to his hart as to thinke that he was not able as he gladly would with the losse of one of his chiefest limmes to finde anie thing in that matter whereby with integritie of his conscience he might serue his Grace to his contentment And he alwaies bore in minde those most godlie wordes that his Highnesse spoke vnto him when he first admitted him into his royall seruice the most vertuous lesson that euer prince gaue vnto his seruant whereby he willed him First to looke to God and after God to him as in good fayth he sayd he did and would or else might his Maiestie accounte him for his most vnworthie vassall whereto the king courteously answered that if he could not therein with his conscience serue him he was contented to accept his seruice otherwaies and vsing the aduise of other his learned Councell whose consciences could well agree thereto he would notwithstanding continue his accustomed fauour towards him and neuer with that matter molest his conscience after but how well he performed his promise may be seene by the discourse following And indeede there is no prince be he bent to neuer so much wickednesse but shall finde counsellours enough that will alwaies seeke to please his humours but to finde anie one that will not agree to what that king is bent to haue wrongfully brought to passe these are verie rare and therefore most to be admired THE SEAVENTH CHAPTER A VIEW OF SOME especiall and most remarkeable virtues of SIR T. MORE in middest of his Honours 1. Incredible pouerty in so eminent a personage signe of vnmacheable integrity 2. Admirable zeale in cause of catholike religion against all heresie 3. Cheerful myrthe in all occasions ioined vvhith grauity 4. Solid deuotion and reuerence in diuine seruice 5. Patience resignation in temporall losses 6. Contempt of vvorldly honour declared in deposing of the dignity of Chauncellour 7. A resolution to liue poorly neuer like seen in a great states man 8. With vvhat deep ponderation he resigned vp that high honour 1. ABout this time it happened Sir Iohn More to fall sick of a surfeit of grapes as I haue heard who though he was verie olde yet had he till then bene more lustie then his yeares afforded him In his sicknesse his sonne whome now he had scene Lo Chancellour often came visited him vsing manie comfortable words vnto him and at his departure out of this miserable world with teares taking him about the necke most louingly kissed and embraced him commending his soule deuoutly to the merciefull hands of his Creatour and redeemer so with a heauie hart departed from him who left him now bettered with a verie small encrease of estate because his chiefe house and lands at Gubbins in Hartfortdshire his last wife enioyed who outliued Sir THOMAS some ten yeares and therefore Sir THOMAS neuer enioyed almost anie inheritance from his father in so much that he affirmed in his apologie which he wrote about this time that all his reuenues and pensions except that which had bene granted by letters patents from the king of his mere liberalitie to witt the mannours of Duckington Frinckford and Barlyparke in Oxfordshire all the rest he saith amount not to aboue Fiftie pound by the yeare as those which he had from his father or by his wife or by his owne purchase Surely a rare saying that one of the king's Counsell who had gone through manie offices for almost twentie yeares should not be able to purchase one hundred pound land when as now a priuate Atturney by his owne practise wil leaue his childe fiue hundred pound land of inheritance Therefore in so great an officer this sheweth an admirable contempt of worldlie commodities a bountiefull hand to spende liberally and abundantly vpon the poore his owne kinsfolke and familie the Church and vpon hospitallitie And as for readie monie he had not in all the world when he gaue vp his office aboue one hundred pound either in golde or siluer which is as strange as the former All which doth demonstrate his vprightnesse his munificence his singular perfections and his diuine wisedome For what could millions of golde haue stoode him in steede but to cumber his conscience when he lost all from himselfe and his posteritie by reason of the malice of a spitefull queene who pursued him and his to death to their vtter temporall ouerthrowe shewing perfectly that saying non est malitia super malitia mulieris For the king could not by his fall promise himself anie great increase of goods as he had gotten by the Cardinall's ouerthrow 2. Now the Bishops of England at this time considering with themselues that for all his prince's fauour he was neither a rich man nor in yearelie reuenues aduanced as his worthinesse deserued weighing with themselues what paines and trauailes he had taken in writing manie learned bookes for the defence of the true Catholike faith against manie heresies secretely sowen abroad in the realme to whose pastorall charge the reformation of them principally appertained there being not one Clergie man that had matched his writings either in the greatnesse of the volumes the soundnesse of the arguments to conuince the aduersarie or the paines taken to reduce them They called therefore a Conuocation togeather whether most of the Clergie came where they concluded to offer vnto him the summe of foure thousand pound at the least thereby to recompence in parte his trauailes there in sustayned To the paymēt whereof euerie Bishop Abbott and the rest of the Clergie after the rate of their abilities were liberall contributours hoping that this summe would contente him Wherefore his deare friends Tunstall Bishopp of Durham and Clarke B. of Bath and as is supposed Veysey of Exeter came to Sir THOMAS and spoke thus vnto him how that they held themselues bound to consider him for his paynes taken and bestowed to discharge them in Gods quarrell and albeit they could not according to his deserts requite him so worthily as they willingly would but must referre that only to the goodnesse of God yet for a small parte of recompence in respect of his estate so vnequall to his worth they presented vnto him that summe in the name of the whole Conuocation desiring him to take it in good parte And though this were a bountiefull deede in respect of those prelates yet little knew they Sir THOMAS his magnificent disposition who answered them in this manner That like as it was no small comfort vnto him that so wise and learned men accepted so well of his simple doings for which he neuer purposed to receaue anie rewarde but at the hands of God alone to whome the thankes thereof was chiefely to be ascribed so gaue he most humble thankes vnto their Lordshipps all for their so bountiefull friendlie consideration but he purposed not to receaue anie thing from them And when they with great importunitie pressed still vpon him that
religion End of the kings controuersie He neuer asked anything of the King Liberality to his parish Churche His mercifull workes to his poor neighbours 2. The beginning of K. Hēries separation from the Church Scruple of his mariage with Q. Catherin Cōmissioneirs frō Rome about it The dispensatiō questiōd And supplied by a new cōfirmatiō K. Henry appeals to a generall councel and falls from the Pope His iniurie to S. Thomas of Canterburies body Q. Anne Bolēs incontinēcy 3. Cardinall Wolseys disgrace downfall Sir Tho. Mores embassage for peace happy successe therin Bishop Stokelies quirk in Q. Catharins marriage His conference with Sir Thomas about it Strokesly vndermines the Cardinall For backwardnes in the kings diuorce forwardnes for a frenche matche The Cardinal discontented Arrested and depriued of all honours riches Sir Tho. More elected L Chauncelor Only worthy of the place in Cardinal Wolseys iudgement 4. The honourable ceremony with whiche he was enstalled The Duke of Norfolks oratiō in behalf of Sir Tho. More Of his worthinesse for so great a place The first lay man that euer was mad Lord Chauncellour Good reasons why that ould custom was altered Sir Tho. Mores modest and discreet reply He acknowledgeth his owne vnworthinesse The Dukes loue And the kings fauour and bounty Which he esteems beyond his deserts Al which encrease in him a full purpose to discharge well so great a charge And desireth fauorable interpretation of his endeuours A wise ponderation of his predecessour Cardinals example The danger of highe honours A warning to vse them well Commō ioy of S. Thomas his promotion 5. The behaueour of S. Thomas in the dignity of L. Chancellour Towards his father the auncientest iudge of the realme Towards all sutours especially the poorer sort No accesse to bribery Means how great men may do fauours in iustice Notable integrity Euen against his owne kinred Long delayes in law the misery of poor clients remedied by Sir Thomas A pleasaūt tale of a table 6. King Hēry desire Sir Thomas to allow his diuorce Sir Thomas noble and discreet refusall Accepted for the time by the king 1. The death of Sir Iohn More Sir Thomas neuer enioyed his fathers inheritance Rare pouerty in a L. high Chancellour Yet could it not stop Q. Annes malice against him 2. His admirable zeal in cause of catholike religion A liberal reward profered him nobly by the Bishops of Enggland As nobly and magnanimously refused by him only for Gods sake The heretiks calumny against him True glorie to be hated by heretikes Perfect patience always ioined with true perfectiō 3. Cheerfull mirth An vnmānerly reprehēsiō mannerly returnd on the reprehender A bold debtour pretily told his owne A mery arbitrement between his Lady a beggar A pleasaunt cēsore of a witlesse writing A mery mistaking 4. His earnest deuotiō in the seruice of God He vsed to sing in his surplice in his parishe churche To cary the crosse in procession on foote Cōfessed communicated before any importāt businesse 5. Patience in temporall lesser An excellent resignatiō to the prouidence of God More care to supply his neighbours losses then his owne Godly care of his poor seruants God rewardeth true resignation euen in this world Vanity of iudgement of worldlings 6. S. Thomas resigned vp his office of L. Chancellour The neerer his end the more replenished with the loue of God A notable record that no cause was left vndecyded in the Chācery A parlement called for Q Annes marriage Sir Tho. More sues to depose his office The king graciously accepteth his desire How merely he insinuated the matter to his wife A pleasaūt ieast to diuere her from sorow 7. Prouident dispositiō of his houshold after his resignement Of his seruants all well rec2ommended Of his children liuing with him An incōparable resolutiō after so great an honour to beare cheerfully so low an estate Honourable pouerty of so great a personage 8. How earnestly and cōsideratly he deposed his office An excellent letter to Archbishop Warrhā to such a purpose Great offices dāgerously vndertaken and as dangerous to be giuen ouer A true valuatiō of virtuous actions S. Thom. Mores humble estimation of himself He sends his Vtopia to the Archbishop His innocence in his office Testified in priuat and publik by the King The chief cause of his resignemēt to serue God more freely As thākfull to the K. for permitting his resignement as for the office it self Another cause for his weak health Contēpt of all vainglory 1. His remote preparatiō to Martyrdome 1 Hatred to heresie Yet in his tyme no heretik pur to death 2. Continuall talk of spirituall matters 3. Desire to suffer for Christ 2. A notable lesson for all statesmen giuē to M. Cromwel But not kept by the sayd M. Crōwell Bad Counsellours make bad Princes The reward of bad coūsel exāplified in Crōwell Of good Counsellours in S. Tho. More 3. The mariage of Q. Anne Archbis Crāmers good qualities He concludes the mariage to be lawful The cause of Englāds separation frō Rome Sir Tho. Mores propheticall ghesse of the oath of supremacy 4. Sir Tho. M. refused to be at Q. Annes coronatiō His coūsel and predictiō to the Bishops his good frinds A notable story wonderfully and prophetically applied His purpose rather to be deuoured then defloured Q. Annes hatred to Sir Thomas And the kings displeasure Sir Thomas disposeth him self more immediatly to suffer death A Christiā stratagem 5. The first occasiō of calling into question for Q. Anne The holy Nunne of Kent Warned by reuelation to rebuke K. Hēry Conferreth her reuelatiōs with B. Fisher Her talk with Sir Thomas More Waryly handled by him 6. Accusations procured against Sir Thomas That he impugned the K. mariage Quarrels picked against his Chaūcellourship A supposed bribe pleasantly confuted A courteous refusall of an honest reward Another of like nature Sir Tho. More a wise marchāt traffiking for heauen 7. Sir T. M. his first examination A parlament to attaint true men of treasō The Kings deputies to examin Sir Tho. M. The Deputies faires words to winne Sir Tho. Fairly answered with a mild and constant refusall The Deputies threats Sir T. M. accused for autour of the kings book for the Pope His constant reply and euident refutatiō Wise wary counsel of Sir Tho. to the King The king acknowledgeth obligatiō of his crowne to Rome 8. His merry hart after his examination A fall giuen to the diuel The Kings indignatiō against Sir Tho. Prudent and politik aduise in so bad a cause Proceeding against Sir Tho. M. differed A braue answer to a frinds feare 1. The oath of supremacy Sir Tho. M. cited to take it His preparation before his going His discreet behaueour in that cause He refuseth the oath for consciēce sake All the clergy but Bishop fisher and D. Wilson did take the oath Vnder what cōditiōs Sir T. M offered to set downe his reason of refusall Sir
complexion nor very rich by disposition verie neare and worldlie I haue heard it reported he woed her for a friend of his not once thinking to haue her himselfe but she wisely answering him that he might speede if he would speake in his owne behalfe telling his friend what she had sayd vnto him with his good liking he married her and did that which otherwise he would perhaps neuer haue thought to haue donne And indeede her fauour as I thinke could not haue bewitched or scarce euer moued anie man to loue her but yet she proued a kinde and carefull mother-in-law to his children as he was alwaies a most louing father vnto them and not only to his owne but to her daughter also who was married to Mr. Alington and mother to Sir Giles Alington He brought vp togeather with this owne children as one of them Margarett Gigs after wife to Doctour Clement a famous phisitian and she proued also very famous for her manie excellent partes as learning vertue and wisedome All these he bred most carefully to learning and godlie exercises often exhorting them to take vertue for their meate and play for their sawce getting them good meanes to maintaine them by his practise in the law which he had first studied in an Inne of Chancerie called New-Inne where he profited exceedingly and from thence went to Lincolnes-Inne of which house his father then was where he allotted him small allowance for the reasons before alleaged and as it seemed then his great patron the good Cardinal was dead 3. But he plyed that studie whereto he gaue himself being apt to anie that in short time he was made and accounted a worthie Outer-barister yea still proceeding with most notable fame he became a double reader to which few but rare and singular lawyers doe euer attaine Euerie one beganne to admire him both for a man of iudgement vprightnesse and other excellent partes a readie deliuerie boldenesse in a iust cause and diligence in his Clients case and no great taker of money vnlesse he had througly deserued For which causes euerie man striued to haue him of their Counsell in all suits The Cittie of London chose him within a while Iudge of the Shrief's Court some say Recorder of London which I thinke not yea there was not at that time anie matter of importance in anie of the King's Courts of this realme but he was of counsell to one of the parties still choosing the iustest side and therefore for the most parte he went away victorious By all which meanes he gott yearely as he tolde his sonne Rooper without anie grudge of conscience to the value of foure hundred pounds which was a large gaynes in those daies when lawyers spedde not so well as now they doe neither were they then so plentiefull but his fame exceeded all other Wherefore he was chosen twice Agent for the Stillyard-marchents which busines he dispatched with singuler dexteritie 4. King Henrie the Seauenth then raigning was a prince of singuler vertues as wisedome and religion if that couetousnesse the roote of all mischiefe had not seized vpon him towards his latter daies which caused him to lay vpon his subiects manie Impositions and to raise sore exactions by two Caterpillers of the Common-wealth Emson and Dudley who in the beginning of Henrie the Eighth's raigne were rewarded according to their deserts for their wicked counsell to teache other men by their deathes how Iniustice and rapine is punished by God This King I say had called to geather a Parlement wherein he demaunded one Subsidie and three Fifteenes for the marriage of his eldest daughter the Ladie Margaret's Grace who then should be as she was in deede shortly after bestowed vpon the King of Scotts It chanced that Sir THOMAS was then one of the Burgesses For manie had now taken notice of his great sufficiencie When the consent of the Lower house was demaunded to these impositions most of the rest either holding their peace or not daring to gainesay them though they were vnwilling to grant them Sir THOMAS making a graue speache brought forth such vrgent arguments why these exactions were not to be granted that herevpon the King's demaunde was crossed and his request denyed so that one Mr. Tiler one of the King 's priuie Chamber went presently from the house and tolde his Maiestie that a beardelesse boy had disappointed him of all his expectation wherevpon the king conceaued great indignation against him and could no way be satisfyed vntill he had in some sorte reuenged it But for as much as he hauing yet but a litle could not loose much the king deuised a Causelesse quarrell against Sir Iohn More his most innocent father and clapt him vp in the Tower of London keeping him there prisoner vntill he had forced him against all Iustice to pay one hundred pounds as a fyne for a Causelesse offence Manie also then counselled Sir THOMAS MORE to aske the king mercie that his father might be released amongst whome was Doctour Fox then Bishopp Winchester one of the king's priuie Councell who pretended great loue towards Mr. More purposing indeede to gett the king thereby a better meanes to reuenge his displeasure against him But when Sir THOMAS had asked the Bishop's Chaplaine Doctour Whittford a verie holie and graue man afterward a Father of Sion he that translated the Follovving of Christ into English what he were best to doe he requested him for the passion of Christ not to follow his Lord's aduise saying moreouer that the Bishop would not sticke to agree to the dearh of his owne father if it were to serue the king's turne For which cause he returned no more to my Lo of Winchester but determined to haue gone ouer sea thinking he could not liue in England without great danger standing now in the king's displeasure and therefore he studied the French toung at home sometimes recreating his tyred spiritts on the violl where he also perfected himself in most of the Liberall Sciences as Musike Arithmetike Geometrie and Astronomy and grew to be a perfect historian his chiefe helpe in all these labours being his happie memorie of which he modestly speaketh thus I would I had as good a witt and as much learning vt memoria non vsquequaque destituor as my memorie doth not altogeather fayle me But king Henrie dying shortly after and his sonne king Henrie the Eighth striuing at the beginning of his raigne to winne the applause of his people cast Emson and Dudley into prison and attaynted them of high treason for giuing pernicious counsell to his father their prince and when they were going to execution Sir THOMAS asked Dudley whether he had not donne better then they to whome with a sorrowfull hart he answered O Mr. MORE God was your good friend that you did not aske the king forgiuenesse as manie would haue had you donne for if you had donne
which though king Henrie did not very well like of because it was disgustfull to his passionate lust yet the manner of Sir THOMAS his discourse and collection was so wisely tempered by his discreete communication that he tooke them at that present in good parte and often had conference of them againe By which manner of Sir THOMAS his counsell and sincere carriage one may easily gather what vnspotted conscience this vpright man had who for no hope of gaine or anie feare of disgrace would once swarue from the true dictamen of his Conscience and if the rest of king Henrie's counsell had bene as backward to hinder this beginning of dissolution as Sir THOMAS was no alteration of religion had by all likelyhood happened in England for from this onlie spring of K. Henrie's intemperance proceeded all the succeeding calamities which haue daily increased yet haue not anie hope of amendement All which change Sir THOMAS MORE either like a very wise man foresawe long before or rather like a prophete prophecied thereof to my vncle Rooper who on a time of a certaine ioy beganne to commende to his father-in-lawe the happie estate of this realme that had so Catholike and zealous a prince that no heretike durst shew his face so learned and vertuous a Cleargie so graue and sounde a Nobilitie such louing and obedient subiects all agreing togeather in one faith and dutiefulnesse as though they had cor vnum animam vnam but one hart and one soule Sir THOMAS thus replyed againe Truth it is indeede sonne Rooper as you say and going through all estates with his commēdations of them he went farre beyond my vncle and yet sonne quoth he I pray God that some of vs as high as wee seeme to sitt now vpon the mountaines treading heretikes vnder our feete like antes doe not liue the day that we gladly would wish to be in league with them to suffer them to haue their churches quietly to themselues so that they would he content to lett vs haue ours peaceably to our selues VVhen mine vncle Rooper had tolde him manie reasons why he had no cause to say so well sayd he I pray God some of vs liue not till that day and yet shewed he noe reason for all these his speaches whereat my vncle sayd in a choller By my troath Sir it is very desperately spoken I cry God mercie saith my vncle I vsed vnto him that very word By which speach Sir THOMAS perceauing him to be somewhat angrie sayd merrily well sonne Rooper it shall not be so it shall not be so But yet himself founde the predictiō too true for he liued vntil the fiueteenth yeare of Q. Elizabeth's raigne when he saw religion turned topsie turuie and no hope of anie amendement This spiritt of prophecie no doubt was a signe of Gods loue vnto Sir THOMAS being so deare in his sight that he would make him partaker of some parte of his secretts but that which he wrought in the conuersion of this his sonne in lawe was not a signe only but an euident demonstratiō of God's great fauour vnto him For when Mr. VVilliam Rooper was a yong man he vsed austeritie to himselfe more then discretion afforded and by this meanes he grew wearie of the Catholike fasts and religious discipline and hearing of a new and easie way to heauen which the preachers of nouelties did promise to their followers he beganne to reade diligently the bookes of heresies which came ouer and were spread in euerie place of England in so much that being wearie of Auricular Confession fasting the lent and vigiles he grew vehement in his new opinions and zealous in breaking of them to others so as that he would be alwaies talking what a readie way to heauen was now found out no bodie needing to sue to Saints or mens prayers but Gods eare was open still to heare and his mercie readie to forgiue anie sinner whatsoeuer when he shall call to him by fayth which was only necessarie to saluation and hauing that only which he assured himself of he needed not doubt but that he was an elect and saued soule so that it was impossible for him to sinne or fall out of God's fauour Of this dangerous poison of securitie he hauing druncke a full draught he came on a time to Sir THOMAS to request him because he was highly in the king's fauour that he would gett him a licence to preache what the spiritt had taught him for he was assured that God had sent him to instruct the world not knowing god wote anie reason of this his mission but only his priuate spirit to whome Sir THOMAS in a smiling manner replyed Is it not sufficient sonne Rooper that we that are your friēds should knowe that you are a foole but that you would haue your follie proclamed to the world After this he often disputed with him about matters of religion yet neuer could he bring him to hearken to anie reason euerie day seeming more obstinate then other vntill at length he sayd in sober sadnesse I see sonne noe disputation will doe thee good henceforth therefore I will dispute with thee no more only will I pray for thee that God will be so fauourable as to touch thy hart and so committing him to God they parted And he earnestly powred out his deuotions before the Diuine mercie for that intent And beholde my vncle not long after being inspired with the light of grace beganne to detest his heresies and as another S. Austin was wholy conuerted so that euer after he was not only a perfect Catholike but liued and dyed a stoute and valiant Champion thereof whose almes in charitable vses was so great that it is sayd that he bestowed euerie yeare to the value of fiue hūdred pounds especially in his latter daies in which he enioyed an office of great gayne and commoditie and after his death I haue heard it reported by thē that were seruants in his house that whilst his bodie lay vnburied for three or foure daies there was heard once a day for the space of a quarter of an hower the sweetest musike that could be imagined not of anie voices of men but angelicall harmonie as a token how gratious that soule was to Almightie God and to the quires of Angells Now this was a more speciall fauour which God grāted to Sir THOMAS his deuout prayers then the raysing of a dead man to life by how much more the death of the soule is of more danger then the death of the bodie yet it is certaine also that this glorious man begged also corporall life for some of his deare friends On a time his daughter Margaret wife to this William Rooper fell sicke of the sweating sickenesse of which manie dyed at that time who lying in so great extremitie of the disease that by no inuentions nor deuises that anie cunning phisiciā could vse at that time hauing cōtinually about her most
and so dispatche myself of the office hovvsoeuer I purposed at the last to forgoo the one rather then both Wherefore because I vvould as vvell be carefull of the publike vvellfare as of mine ovvne health I vvas an earnest suiter to my Prince and at last haue obtayned by his singular courtesie that because I beganne to grovv vvearie and euen readie to lye vnder my burden I might be ridde of that though a most honourable office vvhereto his fauour had raised me aboue all my deseruing as it vvas vvholy vvithout my seeking I beseeche therefore all the Saints in heauen that by their intercession almightie God vvould recompence this most fauourable affection of the King 's tovvards me and that he vvould giue me grace to spend the rest of my age in his seruice profitably and not idely or vainely affording me health of bodie that I may be the better able to take paines And to Cochleus he writeth thus I haue bene lately sore sicke for some moneths togeather not so much to the sight of others as to mine ovvne feeling which infirmitie I can scarce shake of novv vvhen I haue left of my office for then I could not exercise my function of Chancellour vnlesse I should endanger my health daily The care of my recouerie but especially the due respect I had not to hinder publike iustice moued me thereto vvhih I thought I should greatly hinder if being sicklie I should be constrayned to vndertake businesses as I did vvhen I vvas stronger That leasure vvhich the fauourable benignitie of my most gracious prince hath vouchsafed to grant me I haue purposed to dedicate vvholy to my studie and the honour of God And as for his contempt of worldlie honour he writeth thus to Erasmus You vvill not belieue hovv vnvvillingly I undertake embassages neither can there be anie thing more displeasing vnto me then the function of an Embassadour Of his Vtopia he writeth that he iudged the booke no better worthie then to lye alwaies hidden in his owne Hand or else to be consecrated to Vulcan Of his poetrie he sayth my epigrammes neuer pleased my minde as you well knowe my Erasmus and if other men had not better liked them then myself they should neuer haue bene putt out in printe THE EIGHT CHAPTER THE FIRST OCCASION and beginning of Sir THOMAS his troubles 1. Hovv he prepared himself to suffer for Christ as yf he foresavv he should so do 2. A vvorthie lesson for statesmen giuen by Sir Thomas More to Cromvvell 3. The vnfortunate marriage of Queen Anne Bolain 4. Sir Tho. More refuseth to be present at Queen Annes coronation the beginning of hers and the Kings indignation 5. The holy Nunne of Canterbury first occasion of calling Sir Thom. More into Question about Q. Anne 6. Diuers accusations procured against Sir T. More all easily auoided by his innocente life 7. His first examination before the Kings deputies 8. His mery hart and braue resolution after this examination 1. THe yeare immediately before his troubles he spent most in spirituall exercises and in writing of bookes against heretikes of whome in another letter he speaketh thus That which I professe in my epitaphe that I haue bene troublesome to heretikes I haue donne it with a little ambition for I so hate these kinde of men that I would be their sorest enemie that possible they could haue if they will not repente for I finde them such men and so to encrease euerie day that I euen greatly feare the world will be vndonne by them Yet for all his hatred to them no heretike suffered death whilst he was Lo Chancellour as Erasmus confesseth in the aboue mentioned letter And indeede it seemeth he would not haue them suffer death because he writeth to that effect in the lawes of his Vtopia Writing another time to Cochlie he sayth I vvould to God my Cochlie I had such skill in holie Scriptures and Diuinitie that I vvere able to vvrite against these plagues of the vvorld fruitfully and vvith good effect Erasmus also confesseth that he hated those seditious opinions with the which the world was then cruelly shaken He would often talke with his wife and Children of the exceeding ioyes in heauen and terrible paines of hell of the liues of holie Martyrs what torments they endured for the loue of God of their maruelous patiēce deathes which they suffered most willingly rather then they would offende Gods diuine Maiestie and what an honourable thing it was for the loue of our Lord IESVS-CHRIST to abide imprisonment losse of goods lands and life adding also what a comfort it would be to him if he might finde that his wife and children would encourage him to dye in a good cause for it would cause him for ioye thereof merrily to runne to death besides as prophecying of his future troubles he would tell them what miseries might chance to happen vnto him With which vertuous discourses he had so encouraged them that when these things after fell vpon him indeede their miserie seemed the more tolerable vnto them because Shafts foreseene hurt not so much 2. Within a while after the resigning of his Office Mr. Cromevvell now highly in the King's fauour came of a message from the king to Sir THOMAS wherein when they had throughly talked togeather before his going away Sir THOMAS sayd vnto him Mr. Cromevvell you are entred into the seruice of a most noble wise and liberall Prince yf you will followe my poore aduise you shall in your counsell giuing to his Maiestie euer tell him what he ought to doe but neuer what he is able to doe so shall you shew yourself a true and faithfull seruant and a right worthie counsellour for yf a lyon knew his owne strength hard were it for anie man to rule him But Cromevvell neuer learned this lesson for he euer gaue that counsell to his prince which he thought would best please him and not what was lawfull For it was he that was the mischieuous instrument of king Henry to pull downe all abbies and religious houses yea to ruinate religiō vtterly whereby you may see the difference betweene king Henry a iust prince whilst he followed Sir THOMAS MORE 's counsell and after a cruell tyrant and bloudsucker when he practised Thomas Cromevvells plotts and deuises and also we may see the issue of both these counsellours the one hauing gotten great fame for his iust deserts the other hauing purchased eternall infamie yea the ouerthrow of himself and his familie For though he attayned to be Lord Cromevvell yea afterwards Earle of Essex yet his honour and life was soone taken away from him most iustly and now there is scarce anie of his posteritie left his lands are all solde yea such was his grandchild's miserie that he complayned verie lamentably to some gentlemen that he had not bread to putt into his mouth whereas Sir THOMAS MORE 's great
grew first by occasion of a certaine Nunne called Elizabeth Berton dwelling in Canterburie who for her vertue and holinesse was not a little sett by amongst the common people vnto whome for that cause manie religious persons Doctours of Diuinitie and diuerse lay men of good worshipp vsed to resorte she affirming to them constantly that she had reuelations oftentimes from God charging her to giue the king warning of his wicked life and of his abusing of the sword and authoritie committed from almightie God vnto him She moreouer knowing that my Lo of Rochester Bishopp Fisher was of a singular and rare vertuous life and of admirable learning repaired to Rochester and there disclosed vnto him all her reuelations desiring his aduise and counsell therein which the holie Bishopp perceauing might well stande with the lawes of God and his holie Church aduised her as she before had warning to doe and intended it to goe to the king herselfe and lett him vnderstande all the circumstances thereof which she perfourmed stoutely telling him all the reuelations and so returned to her cloyster againe In a short space after he making a iourney to the Nunnes of Sion by meanes of one Fa Reynold a priest of that house there she happened to enter into talke with Sir THOMAS MORE concerning such secretts as had bene reuealed vnto her some parte thereof touching deepely the matter of the king's supremacie which shortly after this followed and about the vnlawfullnesse of the king's marriage Sir THOMAS though he might well at that time without danger of anie lawe of which there was then none freely talke with her therein yet notwithstanding he demeaned himself so discreetely in all his talke with her that he deserued no blame but rather great cōmendations as it was proued after most euidently when it was sore layd to his charge 6. After the diuorce was pronounced there was sett out a booke by authoritie from the Councell which layde downe the reasons why this diuorce was donne wherein amongst other matters it was sayde that therefore the king would not stay for the Pope's sentence because he had already appealed from him to the next Generall Councell Strayte after it was rumoured abroad that Sir THOMAS MORE had answered and refuted this booke of which slaunder Sir THOMAS purged himselfe by a letter to Mr. Cromevvell now Secretarie and in the king's greate fauour shewing by manie arguments that he neither would nor could confute that booke which letter is at large in the latter ende of Sir THOMAS his workes· But for all his purging himselfe accusations still came thicke and threefolde vpon him For the king by threates and sifting of his former deedes would either winne him to his minde or else finde some occasion to except against his doings and had he not bene a man of singular integritie free from all bribes and corruption in all his offices euerie light matter would haue bene layde now heauie vpon him as of some things he was indeede accused which addes more to his honour and reputation There was one Parnell that grieuously complayned against Sir THOMAS because when he was Lo Chancellour at the suite of one Mr. Vaughan his aduersarie he had made a decree against him for which at his wife's handes Sir THOMAS had taken a greate guilt Cuppe as a bribe for the clearing of which accusation Sir THOMAS being called before the bodie of the Councell the whole matter was in grieuous manner layde to his charge and when Sir THOMAS confessed the taking thereof saying that for as much as that Cuppe was giuen him long after the decree for a new yeares guift he at her importunitie of courtesie refused not to take it Then the Lo of Wiltshire Q. Anne's father who was the preferrer of the suite hated Sir THOMAS both for his religion and for that he had not consented to his daughter's marriage with much ioy sayd vnto the other Lords Loe did I not tell you that you should finde the matter true wherevpon Sir THOMAS desired their Honours as they had courteously heard him tell the one parte of his tale so they would voutsafe to heare the other with indifferent eares which being granted he further declared vnto them that albeit at her vrging he had indeede receaued the Cuppe yet immediately therevpon he caused his buttler to fill it vp with wine and therein drunke to her which when he had donne and she pledged him then he as freely as her husband bestowed it vpon him did euen as willingly bestowe the same vpon her againe for her new yeares-guift so forced her to receaue it though much against her will all which herselfe and manie others there then present deposed before that honourable assemblie Thus his accusers were putt to shame enough and he with great honour acquitted At another time on a new-yeares day also there came vnto him Mris Croaker a verie rich womā for whome with no smal paines he had made a decree in Chauncerie against the Lo of Arundel neuer fearing in acte of Iustice anie nobilitie of bloud or greatenesse of personage who presented him with a paire of gloues and fourescore Angells in them he thankefully receaued the gloues of her but refused the monie saying Mris seeing it were against good manners to refuse a gentlewomans new-yeares-guift I am content to take your gloues but as for the lining I vtterly refuse it and so caused her to take her monie againe One Mr. Gresham likewise hauing at the same time a Cause depending before him in the Chancerie sent him for a new-yeares-guift a fayre guilt Cuppe the fashiō whereof he very wel liked wherefore he caused the messenger to take one of his owne Cuppes which was in value better though the fashion pleased him not so well deliuer it to his maister in recōpence of the other vnder no other cōdition would he receaue it wherefore he was fayne so to doe Manie like vnto those actes did he which declared how cleane his hands were from taking of anie bribes which for tediousnesse sake we will omitt these are enough to shew anie liuing man how little he gayned yea how litle he cared for all transitorie wealth esteeming vertues of the minde his richest threasure and Christ naked on the Crosse his chiefe desire which holie pleasure of his almightie God before his death fulfilled when for his loue he lost all that might be most deare vnto worldlie men separation from wife and children losse of all libertie and the vtter ouerthrowe of all his goods and estate yet by leesing these things he gayned better for in steede of temporall he atchieued eternall in lieu of transitorie he hath purchased permanent in roome of deceiptfull trash he hath bought to himselfe a Crowne of glorie centuplum accepit vitam aeternam possidet he was a true marchant that by selling all he had bought the precious margarite spoken of by
from his wife the daughter of Lewis the eleauenth this matter displeased manie good men amongst them Iohn Standock and his schollar Thomas spake of it in a sermon desiring the people to pray to God that he would inspire the king to doe for the best they were therefore accused of seditiō as men that had committed a faulte against the king's Edict yet for all this they had no other punishment but banishment they kept and enioyed all their goods and when the controuersies were ended they were called home againe with honour by this his mildenesse the king both satisfyed his Edict gott no greate hatred for molesting two men both Diuines both accounted holie men But euerie man bewayleth the death of Sir THOMAS MORE euen they who are aduersaries vnto him for religion so great was his courtesie to all men so great his affabilitie so excellent was his nature Whome did he euer sende away from him yf he were anie thing learned without guifts or who was so gregt a stranger vnto him whome he did not seeke to doe one good turne or other Manie are fauourable only to their owne countriemen Frenchmen to Frenchmen Scottishmen to Scotts This his bountie hath so engrauen MORE in euerie man's hart that they all lamente his death as the losse of their owne father or brother I myselfe haue seene manie teares come from those men who neuer saw MORE in their liues nor neuer receaued anie benefitt from him yea whilst I write these things teares gushe from me whether I will or no. How manie soules hath that axe wounded which cutt of More 's head c. And a little after pulling of his vizard he sheweth himself Erasmus in these wordes Therefore when men haue congratulated me that I had such a friend placed in such high dignities I am wont to answer that I would not cōgratulate his encrease of honour before he should commaunde me to do so 3. Iohn Cochleus a most learned German and a great Diuine writing against Richard Sampson an English-man who defended king Henrie the eight for this fact sayth much of Sir THOMAS his praises at last speaking of his death he sayth thus to king Henrie's Councellours What prayse or honour could you gett by that crueltie which you exercised against Sir THOMAS MORE he was a man of most knowen and laudable humanitie milde behauiour affabilitie bountie eloquence wisedome innocencie of life witt learning exceedingly beloued and admired of all men in dignitie besides highest Iudge of your Countrie and next to the king himselfe famous from his youth beneficiall to his Countrie for manie Embassages and now most venerable for his gray head drawing towards olde age who hauing obtained of the king an honourable dismission from his office liued priuately at home with his wife children and nephewes hauing neuer committed the least offence against anie burdensome to no man readie to helpe euerie bodie milde and pleasant of disposition You haue giuen counsell to haue this so good a man drawen out of his owne house out of that sweete Academie of learned and deuoute Christian Philosophers for no other cause but this that he would not iustifye your impieties his guiltlesse Conscience resisting it The feare of God and his soule 's health withdrawing him from it Doe you belieue that this your wicked fact hath euer pleased anie one of what nation sexe or age soeuer or euer will please anie it will not surely you haue hurt yourselues murderers and guiltie of shedding most innocent bloud him haue you made most grateful to God to the cittizens of heauē to all iust men on earth a most renowned Martyr of Christ he liueth and raigneth without all doubt with Almightie God you will neuer be able to blott out this fault and infamie It is written of God He knovveth the deceauer and him that is deceaued he vvill bring counsellours to a foolish ende Iudges into amazement he vnlooseth the belte of kings guirdeth their loynes vvith a rope Thus writeth Cocleus 4. Paulus Iouius Bishop of Nuceria amōgst the praises of diuerse learned men writeth thus of Sir THOMAS MORE' 's vniust death Fortune fickle vnconstant after her accustomed manner and alwaies hating vertue if euer she played the parte of a proude and cruell dame she hath lately behaued herself most cruelly in Englād vnder Henrie the Eight casting downe before her Thomas More whome the king whilst he was an excellent admirer of vertue had raised to the highest places of honour in his realme that fom thence being by fatall maddenesse changed into a beast he might suddenly throwe him downe againe with great crueltie because he would not fauour the vnsatiable lust of that furious tyrant and for that he would not flatter him in his wickednesse being a man most eminent for the accomplishment of all partes of Iustice and most Saintlie in all kinde of vertues For when the king would be diuorced frō his lawfull wife marrie a Queane and hasten to disinherite with shame his lawful daughter Marie MORE LO Chancellour was forced to appeare at the Barre guiltie only for his pietie and innocencie and there was cōdemned most wrongfully to a most cruell and shamefull death like a Traytor and murtherer so that it was not lawfull for his friends to burie the dismembred quarters of his bodie But Henrie for this fact an imitatour of Phalaris shall neuer be able to bereaue him of perpetual fame by this his vnlawfull wickednesse but that the name of MORE shall remaine constāt and in honour by his famous Vtopia He speaketh of his death as his sentence did purporte 5. Now lett vs ioyne to these viz an Englishman a Low Countrie man a German and an Italian a French man also that we may see how all Nations did lamente Sir THOMAS MORE' 's death and what creditt the king and his Councell there vnto gott by it William Paradine writeth thus The troubles and ciuile dissensions in England now hath lasted a yeare or two whē in the moneth of Iuly Iohn Fisher Bishopp of Rochester was committed prisonner in London because he seemed to disallowe the king's diuorce the lawe newly made against the Pope's Supremacie Of that resolution was also Sir THOMAS MORE partaker being Sheriff of London a man famous for eloquence and in all manner of learning aboue the reache of all Courtiers most expert and skillfull most faultlesse in all deedes These two purposing rather to obey God then man and confirming their mindes with constancie were cōdemned to death from which constancie they could be drawen neither by entreaties hope of rewardes faire promises nor by anie threates whatsoeuer which corporall death both of thē receaued most patiently and stoutely Finally euerie writer of that age lamentably deplored the vniust death of Sir THOMAS MORE Rouerus Pontanus a German in his Index of memorable matters Laurence Surius a Low-Countrie-man vpon the yeare of 1538. Iohn Fontayne a Frenchman in
his French historie Onuphrius Patauinus in Paulo III. an Italian Nicolas Cardinall of Capua in his French letters Iohn Secundus of Hague yea Carion and Sleidan himselfe speake honourably of Sir THOMAS MORE 's death 6. But of all Protestants Iohn Riuius speaketh most passiionately of K. Henrie's cruell fact and Sir THOMAS's pietie in these wordes lib. 2. de Conscientia He that is in a Prince's Courte ought freely yf he be asked his Iudgement rather to tell his minde plainely what is most behoofefull for his Prince's good then to speake placentia tickeling his eares with flatterie neither ought he to praise things which are not prayse worthie nor to dispraise matters that are worthie of high commendations yea although he be in danger of getting no fauour by perswading it but rather punishment and disgrace for gainesaying men's appetites then bringing Papinianus that great lawyer for a liuelie example thereof who chose rather to dye then to iustifye the Emperour Caraculla's killing of his owne brother against his owne conscience he addeth Such a man was lately in our memorie that singular and excellent for learning and pietie yea the onlie ornament and glorie of his Countrie THOMAS MORE who because he would not agree nor approue by his consent against his owne conscience the new marriage of the king of England who would needes be diuorced from his first wife and marrie another he was first cast into prison one that had singularly well deserued of the king himselfe and of England and when he constantly continued in his opinion which he truly thought to be most iust most lawfull and godlie emboldened to defende it by a sincere conscience he was putt to death by that wicked parricide that most hatefull and cruell tyrant a crueltie not heard of before in this our age Oh ingratitude and singular impietie of the king's who could endure first to consume and macerate with a tedious and loathsome imprisonment such a sincere and holie good man one that had bene so careful of his glorie so studious of his Countrie 's profitt he that had perswaded him alwaies to all Iustice and honestie dissuaded him from all contraries and not conuinced of anie crime nor found in anie fault he slew him oh miserable wickednesse not only being innocent but him that had deserued high rewardes and his most faythfull and trustie Councellour Are these thy rewardes o king is this the tankes thou returnest him for all his trustie seruice and good will vnto thee doth this man reape this commoditie for his most faythfull acts and employments But oh MORE thou art now happie and enioyest eternall felicitie who wouldest leese thy head rather then approue anie thing against thine owne conscience who more esteemest righteousnesse iustice and pietie then life itselfe and whilst thou art depriued of this mortall life thou passest to the true and immortall happinesse of heauen whilst thou art taken away from men thou art raysed vp amongst the numbers of holie Saints and Angells of blisse 7. Last of all I will recounte what the good Emperour Charles the Fift sayd vnto Sir Thomas Eliott then the king's Embassadour in his Court after he had heard of Bishopp Fisher and Sir THOMAS MORE 's martyrdomes on a time he spoke of it to Sir Thomas Eliott who seemed to excuse the matter by making some doubt of the reporte to whome the Emperour replyed It is too true but yf we had had two such lights in all our kingdomes as these men were we could rather haue chosen to haue lost two of the best and strongest townes in all our Empire then suffer ourselues to be depriued of them much lesse to endure to haue thē wrongfully taken from vs. 8. And though none of these should haue written anie thing hereof yet the matter it selfe speaketh abundantly that the cause was most vniust the manner thereof most infamous and Sir THOMAS MORE 's patience most admirable his pietie his learning his vertues incomparable famous was he for his noble martyrdome infamous king Henry for his most vniust condemnation These things doe aggravate king Henry's faulte First that he killed him by a law wherein he neuer offended either by word or deede and by that which concerned not Temporall policie but religion only not rebellious against the king but fearefull to offende his owne Conscience which though he refused to approue yet did he neuer reproue it or anie other man for taking it Secondly that he putt to death so rare a man so beloued of all so vertuous so wise so courteous and wittie which might be motiues sufficient euer to pardon a guiltie offender Thirdly for beheading a man that had donne him so much seruice yea the whole kingdome such good offices his faythfull Counsellour for twentie yeares togeather his expert Embassadour his iust Lo Chancellour the verie flower of his realme Manie things also doe amplifye and increase Sir THOMAS MORE 's immortall glorie first in that to all the king's demaunds he had behaued himselfe so sincerely and impartiall opening his minde ingenuously so that the king seemed still to like him though his opiniō were contrarie to his liking Secondly that he had suffered alreadie the losse of all his goods being condemned to perpetual imprisonment and only for silence Thirdly in that he tooke all crosses for the loue of God most patiently Fourthly that he dyed for a controuersie in religion neuer before called in question by anie precedent example Finally that he only of all the Councell would not flatter the king nor keepe either goods dignitie or life with the dāger of the losse of his soule All which proue what a rare man how admirable and vertuous a Christian and how glorious a martyr he is 9. But because one bauld English Chronicler Hall tearmeth him a scoffing man because his writings and doings were full of wittie ieastes calling him a wise foolish man or a foolish wiseman lett vs see by his owne writings the reason why he hath vsed so manie pleasant tales in his bookes and it is this Euen as some sicke men sayth he will take no medicines vnlesse some pleasant thing be putt amongst their potions although perhaps it be somewhat hurtefull yet the phisician suffereth them to haue it So because manie will not willingly hearken to serious and graue documents except they be mingled with some fable or ieaste therefore reason willeth vs to doe the like And in his greate Volume page 1048. he sayth that ieastes are as it were sawce whereby we are recreated that we may eate with more stomake but as that were an absurde bankett in which there were few dishes of meate and much varietie of sawces and that an vnpleasant one where there were no sawce at all euen so that life were spent idely wherein nothing were but mirth and iolitie and againe that tedious and vncomfortable wherein no pleasure or myrth were to be expected Which mirth as it may become all
Apelles for his excellēt workemanshipp therein But the booke that carrieth the price of all his other Latin bookes of wittie inuention is his Vtopia he doth in it most liuely and pleasantly painte forth such an exquisite plattforme patience and example of a singular good Common-wealth as to the same neither the Lacedaemonians nor the Athenians nor yet the best of all other that of the Romans is comparable full prettily and probably deuising the sayd Countrie to be one of the Countries of the New-found Lands declared to him in Antvverpe by Hythlodius a Portingall and one of the sea-companions of Americus Vesputius that first sought out and found those lands such an excellent and absolute an estate of a Commō Wealth that sauing the people were vn-Christened might seeme to passe anie estate and Common wealth I will not say of the olde Nations by me before mentioned but euen of anie other in our time Manie great learned men as Budeus Ioannes Paludanus vpon a feruent zeale wished that some excellent Diuines might be sent thither to preache Christ's Gospell yea there were here amongst vs at home sundrie good men learned Diuines very desirous to take the voyage to bring the people to the fayth of Christ whose manners they did so well like And this sayd iollie inuention of Sir THOMAS MORE 's seemed to beare a good countenance of truth not only for the creditt Sir THOMAS was of in the world but also for that about the same time manie strange and vnknowne nations and Countries were discouered such as our forefathers neuer knew especially by the wonderfull nauigation of the shippe called Victoria that sayled the world round about whereby it was foūd that shipps sayle bottome to bottome that there be Antipodes which thing Lactantius and others doe flattely denye laughing thē to scorne that so did write Againe it is found that vnder the Zodiake where Aristotle and others say that for the immoderate excessiue heate there is no habitation is the most temperate and pleasant dwelling and the most fruitfull countrie in the world These and other considerations caused manie wise and learned men nothing lesse to mistrust then that this had bene nothing but an Inuentiue drift of Sir THOMAS MORE 's owne imagination for they tooke it for a verie sure true storie wherein they were deceaued by Sir THOMAS as too wittie and as well learned as they were In this booke amongst other things he hath a very goodlie processe how there might be fewer theeues in England and a maruelous opinable probleme of sheepe that whereas men were wont to eate the sheepe as they doe in other countries now contrariewise sheepe in England pittiefully doe deuowre men women and children houses yea townes withall Like a most thankefull man he maketh honourable mention of Cardinall Morton Archbishop of Canterburie and Lo Chancellour of England in whose house as we haue sayd himselfe was in his tender youth brought vpp albeit it be by the dissembled name of the sayd Hythlodius whome he imagineth to haue bene in England and to haue bene acquainted with the sayd Cardinall And as this booke in his kinde is singular and excellent contayning and describing a Common wealth farre passing the Common-wealthes deuised and vsed by Lycurgus Solon Numa Plato and diuerse others So wrote he in-another kinde sorte a booke against Luther no lesse singular and excellent King Henry the Eight had written a notable and learned booke against Luther's booke De Captiuitate Babylonica most euidently and mightily refuting his vile and shamefull heresies against the Catholike Fayth and Christ's holie Sacraments which did so grieue Luther to the hart that hauing no good substantiall matter to helpe himselfe withall he fell to scoffing and sawcie ieasting at the king's booke in his answer for the same vsing nothing throughout the sayd Answer but the figure of Rhetorike called savvce-malepert and played the very varlett with the king To whome Sir THOMAS MORE made reply and doth so discipher and lay open his wily wrested handling of the Sacred Scripture his monstrous opinions and maniefolde contradictions that neither he nor anie of his generation durst euer after putt penne to paper to encounter and reioyne to his reply in which besides the deepe and profound debating of the matter itselfe he so dresseth Luther with his owne scoffing and ieasting rhetoricke as he worthily deserued But because this kinde of writing albeit a meete Couer for such a Cuppe and verie necessarie to represse beate him with his owne follie according to the Scripture Responde stulto secundùm stultitiam eius seemed not agreable and correspondent to his grauitie and dignitie the booke was sett forth vnder the name of one Gulielmus Rosseus only suppressing his owne name He wrote also and printed another proper and wittie treatise against a certaine Epistle of Iohn Pomeran one of Luther's stādard-bearers in Germanie And after he was shutt vp in the Tower he wrote a certaine expositiō in Latine vpon the Passion of Christ not yet printed which was not perfited and is so plainely and exquisitely trāslated into English by his neece Mrs Bassett that it may seeme originally to haue bene penned in English by Sir THOMAS MORE himselfe Some other things he wrote also in Latine which we pretermitt and now we will somewhat talke of his English Workes which all besides the life of Iohn Picus Earle of Mirandula the foresayd life of king Richard the Third and some other prophane things concerne matters of religion for the most parte The first booke of this sorte was his Dialogues made by him when he was Chancellour of the Dutchie of Lancaster which bookes occasioned him afterwards as according to the olde prouerbe One businesse begetteth another to write diuerse other things For whereas he had amongst manie other matters touched and reproued William Tindall's adulterate and vitious translation of the New Testament Tindall being not able to beare to see his new religion and his owne doings withall to haue so fowle an ouerthrowe as Sir THOMAS MORE gaue him after great deliberation with his Euangelicall bretheren tooke in hand to answer some parte of his dialogues especially touching his aforesayd corrupt Translation but what small glorie he wanne thereby is easie to be seene of euerie man that with indifferent affection will vouchsafe to reade Sir THOMAS MORE 's reply whereof we shall giue you a smal taste but first we will note vnto you the integritie sinceritie and vprightnesse of the good and gracious nature and disposition of the sayd Sir THOMAS MORE in his writing not only against Tindall but generally against all other Protestants First then it is to be considered in him that he doth not as manie other writers doe against their aduersaries all Protestants doe against him other Catholikes wreathe and wreste their wordes to the worst and make their reasons more feeble and weake then they are but
vvitty conuersatioÌ„ 1. S. Thom. Moor his mariage and first vvife Chosen out of a charitable compassion against his ovvne affection His children by her Iohn More Margaret Roper Elizabeth DaÌ„cy Cecily Heron. Anne Cresacre vvife to M. Iohn More 2. His secoÌ„d mariage vvith a vvidovv Not very faire but kind stepmother M. Alington his step-daughter Margaret Clement Carefull gouernment his famyly 3. His knovvledge and rare integrity in profession of the lavv He is made Iudge of the sherif of Londons court His pleÌ„tyfull but honest gaines 4. K. Henry the 7. offended with S. Tho. For crossing him in parlement in an vnjust imposition Sir Iohn More the father imprisond to be reuenged vpon the soÌ„ne Bad couÌ„cel giuen by a politik bishop Auoided by councel of the religious bishops chaplain He retires to his quieter studies Empson and Dudley put to death for vvicked couÌ„sel The happines of a good conscieÌ„ce 5. The beginning of S. Th. Mores fauour vvith K. Henry 8. Warily at the first declined by S. Th. He is employed by the K. on an embassage into FraÌ„ce To Flanders and BurguÌ„dy 6. His more serious vvritings His Vtopia greatly esteemed by all learned men By Budaeus By I. Paludanus By P. Aegidius By Buslidius By Paulus Iouius His story of K. Richard the 3. He vvas vvonderfully studious amidst his serious affaires The office of a discreet housholder His lectures publik vpoÌ„ S. Austin de ciuit Dei 7. By pleading for the Pope against the K. he makes him of his priuy Councel K. HeÌ„rie 8. learning and courtesy A gracious King for his first tvveÌ„ty yeares S. Thom. More knighted and made Threasurer of the exchequer The familiarity of K. HeÌ„ry with S. Thom. More Discreetly lessened by S. Th. himself He is seÌ„t by the K. to appease the prentises of London 8. He is by the King chosen speaker of the lovver house of Parlament A suÌ„mary of his first speetch in ParlameÌ„t 9. Cardinal Wolseys entry into parlament And a motioÌ„ to the lovver house Frustrated by S. Tho. Mores vvisdome Who pleasantly and vvittily diuerteth the Cardinals displeasure And obtaineth against him not to be sent Leger embassadour into Spaine 10. He is made ChauÌ„cellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster S. Thom. Mores iudgemeÌ„t of K. HeÌ„râ—es extraordinary fauour Queen Catherins iudgement of S. Th. Mores loyalty Cardinal VVolseys vaniglory Flattered by most men But nothing at all by S. Th. More 1. His courteous behaueour in midst of honour His meeknes in repreheÌ„ding 2. His readines of vvitt in all occasions 3. His frindship and estimatioÌ„ vvith the learned of all Christendom Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of Durrham Tunstall a glorious confessour in Q. Elizabeths dayes Frindship of S. Th. More vvith B. Fisher. With Cardinal Poole in his yonger dayes VVith D. Lea Archebishop of yorke VVith Lapsetus Grocinus Linacre Montjoy G. Latimer I. Crocus 4. With learned meÌ„ of other nations as I. Coclaeus G. Badaeus M. Dorpius Lascarus Philip Beroaldus Hierom Buslidius Peter Aegidius B. Rhenanus Cranuild Viues C. Goclenius Sir Tho. Mores frindship to D. Erasmus Roderodamus ForsakeÌ„ vvhen he perceaued Erasmus hate in ReligioÌ„ Erasmus liued alvvayes a Catholique Priest S.T. Mores constancy in frindship His pleasaunt coÌ„uersation proceeding froÌ„ a quiet conscieÌ„se A vvitty and mery repreheÌ„sion His candour and innocence 1. S.T. Mores home-entertainments deuotioÌ„s The excellent order of his family His vviues employmeÌ„t His seruants discipline Euening prayers Vigils His deuotioÌ„ on good fryday His tabletalke 2. His behaueour tovvard his vvife and children and counsels giueÌ„ theÌ„ To desire heaueÌ„ly matters To beare afflictioÌ„s patieÌ„tly So vvithstand teÌ„ptations of the diuel Against too much curiosity in dressing A happy houshold Their ordinary recreations 3. S.T. More studiously vvrate against heresies in midst of of his affaires The praise of his Dialogue His ansvver to the Supplication of beggars The Supplication of soules of Purgatory The vvofull effects of heresy Against Tindal Frith and Barnes Apology Debellation of Salem Bizance Comfort in tribulation 4. A vievv of many vvitty pithy speeches of S. Th. Mores The vulgar no true judge of things Sinners distasted Why fevv do feare death No man sure of long life VVorlds vanity VVorldly losses hurt not The folly of old misers Madnes of couetous meÌ„ Fruicts of tribulation Hovv fonde it is to loue this vvorld Against Confessours that flatter their ghostly ChildreÌ„ AfflictioÌ„ more profitable then pleasure Against differring of ameÌ„dment Visions and illusions Pusillanimity a daungerous teÌ„ptation Danger of prosperity Of riches and honours All riches of this vvorld none of our ovvne Couetousnesse Bad marchants A prediction of heresy Riche are not goods The vvorst affection Almes deeds An the vvorld a prison To suffer for God The vvorld no recoÌ„penser Heresy impudeÌ„ Prayer Detraction Ingratitude Faith the mistresse of reason No truth among heretikes Better preuent then redresse Hereticall traÌ„slations Auoid heresy Fasting Desire of heauen Monasticall life Faith and good vvorkes Bad life no miracle School-diuinity Heretikes Impugning of heresie Heretiks falsplay Their contumelies His hatred against heresy in good earnest 5. His profound skill in diuinyty None handled Luther more kindly Sir Thomas More vvell studied in S. Thomas doctrin And other school-diuines His epistle against Pomeranus 1. Cardinal Wolsey his ambition Pope AdriaÌ„s humility Wolsey the author of K. H. 8. fall LonglaÌ„d B. of LoÌ„doÌ„ Wolseys instrumeÌ„t 2. K. Henry communicateth vvith S. T. More his scruple concerning his first marriage Sir Tho. Mores discreet ansvver to the kings scruple His most vpright conscieÌ„ce and constant zeal of the truth 3. He foresavv in spirit the fall of religion in England 4. The miraculous reductioÌ„ of his sonne Roper from heresy by his prayers The hot spirit of heresy The great piety and charity of his sayd soÌ„ne M. Roper 5. Another miraculous cure vvrought by prayer vpon his daughter Margaret 6. Sir Tho. Mores domestiqs schoole Modesty the ornament of vvemen Learning to be desired for vse not for praise In vvhat coÌ„sisteth deiectioÌ„ of spirit What ornameÌ„t Sir Tho. More required in his children A vvomaÌ„ may attaine to learning as vvell as a man The end to vvhich all learning must be directed He desireth it may by all meanes be beaten from his children 7. The delight Sir T.M. bad in his childreÌ„s learning They studied Astronomy He discourieth pleesauÌ„tly He willeth theÌ„ to write with care and premeditation His earnest care of his childreÌ„s good employmeÌ„t The care his children had to please him in their studies Bookes dedicated by learned men to his children He payes his daughters letters with gold 8. The learning and piety of his daughter Margaret The esteeÌ„ that the B. of excester had of her learning Some of her writings Her traÌ„slation of Eusebius Her skill in Astronomy Why humanity is best studied in our yonger yeares 1. Charity of Sir Tho. More to his neighbours His three wishes for the good of Christedom Vnity in peace Vnity in