my counsell it shall not be best for vs to fall to the lowest fare first We will not therefore descend to Oxford fare nor the fare of New â—…nne but we will begin with Lincolnes Inne dyet where many right Worshipfull of good yeares do liue full well which if we find not our selues the first yeare able to mayntayne then will we the next yeare go one steppe downe to New-Inne fare wherewith many an honest man is well contented Then if that exceed our abilityes will we the next yeare after descend to Oxford fare where many graue learned ancient Doctours be continually resident which if our powers be not able to mayntayne neyther then may we yet with bagges and wallets go a begging togeather hoping that for pitty some good people will giue vs their Charity at their doore to sing Salue Regina and so still may we keepe company togeather and be as merry as Beggars And whereas you haue heard before that he was by the King taken from a very good liuing and aduanced to his Maiesties seruice wherein he spent with paynfull cares and trauels aswell beyond the Seas as within the Kingdome in a manner the whole substance of his life yet with all the gayne that he got thereby being neuer wastfull spender he was scarce able after the Resignation of his office of Chancellorship for the maintaynance of himselfe and such 〈◊〉 necessarily belonged vnto â—…im sufficiently to find meatâ—…â—…rinke apparell and other such â—…ecessaryes all the land which 〈◊〉 euer purchased which he â—…id also before he was Lord Chancellour not amounting 〈◊〉 aboue the value of Twenty â—…arkes a yeare And after his â—…ebts payd he had not his Chayne only excepted in gold â—…nd siluer left him the worth of 〈◊〉 hundred pounds In the tyme of his Chancelâ—…rship vpon the Sundayes and â—…oly daies when Masse or EueÌ„â—…nge were ended one of his Gentlemen did vsually go to his â—…dyes Pew in the
Syr I am very glad thereof And as they after coÌ„iectured it was for that the loue he had to God wrought in him so effectually that it vtterly conquered all his â—…arnall affections At his comming to Lambetâ—… he behaued himselfe so discreetly before the Commissioners at the ministration of the forsaid Oath as may be seene at large in certayne Letters of his sent to M. rs Roper extant in a printed volume of his works as they had litle or nothing to lay vnto his charge yet durst they not as it seemed dismisse him but coÌ„mitted him to the cuâ—…tody of the Abbot of Westminster for 4. or 5. dayes during with tyme the King consulted with his Counsell what order were best to be taken with him â—…nd albeit in the beginning it was resolued that he should vpoÌ„ his oath be discharged yet did Queene Anne through her importunate clamours so farre preuaile with the King against him that contrary to the Commissioners expectation he was committed to the Tower Now as he was conducted thitherward by water wearing as he commonly did a chayne of gold about his Nâ—…cke M. â—…chard Crâ—…mwell who had the charge of conueying him to prison aduised him to send home his Chayne to his wife or to some of his ChildreÌ„ Nay quoth he that will I not for if I were taken in the field by myne enemy I would he should fare somwhat the better for me At his landing at the Tower gate M. Lieutenant was ready there to receiue him where the Gentleman Porter demanded of him his vpper garmeÌ„t Why heere it is quoth he presently tooke oâ—…f his Cap and deliuered it vnto him saying I am very sorry M. Porter that it is no better for you Nay quoth the Porter I must haue your Gowne Syr. OI cry you mercy good M. Porter for now indeed I remember that my Cappe is not my vpper garmeÌ„t but only the thatch of my poore old Tenement So then was he by M. Lieutenant conueyed to his Lodging where he called vnto him one Iohn Wood his owne seruant appoynted there to attend him who could neither write nor reade and swore him before the Lieutenant that if he should heare or see at any time his Maister write or speake any manner of thing agaynst the King Councell or State of the land he should reueale it to the LieutenaÌ„t that the LieutenaÌ„t might make the same knowne to the Counsell After he had remayned in the Tower about a moneth his daughter Roper hauing greatly desired to see her Father made earnest suite got leaue to visit him at whose coÌ„ming after the saying of the seauen Psalmes Letanyes which he was euer accustomed to say with her before they fell into discourse of any other matter among other speaches he said vnto her I belieue Megge that they who haue put me heere thinke they haue done me a great displeasure But I assure thee on my fayth myne owne good daughter if it had not ben for my wife you my Children whome I accoÌ„pt the chiefe part of my charge I would not haue failed long ere now to haue inclosed my selfe in a straiter roome then this But since I am come hither without myne owne desert I trust that God of his goodnes will disburden me of my care and with his gracious help supply my want amongst you And I find no cause I thanke God Megge to reckon my selfe in worse case heere then in myne owne house For me thinkes in this case God maketh me euen a wanton setting me vpon his knee and dandling me Thus by his patient suffering and cheerfull demeanour in all his tribulations and disasters it plainly appeared that nothing seemed painfull vnto him but rather a profitable Exercise for the good of his soule Then wheÌ„ he had questioned a while with his daughter about his wife Children and houshold state in his absence he asked her how Queene Anne did Neuer better Father quoth she Neuer better Megge quoth he Alas alas it pittieth me to remember into what misery poore Soule she will shortly come After this M. Lieutenant coÌ„ming one to day his chamber to visit him recouÌ„ting the many courtesies and benefits that he had heertofore receiued at his hands and therfore how much the more bound he was to entâ—…ertayne him friendly make him good chere which the case standing as it did he could not as he would do without the Kings high displeasure therfore hoped he would accept of his good will and of such poore cheere as he had Maâ—…ster Lieuâ—…nant quoth Syr Thomas More now verily I belieue all you haue said to be true for which I do most hartily thanke you And assure your selfe M Lieutenant when you see me mislike my cheere then thrust me out of your doores as a very vnthankefull Guest Now wheras the Oath aboue mentioned made to confiâ—…me the K. Supremacy mariage was coÌ„prised in very few woâ—…des the Lord Chauncâ—…llour Secretary Cromwâ—… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 owne heads adde more woâ—…s vâ—…to it to make it appeaâ—…e of more force and to 〈◊〉 better in the Kings eare whiâ—…h Oath so amplified they had caused to be ministred to Syâ—… Tâ—…mas More to al others throghout the Kingdome The which Syr Thomas More perceiuing said one day to his daughter Roper I may tell thee Mâ—…gge they that committed me hither for refusing the Oath not agreable to the Statute are not by their own law able to iustify my imprisoment And surely Daughter it is great piâ—…y that any ChristiaÌ„ Prince should by so flexible a Counsell ready to follow his affeâ—…tions by so weake a Clergy wanting grace to stand constantly to their Religion with â—…attery be so grosâ—…ely abused But at length the Lord Chancellour M. Secretary espying their owne ouersight in that behalfe were glad afterwards to sind a meanes that another Staâ—… should be made for the conâ—…mation of the sayd Oath so amplifyed with theyr additions And wheras Syr Thomas More had made a conueyance for the disposing of his laÌ„des reseruing onely vnto himselfe an estate for terme of life and after his descease some part therof to his wife children other some to his Sonne Ropers wife for a ioynture in consideration she was an 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of more then a hundred 〈◊〉 by the yeare And likeâ—…se other some to M. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in recompence of then 〈◊〉 money with diuerâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ouer and besides All which coÌ„ueyances and asâ—…urances being made and finished longe before any matter wherof he was attaynted could be made an offence yet by Statute were they now all clearely auovded and all the lanâ—…s that he had in such sort assured vpon his wife and children by the sayd 〈◊〉 coÌ„trary to order of the lawes taken from them and forfaytâ—…d into the Kings handes except only that poâ—…tion which he had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his wife by reasoÌ„ that after the 〈◊〉 conueyaÌ„ce which was 〈◊〉 to â—…selfe for the terme of
being personally present vpon the Earth only vnto S. Peter the Apostle and his lawfull Successors Bishops of the same Sea by special prerogatiue It is not therefore 〈◊〉 inough for one Christian Catholike man to charge and conuince another Christian Catholike man say that this Realme of England being but a member a small part only of the Church of Christ hath power and authority to make a particular law disagreable to the generall law of Christs Vniuersall Catholique Church no more then the Citty of London being but one poore member in respect of the whole Kingdome might make a law agayâ—…st an Act of Parlament to bâ—…nd the whole Realme And further he shewed that it was coÌ„trary both to the ancient Lawes Statutes of our owne Realme not theÌ„ repealled as they might well see in Magna Carta Quod 〈◊〉 libera sit habeat omnia iura integÌ„ra libertates suas 〈◊〉 and contrary likewise to that sacred Oath which the Kings Highnes himselfe and enâ—…ry other Christian Prince of this realme with great Solemnity hath euer taken at their Coronation Alleaging moreouer that no more might this Realme of England refuse obedience to the Sea of Râ—…me then the child might refuse Obedience to his naturall Father for as S. Paul sayth of the 〈◊〉 I haue regenerated you my Children in Christ so might holy S. Gregory Pope of Rome of whome by S. Augustine his messenger we Englishmen first receiued the Christian fayth truly say You are my Children beâ—…causâ—… I haue giuen you euerlasting saluation a farre and better more noble Inheritance then any carnall Father can leaue to his Children by regeneration made you my Children in Christ. To this speach of Syr Thomas More the Lord Chancellor answered That seeing all the Bishops Vniuersities best learned of the Realme had to this Act of Parlament agreed it was very greatly to be admired that he alone agaynst them all would so stifly sticke and argue so vehemently against it To this Syr Thomas More a gaine replyed saying If the nuÌ„ber of Bishops and Vniuersities be so materiall as your Lordship seemeth to take it then I see little cause my Lord why that thing should make any change at all in my CoÌ„science For I nothing doubt though not in this Realme yet in Châ—…istendome round about the nuÌ„ber of learned men and Bishops to be farre greater who will defend and maintayne the contrary and therefore am I not bouÌ„den to conforme my coÌ„science to the Councell of one Kingdome against the generall CouÌ„cell of Christendome Now when Syr Thomas More for the auoyding of the Inditement had taken as many exceptions as he thought fit the Lord Chancellour loath to haue the burden of that Iudgment wholy to depend vpon â—…fe there openly asked the aduise of the Lord Fitz-Iames then Lord chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bâ—…nch and ioyned in commission with him whether this Inâ—… were 〈◊〉 or no. Who like a 〈◊〉 man answered My Lordes quoth he by S. 〈◊〉 that was euer his oath I must needs coÌ„fesse that if the Act of Parlament be not vnlawfull then is not the Inditement in my conscience insufficient Whereupon the Lord Chancellour said to the rest of the Commissioners Loe my Lordes you all heare what my Lord chiefe Iustice sayth so immediatly he gaue Iudgment Which being done the commissoners yet further offered him curteously all fauourable audience if he would speake who answered I haue no more to say my Lords but that like as the Blessed Apostle S. Paul as we read in the Acts of the Apostles was present and consenteâ—… to the death of S. Stephen kept their clothes that stoned him to death and are now both hoâ—…y Saintes in heauen so I verily trust and shall right hartily pray that though your Lordships haue now heere in earth byn Iudges to my Condemnation yet may we hereafter meete all togeather in euerlasting glory After his condemnation he departed from the Barre towardes the Tower agayne led by Sir William Kingston a tall strong and comely knight Constable of the Tower his very deere friâ—…d who wheÌ„ he had brought him a part of the way towardes the Tower with a heauy heart the teares running downe his cheekes bad him farwell The which Syr Thomas More seeing comforted him with as good words as he could saying Good M Kingston trouble not your selfe but be of good cheere for I will pray for you and my good Lady your wife that we may meete togeather in HeaueÌ„ where we shal be merry for euer and euer And a little after Syr William Kingstone meeting with M. Roper said In good fayth M. Roper I was ashamed of my selfe that at my departure from your Father I found my selfe so feeble and he so strong that he was fayne to coÌ„fort me who should rather haue comforted him As Syr Thâ—… More came neere vnto the Tower his Daughter Roper desirous to see her Father once more before his death and to receaue his last blessing gaue attendance about the Tower-wharfe where he was to passe so soone as she saw him hastning vnto him without respect or care of herselfe pressed in among the throng of the Guard that with halbards went round about him and there openly in the sight of all asking him blessing on her knees imbrac't him tooke him about the necke and kissed him Who with a merry countenance nothing at all deiected gaue her his Fatherly blessing with many Godly wordes of comfort theÌ„ departed So remayned he in the Tower more then eight dayes after his condemnation from whence the day before he suffered he sent his shirt of hayre not willing to haue it seene to his said Daughter Roper and a Letter written with a cole printed in the aforesaid booke of his workes expressing playnly the feruent desyre he had to suffer on the Morrow in these wordes following I comber you good Margaret very much but I wold be sorry if it should be any longe then to Morrow for to Morrow is S. Thomas of Canterbury his Eue the Octaue of S. Peter therfore to Morrow long I to go to God it were a day very meete and conuenient for me I neuer liked you manner better towardes me then when you last imbraced me and when daughterly loue and deare charity haue no leasure to looke towards worldly courtesy Vpon the next Morrow according as he wished earely in the morning there came vnto him Syr Thomas Pope his singular good friend with a message from the King and Counsell that he must before nine of the clocke the same morning suffer death and that he should forth with prepare himself therto M. Pope quoth he for your good tydings I most hartily thanke you I haue alwayes ben much bound to the Kings highnes for the many benefits and honours that he hath still from tyme to tyme most bountifully heaped vpon me especially that it hath pleased his Maiesty to put me here in this