The confinement of bishop Fisher was rigorous. He was stripped of his clothes; and, to copy the words of Hume, "notwithstanding his extreme age, was allowed nothing but rags, which scarcely "covered his nakedness. In this condition, he lay in prison about a twelve month; when the 66 6.6 pope, willing to recompense the sufferings of so "faithful an adherent, created him cardinal." This promotion roused the indignation of the king; and he was resolved to display the force of his resentment. Fisher was indicted for denying the king's supremacy; and, soon after, was tried, condemned, and executed. VIII. 2. Sir Thomas More. FEW men, in exalted situations, have been viewed by their contemporaries, or by posterity, with greater reverence, than Sir Thomas More. He was born of respectable parents; and first known to the public, as law-lecturer in Furnival's Inn; and as a successful practitioner at the bar. It is recorded of him, that, in this employment," he took no fees of poor "folks, widows, or pupils." He was successively appointed speaker of the house of commons, chancellor of the dutchy of Lancaster, and sent on several embassies. His conduct gained him the approbation and confidence of his sovereign; and the esteem of all, to whom he became known. king was personally attached to him; and took great delight in his instructive and entertaining society. The Henry," says Erasmus, in a letter written, about this time, to Ulric von Hutten, "holds More in such intimacy, that he never suffers him to leave him. If he want counsel in serious matters, he has not "a better adviser. If he desire to relax his mind, "he knows not a more festive companion." But More was sensible of the little reliance that was to be placed on the regard shown him by the king. One day, the king came unexpectedly to dine with More; and, after dinner, walked, an hour, in the garden, with one arm round his neck. Roper, the son-in-law of More, congratulated him, on this mark of his prince's affection, and familiarity. "Son," said More, "I thank our lord; I find his grace my very good lord indeed. I believe he doth as singularly favour me as any subject within this "realm. Howbeit, son Roper, I may tell thee, I "have no cause to be proud thereof; for, if my head "would win him a castle in France, it should not "fail to go.' More foresaw the Reformation, and its effects. Mr. Roper once observed to him the flourishing state of the catholic religion within the realm, under so orthodox a king. "Truth it is, son Roper," he replied. “And yet, son Roper, I pray God, that some "of us, as high as we seem to sit upon the mountains, treading heretics under feet, like ants, live not to see the day, that we would gladly be at league, and "composition with them, to let them have their "churches quietly to themselves, so that they would "be contented to let us have ours quietly to our"selves." 66 66 Upon the fall of Wolsey, the king advanced More to the office of lord high chancellor of England. The duties of this high station he discharged with universal applause. By indefatigable application he cleared the court of all its causes. Having, one day, ended a cause, and called for the next, he was told, that there was no other depending. This he was pleased to hear; and ordered it to be entered on the records of the court. It gave rise to the following epigram,-not the worst in the English language, When More some time had chancellor been, No more suits did remain; The same shall never more be seen, Till More be there again. His sentiments were known to be unfavourable to the divorce. His rank, and high reputation, both at home and abroad, for talents and integrity, made Henry very desirous, that he should pronounce in its favour. On one occasion, being greatly importuned by him upon the subject, More fell upon his knees; and besought his majesty to remain to him the gracious sovereign he had ever found him. Nothing," he said, "had been so grievous to him, as his inability to serve his majesty in that "matter, with a safe conscience; having ever borne " in mind his majesty's words, in his entry into his "service,(the most virtuous lesson which a prince "ever taught to his servant),-first, to look unto "God; and after God, to him." Henry answered, that "if More could not conscientiously serve him, "in that manner, he was content to accept his ser "vices in other ways; and to take the advice of "others of his council, whose consciences did not "revolt at it; that he would continue his favours "towards him; and never more molest his con"science on the matter." Perceiving, however, that the king was bent on his marriage with Anne Boleyn, More resigned his office." He descended," says Mr. Hume, "from "his high station, with more joy and alacrity, than "he had in ascending it. He sported with the varie"ties of fortune; and neither the pride of high "station, nor the melancholy of retreat, could dis"turb his serenity. "When his friends discovered sorrow on his de"scent from grandeur, he laughed at their distress; "and made them ashamed of losing a moment's "cheerfulness from such trivial misfortunes." He was one of the greatest promoters of classical learning. The letters, which passed between him and Erasmus, are elegant and interesting; those, in which the latter relates his tragical end, and records his great and amiable virtues, are pathetic and beautiful in the highest degree. As a writer, More's reputation rests principally on his Utopia,-a description of an imaginary commonwealth. It discovers great observation and acuteness; reprobates sanguinary punishments, and describes a system of religious liberty, which few, even in these days, would venture to propose for practice. In his polemic writings, he conformed too much to the bad taste of the times, expressing himself in regard to heretics, in strong terms of abuse ;-but, with so much elegance, that he gained the reputation of having the best knack, of any man in Europe, at calling bad names in good Latin. He is even accused of having caused corporal punishment to be inflicted on heretics. The truth of this accusation seems to rest entirely on the credit of Fox, the martyrologist, a writer equally bigoted and credulous. In the 36th chapter of his apology, Sir Thomas peremptorily denies the charge; and solemnly appeals to God for the truth of the denial. His attachment to the catholic church was sincere. But while, in conformity to its universal doctrine, he defined the church to be "the common known "congregation of all christian nations, under one * head, the pope,"-he affirms, "that the council "is above the pope; and that there are orders in "Christ's church, by which a pope may be both "admonished, and amended; and hath been, for incorrigible mind, and lack of amendment, finally deposed, and changed." 66 66 Nothing is more pleasing than the picture drawn by Erasmus of the domestic circle of Sir Thomas More; of his playfulness, simplicity, and universal beneficence. "More," says Erasmus, "did not "know what a stranger was. Most are kind only 66 to their own countrymen; the Frenchman, to the "French; the German, to the Germans; the Scot, "to the Scots. With More it was otherwise; the Hibernian, the German, even the Scythian, and "the Indian, found More their friend." His general 66 * Eng. Works, p. 615. 651. |
