CHAP. XXXI. Scene at the council table between Wolsey and More. More, ambassador at More; and as for Cardinal Wolsey, then the greatest subject in the realm, for his own benefit or end he cared not what counsel he gave." On the other hand, the Duke of Norfolk, the uncle of Anne Boleyn, the Earl of Wiltshire, her father, and Anne herself, who now secretly directed the King's councils, had great hopes of bringing More into their designs as an active partisan, and intended that he should be the successor to Wolsey whom they doomed to destruction, if the divorce was not speedily pronounced. The Chancellor of the Duchy was still very submissive to the Lord High Chancellor; but we have an account of a scene at the council-board about this time, which proves that there was 66 no love lost between them." The Cardinal showed Sir Thomas the draught of a treaty with a foreign power, asking his opinion of it, and pressing him so heartily to say "whether there were any thing therein to be misliked,” that he believed there was a desire to hear the truth, and pointed out some great faults committed in it. Whereupon the Cardinal, starting up in a rage, exclaimed,-" By the Mass, thou art the veriest fool of all the Council;" at which Sir Thomas, smiling, said," God be thanked, the King our Master hath but one fool in his council." Nothingtheless, being again associated with Tunstal, now Cambray. Bishop of Durham, he was sent Ambasssador to Cambray to treat of a general peace between England, France, and the extensive states ruled over by Charles V. In this his last foreign mission, he was supposed to have displayed the highest diplomatic skill, and "he so worthily handled himself, that he procured far more benefits unto this realm than by the King or the Council had been thought possible to be compassed."* During his stay abroad he became very homesick, but wrote thus merrily to Erasmus:-"I do not like my office of an ambassador; it doth not suit a married man thus to leave his family: it is much fitter for you ecclesiastics, who have no wives and children at home, or who find them wheresoever you go."† * Roper, 36. "Qui primum uxores ac liberos aut domi non habetis aut ubique reperitis." Ep. 227. CHAP. XXXI. A. D. 1529. fire. Soon after his return he paid a visit to the King at Woodstock, where he heard of the great misfortune of the principal part of his house at Chelsea, and all his outhouses and barns filled with corn being consumed by a fire, raised by the His loss by negligence of a neighbour's servant. The letter he wrote to his old wife on this occasion excites our admiration of him more than all his learned works, his public despatches, or his speeches in parliament. I must likewise observe, that for style it is much better and much nearer the English of the present day than the elaborate compositions which he wrote for publication. But besides the delightful glance that it gives of the manners and customs of private life in a remote age, its great charm will be found in the unaffected piety, in the gaiety of heart, and in the kindness of disposition which it evinces. letter to his wife "MISTRESS ALYCE,-In my most harty will, I recomend Beautiful me to you. And whereas I am enfourmed by my son Heron of the loss of our barnes, and our neighbours also, wt all the corne that was therein, albeit (saving God's pleasure) it is gret pitie of so much good corne lost, yet sith it hath liked hym to send us such a chance, we must not only be content, but also be glad of his visitation. He sent us all that we have lost: and sith he hath by such a chance taken it away againe, his pleasure be fulfilled. Let us never grudge thercat, but take it in good worth, and hartely thank him, as well for adversitie, as for prosperitic. And par adventure we have more cause to thank him for our losse, than for our winning. For his wisedom better seeth what is good for us then we do ourselves. Therefore I pray you be of good cheere, and take all the howsold with you to church, and there thank God both for that he hath given us, and for that he hath left us, which if it please hym, he can increase when he will. And if it please him to leave us yet lesse, at hys pleasure be it. I praye you to make some good ensearche what my poor neighbours have loste, and bidde them take no thought therefore, and if I shold not leave myself a spone, there shall no poore neighbour of mine bere no losse by any chance happened in my house. I pray you be with my CHAP. XXXI. He is made Chancellor. Oct. 25. 1529. children and household mery in God. And devise somewhat "THOMAS MORE, Knight." The Court was now sojourning at Woodstock after its return from Grafton, where Henry had taken his final leave of Wolsey.* More having rendered an account of his embassy was allowed to visit his family at Chelsea, and Henry, with the Lady Anne, first moved to Richmond, and then to Greenwich, where, as we have seen, Wolsey being deprived of the Great Seal and banished to Esher, the new arrangements were completed, and Sir THOMAS MORE was sworn in Lord Chancellor. † CHAPTER XXXII. LIFE OF SIR THOMAS MORE FROM HIS APPOINTMENT AS LORD CHANCELLOR TILL HIS RESIGNATION. CHAP. XXXII. Chancellor. THE merit of the new Lord Chancellor was universally acknowledged, and Wolsey himself admitted " that he was the fittest man to be his successor *;" but there was a great appre- Installation hension lest, having no ecclesiastical dignity, no crosses to of the new carry before him, no hereditary rank, and no judicial reputation beyond what he had acquired when under-sheriff of London,from the prejudices of the vulgar, the office might be considered lowered in dignity after being held by a Cardinal-Archbishop, the Pope's Legate, and prime minister of the Crown. To guard against this impression, a very splendid pageant was got up for More's installation. The procession was headed by the Duke of Norfolk, the first Peer in the realm, and the Duke of Suffolk, the King's brother-in-law, all the nobility and courtiers in and near London, and all the judges and professors of the law following. - When they had reached Palace Yard the new Chancellor, in his robes, was led between the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk up Westminster Hall to the Stone Chamber, at the south-west corner of it, where were the marble table and marble chair,—and there being placed in the high judgmentseat of Chancellor, the Duke of Norfolk, by the command of Shakspeare has rather lowered the terms of the compliment, although he makes the Cardinal behave very gracefully when he hears of the new appoint CHAP. the King, spoke thus unto the people there with great applause and joy gathered together: XXXII. Duke of Norfolk's speech. "The King's Majesty (which I pray God may prove happy and fortunate to the whole realm of England) hath raised to the most high dignity of Chancellorship, Sir Thomas More, a man for his extraordinary worth and sufficiency well known to himself and the whole realm, for no other cause or earthly respect, but for that he hath plainly perceived all the gifts of nature and grace to be heaped upon him, which either the people could desire, or himself wish for the discharge of so great an office. For the admirable wisdom, integrity, and innocency, joined with most pleasant facility of wit, that this man is endued withal, have been sufficiently known to all Englishmen from his youth, and for these many years also to the King's majesty himself. This hath the King abundantly found in many and weighty affairs, which he hath happily despatched both at home and abroad; in divers offices, which he hath borne in most honourable embassages, which he hath undergone, and in his daily counsel and advises upon all other occasions. He hath perceived no man in his realm to be more wise in deliberating, more sincere in opening to him what he thought, nor more eloquent to adorn the matter which he uttered. Wherefore because he saw in him such excellent endowments, and that of his especial care he hath a particular desire that his kingdom and people might be governed with all equity and justice, integrity and wisdom: he of his own most gracious disposition hath created this singular man Lord Chancellor; that by his laudable performance of this office, his people may enjoy peace and justice, and honour also and fame may redound to the whole kingdom. It may perhaps seem to many a strange and unusual matter, that this dignity should be bestowed upon a lay-man, none of the nobility, and one that hath wife and children; because heretofore none but singular learned prelates, or men of greatest nobility, have possessed this place; but what is wanting in these respects, the admirable virtues, the matchless gifts of wit and wisdom of this man doth most plentifully recompense the same. For the King's majesty |