SYR Thomas More was borne in London of worshipfull Parents . His Father was a Student of Lincolnes Inne , and brought him vp in the Latin-tongue , at S. Antonyes Schoole in London , who was very shortly after , by his Fathers procurement , receiued into the hou●… of that Worthy , and Learn●… Prelate , Cardinall Mor●…on ; wher●… though he was but younge in yeares , he would in the tyme of Christmas , suddainly steppe in amongst the Players , and there ex tempore , without any study of the Matter , or least stay , or stammering in his speach , make a part of his owne present wit , amongst them : which was more delightfull , and pleasing to the Nobles , & Gentlemen that vsed to be at Supper with the Cardinall , then all the premeditated parts of the Players .

This Cardinall tooke more delight in his wit , and towardnes , then he did of any other temporall Matter whatsoeuer ; & would often say of him , vnto diuers of his familiar friends , who vsed dinner & supp●…r with him : This Child heere , wayting-at the table , whosoeuer shall liue to see it , will proue a m●…ruailous Man .

And for his better furtherance in learning , he placed him at Oxford ; where when he was well instructed in the Greeke & Latyn tongues , he was then , for the Common Lawes of the kingdome , put to an Inne of Chancery , called New Inne ; where in small tyme he profited so well , that he was from thence admitted into Lincolnes Inne , with very small ●…llowance ; continuing there his study , vntill he was made Barrister .

After this , to his high Commendations , he read for a good space , a publique Lecture of S. Augustine de Ciuitate Dei in the Church of S. Laurence in the Old ●…ewry in London , wherunto resorted one Doctor Corsin , an excellent Scholler , and agreat Deuine , and all the chiefe learned in , and about the Citty of London .

Then was he made Reader of Furuiualls Inne , where he remayned for the space of aboue three yeares ; and then he gaue himselfe wholy to deuotion & prayer in the Charter-house at London , lyuing there Religiously foure yeares without vow ; during which tyme he often resorted to the house of one M. Col●… ( a Gentleman in Essex ) who vsed many tymes to inuite him thither .

This M. Colt had three daughters , whose honest and vertuous ●…ducations were the chiefe Motiues , that induced him to place his affection there : and albeit his mynde was most inclyned towards the second Sister , for that he thought her the fayrest , and best fauoured : yet when h●… considered , it would be both a great griefe , & some shame also to the eldest , to see her younger Sister preferred in Mariage before her , he out of a kind of pitty , then framed his affection towards the eldest , and shortly after maried her . After this he continued his study of the Law at Lincolnes Inne vntill he was called to the bench , and had there read twise , which is as often , as ordinarily any Iudge of the Law readeth . He dwelt all this whyle at ●…cklers-bury in London , where he had , by his wife three daughters , & one Sonne , all brought vp in vertue & learning , from their very infancy : for he would alwayes exhort them , to take Vertue and Learning for their meate , and Play for their sawce .

Before he had euer beene Reader in Court , he was in the later tyme of King Henry the seauenth made a Burgesse of the Parlament : In which , was by the King demaunded three fifteens for the Mariage of his eldest daughter vnto the King of Scots . At the debating wherof he alleadged such arguments & reasons agaynst the sayd demaunde , that the Kings expectation was vtterly ouerthrowne

Whereupon one M. Til●…r a Gentleman of the Kinges priuy Chamber , being their present , with all speed carried word to the King from the Parlament-House , That a beardlesse boy , had disapoynted his Graces purpose . Vpon which reporte the King conceiued great displeasure agaynst M. More , & would not rest satisfied , vntill vpon a pretended causelesse quarrell , his Father was committed to the Tower , and there kept prisoner vntil he had payd an hundred pounds , for a fine .

Shortly heereupon it happened , that M. More comming about a suite to D. Fox , Bishop of Winchester , one of the Kings priuy Councell ; the Bishop called him a syde , and pretending great fauour towards him , promised him , That if he would be ruled by him he would not fayle to restore him agayne into the Kings fauor ; meaning forsooth , as he afterwards coniectured , to make him confesse a fault agaynst the King , whereby his Highnes might with the better colour take occasion of displeasure agaynst him . As he came from the Bishop , by chance he met with one M. Whitford his familiar friend , then the Bishops Chaplaine , but afterwards a Monke of Syon ; and amongst other talke M. More told him what the Bishop had sayd vnto him , desyring his opinion and aduise therein . Wherupon M. Whitford prayed him , for the passion of God , in no wise to follow the Bishops counsel : For my Lord my mayster ( quoth he ) to serue the Kings turne , will not sticke to ●…gree to the death of his owne Father . So M. More returned no more to the Bishop : and had not ●…he King soone after dyed , he ●…as purposed to haue left the ●…alme , and gone to some other ●…arts beyond the Seas , knowing ●…at being in the Kings displea●…ure , he could not liue in En●…and , without great daunger .

After this he was made one of the Vnder sheriffes of London , by which 〈◊〉 , and his learning 〈◊〉 , he hath been often ●…eard to say , that he gained , with ●…ut griefe of conscience , not so 〈◊〉 as foure hundred pounds 〈◊〉 the yeare : For that there was 〈◊〉 matter of importance depen●…ing at that tyme in controuersy 〈◊〉 any of the Kings Courts , con●…erning the lawes of the Realme , wherein he was not with one párty in counsell .

For his wisdome and learning he was held in such honour and esteeme , that before he came to the seruice of King Henry the Eight , at the suite and instance of our English Merchants , he was , with the Kinges consent , twise sent Embassadour , about certayne businesse in controuersy betwixt them and the Merchants of the Stilliard . Whose wise and discreete dealinges therein , to his high Commendations , comming vnto the Kings ea●…e , he called immediatlye vnto him Cardinall Wols●…y , then ●…ord Chancellor , and willed him by all meanes to procure , & work●… M. More into his seruice .

Whereupon the Cardinall accordin●… to the Kinges pleasure , earnestly laboured with him , & amongst many other his persuasions , he alleadged vnto him , how deere his seruice must needs be to the King , who could not out of Honour seeme to recompence him with lesse , then he should otherwise yearely loose therby . Yet was he loath to change his estate , and made such meanes to the King , by the Cardinall , to the contrarye , that his Maiesty at that tyme , rested well satisfied .

Shortly after , there happened a great shippe of the Popes , to ar●…ue at Southampton , which was claymed by the King as a forfayture . But the Popes Embassadour , by suite made vnto the King , obtayned , that he ●…he might for his Maister hau●… Councell learned in the Lawes of this Realme , and the matter in his owne presence ( being himselfe an excellent Ciuilian ) to be openly hard and discussed in some publique place . At which ●…tyme there was none , for our Lawes , found more fit to be of Councell with the 〈◊〉 , then M. More , who could reporte vnto him in Latyn , all the reasons and arguments on both sides alleadged .

Whereupon Councellors on both parties , in the presence of the Lord Chancellour , & other the Iudges of the Star-Chamber ●…ad audience accordingly where M. More declared vnto the Embassadour the whole effect of all ●…eyr opinions , and besides , in ●…efence of his Clyent argued so earnedly himselfe , that thereby ●…ot only the Forfaiture afore●…aid was agayne restored vnto ●…is Holynesse , but also he him●…elfe amongst all the Audience , ●…or his vpright and commenda●…le demeanour , was so greatly ●…enowned , that the King from ●…enceforth by no meanes , or in●…eaty would be moued to for●…eare his seruice any longer .

Now , at his first entry into ●…he Kings seruice , his Maiesty ●…ade him Ma●…er of Requests , ●…auing them no better place voy●…e , and within one moneth af●…er he was knighted , & made of 〈◊〉 priuy Councell . And so from ●…me to tyme did the King still . ●…duance him , to places of Ho●…our ; and he continued still in his fauour , and trusty seruice for more then twenty yeares . In which time the King vsed often , especially vpon 〈◊〉 dayes ( after he had done his owne D●…otions ) to send for him into his owne Trauerse , and there in matters of Astronomy Geometry , Diuinity , and such like Faculties ( yea and often tymes of his temporall astayres to sit , and confer with him . Many tymes also in the night the King would haue him vp into his leades , there to consider with him the diuers scituations , courses , motions , & apparitions of the Stars , & Planets . And for that he was euer of a merry & pleasant disposition , it pleased the King and Queene very often to send for him , at tyme of dinne●… ●…nd supper , as also many other ●…ymes , to come & recreate with 〈◊〉 .

But when he perceyued the King to take so much delight in ●…is company , & discourse , that 〈◊〉 could not scarce once in a moneth get leaue to go home to 〈◊〉 wife and children , nor that 〈◊〉 could not be absent from court two dayes togeather , without sending for agayne , he disliking this restraint of his liberty , did thereupon begin , somewhat to dissemble his merry nature , retyring himselfe by litle and litle from his accustomed mirth , so that he was from thenceforth , sent for orderly by the King , at such tymes as was conuenient .

In this meane tyme dyed one M. W●…sto Treasurer of the Exchequer , whose office after his decease , the King of his owne free gift , and offer , bestowed vpon Syr Thom●…s Mor●… . And in the fourteenth yeare of his Maiestyes raygne , there was a Parlament holden at Westmynster , whereof Syr Tho. More was chosen Speaker : who being very vnwilling to take that office vpon him , made an oration ( not now extant ) to the Kings Maiesty , for his discharge thereof . Wherunto wh●… the King would not consent , he spake vnto his Maiesty in this forme , as followeth .

Sith I perceyue ( most vndoubted Soueraygne ) that it standeth not with your high Pleasure to reforme this my Election , and cause it to be changed , but ●…aue by the mouth of the most ●…euerend Father in God , your ●…ighnesse Chauncellour , there●…nto giuen your Royall assent , ●…nd of your gracious benignity ●…etermined , far aboue that I am ●…le to beare , to strengthen me , ●…nd repute me fit for this office , ●…s chosen thereunto by your Cō●…ons ; I am therfore now , and ●…wayes shal be ready obediently 〈◊〉 conforme my selfe to the ac●…omplishment of your high Cō●…aundement , in most humble ●…ise . Yet with your Graces fa●…our , before I further enter ●…erinto , I make humble inter●…ssion vnto your Highnes , for ●…o lowly Petitions : The one ●…iuatly concerning my self , the ●…her concerning your whole ●…sembly of Commons in Parlament . For my selfe ( Gracious Soueraygne ) that if it sha●… happen me to mistake , in an●… thinge , on the behalfe of you●… Commons in your highnes 〈◊〉 or for want of good vtterance 〈◊〉 rehearsal of things , to preuert o●… impayre their prudent instructions ; It may then like you●… most Royall Maiesty , with you●… aboundant grace , in the Eye o●… your accustomed Pitty , to 〈◊〉 my simplicity , giuing me leau●… to repayre agayne vnto the Common House , there to conferre●… new with them , and take the●… more substantiall aduice , wh●… thing , and in what wise , I sh●… on their behalfe vtter & speak●… before your M●…esty , to the in●…tent theyr prudent aduises an●… 〈◊〉 be not by my simplicit●… ●…d folly hindred or impayred . ●…hich thing , if it should hap●…n vnto me ( as it is not vnlike●… if your Gracious Benignity ●…lieued not my ouersight ther●… , it could not but during my 〈◊〉 be a perpetuall grudge and ●…uines vnto my hart . And this my first petition vnto your 〈◊〉 Maiesty .

My other suite ( most Excel●…t Prince ) is , that for asmuch there be of your Commons 〈◊〉 assen●…led in Parlament , 〈◊〉 your high commandement , ●…ynber , which after the ac●… manner , are appoyn●…d by the common House , to ●…t and aduise of the common ●…yres apart , amongst them●… : And albeit ( most Liege ●…d ) that according to your most prudent aduice , by yo●… Honorable Writs , euery whe●… declared , there hath beene a d●… diligence vsed in sending vp 〈◊〉 your Highnes Court of Parl●…ment , the most discreet person●… out of euery quarter , esteem●… most fit therto , whereby the●… is gathered , no doubt , a ver●… substantiall Assembly of righ wise and politique Persons : Y●… ( most vertuous Prince ) sith ●…mongst so many , euery man 〈◊〉 not alike witted , or so well spoken , as other ; and it often happeneth , that much folly is vttered , in a paynted speach ; As l●… kewise , many that are boyst●… rous & rude in language , do y●… giue right good substantiall Counsell ; And moreouer in matters 〈◊〉 greate Importance , the myn●… happeneth to be so busied , that often tymes a man studieth rather what to say , then how to speake , by reason whereof the wisest man , & best speaker in a whole Countrey , fortuneth sometymes ( his mynd being feruent in the matter ) to speake in such wise , as he would afterwardes wish , to haue beene otherwise spoken , and yet no worse will had he , when he spake it , then he hath , when he would so gladly chaunge it : Therefore ( most gracious Soueraigne ) considering that in your High Court of Parlament nothing is treated of , but matter of weight & importance , and which doth chiefly , & meerly concerne this your most ●…ourishing Realme , and your owne Royall Estate , it would please your Royall Maiesty , out of your aboundant Clemency and fauour , to giue to all your Commons here assembled , your most gracious licence , and pardon , freely , without feare of your high displeasure , euery man to discharge his Conscience , & boldly , in euery thing incident amongst vs , to declare his aduice . And whatsoeuer any man shall happen to say , that it may like your Royall Maiesty , of your inestimable Goodnes , to take all in good part , interpreting euery mans wordes ( how vnwisely soeuer they be spoken ) to proceed of good zeale towardes the profit of your Realme , & dignity of your Royall Person ; the prosperous Estate & preseruation wherof ( most dread Soueraigne ) is the thing which ●…l we your most humble , & louing ●…ubiects , according to the boū●…n duty of our naturall Alle●…iance , most highly desire , and ●…ray for .

At this Parlament Cardinall ●…olsey found himselfe much grie●…d with the Burgesses thereof , ●…or that nothing was either ●…oken , or done in the Parla●…ent house , but was immediat●…y blowne abroad in euery Ale●…ouse and Tauerne . It fortuned ●…lso at this Parlament , that a ve●…y great Subsidie was demaun●…d , which the Cardinall fea●…ing would ●…t 〈◊〉 the Lower 〈◊〉 , did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…or the furtherance thereof , to 〈◊〉 there personally present . Against whose comming , after long debate there made , whether it were better to receaue him , but with a few of his Lords , or with his whole trayne : Maister●… ( quoth Syr Thomas More ) for a●… much , as my Lord Cardinall ( ye wot well ) lately layd to our charge , the lightnes of our tongues , for thinges vttered out of this house , therfore in my mind it shall not be amisse to receiue him with all Pompe , with his Maces , his Pillars , his Pollaxes , his Crosses , his Hat , & the great Seale too , to the intent , that if he find the like fault with vs hereafter , we may be the bolde●… from our selues to lay the blam●… vpon himselfe , and those followers which his Grace bringeth hither with him . Wherevnto the whole House agreed ●…nd receiued him accordingly .

After he was come & recea●…ed in manner aforesayd , the whole house of Parlament sitting ●…till in silence , and answearing ●…othing to what he demaunded , ●…ut rather contrary to his expectation , seemed not any way to ●…nclyne to his Request , he said vnto them : Maisters , you haue ●…re many wise & learned men amongst you , and sith I am sent 〈◊〉 from the Kinges owne Person , for the preseruation of your selues , and all the Realme , me thinkes you should giue me ●…ome reasonable answere . Whe●…at euery man continuing si●…nt ; then began he to speake to ●…ne M. Warney , who making him no answere neither , he se●…erally asked the same Question of diuers others that were accompted the wisest men of the house : To whome when none of them all would answere so much as a word , it being before agreed among them , to answere only by theyr speaker : Maisters ( quoth the Cardinall ) vnlesse it be the custome of your howse , as of likelyhood it is , by the mouth of your speaker , whome you haue chosen for trusty and wise ( as indeed he is ) in such cases to vtter your mindes , without doubt heere is a meruailous obstinate silence , and thereupon he required answere of M. Speaker . Who first reuerently vpon his knees excusing the silence of the Howse , abashed at the presence of so Noble a Personage , able to amaze the wisest & best learned in a kingdome ; & after by many probable arguments prouing that for them to make answere , was neither expedient nor agreable with the ancient Liberty of the House ; in conclusion for himselfe shewed , that although they had with all their voyces chosen and trusted him to speake , yet except euery one of them could put into his owne head all their seuerall wittes , he alone in so weighty a matter , was far vnmeete to make his Grace answere .

Whereupon the Cardinall displeased with Syr Thomas More ( who had not in this Parlament satisfied his desire ) suddenly arose and departed . And after the Parlament was ended , at his House in the Gallery at Whit●… Hall in Westminister , he vttered vnto him his griefes , saying : I would to God M. More , you had beene at Rome when I first made you Speaker of the ParlamentHowse . Your Grace not offended , I would I had beene there my Lord ( quoth Syr Thomas . ) And to wynd these quarrels out of the Cardinalls head he began to commend that Gallery , and said : I like this Gallery of yours my Lord , much better than your Gallery at Hampton-Court ; wherewith he so wisely brake off the Cardinalls displeasant talke , that the Cardinall at that ●…yme , as it seemed , knew not what more for the present to ●…ay vnto him .

But yet for a Reuenge of his displeasure , the Cardinall counselled the king to send Syr Tho●…is More Embassadour ouer in●… Spayne , commending vnto 〈◊〉 his wisdome , learning , & ●…tnes for the voyage ; and fur●…er told the King that the diffi●…ulty of the cause considered ; ●…ere is none ( quoth the Cardi●…all ) so meete , or able to per●…rme your Maiestyes seruice ●…rin , as he . Which when the ●…ing had broken to Syr Thomas More , and that he had satisfied ●…is Maiesty how vnfit a voyage 〈◊〉 was for him , the nature of the ●…ountrey , and disposition of his ●…omplexion considered , that he ●…hould neuer be able , nor likely ●…o do his Grace acceptable serui●…e there , knowing right well , ●…hat if his Maiesty sent him thi●…her , he should send him to his Graue ; yet shewing himselfe ●…uerthelesse ready , according 〈◊〉 his duty , although it were wi●… the losse of his life , to fullfill 〈◊〉 Graces pleasure in that behalf●… the King well allowing of h●… answere said vnto him . It is n●… our meaning M. More , to 〈◊〉 you the least hurt , but rather th●… best good ; we will therefore f●… this purpose deuise vpon som●… other , and imploy your serui●… otherwise .

And indeed such entire aff●… ction did the King at that tym●… beare vnto him , that he mad●… him Chancellour of the Duch●… of Lancast●…r , vpon the death 〈◊〉 Syr Richard Wingfield , who ha●… that Office before . And the kin●… tooke so much pleasure in hi●… company , that oftentymes 〈◊〉 Maiesty would on the suddaine go vp to his howse at Chelsey , to be merry with him ; whither on a tyme comming to dynner , he walked in Syr Thomas Mores garden by the space of an houre , and held his arme about Syr Thomas Mores necke .

As soone as his Maiesty was gone , M. William Roper , a Gentleman of Grayes Inne , who had married Syr Thomas Mores eldest daughter said vnto him : Father , how happy a man are you , whome the King hath thus familiarly entertayned ( for he neuer was seene to do the like vnto any man , except Cardinall Wols●…y , with whome the King did often walke arme in arme : ) I thanke our Lord God , Sonne Roper ( quoth he ) I find his Grace my very good Lord indeed . And I thinke he doth as singularly fauour me , as any subiect within this Realme ; Howbeit , Sonne Roper , I may tell thee , 〈◊〉 haue no great cause to be proud thereof . But if my Head could wyn his Maiesty a Castle in France ( for then there was warre with France ) it should not fayle to goe .

Amongst many other his vertues he was of such M●…kenes , that if he happened to enter into argument , or dispute with any learned man resorting to him from Oxford , Cambridge , or other place ( as there did diuers , some for desyre of his acquaintance , some for the famous report of his wisdome and learning , and some about suites for ●…he Vniuersityes ) although very few were comparable vnto him as well witnesseth Erasmus : ) & ●…f 〈◊〉 discourse , he so pressed them that they cold not well hold 〈◊〉 it longer disputation agaynst ●…im ; then least he should discou●…age them ( as one that sought not ●…is owne Glory ) he wold seeme ●…onquered , & by some wise de●…se , courteously breake off into ●…me other matter , & giue ouer . Of whome for his wisdome and earning the king had such an o●…ion , that at such tymes as he ●…ttended his person , in his pro●…resse either to Oxford , or Cam●…ridge , where he was receiued with very eloquent Orations , ●…is Maiesty would alwayes as●…gne Syr Thomas More , as one ●…rompt , and ready therein , to make Answere thereunto , ex tempore .

His custome also was , that whensoeuer he came to any Vniuersity , eyther heere or beyond the Seas , not only to be present at Disputations and Readinges , but also to dispute very learnedly himselfe , to his high Commendations , and generall applause of all the assembly .

During the tyme of his Chauncellorship for the Duchy of Lancaster , he was sent twice Embassador , ioyned in commission with Cardinall Wolsey , once vnto the Emperour Charles into Flanders , the other tyme vnto the French King at Paris .

About this tyme , it hapned that the Water-bayly of London who had somtimes byn Syr Thomas Mores seruant , hearing certayne Merchants to speake so●… what lauishly agaynst his old 〈◊〉 , was so displeased therat , that he came with all speed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More , & told him what he h●… heard , & of whom . Sy●… ( quoth he ) if I were in such 〈◊〉 and authority with my Pr●…ce , as you are , such men as these should not surely be 〈◊〉 , so vncharitably & falsly to misreport & s●…under me . Wherfore I with you to call them befor you & punish them . Syr Thomas 〈◊〉 smyling vpon him sayd : Why , M. Water-bayly , would you haue me punish them , by whome I receyue more benefit then by all you , that are my ●…riends ? Let them a Gods Name ●…peake as lewdly of me as they list , and shoote neuer so many darts at me . So long as they do not hit me , what am I the wor●… ? But if they should once hit me , then would it not indeed a little trouble me : Howbeit I trust by Gods helpe , there shall none of them all be able to touch me . Therefore I haue more cause , 〈◊〉 assure thee M. Water-baily to pitty , th●…n to be angry with them . Such sruitefull communication would he often tymes haue with his familiar Friends .

So on a tyme walking a long the Thames syde at Chels●…y , with his Sonne in law M. Roper , and discoursing of many things , amongst other speaches he sayd thus vnto him : Now I would to our Lord God , Sonne Roper , that three things were well established in Christendome , vpon con●…ition that I were heer presently ●…ut into a sacke , & cast into the 〈◊〉 of the Thames . What great ●…hings be those Sir ( quoth M. Ro●…er ) that moue you so to wish ? ●…ouldest thou know Sonne Ro●…er , quoth he ? May it so please ●…ou Syr , with a very good will , ●…yd M. Roper . In ●…ayth Sonne 〈◊〉 , they be these : First , that where the most parte of Chri●…tian Princes are now at mortal ●…arres , I would they were all ●…tan vniuersall peace . The second 〈◊〉 , that where the Church is at ●…his present , sore afflicted with Errors & Heresyes , that it were ●…etled in a perfect vniformity ●…f Religion . The third is , that where the Kings matter of his ●…arriage is now come into question , I wish it were , to the glory of God , and 〈◊〉 of all parties , brought to a good conclusion . By which three things ( as M. Rop●… supposed ) he ●…ged , that there would be a great disturbance , through the mo●… pa●… of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .

Thus di●… Sy●… Th●… . More through the whole course of his li●… , by his ac●…ons make it appe●…e , that all hi●… 〈◊〉 and pay●… , without thought of earth●… 〈◊〉 ●…ther to himselfe or any of his , were only for the seru●… of God , his King and the Common Wealth , wholy bestowed & ●…mployed . And he was oftentymes , in his latter dayes heard to say , That he neuer asked of the King for himselfe , the value of one Penny . His dayly custome was , if he were at home , besides his pri●…ate prayers with his wife , chil●…ren , and family , often to retyre ●…lone , and excercise himselfe in ●…riuate , and godly deuotions : as iso euery night before he went ●…o bed , he vsed to go to his chap●…ell with his whole Family a●…oresaid , & there vpon his knees ●…euoutly to say , certayne Le●…yes , Psalmes & Collects with them .

And because he was alwayes ●…yrous of priuate Exercise , & ●…hat he might the better withdraw himselfe from wordly cō●…any , he built himselfe a lodging a good distance from his Man●…ion house , called the New Buildin●… , wherein he placed a Chappell , Library , and a Gallery to walke , spending many dayes in the weeke in P●…ayer , and Study togeather . And allwayes on the ●…day , he did vsually 〈◊〉 there from Morning vntill Night , be●…owing hi●… tyme only in me●…ation , reading , and such ●…ly 〈◊〉 .

And the more to stir vp & 〈◊〉 his wife , and children , to the ●…yre of heauenvly things , he would oftentymes vse these speaches vnto them : It is no ma●…stery for you , my Children to go to heauen ; for euery body giueth you good counsell , and likewise many shew you good Examples . You see Vertue rewarded , and Vice punished ; so that you are carryed vp to heauen , euen by the chynne : But if you liue to the tyme , that no ●…an will giue you good coun●…ell , nor shew you good exam●…le ; when you shall see Vertue ●…unished , and Vice rewarded ; if ●…hen you will stand fast & sticke ●…irmely vnto God ; vpon payne ●…f my life , though you be but ●…alfe good , yet God will allow ●…ou for wholy good .

If his wife , children , or any ●…f his How should , had beene ●…cke , or troubled at any tyme with any infirmity , he would ●…y vnto them : We may not looke ●…t our pleasure to go to Heauen 〈◊〉 feather beds ; it is not the way : ●…or our Blessed Lord himselfe went thither with great payne , ●…nd by many Tribulations ; and ●…ard was the path-way wherein he so walked : Nor may the Seruant , looke to be in better case , then his Maister .

And as he would in this man ner alwayes perswade them t●… take their paines and sicknes patiently , so would he in like for●… teach them to withstand the d●…uell , & his temptations valiant●… ly saying : Whosoeuer shall mar●… well the diuell and his temptations , shall find him therein muc●… like vnto an Ape . For as an Ap●… not well looked vnto , will b●… busy , and bold to do shrewd turnes , and being espied will suddenly leape backe , and aduenture no further so the diuell fi●… ding a man idle , sloathfull , an●… without resistance , ready to receiue his temptations , waxeths●… hardy , that he will not sticke t●… continue still with him , vntill 〈◊〉 hath wrought him througly 〈◊〉 his purpose . But on the contrary side , if he see a man with diligence perseuere to preuent , and withstand his temptations , he waxeth so weary , that in the end ●…e vtterly forsaketh him . For as ●…he diuell by disposition is a spi●…it of so high a Pride , that he can●…ot abide to be mocked ; so is he ●…f nature so Enuious , that he ●…eareth to assault a vertuous man , least he should thereby not ●…nly catch a fou●…e fall himselfe , ●…ut also minister vnto the man , ●…ore matter of merit .

Thus he euer delighted , not ●…nly to busy himself in vertuous ●…xercises , but also to exhort his ●…ife , children , and how shold to ●…brace , and follow the same . 〈◊〉 who me for his notable ver●…es , God shewed , as it seemed , a miraculous and manifest token of his loue , and fauour towardes him , at such tyme , as his daughter Roper lay dangerously sicke of the sweating sicknes ( as many others did that yeare ) and continued in such extremity of that disease , that by no skill of Phisicke , or other art in such case●… commonly vsed , ( although she had diuers both expert and learned Phisitians continually attendant about her ) she could be kept from sleeping , so that the Phisitians themselues vtterly despayred of her recouery , and quite gaue her ouer . Her Father Syr Th●… , More , as one that m●… intierely loued and tendred he●… being in great griefe and hea●… , and seeing all human●… helps to fa●…le , determined t●… haue recourse to God by prayer for remedy . Whereupon going vp after his accustomed maner , into his aforesaid New Building , he there in his Chappell , vpon his knees with teares , most deuoutly besought Almighty God , that it would please his diuine Goodnes , vnto whome nothing was impossible , if it were his blessed will , to vouchsafe graciously to heare his humble petition . And suddenly it came into his mynd , that a Glister might be the only way to help her ; of which when he had told the Phisitians , they all instantly agreed , that if there were any hope of remedy , that was the most likelist ; and meruayled much , that themselues had not before remembred the same . Then was it instantly ministred vnto her sleeping , & after a while she awaked , and contrary to all their expectations immediatly began to recouer , & in short tyme was wholy restored vnto her former health . Whome , if it had pleased God to haue taken away , at that time , her Father sayd , that he would neuer after haue medled with worldly businesse .

Now whilst Syr Tho●…as More was Chauncellour of the Duchy of Lancaster , the Sea of Rome chaunced to be voyd , by the death of Pope Leo the X. which was the cause of much trouble ; for that Cardinall Wol●…y a man of a very high and ambitious spirit , aspiring vnto that sea & dignity , was therein crost and preuented by the Emperour Charles 〈◊〉 fifth , who had commended 〈◊〉 Cardinall Adrian ( some●…me his Schoole-maister ) vnto 〈◊〉 Conclaue of Cardinalls in ●…ome , at the tyme of election , & 〈◊〉 highly praysed him for his ●…orth and Vertue , that he was ●…ereupon chosen Pope . Who ●…mming from Spayn●… ( where 〈◊〉 was then resident ) to Rome , ●…tred into the Citty towardes 〈◊〉 Pallace barefooted with such ●…umility , that all the people ●…ad him in very great Reue●…ence .

Vpon this & other like occa●…ons , Card. Wolsey enraged with ●…nger , studied all the wayes he ●…ould deuise to be reuenged of ●…e Emperour , which as it was ●…he beginning of a most lamen●…ble Tragedy , so some part therof , not impertinent to my pr●…sent purpose , I haue thought 〈◊〉 heere to insert .

The Cardinall , not ignorant o●… King Henries inconstant & mutable disposition , vsed all meaned●… to auert his Maiesty , from hi●… wife Queene Katherine , the Emperours Aunt , well knowing he would easily inclyne to tha●… motion vpon any sleight occasion . And so meaning to mak●… the Kings flexible Nature , th●… instrument to bring about hi●… vngodly purpose , he deuised to allure his Maiesty ( who was al●… ready , contrary to the Cardina●… mynd , and knowledge , fallen i●… loue with the Lady Anne Bullen to affect the French Kings Sister Which thing , because of th●… wars , and hatred that was the●… ●…etweene the French King , and ●…e Emperour ( whome the Car●…inall now mortally hated ) he ery●… earnestly indeauoured to ●…rocure . And for the better fur●…ering this his purpose , he re●…uested one Langland , Bishop of ●…incolne , and Ghostly Father to 〈◊〉 . Hen●…y , to put a scruple into ●…he K. head ; that it was not law●… for him to mary his Brothers ●…ife ; which thing the King ( not ●…ry to heare of ) related first to 〈◊〉 Thomas More , & required his ●…ounsell therein , and with all ●…ewed himsome places of Scriture which seemed somewhat 〈◊〉 serue his purpose . Syr Thoma●…●…ore : perusing the said places , ●…ereupon ( as one that had ne●…r professed Diuinity ) excused ●…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 consider aduisedly of the same . Wherwith the King well contented , replyed , That Tonstall & Clark , Bishops of Durham & Bath , with others learned of his priuy Counsell 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 ●…hem to be both learned . ver●…uous , & holy Prelates , nor my ●…elfe , with any other of your Counsell ( being all your Maie●…ties owne seruants , & so great●…y bound vnto you for your ma●…ifold benefits dayly bestowed vpon vs ) be in my iudgment fit Counsellors for your Grace he●…ein . But if your Maiesty desyre ●…o vnderstand the Truth , such Counsellors may be found , as ●…either for respect of world●… commodity , nor for feare of ●…our Princely authority , will ●…ny way be drawne to deceiu●…●…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 More●… 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 th●… 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 fre●… 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 .

Then 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 M●…triomony , affirming the Mariage betweene the King and Q●…eene to be vnlawfull . Then againe , for proofe therof to be lawfull , there was produced 〈◊〉 dispensation , in which ( after diuers disputations thereupon holden ) there appeared an imperfection ; which notwithstanding by an other instrument , or Breu●… found out vpon search , in th●… Treasury of Spayne , & sent oue●… to the commissioners in England●… was supplyed ; & so should iudgment haue ben giuen by the Pop●… accordingly , had not the King vpon intelligence therof befor●… the same Iudgment , appealed to a Generall Councell . After whose Appellation , the Cardinalls sat●… no more vpon that businesse .