<B CEBIO1>
<Q E1 NN BIO ROPER>  
<N LIFE OF MORE>
<A ROPER WILLIAM>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T BIOGR OTHER>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 60->
<H HIGH PROF>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z NARR NON-IMAG>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^ROPER, WILLIAM.
THE LYFE OF SIR THOMAS MOORE, KNIGHTE,
WRITTEN BY WILLIAM ROPER, ESQUIRE,
WHICHE MARIED MARGREAT, DAUGHTER OF 
THE SAYED THOMAS MOORE.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, 197.
ED. E. V. HITCHCOCK.
LONDON, 1958 (1935).
PP. 29.19 - 44.7    (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 82.8  - 95.22   (SAMPLE 2)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 29>
   Nowe while Sir Thomas Moore was Chauncellour of
the Duchy, the sea of Roome chaunced to be void,
<P 30>
which was cause of much trouble. For Cardinall Wolsey,
a man very ambitious, and desirous (as good hope and
likelyhod he had) to aspire vnto that dignity, perceaving
himself of his expectacion disapointed, by meanes of the
Emperour Chare[{l{]es so highely comendinge one Cardinall
Adrian, sometyme his scholemaster, to the Cardinalls of
Roome, in the tyme of their election, for his vertue and
worthines, that therevppon was he chosen Pope; who
from Spayne, where he was then resident, cominge on
foote to Roome, before his entry into the Citye, did put
of his hosen and showes, barefoote and barlegged passing
throwe the streates towards his pallaice, with such
humblenes that all the people had him in greate reuerence;
Cardinall Wolsey, I say, waxed so wood therwith,
that he studied to invent all waies of reuengment
of his grief against the Emperour; which, as it was the
begininge of a lamentable tragedye, so some parte [{of it{]
as not impertinent to my present purpose, I recknid
requisite here to put in remembraunce.
   This Cardinall therefore, not ignorant of the kings
inconstante and mutable disposicion, soone inclined to
withdrawe his devotion from his owne most noble,
vertuous, and lawfull wif, Queene Katherine, awnt to
<P 31>
themperour, vppon euery light occasion, and vppon other,
to her in nobility, wisdome, vertue, favour and bewtye
farre incomparable, to fixx his affection, meaning to
make this his so light disposition an instrument to bring
aboute his vngodly intent, devised to allure the kinge
(then alredye, contrary to his mind, nothing les lookinge
for, fallinge in love with the Ladye Anne Bullen) to
cast fantasy to one of the Frenche kings Sisters: which
thing, because of the Enmity and warre that was at that
tyme betweene the French king and the Emperour
(whom, for the cause afore remembred, he mortally
maligned) he was [{very{] desirouse to procure; And for
the better atcheving thereof, requested Langland,
Bishoppe of Lincolne, and ghostly father to the kinge,
to put a scruple into [{his graces{] head, that itt was not
lawfull for him to marry his brothers wife: which the
kinge, not sory to heare of, opened it first to Sir Thomas
Moore, whose councell he required therein, shewing
hym certaine places of scripture that somewhat seemed
to serve his appetite; which, when he had pervsed, and
<P 32>
thervppon, as one that had never professed the
studye of divinity, himself excused to be vnmeete many
waies to medle with suche matters, The king, not satisfied
with this awneswer, so sore still pressed vppon him    
therefore, that in conclusion he condiscended to his
graces motion. And further, forasmuche as the [{case{]
was of such importaunce as needed [{great{] advisement
and deliberation, he besought his grace of sufficient
respite advisedly to consider of it. Wherewith the king,
well contented, said vnto him that Tunstall and Clark,
Byshoppes of Dirham and Bathe, with other lerned of
his pryvy Councell, should also be dealers therein.
   So Sir Thomas Moore departing, conferred those
places of scripture with expositions [{of diuers{] of [{the{]
old holy doctors; and at his cominge to the courte, in
talking with his grace of thafore [{sayd{] matter, he said:
   "To be plaine with your grace, neyther my lord of
Dyrham nor my lord of Bathe, thoughe I knowe them
both to be wise, vertuous, learned and honorable prelates,
nor my self, with the rest of your councell, being all
your graces owne seruants, for your manifold benefites
<P 33>
dailey bestowed on vs so most bounden to you, be, in
my iudgment, meete councelors for your grace herin.
But if your grace mind to vnderstand the truth, suche
councellors may you haue devised, as neither for respecte
of their owne worldly comoditye, nor for feare of your
princely aucthority, will be inclined to deceave you."
To whom he named [{then{] St Hierome, St Awsten, and
divers other [{old{] holy doctors, both greekes and latines;
and moreover shewed him what aucthorities he had
gathered out of them; which, althoughe the kinge (as
disagreable with his desire) did not very well like of,
yeat were they by Sir Thomas Moore, who in all his
communicacion with the king in that matter had alwaies
most discreetely behaved himself, so wisely tempered,
that he bothe presently tooke them in good parte, and
oftetimes had thereof conferens with him agayne.
   After this were there certaine questions among his
councell proponed, whether the king needed in this case
to have any scruple at all; and if he had, what way
were best [{to be taken{] to deliuer him of it. The most
parte of whom were of opinion that there was good   
<P 34>
cause [{of scruple{] , and that for discharginge of it, sute
were [{mete to be{] made to the Sea of Rome, where the
king hoped by liberalty to obtaine his purpose; wherein
as it after appeared, he was far deceaved.
   Then was there for the triall and examinacion of this
matrimony procured frome Rome a comission, in which
Cardinall Campegius and Cardinall Wolsey were ioyned
Comissioners; who, for the determination thereof, sate
at the Black Friers in London, where A libell was put
in for the adnullinge of the said matrimony, alleaging the
mariage betweene the king and Queene to be vnlawfull.
And for proof of the mariage to be lawfull, was
there brought in a dispensation, in which, after divers
disputacions theron holden, there appeared an imperfection,
which, by an instrument or breif, vppon search
found in the Tresury of Spaine, and sent to the Comissioners
into England, was supplied. And so should
iudgment [{haue{] bine geuen by the Pope accordingly,
had not the king, vppon intelligens thereof, before the
[{same{] iudgement, appealed to the next generall councell.
After whos appellacion the cardinall vppon that matter
sate no longer.
   It fortuned before the matter of the said matrimony
<P 35>
brought in question, when I, in talke with Sir Thomas
Moore, of a certaine ioy comended vnto him the happy
estate of [{this{] Realme, that had so chatholike a prince
that no heretike durst shewe his face, so vertuous and
learned a clergy, so grave and sound a nobility, and
so loving, obedient subiectes, all in one faithe agreing
together: "Troth it is indeed, sonne Roper," quoth he,
and in comending all degrees and estates of the same
went farre beyond me, "And yeat, sonne Roper, I pray
god," [{said{] he, "that some of vs, as highe as we
seeme to sitt vppon the mountaynes, treading heretikes
vnder our feete like antes, live not the day that we
gladly wold wishe to be at a league and composition
with them, to let them haue their churches quietly to
themselfes, so that they wold be contente to let vs have
ours quietly to our selves." After that I had told him
many consideracions why he had no cause so to say:
"Well," said he, "I pray god, sonne Roper, some of vs
live not till that day," shewing me no reason why [{he{]
should put any doubte therein. To whom I said: "By
my troth, sir, it is very desperately spoken." That vyle
tearme, I cry god mercy, did I geeue him. Who, by thes
<P 36>
wordes perceiuinge me in a fvme, said merily vnto me:
"Well, well, sonne Roper, It shall not be so, It shall not
be so." Whom, in xvj yeares and more, being in house
conuersant with him, I could neuer perceiue as much
as once in a fvme.
   But nowe to retorne againe where I lefte. After the
supplieng of the Imperfections of the dispensation, sent
(as is [{before rehersed{] ) to the Comissioners into England,
the kinge, taking the matter for ended, and then [{meaninge{]
no farther to proceed in that matter, assigned
the Bishoppe of Durham and Sir Thomas Moore to goe
Embassadors to Cambray, a place neyther Emperiall
nor Frenche, to treate a peace betweene the Emperour,
the French king, and him. In the concluding whereof
Sir Thomas Moore so worthily handled himself, procuring
in our league far more benefites vnto this realme then at
that time by the kinge or his Councell was thought
<P 37>
possible to be compassed, that for his good service in
that voiage, the kinge, when he after made him Lord
Chauncelour, caused the Duke of Norffolke openley to declare
vnto the people (as you shall heare hereafter [{more
at large{] ) howe much all England was bound vnto him.
   Nowe vppon the coming home of the Byshoppe of
Dyrham and Sir Thomas More from Cameray, the king
was as earnest in persuading Sir Thomas Moore to agree
vnto the matter of his mariage as before, by many and
divers waies provoking him thereunto, For the which
cause, as it was thought, he the rather soone after made
him Lord Chauncelor; And further declar[{ing{] vnto 
him that, thoughe at his goinge ouer Sea to Cameray,
he was in vtter dispaire thereof, yeat he had conceaved
since some good hope to compasse it. For albeit his
mariage, being against the positive lawes of the churche
and the written Lawes of god, was holpen by the dispensation,
yeat was there another thinge found out of
Late, he said, whereby his mariage appeared to be so
directly against the lawe of nature, that it could in no
wise by the church be dispensable; As Doctor Stokesley
<P 38>
(whom he had then preferred to be Byshoppe of London,
and in that case cheifly credited) was able to instructe
him, with whom he praied him in that point to conferre.
But for all his conferens with him, he sawe nothing of
such force as coulde induce him to chaunge his opinion
therein: which notwithstandinge, the Bishoppe shewed
himself in his reporte of him to the kings highnes so good
and favorable that he said he found him in his graces
cause very towarde, and desirouse to find some good
matter wherewithe he might truly serve his grace to his
contentation.  
   This Bishopp Stokesley, being by the Cardinall not
long before in the Starre Chamber openley put to rebuke
and awarded to the Fleete, not brooking this contumelious
vsage, and thincking that Forasmuch as the Cardinall,
for lack of such forwardnes in setting forthe the kings
divorse as his grace looked for, was out of his highnes
favour, he had nowe a good occassion offred him to
revenge his quarell against him, further to incense the
kings displeasure towards him, busily travailed to invente
some collorable devise for the kings furtheraunce in that
<P 39>
behalfe; which (as before is mencioned) he to his grace
revealed, hoping thereby to bring the kinge to the
better liking of himself, and the more mislikinge of the 
Cardinall; whom his highnes therefore soone after of
his office displaced, and to Sir Thomas Moore, the rather
to move him to incline to his side, the same in his steede
committed.
   Who, betweene the Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolk,
being brought throwghe Westminster Hall to his place
in the Chancery, The Duke of Norffolke, in Audiens of
all the people there assembled, shewed that he was from
the kinge himself straightly charged, by speciall comission,
there openly, in presens of them all, to make
declaration howe much all England was beholdinge to
Sir Thomas Moore for his good service, and howe worthy
he was to haue the highest roome in the realme, and
howe dearly his grace loved and trusted him, for which,
said the duke, he had greate cause to reioyce. Wherunto
Sir Thomas Moore, among many other his hvmble
and wise sayengs not nowe in my memory, awneswered,
That althoughe he had good cause to take comforte of
his highnes singuler Favour towards him, that he had,
farre aboue his desertes, so highly comended him,
<P 40>
to whom [{therfore{] he acknowledged himself most deeply
bounden; yeat, neuertheles, he must for his owne parte
needes confes, that in all things by his grace alleaged he
had done no more then was his duty; And further
disabled himself as vnmeete for that roome, wherein,
considering howe wise and honourable a prelate had
lately before taken so greate a fall, he had, he said,
thereof no cause to reioice. And as they had [{before{] ,
on the kings behalf, charged him vprightly to minister
indifferent iustice to the people, without corruption or
affection, So did he likewise charge them againe, that if
they sawe him, at any time, in any thinge, digresse from
any parte of his duty in that honorable office, euen as
they wold discharge theyr owne duty and fidelitye to
god and the kinge, so should they not faile [{to disclose it{]
to his grace, who otherwise might haue iust occasion to
lay his fault wholy to their Charge. 
  While he was Lorde Chauncelor, being at leisure (as
seldome he was) one of his sonnes in Lawe [{on a tyme{]
said merily vnto him: "When Cardinall Wolsey was
lord Chauncelour, not only divers of his privye Chamber,
but such also as were his doorekeepers gatt greate gayne."
<P 41>
And since he had maried one of his daughters, and gaue
still attendaunce vppon him, he thought he mighte of
reason looke for some; where he indeed, because he
was [{so{] redy himself to heare euery man, poore and
riche, and kepte no doores shut from them, could find
none; which was to him a great discourage. And
wheras els, some for freindshippe, some for kinred, and
some for profitte, wold gladly haue [{had{] his furtheraunce
in bringing them to his presens, If he should nowe take
any thinge of them, he knewe, he said, he should do them
greate wronge, For that they might do as muche for
them selfes as he could do for them: Which condicion,
althoughe he thought in Sir Thomas Moore very comendable,
yeat to him, said he, being his sonne, he found it
nothing profitable.
   When he had told him this tale: "You saie well,
sonne," quoth he; "I do not mislike that you are of
conscience so scrupulous, but many other waies be there,
<P 42>
sonne, that I may both do your self good, and pleasure
your freind also. For sometyme may I by my word
stand your Frend in steede, and sometime may I by my
letter helpe him; or if he haue a cause depending before
me, at your request I may heare him before another.
Or if his cause be not all the best, yeat may I moue the
parties to fall to some reasonable end by arbitrement.
Howbeit, this one thing, sonne, I assure thee on my 
faith, that if the parties will at my handes call for iustice,
then, al were it my father stood on the one side, and the
Divill on the tother, his cause being good, the Divill
should haue right." So offred he his sonne, as he
thoughte, he said, as much favour as with reason he
coulde require.
And that he wold for no respecte digresse from iustice,
well appered by a pleine example of another of his
sonnes in lawe called master Heron. For when he,
having a matter before him in the Chauncery, and
presuminge to much [{of{] his favour, wold by him
in no wise be perswaded to agre to anye indifferent
<P 43>
order, then made he in conclusion a flatt decre against
him.
   This Lord Chauncelour vsed comonly euery after
noone to sitt in his open haule, to thentent [{that{] , if any
persons had any suite vnto him, they might the more
boldly come to his presens, and there open their complaintes
before him; whose manner was also to reade
euery bill himself, ere he wold award any sub pena; 
which bearing matter [{sufficient{] worthy a sub pena,
wold he sett his hand vnto, or els cancell it.
   Whensoeuer he passed throughe westminster hall to
his place in the Chauncery by the courte of the kinges
Benche, if his father, one of the Judges there[{of{] , had
bine sate ere he came, he wold goe into the same courte,
and there reuerently kneeling downe in the sight of
them all, duly aske his fathers blessinge. And if it
fortuned that his father and he, at readings in Lincolnes
Inne, mett together, as they sometime did, notwithstanding
his highe office, he wold offer in argument the
prehemynens to his father, thoughe he, for his office
sake, wold refuse to take it. And for the better declaration
of his naturall affection towards his father, he not
<P 44>
only, while he lay [{on{] his death bedd, [{accordinge to his
dutie{] , ofte times with comfortable wordes most kindly
came to visite him, But also at his departure out of the
world, with teares taking him about the necke, most
lovingly kissed and imbraced him, commending him
into the mercifull handes of almighty god, and so departed
from him. 

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P 82>
   When Sir Thomas Moore had continued a good while
in the Tower, my Lady, his wife, obtayned lycens to see
him; who, at her first cominge, like a simple ignorant
woman, and somewhat worldly too, with this manner
of salutacion bluntlye saluted him:
   "What the good yere, master Moore," quoth she, "I
mervaile that you, that have bine alwaies hitherto taken
for so wise a man, will nowe so play the foole to lye
heare in this close, filthy prison, and be content thus to
be shut vpp amongst mise and rattes, when you might
be abroade at your libertye, and with the favour and
good will both of the kinge and his Councell, If yow
wold but doe as all the Byshops and best learned of this
realme [{haue{] done. And seinge you have at Chelsey a
<P 83>
right faire house, your library, your bookes, your gallery,
your garden, your orchard, and all other necessaries so
handsome aboute you, where you might in the company
of me your wife, [{your{] children, and howshold be
meerye, I muse what a gods name you meane heare still
thus fondly to tarye."
   After he had a while quietly heard her, with a chearefull
countenaunce he said vnto her:
   "I pray thee, good mistris Alice, tell me one thinge."
   "What is that?" quoth shee.
   "Is not this house," quoth he, "as nighe heauen as
my owne?"
   To whom shee, after hir accustomed homely fashion,
not liking such talke, awneswered, "Tylle valle, Tylle
valle!"
   "Howe say you, mistris Alice," quoth he, "is itt not
so?"
   " (\Bone deus, bone deus\) , [{man{] , will this geare neuer
be lefte?" quoth shee.
   "Well then, mistris Ales, if it be so," [{quoth he{] , "it
is very well. For I see no greate cause why I should
much Ioye [{either{] of my gay house or [{of{] any thinge
belonginge therunto; when, if I should but seuen yeares
lye buried vnder the ground, and then arise and come
[{t{]hither againe, I should not faile to find some therein
<P 84>
that wold bid me get [{me{] out of doores, and tell me it
were none of mine. What cause haue I then to like
such an house as wold so soone forgett his master?"
   So her perswasions moved him but a litle.
   Not longe after came there to him the Lord Chauncelour,
the dukes of Norfolke and Suffolk, with master
Secretory and certaine other of the privy Counsaile, at
two seuerall times, by all pollicies possible procuringe
him, eyther precisely to confesse the supremacy, or precisely
to denye it; wherunto, as appeareth by his
examination[{s{] in the said great book, they could neuer
bringe him.
   Shortlye herevppon, master Riche, afterwardes Lord
Riche, then newlye made the kings Solicitor, Sir Richard
Sowthwell, and one master Palmer, servaunt to the Secretory,
were sent to Sir Thomas Moore into the Tower, to
fetche away his bookes from him. And while Sir
Richard Southwell and master Palmer were busye in the
trussing vppe of his bookes, master Rich, pretending
freindly talke with him, amonge other things, of a sett
cours, as it seemed, saide thus vnto him:
<P 85>
   "Forasmuch as it is well knowen, master Moore, that
you are a man bothe wise and well learned aswell in the
lawes of the realme as otherwise, I pray you therefore,
Sir, lett me be so bold as of good will to putte vnto you
this case. Admitt there were, Sir," quoth he, "an acte 
of parliament that all the Realme should take me for
kinge. Wold not you, master Moore, take me for
kinge?"
   "Yes, sir," quoth Sir Thomas Moore, "that wold 
I."
   "I put case further," quoth master Riche, "that
there were an acte of parliament that all the Realme
should take me for Pope. Wold not you then,
master Moore, take me for Pope?"
   "For awneswer, [{Sir{] ," quoth Sir Thomas Moore, "to
your firste case: the parliament may well, master
Riche, medle with the state of temporall princes. But
to make awneswer to your other case, I will put you
this case: Suppose the parliament wold make a lawe
that god shold not be god. Wold you then, master
Riche, say that god were not god?"
<P 86>
   "No, Sir," quoth he, "that wold I not, sith no
parliament maye make any such lawe."
   "No more," said Sir Thomas Moore, as master Riche
reported of him, "could the parliament make the kinge
Supreame head of the churche."
   Vppon whose onlye reporte was Sir Thomas Moore
indicted of treason vppon the statute [{wherby{] it was
made treason to denye the kinge to be supreame head of
the churche. Into which indictment were putt thes 
haynouse wordes - "Maliciously, trayterouslye, and
Diabolically".
   When Sir Thomas Moore was brought from the tower
to westminster hall to awneswer the Indictment, and at
the kings bench barre before the Iudges thervppon
arraigned, he openly told them that he wold vppon
that indictment haue abidden in lawe, but that he therby
shoulde haue bine driven to confesse of himself the
matter indeede, [{that{] was the deniall of the kings
supremacye, which he protested was vntrue. Wherefore
he therto pleaded not giltye; and so reserved vnto
himself advantage to be taken of the body of the matter,
after verdicte, to avoid that Indictment; And moreouer
added [{that{] if thos only odious tearmes, "Maliciously,
traiterouslye, and diabolicallye," were put out of the
<P 87>
Indictment, he sawe therein nothinge iustlye to charge
him.    
   And for proof to the Jury that Sir Thomas Moore was
guilty of this treason, master Rich was called forth to
giue evidence vnto them vppon his oath, as he did.
Against whom [{thus{] sworne, Sir Thomas Moore began
in this wise to say: "If I were a man, my lordes, that
did not regarde an othe, I need[{ed{] not, as it is well
knowen, in this place, at this tyme, nor in this case, to
stand [{here{] as an accused person. And if this [{othe{] of
yours, master Riche, be true, then pray I that I neuer
see god in the face; which I wold not say, were it otherwise,
to winne the whole world." Then recite[{d{] he to
the courte the discourse of all theyr communicacion in
the Tower, accordinge to the truthe, and said: "In
good faithe, master Riche, I am sorye[{r{] for your
periurye then for my owne perill. And yow shall vnderstand
that neyther I, nor no man els to my knowledge,
ever tooke you to be a man of such creditt as in any
matter of importaunce I, or any other, would at anye
tyme vouchsaf to communicate with you. And I, as
<P 88>
you knowe, of no small while haue bine acquainted with
yow and your conuersacion, who haue knowen you from
your youth hitherto; For we longe dwelled both in one
parishe together, where, as your self can tell (I am sory
you compell me so to say) you were esteemed very light
of your tongue, A greate dicer, and of no comendable
fame. And so in your house at the temple, wheare
hath bine your cheif bringing vppe, were you likewise
accompted.
   "Can it therefore seeme likely vnto your honorable
Lordshipps that I wold, in so weyghty a cause, so vnadvisedlye
overshootte my self as to trust master Rich, a
man of me alwaies reputed for one of so litle truth, as
your lordshipps haue heard, So farre aboue my soueraigne
Lord the kinge, or any of his noble Councellours, that I
wold vnto him vtter the secreates of my consciens
towchinge the kings supremacye, The speciall pointe
and only marke at my handes so longe sought for: A
thinge which I neuer did, nor neuer wold, after the
statute thereof made, reveale either to the kings highnes 
himself, or to any of his honorable councell[{ours{] , as it is
not vnknowne to your honors, at sundry seuerall
times sent from his graces owne person vnto the
<P 89>
Tower vnto me for none other purpose? Can this in your
iudgments, my lordes, seeme likely to be true? And 
[{yet{] , if [{I{] had so [{done{] indeed, my lords, as master
Rich hath sworne, seing it was spoken but in Familiar
secreate talk, nothing affirminge, and only in puttinge of
cases, without other displeasaunt circumstances, it cannot
iustly be taken to be spoken maliciouslye; And
where there is no malice, there can be no offence. And
ouer this I can never thincke, my lordes, that so many
[{worthye{] Bishoppes, so many honorable parsonages,
and [{so{] many other worshippfull, vertuous, wise and
well learned men as att the makinge of that lawe were
in the parliament assembled, ever ment to haue any
man pvnished by death in whom there coulde be
found no malice, taking (\'malitia'\) [{for{]                   #
(\'maleuolentia'\) ;
For if (\'malicia'\) be generally taken for 'sinne', no
man is there then that can thereof excuse himself:
(\Quia si dixerimus quod peccatum non habemus,
nosmet ipsos seducimus, et veritas in nobis non est.\)
And only this word 'maliciously' is in the statute
<P 90>
materiall, as this terme 'forcible' is in the statute of
forcible entries; By which statute, if a man enter
peaceably, and put not his aduersary out forcibly, it is
no offence. But if he put him out forcibly, then by
that statute it is an offence, and so shall he be punished
by this tearme 'forcibly'.
   "Besides this, the manifold goodnes of the kings
highnes himself, that hath bine so many waies my singuler
good Lord and gracious soueraigne, that hath so deerely
loved and trusted me, even att my [{very{] first cominge
into his noble service with the dignity of his honourable
pryvy Councell vouchsafing to admit me, and to offices
of greate creditt and worshippe most liberally advanced
me, and finally with that waighty Roome of his graces
highe Chauncelour (the like whereof he neuer did to
temporall man before) next to his owne roiall person the
highest officer in this noble realme, so farr aboue my
merittes or qualities able and meete therefore, of his
incomparable benignity honoured and exalted me, by
the space of XX=ti= yeares and more shewing his continewall 
favour towards me, And (vntill at my owne
poore suite, it pleased his highnes, geving me licens, with
<P 91>
his maiesties favour, to bestowe the residue of my life
for the provision of my soule in the service of god, of
his especiall goodnes thereof to discharg and vnburthen
me) most beningly heaped honours continually more
and more vppon me: All this his highnes goodnes, I say,
[{so long{] thus bountifully extended towards me, were 
in my minde, my Lordes, matter sufficient to convince
this sclaunderous surmise by this man so wrongfully
imagined against me."
   Master Rich, seing himself so disproved, and his credit
so fowlye defaced, cawsed Sir Richard Southwell and
master Palmer, that at [{the{] time of their communicacion
were in the chamber, to be sworne what wordes had
passed betweene them. Wheruppon master Palmer,
vppon his deposition, said that he was so buysye about
the trussinge vppe of Sir Thomas Moores bookes in a 
sack, that he tooke no head to their talke. Sir Richard
Southwell likewise, vppon his deposition, said that because
he was apointed only to looke vnto the conveyaunce
of his bookes, he gaue no eare vnto them.
   After this were there many other Reasons, not nowe
<P 92>
in my remembraunce, by Sir Thomas Moore in his owne
defens alleaged, to the discredit of master Riches aforesaid
evidence, and proof of the cleerenes of his owne
consciens. All whiche notwithstandinge, the Jury found
him guilty. And incontinent vppon the[{ir{] verdicte,
the Lord Chauncelour, for that matter cheif Comissioner,
begininge [{to proceede{] in iudgment against him, Sir
Thomas Moore said to him: "My Lord, when I was
toward the Lawe, the manner in such case was to aske
the prisoner before Iudgment why Iudgment should not
be geuen agaynste him." Wherevppon the lord Chauncelour,
stayeng his Iudgment, wherein he had partely
proceeded, demaunded of him what he was able to say
to the contrary. Who then in this sorte moste humbly
made awneswer:
   "Forasmuch as, my Lorde," quoth he, "this Indictment
is grounded vppon an acte of parliamente directly
repugnant to the lawes of god and his holy churche, the
supreeme gouer[{n{]ment of which, or of any parte whereof,
may no temporall prince presume by any lawe to take
vppon him, as rightfully belonging to the Sea of Roome,
a spirituall preheminence by the mouth of our Sauiour
hymself, personally present vppon the earth, [{only{] to
St Peeter and his successors, Byshopps of the same Sea,
<P 93>
by speciall prerogative graunted; It is therefore in lawe
amongest Christen men insufficient to charge any
Christen man." And for proofe thereof, like as, amonge
[{diuers{] other reasons and aucthorities, he declared that 
this Realme, being but one member and [{smale{] parte
of the Church, might not make a particuler lawe disagreable
with the generall lawe of Christes vniuersall
Catholike Churche, No more then the city of London,
beinge but one poore member in respecte of the whole
realme, might make a lawe against an acte of parliament
to bind the whole realme; So farther shewed he
that it was contrary both to the lawes and statutes of
our owne Land yeat vnrepealed, As they might evidently
perceaue in (\Magna charta: Quod ecclesia Anglicana
libera sit, et habeat omnia iura sua integra et libertates
suas illaesas\) ; And also contrarye to that sacred oath
which the kinges highnes himself and euery other christian
prince alwaies with greate solemnitye receaved at
their Coronations; Alleaginge moreover that no more
might this realme of England refuse obediens to the Sea
of Roome then might the child refuse obediens to his
<P 94>
[{owne{] naturall father. For, as St Pawle said of the 
Corinthians: "I haue regenerated you, my children in
Christ," So might St Gregorye, Pope of Roome, of 
whom, by St Austyne, his messenger, we first receaved
the Christian faithe, of vs Englishmen truly saye:
"Yow are my children, because I haue geuen to you
euerlasting salvacion, a farr [{higher and{] better             #
inheritaunce
then any carnall father can leaue to his child,
and by [{re{]generation made you my spirituall children
in Christe."
   Then was it by the Lorde Chauncelour therunto
awneswered, that seinge all the Byshoppes, Vniuersities
and best learned of [{this{] Realme had to this acte agreed,
It was muche mervayled that he alone against them all
would so stiffly stick [{therat{] , and so vehemently argue
there against.
   To that Sir Thomas Moore replied, sayenge: "If the
number of Bishoppes and vniuersytyes be so materiall
as your lordeshippe seemethe to take it, Then se I litle
cause, my lorde, why that thing in my consciens should
make any chainge. For I nothinge doubte but that,
thoughe not in this realme, yeat in Christendome aboute,
of thes well lerned Bishoppes and vertuous men that
<P 95>
are yeat alive, they be not the fewer parte that be of my
mind therein. But if I should speake of those whiche
already be dead, of whom many be nowe holy sainctes in
heaven, I am very sure it is the farre greater parte of
them that, all the while [{they{] lived, thoughte in this
case that waye that I thinck nowe. And therefore am
I not bounde, my lord, to conforme my consciens to the
Councell of one Realme against the generall Councell of
Christendome."
   Nowe when Sir Thomas Moore, for thavoydinge of
the Indictment, had taken as many exceptions as he
thought meete, and [{many{] moe reasons then I can nowe
remember alleaged, The Lord Chauncelour, loth to haue
the burthen of that Iudgmente wholye to depend vppon
himself, there openlye asked thadvise of the Lord Fitz
James, then Lord Cheif Justice of the kings Bench, and
ioyned in Comission with him, whether this indictment
were sufficient or not. Who, like a wise man, awneswered:
"My lords all, By St Julian" (that was euer his
oath), "I must needes confes that if thacte of parliament
be not vnlawfull, then is not the Indictment in
my conscience insufficient."



