<P_464>

<heading:edcomment:192_TO_ELIZABETH_BARTON>

<heading:edcomment:CHELSEA_TUESDAY_1533?>

<P_465>

Good Madam , and my righte dearelie beloved Syster in our Lorde God .
After my $moste $hartie recommendacion , I shall beseche you to take my
good mynde in good worthe , and $pardon $me that I am so homelye as of
my selfe vnrequired , and allso without necessitie , to gyve $cowncell
to you , of whome for the good inspiracions , and greate revelacions
that it likethe $Allmighty God of his goodnes to gyve and shew , as
manye wise , well lerned , and very $vertuous folke testifye , I my
selfe haue nede , for the comforte of my soule , to require $and aske
advise , (MORELET2-E1-P1,465.5)

for surelie , good Madam , sithe it pleasethe God sometyme to $suffer
$such as $are far vnder and of litle estimacione , to gyve yet
frutefull aduertisement $to other as are in the lighte of the Spirite ,
so farre above them , that there $were $betwen them no comparison ; as
he suffred his highe prophet Moyses to be in some $thinges advised and
cowncelled by Jetro , I can not for the love that in our Lorde I $bear
$you refreyne to put you in remembrance of one thinge , which in my
poore mynde $I $thinke highelie necessarie to be by your wisdom
conscidered , referringe thend and order therof , to God and his holye
Spirite , to directe you . (MORELET2-E1-P1,465.6)

Good Madam , I $doubt not , but that you remembre that in the
begynninge of my communicacione with you , I $shewed you that I neither
was , nor wolde be , curious of eny knowledge of other $mennes matters
, and lest of all of eny matter of princes or of the realme , in case
$it $so were that God had , as to manye good folkes before tyme he
hathe eny $thinges reveled vnto you (MORELET2-E1-P1,465.7)

suche thinges , I saide vnto your ladiship , that I was not onely not
desirous to heare of , but allso woulde not heare of .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,465.8)

Now , Madam , I $consider well that manye folke desier to speake with
you , which are not all peraduenture of $my mynde in this poynte ;
(MORELET2-E1-P1,465.9)

but some happe to be curiouse and inquisitive of thinges $that litle
perteine vnto theire partes ; (MORELET2-E1-P1,465.10)

and some mighte peraduenture happe to $talke of suche thinges , as
mighte peraduenture after turne to muche harme , as I $thinke you have
harde how the late Duke of Buckingham <P_466> moved with the fame of
$one $that was reported for an holye monke and had suche talkinge with
hyme as after $was $a grete parte of his distruction and disheritinge
of his bloude , and greate slaunder and $infamy of religion .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,466.11)

It sufficethe me , good Madam , to put you in remembrance of suche
thinge , $as $I $no thinge doubt your wisedome and the spirite of God
shall keepe you frome talkinge with any $persons speciallye with ley
persons , of eny suche maner thinges as perteyne to $princes' $affeirs
, or the state of the realme , but onelye to common and talke with eny
person highe $and $low , of suche maner thinges as maye to the soule be
profitable for you to shew and for $them $to $know .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,466.12)

$And $thus my good Ladie , and derelie beloved suster in our Lorde , I
make an $end $of $this $my $nedelesse aduertisement vnto you , whome
the blessed Trinitie preserve and increase $in $grace
(MORELET2-E1-P1,466.13)

$and $put $in $your mynde to recommende me and myne vnto hym , in your
devout $prayers . (MORELET2-E1-P1,466.14)

$At $Chelseith (MORELET2-E1-P1,466.15)

this Tuesday (MORELET2-E1-P1,466.16)

by the hand of Your hartie loving Brother and Beadsman , Thomas More ,
Kt. (MORELET2-E1-P1,466.17)

<P_507>

<heading:edcomment:201_MARGARET_ROPER>

<heading:edcomment:TOWER_OF_LONDON_APRIL_MAY?_1534>

Myne owne good Doughter , Our Lorde be thanked , I am in good health of
body , and in good quiet of minde : (MORELET2-E1-P1,507.21)

and of worldly thinges I no more desire then I haue .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,507.22)

I besech hym make you all mery in the hope of heauen .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,507.23)

And such thinges as I somewhat longed to talke with you all ,
concerninge the worlde to come , our Lorde put them in to your mindes ,
as I trust he doth , and better to , by his Holie Spirite : who blesse
you and preserue you all all . (MORELET2-E1-P1,507.24)

Writen with a cole by your tender louinge father , who in his pore
prayers forgetteth none of you all , nor your babes , nor your nurses ,
nor your good husbandes , nor your good husbandes shrewde wiues , nor
your fathers shrewde wyfe neyther , nor our other frendes .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,507.25)

And thus fare you hartely well for lacke of paper .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,507.26)

Thomas More , Knight . (MORELET2-E1-P1,507.27)

Our Lorde kepe me continually true faithful and plaine , to the
contrary whereof I beseche hym hartely neuer to suffre me lyue .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,507.28)

For as for longe lyfe <paren> as I haue often tolde the Megge </paren>
I neither loke for , nor longe for , (MORELET2-E1-P1,507.29)

but am well content to goe , if God call <P_508> me hence to morowe .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,508.30)

And I thanke our Lorde I knowe no person lyuing that I wolde had one
philippe for my sake : of which minde I am more gladde than of all the
worlde beside . (MORELET2-E1-P1,508.31)

Recommende me to your shrewde Wyll and mine other sonnes , and to John
Harrys my frende , and your selfe knoweth to whome els , and my shrewde
wyfe aboue all , (MORELET2-E1-P1,508.32)

and God preserue you all , (MORELET2-E1-P1,508.33)

and make and kepe you his seruauntes all . (MORELET2-E1-P1,508.34)

<P_511>

<heading:edcomment:204_ALL_HIS_FRIENDS>

<heading:edcomment:TOWER_OF_LONDON_1534>

To all my louinge Frendes . (MORELET2-E1-P1,511.38)

For as much as being in prison I $can $not {TEXT:cannot} tell what nede
I may haue , or what necessitie I may happe to stande in , I hartely
besech you all , that if my welbeloued doughter Margaret Roper <paren>
which only of all my frendes hath by the Kynges gracious fauour licens
to resort to me </paren> doe anything desire of any of you , of such
thinge as I shall happe to nede , that it may lyke you no lesse to
regarde and tender it , then if I moued it vnto you and required it of
you parsonally present my selfe . (MORELET2-E1-P1,511.39)

And I besech you all to praye for me , (MORELET2-E1-P1,511.40)

and I shall pray for you . (MORELET2-E1-P1,511.41)

Your faithful louer and pore bedeman , Thomas More , Knight , prisoner
. (MORELET2-E1-P1,511.42)

<P_540>

<heading:edcomment:210_MARGARET_ROPER>

<heading:edcomment:TOWER_OF_LONDON_1534>

The Holy Spirite of God be with you . (MORELET2-E1-P1,540.46)

If I wolde with my writing , <paren> mine owne good daughter </paren>
declare how much pleasure and comfort , your daughterlye louing letters
wer vnto me (MORELET2-E1-P1,540.47)

a pecke of coles wolde not suffice to make me the pennes .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,540.48)

And other pennes haue I <paren> good Margaret </paren> none here :
(MORELET2-E1-P1,540.49)

and therfore can I wryte you no long processe , (MORELET2-E1-P1,540.50)

nor dare aduenture , good doughter , to wryte often .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,540.51)

The cause of my close keping againe did of lykelyhed growe of my
negligent and very plaine true worde which you remember .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,540.52)

And verely where as my mind gaue me <paren> as I tolde you in the
gardein </paren> that some such thinge were lykely to happen , so doth
my mynde alway geue me , that some folke yet wene that I was not so
poore as it appeared in the search , and that it may therfore happen ,
that yet eftsone ofter than once , some new sodain searches may happe
to be made in euery house of ours as narowly as is possible . Which
thinge if euer it so should happe , can make but game to vs that know
the trouth of my pouertie , but if they find out my wyues gay gyrdle
and her golden bedes . (MORELET2-E1-P1,540.53)

Howbeit veryly beleue in good faith , that the Kynges Grace of his
benigne pitie will take nothing from her . (MORELET2-E1-P1,540.54)

I thought and yet thinke , that it may be that I was shett vp againe ,
vpon some newe causeles suspicion , growen peraduenture vpon some
secret sinister information , wherby some folke happely thought , that
there shoulde be founde out against me some other gretter thinges .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,540.55)

But I thanke our Lorde when so euer this coniecture hath fallen in my
mynde , the clearnesse of my conscience hath made mine hearte hoppe for
ioy . (MORELET2-E1-P1,540.56)

For one thinge am I very sure of hetherto , and trust in Godes mercye
to be while I lyue , that as often I haue sayd vnto you , I shall for
any thinge toward my prince , neuer take great harme , but if I take
grete wronge , in the sight of God I say , how so euer it shall seme in
the sight of men . (MORELET2-E1-P1,540.57)

For to the worlde , wronge may seme right sometyme by false <P_541>
coniecturing , sometimes by false witnesses , as that good Lorde sayd
vnto you , which is I dare say my very good lorde in his mynde , and
said it of very good wyll . (MORELET2-E1-P1,541.58)

Before the worlde also , my refusing of this othe is accounted an
heighnous offence , (MORELET2-E1-P1,541.59)

and my religious feare , toward God , is called obstinacy toward my
Prince . (MORELET2-E1-P1,541.60)

But my Lordes of the Counsaile before whom I refused it , might well
perceiue by the heuines of my hart appearing well mo wayes than one
vnto them , that all sturdy stubbernesse whereof obstinacy groweth ,
was very farre fro my mynde . For the clearer profe wherof , sith they
semed to take for one argument of obstinacy in me , that refusing of
the othe , I wolde not declare the causes why , I offred with a full
heauy heart , that albeit I rather wolde endure all the payne and
peryll of the statute than by the declaring of the causes , geue any
occasion of exaspiracion vnto my most dradde Souerain Lorde and Prince
, yet rather than his Highnes shoulde for not disclosing the causes ,
accounte me for stubberne and obstinate , I wolde vpon such his
gracious licence and cammaundement as shoulde discharge me of his
displeasure and peryll of any statute , declare those poyntes that
letted my poore conscience to receyue that othe ;
(MORELET2-E1-P1,541.61)

and wolde ouer that be sworne before , that if I shoulde after the
causes disclosed and declared find them so answered as my conscience
shoulde thinke it selfe satisfied , I wolde therupon sweare the othe
that I there refused . (MORELET2-E1-P1,541.62)

To this , Maister Secretary answered me , that though the Kynges Grace
gaue me suche a lycence , yet it coulde not discharge me against the
statutes , in saying any thing that were by them vpon haynous paynes
prohibited . (MORELET2-E1-P1,541.63)

In this good warning he shewed hymselfe my specyall tender frende .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,541.64)

And now you see well Margaret , that it is no obstinacy to leaue the
causes vndeclared , while I coulde not declare them without peryll .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,541.65)

But now is it accounted great obstinacy that I refuse the othe , what
so euer my causes be , considering that of so many wiser and better men
none stycked therat . (MORELET2-E1-P1,541.66)

And M. Secretary of a great zeale that he bare vnto me , sware there
before them a gret othe , that for the displeasure that he thought the
Kynges Highnes wolde beare me , and the suspicion that his Grace woulde
conceiue of me , which wolde now thinke in his mynde that all the
Nunnes busines was wrought and deuised by me , he had leuer than I
shoulde haue refused the othe , that his owne only sonne <paren> which
<P_542> is a goodly yonge gentillman of whome our Lorde send hym much
ioye </paren> had hadde his head stricken of . (MORELET2-E1-P1,542.67)

This worde Margaret , as it was a merueylous declaration of M.
Secretaries great good minde and fauour towarde me , so was it an heauy
hearing to me , that the Kinges Grace my most drad Souerain Lorde , wer
lykely to conceiue such highe suspicion of me , and beare such greuous
indignacion toward me , for the thinge , which without the daunger and
perill of my poore soule , lay not in my hande to helpe , nor dooth .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,542.68)

Now haue I herd since , that some say that this obstynate maner of mine
, in still refusinge the othe , shall peraduenture force and driue the
Kynges Grace to make a ferther lawe for me . (MORELET2-E1-P1,542.69)

I $can $not {TEXT:cannot} let such a law to be made .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,542.70)

But I am very sure , that if I dyed by such a law , I shoulde die for
that poynt innocent afore God . (MORELET2-E1-P1,542.71)

And albeit <paren> good doughter </paren> that I thinke , our Lorde
that hath the heartes of kynges in his hand , woulde neuer suffer of
his high goodnes , so gracious a Prince , and so many honorable men ,
and so many good men as be in the Parlement to make such an vnlawfull
law , as that shoulde be if it so mishapped , (MORELET2-E1-P1,542.72)

yet lest I note that poynt vnthought vpon , but many tymes more than
one reuolued and cast in my minde before my commynge hither , both that
peryll and all other that myght put my bodie in peryll of death by the
refusing of this othe . In deuising wherupon , albeit <paren> myne owne
good daughter </paren> that I founde my selfe <paren> I cry God mercie
</paren> very sensuall and my fleshe much more shrinkinge from payne
and from death , than me thought it the part of a faithfull Christen
man , in such a case as my conscience gaue me , that in the sauing of
my bodie shoulde stande the losse of my soule , yet I thanke our Lorde
, that in that conflict , the Spirite had in conclusion the maistry ,
and reason with helpe of faith finally concluded , that for to be put
to death wrongefully for doinge well <paren> as I am very sure I doe ,
in refusing to swere against mine owne conscience , beinge such as I am
not vpon peryll of my soule bounden to chaunge whither my death shoulde
come without law , or by colour of a law </paren> it is a case in which
a man may leese his head and yet haue none harme , but in stede of
harme inestimable good at the hande of God . (MORELET2-E1-P1,542.73)

And I thanke our Lorde <paren> Megge </paren> since I am come hether I
sett by death euery daye lesse than other . (MORELET2-E1-P1,542.74)

For thoughe a man leese of his yeres in this worlde , it is more than
manyfolde recompensed <P_543> by cominge the sooner to heauen .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,543.75)

And thoughe it be a paine to die while a man is in health yet see I
very fewe that in sickenes dye with ease . (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.76)

And finally , very sure am I that when so euer the tyme shal come that
may happe to come , God wote how sone , in which I shoulde lye sicke in
my death bed by nature , I shal than thinke that God had done much for
me , if he had suffred me to dye before by the colowr of such a lawe .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,543.77)

And therfore my reason sheweth me <paren> Margaret </paren> that it wer
gret foly for me to be sory to come to that death , which I wolde after
wyshe that I had dyed . (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.78)

Beside that , that a man may happe with lasse thanke of God , and more
aduenture of his soule to dye as violently , and as painefully by many
other chaunces , as by enemies or theues . (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.79)

And therfore mine owne good dowghter I assure you <paren> thankes be to
God </paren> the thinkynge of any such albeit it hath grieued me ere
this , yet at this day grieueth me nothinge . (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.80)

And yet I knowe well for all this mine owne frailtie , and that Saint
Peter which fered it much lesse than I , fell in such feare sone after
, that at the worde of a simple gyrle he forsoke and forsware our
Sauiour . (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.81)

And therfore am I not <paren> Megge </paren> so mad , as to warraunt my
selfe to stande . (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.82)

But I shall praye , and I praye the mine owne good daughter to praye
with me , that it may please God that hath geuen me this minde , to
geue me the grace to kepe it . (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.83)

And thus haue I mine owne good daughter disclosed vnto you , the very
secrete botome of my minde , referring the order therof onely to the
goodnes of God , and that so fully , that I assure you Margaret on my
faith , I neuer haue prayde God to bringe me hence nor deliuer me fro
death , but referring all thing whole vnto his onely pleasure , as to
hym that seeth better what is best for me than my selfe dooth .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,543.84)

Nor neuer longed I since I came hether to set my fote in mine owne
howse , for any desire of or pleasure of my howse ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,543.85)

but gladlie wolde I sometime somewhat talke with my frendes , and
specially my wyfe and you that pertein to my charge .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,543.86)

But sith that God otherwise disposeth , I committe all wholy to his
goodnes (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.87)

and take dayly great coumfort in that I perceiue that you lyue together
so charitably and so quietly : (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.88)

I besech our Lorde continue it . (MORELET2-E1-P1,543.89)

And thus , mine owne good daughter , putting you finally in
remembraunce , that albeit if the necessite so shoulde require , I
thanke our Lorde in this quiet and comfort is mine heart at this day ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,543.90)

and I trust in Goddes goodnes so shall haue grace to continue ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,543.91)

yet <paren> as I said before </paren> I <P_544> verely trust that God
shall so inspire and gouerne the Kynges heart , that he shall not
suffre his noble heart and courage to requite my true faithfull heart
and seruice , with such extreme vnlawfull and vncharitable dealing ,
only for the displeasure that I can not thinke so as other doo .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,544.92)

But his true subiect wil I lyue and dye , (MORELET2-E1-P1,544.93)

and truely praye for hym wil I , both here and in the tother worlde too
. (MORELET2-E1-P1,544.94)

And thus mine owne good daughter have me recommended to my good
beddefelowe and all my children , men , women and all , with all your
babes and your nursis and all the maydes and all the seruauntes , and
all our kynne , and all our other frendes abrode .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,544.95)

And I besech our Lorde to saue them all and kepe them .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,544.96)

And I praye you all praye for me , (MORELET2-E1-P1,544.97)

and I shall praye for you all . (MORELET2-E1-P1,544.98)

And take no thought for me what so ewer you shal happe to heare ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,544.99)

but be mery in God . (MORELET2-E1-P1,544.100)

<P_550>

<heading:edcomment:214_TO_MARGARET_ROPER>

<heading:edcomment:TOWER_OF_LONDON_2_OR_3_MAY_1535>

Owr Lorde blisse you . (MORELET2-E1-P1,550.104)

My derely belouyd Doughter . I dout not but by the reason of the
Counsaylours resortyng hyther , in thys tyme <paren> in whych our Lord
$be theyr comforte </paren> <P_551> these fathers of the $Charterhous
and Master $Reynoldis of Syon <paren> that be nowe </paren> {COM:sic}
iudged to deth for treson , <paren> whose maters and causes I know not
</paren> may happe to put yow in trouble and fere of mynde concernyng
me beyng here $prisoner , specyally for that it ys not vnlykely but
that you haue herd $that $I was brought also before the Counsayle here
my selfe . (MORELET2-E1-P1,551.105)

I haue $thought yt necessary to aduertyse yow of the very trouth , to
thende that $you neyther conceyue more hope than the mater gyueth ,
lest vppon other torne yt myght aggreue your heuynes , nor more $griefe
$and fere than the mater gyueth of , on the tother syde . Wherfore
$shortly $ye shall vnderstand that on Fryday the last day of Apryle in
the afternone , Mr. Leuetenaunt cam in here vnto me , and shewed me
that Mr. $Secretary wold speke with me . Wheruppon I shyfted my gowne ,
and went owt $with Mr. Leuetenaunt into the galery to hym . Where I met
many , some knowen and some vnknowen in the way .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,551.106)

And in $conclusion commyng in to the chamber wher hys Mastershyp sat
with Mr. $Attorney , Mr. Soliciter , Mr. Bedyll and Mr. Doctour
Tregonnell , I was offred to syt with them , whych in no wyse I wolde .
Wheruppon Mr. Secretary $shewed vnto me , that he dowted not , but that
I had by such $frendes $as hyther had resorted to me sene the new
$statutis made at the $last syttyng of the Parlyament . Wherunto I
answered : ye verely . (MORELET2-E1-P1,551.107)

$Howe $be yt for as much as beyng here , I haue no conuersacion with
eny people , I thought yt lytell nede for me to bestow mych tyme $vppon
them , (MORELET2-E1-P1,551.108)

and therefore <P_552> I redelyuerd the boke shortly
(MORELET2-E1-P1,552.109)

and theffect of the $statutis I neuer marked nor studyed to put in
remembraunce . (MORELET2-E1-P1,552.110)

Than $he asked me whether I had not red the fyrst statute of them , of
$the Kyng beyng Hed of the Chyrche . Wherunto I answerd , yes .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,552.111)

Than $his Mastershyp declared vnto me , that syth yt was now by act $of
Parlyament ordeyned that hys Hyghnes and hys heyres be , and $euer
ryght haue bene , and perpetually shuld be , Supreme Hed in $yerth $of
the Chyrch of Englande vnder Cryst , the $Kyngis plesure was , $that
$those of hys Counsaylle there assembled shuld demaund $myne $oppinion
, and what my mynde was therin . Wherunto I $answerd $that $in good
fayth I had well trusted that the $Kyngis $Hyghnesse $woulde $neuer
haue commaunded eny such questyon to $be $demaunded $of $me ;
consydryng that I euer from the begynnyng well and trewly from tyme to
tyme declared my mynde vnto hys Hyghnesse , (MORELET2-E1-P1,552.112)

and syns that tyme I $had <paren> I sayd </paren> vnto your Mastershyp
Mr. Secretory also , both by mouth and by wrytyng .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,552.113)

And now I haue in good fayth dyscharged my mynde of all such maters ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,552.114)

and neyther wyll dyspute $Kyngis tytles nor Popys ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,552.115)

but the $Kyngis trew faythfull subiect I am and $will $be {TEXT:wylbe}
, (MORELET2-E1-P1,552.116)

and dayly I pray for hym and for all hys , and for yow all that are of
hys honorable Counsayle , and for all the realme ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,552.117)

and otherwyse than thus I neuer $entend to medell . Wherunto Mr.
Secretory answerd that he thought thys maner answere shuld not satysfye
nor content the $Kyngis Hyghnes , but that hys Grace wold exact a more
full answer . (MORELET2-E1-P1,552.118)

And hys $Master-shypp added therunto , that the $Kyngis Hyghnes was a
prynce not of rygour but of mercy and pytty , and though that he had
founde obstynacy at some tyme in eny of hys $subiectis , yet when he
shuld fynde them at an other tyme comfyrmable and submyt them selfe ,
hys Grace wolde shew mercy . And that concernyng my selfe , hys
Hyghnesse wolde be glade to se me take such confyrmable ways , as I
myght be abrode in the worlde agayne among other men as I haue bene
before . Wherunto I shortly <paren> after the inwarde affeccion of my
mynde </paren> answered for a very trouth , that I wolde neuer medle in
the worlde agayne , to haue the worlde gyuyn me .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,552.119)

And to the remenaunt of the mater , I answerd in effect as byfore ,
shewyng that I had fully determyned with my selfe , neyther-1 to study
nor medle with eny mater of thys worlde , but that my hole study shulde
be , vppon the passyon of Chryst and myne owne passage owt of thys
$worlde . (MORELET2-E1-P1,552.120)

<P_553>

Vppon thys I was commaunded to go forth for a whyle , and after called
in agayne . At whych tyme Mr. Secretory sayd vnto me that though I $was
prisoner and condemned to perpetuall prison , yet I was not therby
$dyscharged $of myne obedyence and allegeaunce vnto the $Kyngis
Hyghnesse . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.122)

And $thereuppon demaunded me whyther that I thought , that the $Kyngis
Grace myght exact of me such $thyngis as are conteyned in the statutes
and vppon $lyke paynes as he myght of other men . Wherto I answerd that
I $wold not say the contrary . Wherto he seyd , that lykewyse as the
$Kyngis $Hyghnesse wolde be gracyous to them that he founde
$conformable , $so $his Grace wolde folow the course of hys laws toward
such $as $he $shall $fynde obstynate . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.123)

And hys Mastershyp sayd ferther , $that $my $demeanour $in $that
$matter was of a thyng that of $likelyhode $made now other men so
styffe therin as they be . Wherto I answerd , $that I gyue no man
occasyon to holde ony poynte one or other , $nor $neuer gaue any man
aduyse or counsayle therin one way or other . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.124)

$And for conclusyon I coude no ferther go , what so euer payne shulde
$come therof . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.125)

I am , quoth I , the $Kyngis trew faythfull subiect and daily $bedesman
(MORELET2-E1-P1,553.126)

and pray for hys Hyghnesse and all hys and all the realme .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,553.127)

I do nobody harme , (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.128)

I say none harme , (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.129)

I thynk none harme , (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.130)

but wysh euerye bodye good . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.131)

And yf thys be not ynough to kepe a man alyue in $good $fayth I long
not to lyue . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.132)

And I am dying alredy , (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.133)

and haue syns I came here , bene dyuers tymes in the case that I
thought to dye $within one houre , (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.134)

and I thank our Lorde I was neuer sory for yt , $but $rather sory whan
I saw the pang past . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.135)

And therfore my pore body ys $at $the $Kyngis plesure ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,553.136)

wolde God my deth myght do hym good . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.137)

After $this Mr. Secretory sayd : well ye fynde no fawte in that statute
, (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.138)

fynde $yow eny in eny of the other $statutis after ? Wherto I answerd ,
Sir , $whatso euer thyng shuld seme to me other than good , in eny of
the $statutis or in that statute eyther , I wolde not declare what
$fawte $I fownde , nor speke therof . Wherunto fynally hys mastershyp
sayd ful gentylly that of eny thyng that I had spokyn , there $shuld
$none aduauntage be takyn , (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.139)

and whyther he sayd ferther that ther be none to be taken , I am not
well remembryd . (MORELET2-E1-P1,553.140)

But he sayd $that reporte shulde be made vnto the $Kyngis Hyghnes , and
hys gracyous plesure knowen . <P_554> Wheruppon I was delyuerd agayne
to Mr. $Leuetenaunt , whych was then called in ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,554.141)

and so was I by Mr. Leuetenaunt $brought agayne into my chamber ,
(MORELET2-E1-P1,554.142)

and here am I yet in such case as I $was , neyther better nor worse .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,554.143)

That that shall folow lyeth in the $hande $of $God , whom I besech to
put in $Kyngis Graces mynde that $thyng $that may be to hys hygh
plesure , and in myne , to mynde onely $the weale of my sowle , with
lytell regarde of my body . (MORELET2-E1-P1,554.144)

And yow with al yours , and my wyfe and all my chylderne and all our
other $frendis both bodily and gostely hertely well to fare .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,554.145)

And I pray yow and all them $pray $for me , (MORELET2-E1-P1,554.146)

and take no thought what so euer shall happen me .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,554.147)

For $I $verely trust in the goodnesse of God , (MORELET2-E1-P1,554.148)

seme yt neuer so euyll to this worlde , yt shall in dede in a nother
worlde be for the best . (MORELET2-E1-P1,554.149)

Your $louing $father , $Thomas $More $Knyghte .
(MORELET2-E1-P1,554.150)

written the third (MORELET2-E1-P1,554.151)