The Life of Sir Thomas More/Appendix 12
No. XII.
Our Lorde blisse you.
My derely beloved daughter, I doubt not but by the reason of the Kynge's counsellors resortyng hither in thys tyme in which (our Lorde be theyr comfort) these fathers of the Charterhouse and Master Reynolds of Sion be now judged to death for treason (whose matters and causes I know not) maye happe to put you in trouble and feare of mind concerning me being here prisoner, speciallye for that it is not unlikely that you have harde that I was broughte also before the counsaile here my selfe, I have thought it necessary to advertise you of the verye trouthe, to thende that you shoulde neyther conceyve more hope than the matter geveth, lest uppon another torne it might agreve your heavinesse: nor more grief and feare than the matter geveth on the tother syde. Wherefore shortly ye shall understand that on Frydaye the laste daye of Aprill in the afternone Master Leutenant came in here vnto me, and shewed me that Master Secretarye woulde speake with me, whereuppon I shyfted my gown, and went oute with Master Leuetenante into the galery to hym, where I mette manye, some knowen and some vnknowne in the waye. And in conclusion commyng into the chamber where hys mastershippe sat with Master Attorney, Master Soliciter, Master Bedyll, and Master Doctor Tregonwell, I was offered to sitte downe with them, whiche in no wyse I woulde. Whereupon Master Secretary shewed vnto me, that he doubted not, but that I had by suche frendes as hyther had resorted to me, sene the newe statutes made at the last sittyng of the parlement. Wherunto I aunswered; ye verely. Howe be it for as much as being here, I haue no conuersacion with any people, I thought it lytle nede for me to bestowe muche tyme vppon theym, and therefore I redeleuered the boke shortly, and theffect of the statutes I neuer marked nor studyed to putte in remembraunce. Then he asked me whyther I hadde not redde the fyrste statute of them, of the Kynge being hedde of the churche. Whereunto I aunswerde, yes. Than his mastership declared vnto me, that sythe it was nowe by acte of parlemente ordeyned, that his Highnes and his heyres be, and ever of right haue bene, and parpetuallye should be, supreme head in earth of the churche of Englande vnder Christ, the Kinge's pleasure was, that those of his counsayle there assembled, should demaunde myne oppinion, and what my mind was therein. Whereunto I aunswered, that in good fayth I hadde wel trusted, that the Kynge's Hyghnesse would neuer haue commaunded anye suche question to be demaunded of me, consideryng that I euer from the beginning, well and truelye from tyme to tyme declared my mynde vnto his Highnesse: and since that time (I sayd) vnto youre mastershippe master Secretary also, bothe by mouth and by wryting. And now I haue in good faith discharged my minde of all such matters, and neither wyll dispute kynges titles nor popes: but the Kinge's true faithfull subject I am, and will be, and dayly I praye for him, and al his, and for you al that are of his honorable counsaile, and for al the realm. And otherwyse than this, I neuer entende to medle. Whereunto Master Secretarye answered, that he thoughte this maner of answere should not satisfy nor content the Kinge's Highnes, but that hys Grace would exact a more full answere. And his mastership added thereunto, that the Kinge's Highnes was a prince, not of rygour but of mercy and pitie. And thoughe that he had found obstinacy at some tyme in any of his subjects, yet when he shold fynde them at an other tyme confyrmable and submitte them selfe, his Grace woulde shewe mercye: and that concernyng my selfe, his Highnesse would be gladde to see me take such conformable wayes, as I myghte be abrode in the worlde agayne among other menne, as I haue bene before. Whereunto I shortly (after the inwarde affeccion of my minde) answerd for a very trouth, that I woulde neuer medle in the worlde agayn, to haue the world geuen me. And to the remenaunt of the matter, I aunswered in effect as before, shewynge that I had fullye determined with my selfe, neyther to study nor medle with anye matter of this world, but that my whole study should be, vpon the passion of Christ, and mine owne passage out of this worlde. Vppon this I was commaunded to goo forth for a while, and after called in again. At which time Master Secretarye sayd vnto me, that though I wer a prisoner condemned to perpetual prison, yet I was not thereby discharged of myne obedyence and allegiance vnto the Kynge's Hyghnes. And theruppon demaunded me, whither that I thought, that the Kynge's Grace might not exact of me such thinges as are conteined in the statutes, and vpon lyke paines as he might vppon other men. Wherto I aunswered that I would not say the contrarye. Wherunto he sayde, that lykewyse as the Kinge's Hygnesse would be gracious to them that he found conformable, so his Grace would folowe the course of his lawes toward suche as he shall fynde obstinate. And his mastership said farther, that my demeanour in that matter was a thing, that of likelyhode made other se stiffe therin as they be. Whereto I aunswerde, that I geue no manne occasion to holde any poynt one or other, nor neuer gaue anye manne aduise or counsayle therin one way or other. And for conclusion I could no farther go, whatsoeuer payne should come therof. I am (quod I) the Kinge's true faythful subjecte and daily bedesman, and praye for his Highnesse and all his and all the realme. I doo no body no harme, I say none harme, I think none harme, but wishe euerye bodye good. And yf this be not ynoughe to kepe a manne alyue, in good fayth I long not to lyue. And I am dying all readye, and haue since I came here, bene diuers tymes in the case that I thoughte to dye within one howre. And I thanke oure Lorde I was neuer sorye for it, but rather sorye when I sawe the pange paste. And therefore my poore bodye is at the Kynge's pleasure. Woulde God my death might doo hym good. After this Master Secretarye saide; well ye fynde no faulte in that statute: finde you anye in any of the other statutes after? Wherto I aunswerd, Sir, whatsoeuer thynge should seme to me other than good, in anye of the other statutes or in that statute either, I woulde not declare what fault I found, nor speak therof. Whervnto finally his masterhip said ful gentily, that of anye thyng that I had spoken there should none auauntage be taken. And whether he sayde farther that there was none to be taken, I am not well remembred. But he saide that reporte should bee made vnto the Kinge's Highnes, and hys gracious pleasure knowen. Wheruppon I was deliuered agayne to Master Leuetenaunt, whiche was then called in. And so was I by Master Leuetenaunt brought agayn into my chamber. And here am I yet in such case as I was, neyther better nor worse. That that shall folowe lyeth in the hande of God, whom I beseche to put in the Kynge's Grace's mynde, that thing that may be to his high pleasure, and in mine, to minde onely the weale of my soule, with litle regard of my body, and you with al yours, and my wyfe, and al my children, and all oure other frendes, both bodily and ghostly hartely well to fare. And I pray you and them all pray for me, and take no thought whatsoever shall happen me. For I verely trust in the goodnes of God, seme it neuer so evil to this worlde, it shall indedein another world be for the best.
Your louing Father,
THOMAS MORE, Knyghte.