2. Sir THOMAS MORE was borne at London 2. The place and time of S. Th. Mor. birthe . in Milke-streete , ( where the Iudge his father for the most parte dwelt ) in the yeare of our Lord 1480. in the twentieth yeare of Edward the Fourth . Shortly after his birth God would shew by another signe , how deare An 〈◊〉 danger strangely escaped in his child hood . this babe was vnto him . For his nurce chancing to ride with him ouer à water , and her horse stepping aside into a deepe place , putt both her and her Childe in great danger and ieopardie ; whose harmes she seeking suddenly to preuent , threw the infant ouer a hedge into a fielde neere adioyning ; and after by God's helpe escaping safe also , when she came to take him vp againe , she found him to haue no hurt at all , but sweetely smiled vpon her ; that it might well be sayd of him : Angelis suis Deus mandauit de te , ne fortè offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum ; and not his foote only , but his whole bodie .

3. This was no doubt a happie presage of 3. His first studies & imployments . his future holinesse ; and putt his parents in minde that he was that shining Childe , of whome his mother had that former vision ; wherefore his father had the greater care to bring him vp in learning , as soone as his tender age would permit it ; and so he putt him to the Free-schoole of London called S. Anthonies , 〈◊〉 S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 schoole in London . where he had a famous and learned man called Nicolas Holt for his maister , vnder whome when he had rather greedily deuoured then leasurely chewed his Grammar rules , he outstripped farre both in towardnesse of witt , and diligence of endeauours , all his schoole fellowes , with whome he was matched .

And being borne to farre greater matters , his In Cardinal 〈◊〉 house . father procured him to be placed shortly after in the house of the most worthie prelate that then liued in England both for wisedome , learning and vertue , whose like , the world scarcely had , Cardinall Morton Archbishopp of Canterburie , The praise of the I. Cardinal . and Lord high Chancellour of England , whose graue countenance and carriage was such that he easily allured all men to honour and loue him ; a man ( as Sir THOMAS MORE describeth him in his Vtopia ) of incomparable iudgement , a memorie more then is credible , eloquent in speach , and , which is most to be wished in Clergiemen , of singular wisedome and vertue ; so that the King and the Common wealth relyed chiefly vpon this mans counsell , as he , by whose policie King Henrie the Seauenth both gott the Crowne of England from Richard 〈◊〉 the vsurper , and also most happily procured the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke to be vnited by marriage .

In this famous mans house this youth learned S Thom. Moore his towardlynes in the Cardinals retinew . most diligently aboundance of wisedome and vertue ; and now he beganne to shew to the world , what man he was likelie to proue . For the Cardinall often would make triall of his pregnant witt , especially at Christmas merriments , when hauing plaies for recreacion this youth would suddenly steppe vp amongst the players , and neuer studying before vpon the matter , make often a parte of his owne inuention , which was so wittie and so full of ieasts , that he alone made more sporte and laughter , then all the players besides ; for which his towardlienesse the Cardinall delighted much in him , and would often say of him vnto diuerse of the Nobilitie , who at sundrie times dined with him , that that boy there wayting on him , whosoeuer should liue to see it , would proue a maruelous rare man .

But when this most reuerend Prelate sawe , The Cardinal sendeth him to Oxenlord . that he could not profitt so much in his house , as he desired , where there were manie distractions of publike affaires , hauing great care of his bringing vp , he sent him to the Vniuersitie , and placed him in Canterbury-Colledge at Oxford , now called Christs-church ; where , in two yeares space that he remained there , he profited exceedingly in Rhetorick , Logick and Philosophie ; and shewed euidently , what wonders , witt and diligence can performe , when they are ioyned , as seldome they are , in one painefull student . There his whole minde was sett on his Brought vp there neerly & 〈◊〉 by his father . booke ; for in his allowance his father kept him verie short , suffering him scarcelie to haue so much monie in his owne custodie , as would pay for the mending of his apparrell ; euen no more then necessitie required ; and of his expences he would exact of him a particular accounte , which course of his fathers he would often both speake of , and praise it , when he came to riper yeares ; affirming that by this meanes he was curbed from all vice , and withdrawen from manie idle expences either of gayming or keeping naughtie companie , so that he knew neither play nor other riott , wherein most yong men in these our lamentable daies plunge themselues too timely , to the vtter ouerthrow as well of learning and future vertue , as their temporall estates . This strictnesse of his father in creased in him also a great reuerence and obedience after vnto him againe ; in so much The great 〈◊〉 which he always bare to his father . that in all his life after he was so dutiefull vnto him , that he neuer offended nor contradicted him in anie the least worde or action , still shewing towards him admirable deedes of humilitie , euen at that time , when in the eye of the world , he farre surpassed his father in dignitie , which may be seene , by asking him blessing euerie day duly , euen after he was Lord Chancellour of England ; and when he and his father mett publikely at Lincolnes-Inne , or other where , he would still offer him the place of precedence , though the Iudge by reason of his sonne 's office did still refuse it ; such was the pietie and submissiue minde of this humble man ; such againe was the prouident care of the father towards his sonne , that one can hardly guesse , which of the two were more worthie , the father of such a sonne , or the sonne of such a father ; yet I iudge the father more happie , that enioyed such an admirable sonne , and wish that my Children may imitate in this kinde their vertuous Anncestours .

4. When this towardlie youth was come 4. His first workes and 〈◊〉 . to the age of eighteene yeares , he beganne to shew to the world his ripenesse of witt ; for he wrote manie wittie and goodlie Epigrammes , which are to be seene in the beginning of his English Workes ; he composed also manie prettie and elegant verses of the Vanitie of this life , and the inconstancie thereof , which his father caused to be sett vp with pictures and pageants , which are also in the beginning of his greate English Volume ; he translated for his exercise one of Lucian's Orations out of Greeke into Latine , which he calleth his first fruits of the Greeke toung , and thereto he added another Oration of his owne , to answer that of Lucian's ; for as he defended him who had slaine a tyrant ; he opposeth against it another with such forcible arguments , that this seemeth not to giue place to Lucian either in inuention or eloquence . As concerning his diuerse Latine Epigrammes , How much esteemed of by learned men . which he either translated out of Greeke into Latine , or else composed of his owne : manie famous authours , that then liued , doe make mention of them with great praise . For 〈◊〉 Rhenanus in his epistle to Bilibaldus Pitcheimerus writeth thus : THOMAS MORE is maruelous in euerie respect ; for he compoundeth most eloquently , and 〈◊〉 most happily : how sweetly doe his verses slowe from him ? how nothing in them seemeth constrained ? how easie are all things there that he speaketh of ? nothing is hard , nothing rugged , nothing obscure ; he is pure , he is wittie , he is elegant ; besides he doth temper all things with mirth , as that I neuer read a merrier man . I could thinke that the Muses haue heaped vpon him alone all their pleasant conceipts and wittie merriments ; moreouer his quippes are not biting , but full of pleasantnesse and verie proper , yea rather anie thing then stinging ; for he 〈◊〉 , but without mordacitie ; he 〈◊〉 , yet without contumelie . The like iudgement of his Epigrammes doth that famous Poëte Leodgarius à Quercu , publike Reader of Humanitie in Paris , giue , and that not so much by his words as by his deedes . For he hauing gathered of the Epigrammes of diuerse famous men a Collection , he hath sett out more Epigrammes of Sir THOMAS MORE'S , then of anie other writer : yet because rarenesse of anie excellent qualitie is still enuyed by some man or other , one Brixius a German , wrote a booke against these Epigrammes of Sir THOMAS MORE'S , which he called Antimorus ; A quartel stirred vp between him and Germanus Brixius ; with such commendation , that Eramus earnestly besought Sir THOMAS , that he would not ouerwhelme his friend Brixius with such an answer , as his rashnesse deserued ; adding this of this his foolish booke Antimorus : I heare what learned men speake of Brixius now after he hath written his Antimore , which as I heare it not willingly of him , so would I lesse willingly he are than so speake of you ; wherefore seing I perceaue how hard a matter it is to temper an answer to so spitefull a booke , but that you must giue some scope vnto your passions , I deeme it best for you not to regard , but wholy to contemne the matter ; yet this I would not counsell you , my best friend , to doe , if there were anie thing in that malitious Antimore , which did truly blemish your fame , so that it were necessarie for you to wipe it away , Easily giuen ouer by S. Th. Moor. &c. Which friendlie counsell Sir THOMAS MORE in some sorte followed ; for although he had answered Brixius fully in a little treatise , which alreadie he had published , before Erasmus his letter came to his hands ; yet vpon the receipt thereof , he endeauoured by all the meanes he could to gett all the Coppies againe into his hands , and so to suppresse the booke ; so that it is now very hardly to be found ; though some haue seene it of late . And Sir THOMAS sent Erasmus a letter to this effect , that although Brixius by his malitious booke had endeauoured so much to disgrace him , that he wanted no will but skill and power to ouerthrowe his fame vtterly , yet this should preuayle more with him , that Brixius was friend to Erasmus , then that he was his owne enemie . Which kinde of answer sheweth expressely , how easie he was to forgiue iniuries , especially this being such a one as touched him so neare in his reputation ; following herein the counsell of Christ himselfe in the gospell of S. Matthew , who sayth : Loue your enemies , and doe good to them that hate you , that you may be the true imitatours of God , who causeth the sonne to shine as well vpon the wicked , as vpon the iust . But can we thinke so heroicall an acte in so yong yeares ( for he was not now of the full age of twentie ) could proceede from one , who had not bene practised before in the schoole of Christ , and in the earnest searche of perfection ? surely no , for this yong man had euen from his infancie laboured with allmight and mayne to enriche himselfe with vertues ; knowing that learning without vertue is to sett pretious stones in rotten wood , and , as the wise man saith , a golde ring in a haggs snowte .

5. When he was about eighteene or twentie 5. His Mortifications yeares olde , finding his bodie by reason of his yeares most rebellious , he sought diligently to tame his vnbrideled concupiscence by wonderfull workes of mortification . He vsed oftentimes Hearshirt . to weare a sharp shirt of hayre next his skinne , which he neuer left of wholy ; no , not when he was Lo: Chancellour of England : Which my grandmother on a time in the heate of sommer espying , laught at , not being much sensible of such kinde of spirituall exercises , being carried away in her youth with the brauerie of the world , and not knowing quae sunt spiritus , wherein the true wisedome of a Christian man consisteth . He added also to this austeritie a discipline euerie fryday and high fasting dayes , thinking that such cheere was the best he could bestowe vpon his rebellious bodie , rather then that the handmayde sensualitie should growe too insolent ouer her mistrisse Reason , hauing learned the true interpretation of these wordes of Christ : He that hateth his life in this world , keepeth it for life euerlasting . He Watching & fasting . vsed also much fasting and watching , lying often either vpon the bare ground or vpon some bench , or laying some logg vnder his head , allotting himselfe but foure or fiue howers in a night at the most for his sleepe , imagining with the holie Saints of Christs Church , that his bodie was to be vsed like an asse , with strokes and hard fare , least prouender might pricke it , and so bring his soule like a headstrong iade into the bottomelesse pitt of hell . For chastitie , especially in youth , is a lingring martyrdome , and these are the best meanes to preserue her from the dangerous gulphe of euill custome ; but he is the best souldier in this fight , that can runne fastest away from himselfe , this victorie being hardly gotten with striuing : He had invred himselfe to Exercises among the Charthusians . straytenesse that he might the better enter in at the narrow gate of heauen , which is not gott with ease sed violenti rapiunt illud , that is to say , they that are boysterous against themselues , beare it away by force . For this cause he liued foure yeares amongst the Carthusians , dwelling neare the Charterhouse , fiequenting daily their spirituall exercises , but without anie vowe . He had an earnest minde also to be a Franciscan Fryer , that he might serue God in a state of perfection ; but finding that at that time Religious men in England had somewhat degenerated from their ancient strictnesse , and feruour of spiritt , he altered his minde . He had Not permitted by God to take an ecclesiasticall course . also after that together with his faythfull Companion Lillie a purpose to be a priest ; yet God had allotted him for an other estate , not to liue solitarie , but that he might be a patterne To be a paterne of maried men . to married men , how they should carefully bring vp their children , how dearely they should loue their wiues , how they should employe their endeauour wholy for the good of their countrie , yet excellently performe the vertues of religious men , as , pietie , Charitie , humilitie , obedience , and Coniugall chastitie .

6. He heard an intire Masse euerie day , 6. His de 〈◊〉 & prayers . At dayly masse . before he vndertooke anie worldlie buesinesse ; which custome he kept so religiously that being on a time sent for to the king , whilst he was hearing Masse , he would not once stirre , though he were twice or thrice sent for , vntill it was wholy finished , answering them that vrged him to come quickly , that he thought first to perfourme his dutie to a better man , then the king was ; imitating therein the famous act of S. Ludgar first bishopp of Munster , who being sent for to Charles the Great , whilst he was singing in the quier the Canonicall howers , he would not once stirre till all were ended ; and being asked by the Emperour , why he neglected to come , when he sent for him , he answered : I haue alwaies thought that your commaunde is by me so to be obeyed , as I doubted not but God is to be preferred ; therefore I haue bene carefull to finish that I was about first , not for anie contempt of your Imperiall Majestic , but for your more safetie and the dutie I owe to God . With which answere the Emperour no whitt displeased but delighted , answered him with thankes , saying , that he had now found him such a one , as he had euer formerly thought him to be . Neither was King Henrie anie whitt angrie at that time with Sir THOMAS MORE , but rather highly pleased with this his small neglect .

He vsed euerie day to say our Ladie 's Mattins , His dayly orisons . the Seauen psalmes and letanies , and manietimes the Graduall psalmes , with the psalme 〈◊〉 in via ; and diuerse other pious praiers , with he himselfe composed ; he selected also manie sentences of the Psalmes , imitating therein S Hierome's psalter , which are extant in the latter ende of his English Workes .

But finding his bodie for all his austeritie Much pleased with the life of Picus Mirandula . readie still to endanger his soule , although at all times he shunned idlenesse more then anie other man , he determined to marrie ; and therefore he propounded to himselfe , as a patterne of life , a singular lay-man Iohn Picus Earle of Mimndula , who was a man famous for vertue , and most eminent for learning ; his life he translated , and sett out , as also manie of his most worthie letters , and his twelue precepts of good life ; which are extant in the beginning of his English Workes . For this ende he also wrote a treatise both learned , spirituall and deuout , of the Foure last things of man , though he left it vnperfect , being called by his father to other studies .

He frequented sermons diligently ; especially His diligence in frequenting good preachers . when those men preached , who were most excellent for good life and spirituall direction , such as Doctour Collett was , the most famous Deane of Paules , who , as Emsmus writeth , was wont euerie day to preache at Paules , besides manie other sermons , which he made at the Courte and else where , expounding in them either Doctour Colets excellent employments . the Pater noster , the Apostles Creede , the Ten Commandements , the Seauen Sacraments , or some other matter of necessarie instruction , which he neuer left of , vntill he had perfected the whole , that thereby euerie one might learne , what they should belieue , what to followe , and what to shunne , and shewed the meanes how euerie Christian might come to perfection in their sundrie states of life ; and his life did not disagree from his doctrine ; for he exercised himself much in all workes of Charitie and mortification of his flesh . This was he that founded the goodlie Free-schoole of Paules , dedicating it to the little boy IESVS , as he was found disputing with the Doctours at twelue yeares olde , of which famous acte Sir THOMAS MORE writing vnto him , compareth it by a fitt Antithesis to the Horse of Troy , out of which the Grecians issued to surprise that Cittie ; in like manner , saith he , out of this your schoole , manie haue come that haue subuerted and ouerthrowen all ignorance and rudenesse .

But fearing least all these his deuout exercises might not be so meritorious , if he followed Doctore Colet chose by S. Th. M. for his ghostly father . his owne will ; for a yong man is in great danger of himself to want discretion , the mother of all vertues ; therefore he chose this worthie Deane for his ghostlie Father ; for he was accounted one of the skillfullest phisitians for the soule , that could be found amongst ten thousand ; him he committed himself vnto , as to a safe guide of perfection in the dangerous passages of youth ; that by his experience he might the more easily ouercome the deuill , the world , and his owne flesh , by following his whole some lessons , to worke the saluation of his soule , without anie preiudice of his bodie ; to him he was as obedient in all spirituall affaires , as he was to his father in all dutiefull obligation ; whereby he arriued to perfect obedience , one of the chiefest helpes that a spirituall man can haue to gett heauen . And because euerie one may see what affection he bore to this man his ghostlie phisitian , I will sett downe here an excellent letter of Sir THOMAS MORE'S to Doctour Collett , and it is this :