"for my Lord my Master (quoth he) to serve the King's turne will not stick to agree to his owne Father's death." So Sir Thomas Moore returned to the Bishopp no more. And had not the King soone after died, he was determined to have gone 5 over the sea, thinking that beinge in the King's indignation he could not live in England without great daunger. After he was made one of the under-shiriffs of London, by which office and his learninge togither as I have harde him say, he gained without greefe not so litle as foure hundred poundes by the 10 yeare: sith there was at that tyme in none of the Prince's courtes of the lawes of this Realme any matter of importaunce in controversie wherin he was not with the one partie of counsell. Of whom, for his learninge, wisdome, and knowledge and experience, men had him in such estimation, that before he was 15 come to the service of King Henry the eight, at the suit and instance of the English Merchauntes, he was, by the King's consent, mad twise Embassador in certaine great causes betweene them and the Merchauntes of the Stilliard, whose wise and discreete dealinge therin, to his heigh commendation, com20 minge to the King's understanding, provokinge his Highnesse to cause Cardinall Woolsie, (then Lord Chancellor) to procure him to his service. And albeit the Cardinall accordinge to the King's request earnestlie travelled with him therfore, among many other his perswasions alleaginge unto him, how deere 25 his service must needs be unto his Majestie, which could not

of his honor with lesse then he should yearly louse thereby seeme to recompence him, yet he, loath to chaunge his estate, made such meanes to the Kinge by the Cardinall to the contrarie, that his Grace for that tyme was well satisfied. Now 30 happned there after this a greate Shipp of his that then was Pope to arrive at Southampton, whiche the Kinge clayminge for a forfeiture, the Pope's Embassador by suite unto his Grace obtayned, that he might for his Master the Pope have counsell learned in the Lawes of this Realme, and the matter in his 35 owne presence (being himself a singular Civillian) in some publicke place to be openly heard and discussed. At which tyme there could none of our Law be found so meete to be of

Counsell with this Embassador as Sir Thomas Moore, who could report to the Embassador in Latine all the reasons and argumentes by the learned Counsell on both sydes alleaged. Upon this the Councellors on ether partie in presence of the Lord Chauncellor, and other the Judges in the Starr Chamber, 5 had audience accordingly. Where Sir Thomas Moore not only declared to the Embassedor the whole effect of all there opiniones, but also in defence on the Pope's syd argued so learnedly himselfe, that both was the foresayd forfeiture to the Pope restord, and himself amonge all the hearers, for his up- 10 right and commendable demeanor therin, so greatly renowned, that for no intreatie would the Kinge from henceforth be induced any longer to forbeare his service. At whose first entrie thereunto he made him Master of the Requests, havinge then no better roome voyd, and within a moneth after, Knight and 15 one of his privie Counsell, and so from tyme to tyme was by the Prince advaunced, continuinge in his singular favour and trustie service 20 yeares and above, a good part whereof used the King upon holidayes, when he had done his owne devotions to send for him into his travers, and there some tyme in 20 matters of Astronimie, Geometrie, Divinitie and such other Faculties, and some tyme in his worldly affayeres, to sitt and conferr with him, and otherwhiles would he in the night have him up into the leades, there to consider with him the diversities, courses, motions and operations of the Starrs and 25 Planetts. And because he was of a pleasant disposition, yt pleased the Kinge and Queene, after the Counsell had suppt, at the tyme of there supper for there pleasure commonly to call for him, and to be merry with them. When he perceaved so much in his talke to delight, that he could not once in a 30 munth gett leave to go home to his wif and children (whose companie he most desired) and to be absent from the Court 2 dayes togither, but that he should be thither sent for againe, he much mislikinge this restraint of libertie, begann thereuppon somewhat to dissemble his nature, and so by litle and litle from 35 his former mirth to disuse himself, that he was of them from thencefurth no more so ordinarielie sent for. Then dyed one

Mr Weston Treasurer of the Exchequer, whose office after his death the Kinge of his owne offer, without any askinge, freely gave unto Sir Thomas Moore. In the 14 yeare of his Grace's Raigne was there a Parliament houlden, whereof Sir Thomas 5 Moore was chosen Speaker, who beinge very loath to take that Roome upon him, made an oration, not now extant, to the King's Heighnes for his discharge therof. Whereunto when the Kinge would not consent, hee spake unto his Grace in forme followinge: "Sith I perceave (most redoubted Soverraigne) 10 that it standeth not with your Heighnes pleasure to reforme this election, and cause it to be chaunged, but have, by the mouth of the Right Reverend Father in God the Legat your Heighnes Chauncelor, therunto given your most Royall consent, and have of your benignitie determined, far above that 15 I may beare, to enable me, and for this office to repute me meete, rather then ye should seeme to impute unto your Commones, that they had unmeetly chosen, I am therfore, and alwayes shal be, readie obediently to conforme my selfe to th' accomplishment of your heigh commaundment. In my most 20 humble wise beseechinge your most noble Majestie, that I may, with your Grace's favour, before I farther enter thereunto, make myne humble intercession unto your Heighnes for tow lowly petitions, the one privatly concerninge my self, th' other the whole assemblie of your common house. And for my self 25 (Gratious Soveraigne) that if it mishapp me in any thinge hereafter, that is in the behalfe of your Commones in your heigh presence to be declared, to mistake my message, and for lacke of good utteraunce by me misrehersed, to pervert or impaire the prudent instructions, that it may then like your 30 most noble Majestie of your aboundaunt Grace, with the eie of your accustomed pittie, to pardon my simplicitie, giving me leave againe to repaire to the Common house, and there to conferr with them, and to take there substantiall advice, what thinge, and in what wise I shall on there behalf utter and 35 speake before your noble Grace: to th' intent there prudent advises and affaires be not by my simpleness and folly hindred or impaired. Which thinge if it should so happ, as it were

well likly to mishapp in me (if your Grace's benignitie releived not my oversight) it could not fayle to be, duringe my life, a perpetuall grudg and heavinesse to my hart. The helpe and remedie wherof in manner aforesayd remembred, is (most Gratious Soveraigne) my first lowly suit and humble petition 5 unto your most noble Grace. Myne other humble request, most excelent Prince, is this. For as much as there be of your Commons here, by your heigh commaundment assembled for your Parliament, a great number which are after the accostomed manner appoynted in the common house to treat and advise of 10 the common affayres among themselves apart : and albeit (my leige Lorde) that, accordinge to your prudent advise, by your honorable Writts every where declared, there hath beene as due diligence used in sending up to your Heighness court of Parliament the most discreete persones out of every quarter, 15 that men could esteeme meete thereto, whereby it is not to be doubted but that there is a very substantiall assembly of right wise and politicke persons: yet (most victorious Prince) sith amonge soe many wise men, nether is every man wise alike, nor among soe many men like well witted, every man like well 20 spoken; and it oftneth happneth, that likewise as much folly is uttered with painted polished speeches, so many boysterous and rude in language see deepe in deed, and give right substantiall counsell and syth also in matters of great importaunce the mynd is often so occupied in the matter, that a man rather 25 studieth what to say, then how; by what reason whereof the wisest man and best spoken in a countrie fortuneth amonge, while his minde is fervent on the matter, somwhat to speake in such wise, as he would afterward wish to have beene uttered otherwise, and yeat noe worse will had when he spake it, then 30 he hath when he would so gladly chaunge it: Therefore (most Gratious Soveraigne) consideringe that in all your heigh courtes of Parliament is nothing intreated but of matters of waight and importaunce concerninge your Realme, and your owne Royall estate, it could not faile to lett and put to silence from the 35 givinge of theire advice and counsell many of your discreete commons [except they] weare utterly discharged of all doubt and

feare how any thinge that should happen them to speake, should happen of your Heighnes to be taken: and in this poynte your well knowne benignitie putteth every man in right good hope. Yet such is the waight of the matter, such is the reverend dread 5 that the timorous hartes of your naturall subjectes conceave towardes your heigh Majestie (our most redubted Kinge and undoubted Soveraigne) that they cannot in this poynt find themselves satisfied, except your gratious bountie herein declared put away the scruple of there timorous myndes, and 10 animat and incourage them out of doubt. It may therefore like your most abundant Grace, (our most gratious Kinge) to give to all your Commons here assembled your most gratious license and pardon freely, without doubt of your dreadfull displeasure, every man to discharge his conscience, and bouldly 15 in every thinge incident among, declare his advise, and what soever happneth any man to say, it may like your noble Majestie of your inestimable goodnesse to take all in good part, interpretinge every man's words, how uncunningly soever they be couched, to proceed yeat of a good zeale towardes the 20 profitt of your Realme and honour of your Royall person, the prosperous estate and preservation whereof (most excellent Sovaraigne) is the thing which we all your most humble loving subjectes, accordinge to the most bounden duty of our naturall Allegiance, most highly desire and pray for." At this Parlia25 ment Cardinall Wolsey found himself much greeved with the Burgesses thereof, for that nothing was so soone done or spoken therein, but that it was immediatly blowne abroad in every Alehouse. It fortuned at that Parliament a very great subsidie to be demaunded, which the Cardinall fearing it would 30 not passe the common house, determined for the furtheraunce thereof, to be there present himself; before whose comminge after longe debating there, whether it were better but with a few of his Lordes (as the most opinion of the house was) or with a whole trayne royally to receave him there amongst 35 them, "Maisters," quoth Sir Thomas Moore, "for asmuch as my Lord Cardinall latelie, you note well, laied to our charge the lightnes of our toungs for thinges uttered out of this house,