Erafmus fays again of this excellent man foon after his execution:

"All men, even thofe who diflike him for "differing from them in religion, must lament "the death of Sir Thomas More; fo great was "his his courtesy to all, fo great his affability, fo fweet his difpofition. Many persons favour "only their own countrymen: Frenchmen "favour a Frenchman; Scotchmen favour a "Scotchman; but More's general benevolence

hath imprinted his memory fo deep in all "men's hearts, that they bewail his death as "that of their own father or brother. I myself have feen many perfons weep for More's death, who had never seen him, nor yet re"ceived any kindnefs from him. "write, tears flow from my eyes,

66

Nay, as I whether I

"will or not. How many perfons has that axe "wounded, which fevered More's head from "his body!"

"Therefore," adds Erafmus, "when my friends have congratulated me that I had a friend like More placed in fo eminent a station, "I was used to fay that I would never congra "tulate him upon his increafe of dignity till he himself told me that I might.'

Sir

Sir Thomas More ufed to fay of ungrateful perfons, that they wrote good turns done to them in the duft, but engraved injuries upon marble. Of the folly of those who were overanxious for the dignities of the world, he observed, "As a criminal who is about to be "led to execution would be accounted foolish, "if he fhould engrave his coat of arms upon "the gate of the prifon; even fo are they vain, "who endeavour with great industry to erect "monuments of their dignity in the prison of "this world."

હૈદ

«The King, Henry the Eighth," fays Mr. More, in the Life of his Grandfather, "ufed of a particular love to come on a fuddain to "Chelfey, where Sir Thomas More lived, and "leaning upon his fhoulder, to talke with him.

of fecrett counfel in his garden, yea, and "to dine with him upon no inviting."

"It happened one day," fays Mr. Aubrey, in his Manuscript Lives, " that a mad Tom of "Bedlam came up to Sir Thomas More as he "was contemplating, according to his custom, "on the leads of the gate-house of his palace at "Chelsea, and had a mind to have thrown him "from the battlements, crying out, Leap, Tom, "leap. The Chancellor was in his gown, and 66 befides,

befides, ancient and unable to struggle with "fuch a strong fellow. My Lord had a little "dog with him. Now, (faid he,) let us first "throw the dog downe, and fee what sport that

will be fo the dog was thrown over. Is not "this fine sport (faid his Lordship)? Let us "fetch him up and try it again. As the mad

man was going down, my Lord faftened the "door, and called for help."

When Sir Thomas was Lord Chancellor, he constantly fat at, mafs in the chancel of Chelsea church, while his Lady fat in a pew; and because the pew ftood out of fight, his Gentle man Ufher ever after fervice opened it, and faid to Lady More, “Madam, my Lord is gone." On the Sunday after the Chancellor's place was taken from him, (of which he had not apprized his wife,) the family went to church as usual; when, after the fervice, Sir Thomas himself came to his wife's pew, and faid, "Madam, my Lord is gone," to her great aftonishment and indignation.

More's fpirit and innocent mirth did not forfake him in his last moments. As he was going up the fcaffold to be beheaded, he found the ftairs of it so weak and crazy, that it was nearly ready to fall: he turned about to the Lieutenant of the Tower and faid," Pray, Master Lieu

"tenant, fee me fafe up; and for my coming "down, I can fhift for myself." When he had finished his prayers, he turned to the executioner and faid, on obferving him look fad and dejected, "Pluck up thy fpirits, Man, and be not "afraid to do thine office; my neck is very "fhort, therefore take care you do not strike awry, for your credit's fake." Then laying his head upon the block, he defired the executioner to stay till he had put his beard afide, "for that," faid he, " has never committed "treafon." Mr. Addison well obferves, "that

66

what was only philofophy in Sir Thomas "More, would be phrenzy in one who does not "refemble him in the cheerfulness of his temper, "and in the fanctity of his life and manners."

The Duke of Norfolk advised Sir Thomas, previous to his trial, to make his fubmiffion to his unprincipled and obdurate Sovereign. "By "the mafs, Sir Thomas," faid he, " it is peri"lous ftriving with Princes; therefore I could "wifh you as a friend to incline to the King's

66

66

pleafure; for, by God's body, Indignatio principis mors eft." "Is that all, my Lord?" replied Sir Thomas: "In good faith, then, there "is no more difference between your Grace and દુઃ me, than that I fhall die to-day and your Grace ❝ to-morrow. If therefore the anger of a Prince "caufeth

.

" caufeth but temporal death, we have greater "cause to fear the eternal death which the King "of Heaven can condemn us unto, if we sticke "not to displease him by pleafing an earthly "King."

"When the news of More's death was brought "to the King," fays Stapleton," he was playing at tables; Anne Boleyn was looking on. The King caft his eyes upon her, and said, "Thou art the cause of this man's death! and

presently leaving his play, he retired to his "chamber, and fell into a deep melancholy."

It is wonderful what mifchievous effects fuperftition and prejudice produce upon the wifest heads and the best hearts:-One Frith had writ ten against the corporal prefence; and on his not retracting, after More had answered him, he caused him to be burned.

James Bainton," fays Burnet, "a Gentleman of the Temple, was taken to the Lord "Chancellor's house, where much pains was "taken to perfuade him to discover those who "favoured the new opinions. But, fair means

. not prevailing, More had him whipped in his "prefence, and after that fent to the Tower, "where he looked on, and faw him put to the "rack. He was burned in Smithfield; and