him could he have proclaimed that More had taken the oath ! With what pious art did Margaret array her arguments to triumph over her father; rhetorical arguments which she, poor creature, thought irresistible; the silence of the people, the example of the bishops, the behaviour of the clergy, the wish of the prince, the statute of Parliament, the organ of the nation. (a) She thought not of something that was yet more powerful— her tears and her kisses. Had More been

actuated by his feelings as a father, he would have yielded, but he was a Christian, and therefore he resisted. The Christian had his arguments also. Christ, the Apostles, the Fathers of the Church, the doctors of canon law, the Vicar of JESUS CHRIST on earth, the choir of angels, the seraphims and the blessed spirits, the Catholics who had departed from this life and those who were yet living, all cried out to him: "Take not the oath." "But father," said Margaret, "people here below do not always act as they intended; you may change your opinion, and Heaven "God grant that it may not be too late." forbid!" replied the prisoner, "the more acute my sufferings, the quicker shall I be delivered. I place all my hope in Jesus Christ, he will not allow me yield; and should I yield so far as to take the oath, He will glance with an eye of mercy at me in my fall, and permit me to rise as he did St. Peter. But God will not desert

me.

Courage, Meg, and do not be annoyed at anything that may happen in this world; the will of God alone be done."(b)

Margaret returned in great sorrow to Chelsea. She was one day met by Audley, who thus addressed her: " "Your father is decidedly wrong. Fisher was similarly situated; but he has repented and taken the oath." "Are you sure of it, my lord ?" "Sure of it! I know it. Fisher is now with the king." On entering her father's cell, Margaret exclaimed in a triumphant manner, My lord of Rochester has taken the oath." Silence, child," said More, in a tone of surprise, "it is utterly impossible." "The Lord Chancellor has just told me so. ." "Go away," cried More, indignantly,

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(a) Rudhart. (b) Rudhart.

Margaret

It was she, as

go away, you are mad." (c) was not discouraged. doubtless the reader recollects, who wrote those beautiful letters that Erasmus showed Budous, the pure Latinity of which completely astonished the savans of the day. We have not seen the letter which she addressed to her father after her first failure; but it must have been exceedingly affectionate and eloquent! We have the prisoner's reply: "Know then, my child," says this noble soldier of Christ, "that of all that may happen to me, nothing will give me greater pain than seeing my wellbeloved daughter, of whose judgment I have so high an opinion, making a second attempt to induce me to belie my conscience." This letter was written with a piece of charcoal. Margaret now dried up her tears. She would not be overcome in

this contest between filial love and duty. "Yes, father," wrote she, "I shall willingly obey the wish expressed in your saintly letter, a faithful interpreter of your heart, and I rejoice in your victory." But after this sublime effort, her tears again flowed, and she thus finished her letter: "Your very affectionate and very obedient daughter, Margaret Roper, who will not cease to pray for you, and who desires above all measure to be in John Wood's place." This John Wood was the poor boy who swept the prisoner's cell and made his bed. Margaret wrote another letter on the following day. More again had recourse to his charcoal, and traced a few more lines to his beloved daughter. "If in writing to you," said he, "I could possibly describe the joy I feel in reading your letters, a bushel of charcoal would not suffice the place of a pen."(d)

After Margaret came Lady More, who was also permitted to visit the prisoner; an ordinary person, who spoke only in proverbs, an admirer of every thing that attracted notice, but endued, nevertheless, with an excellent heart. "What are you doing here?" was her first salutation to her husband on entering his cell, a man like

(c) Away, away, out fool.-Bailey's Life and Death of Sir Thomas More. (d) More.-Rudhart.-Campbell.

At

you, you are a fool! stopping in a miserable cell, a companion of rats and mice, while you might be at court, if you would only follow the example of all the bishops, of all the learned men in the kingdom. Chelsea, you had a nice little cottage, a library, a gallery, a fruit and flower garden, and all that could make life confortable. How can you, in God's name, remain here?" More allowed her to go on, and when she had finished, said, "My dear wife, I wish to ask you one question. Tell me, is not this cell as near heaven as our house at Chelsea?" " There you are again with your nonsense," rejoined Alice (a) No, no nonsense," ," added More," reply to rey ques tion." "Oh, my God, as if this were a time to act so childishly," said Alice. "Pardon me," rejoined the prisoner. "If my house at Chelsea is not nearer heaven than the Tower, why should I change my abode? Again, one more question. How much longer do you think I may live." "Twenty years at least." Indeed! And should you have said a hundred, I could not risk an eternity for the life of a century.”

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We must, however, do justice to Lady More. More than once did she go to the Tower to scold her husband, but never without evincing such attention as would tend to alleviate his sufferings.(b) A few months after his confinement, the commissioners seized all his property at Chelsea. She then was seen to sell her garments in order to supply More's wants,(c) and even to implore Cromwell to show some mercy to the prisoner.(d) Kingston, lieutenant of the Tower, was one of those good souls who never forget kindnesses which they have once received. When More was in office Kingston had never been repulsed by the Lord High Chancellor, but had obtained from him all that he asked. Now that he was in adversity, Kingston endeavoured, as far as lay in his

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power, to alleviate his sufferings. Often, without being perceived, he would bring the prisoner some delicate viands, at the same time complaining that he could not supply him with better fare. He knew, he said, that he was suspected, and consequently under a continual espionage, and that walls had both eyes and ears. Thank you, my good Kingston," replied the prisoner, "I know that you love me, and I thank you very sincerely for your kindness. I assure you that I have no cause for complaint; and when I do complain, turn me out."(e) The royal commissioners traversed England during More's confinement to receive the Oath of Succession from the clergy, nobility, merchants, and every grade of society.

On the 3rd Novemher, 1534, Parliament decreed that the spiritual supremacy of the sovereign was an attribute inherent to royalty. Within a short period, as we have seen, every one in England was called on to swear fealty to the Supreme Head of the Church personified in Henry VIII. More, who languished in prison, could not evade a law sanctioned by Parliament. Henry was cruel enough to inquire into the opinion

(e) Stapleton. More.-Rudhart.

It having been recently stated by some that Sir Thomas More was a lay preacher, the translator of "L'Histoire de Henri VIII.," in order to disprove this gratuitous assertion, founded on the fact of his commentary in "De Civitate Dei" of St. Augustine, begs to call the reader's attention to the following passage from Stapleton's Life of the Martyred Chancellor of England, by which it will be seen that Sir T. More rather exercised a privilege, according to the literati, than usurped the pulpit of the Priest for "ajournant a une autre epoque (that of his ordination) l'examen de l'œuvre sainte sous le point de vue théologique, le jeune professeur se borna en exposer les principales parties sous le rapport historique et philosophique."-French translation of Stapleton, edited by M. Audin. Libri (Hist. des sumus Mathematiques,) and Facciolati (Fasti gymnasii datavini) both acknowledge that this method of lecturing adopted by More was "one of the extraordinary privileges granted by the literati of the day; and another writer (Roper) adds that More "commenta seulement sous le double point de vue historique and philosophique le Ĩer livre 'De Civitate Dei,' "de St. Augustin car les theologiens auraient vu de mauvais œil, et avec quelque raison un jeune homme faire de la dogmatique en chaire."-Audinis Stapleton.

of his victim upon a bill which Parliament had enacted to be a law.

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Cromwell, on the 30th April, 1538, entered the prisoner's cell, accompanied by the Attorney-General and two doctors of canon law, as witnesses would be required at the trial. Cromwell thus commenced : "Sir Thomas More," he said with an air of indifference, are you aware that Parliament has sanctioned the bill which acknowledges the king as Supreme Head of the Church? His majesty is anxious to hear your opinion on this important act." "My lord," replied More, "I am not prepared for such a question; indeed I do not feel myself capable at this moment to discuss the respective rights of the Pope and the king; all I can say is that I am, that I have been, and that I always shall be the faithful subject of his majesty; that I daily pray for my king, his family, his councillors, and the state; believe me and let us not argue." "But," replied the secretary, "his majesty will not be satisfied with such a reply: he requires a more explicit answer; explain your views then openly. You know that the king is a mild and clement prince, who, though he be insulted by a subject, is ready to pardon him on the slightest sign of repentHe is ready, I assure you, to grant every favour, and to permit you to re-enter the world of which you were an ornament." "The world," said More; "I think no more of it; you see," pointing to his work, “I have under my eyes the sufferings of Jesus Christ, my pattern and my model; I am preparing for death, that is my leading idea." "Be on your guard, for this is but obstinacy; in prison even you are a subject of the king, and the prince has a right to require from you obedience to his orders as well as to those of his Parliament. He can punish your obstinacy with all the rigour of the law; your example is capable of encouraging rebellion."(a) If to pray for the king, for his family, for the state,” rejoined the prisoner, "to speak evil of none, to do evil to none, but even to wish good to every one, cannot procure me a long life, then must I think of dying soon, and I am resigned to it. More than once in this Tower have I imagined that I had but one hour more to live; that idea does not at all

ance.

(4) Koper,-State Papers, I., 431, 432-435.

unnerve me; my poor body is at the king's disposal."(b) It must not be imagined that Henry gave way to impatience; he struggled obstinately with More's virtue. He tried this glorious confessor of the Faith, weakened by old age, worn out by privations and sickness, in a way which would have made others shrink; a woman would be there who would perhaps be able to overcome the old man; the body once vanquished the soul would yield. On the 4th May, 1535, the three Religious, whose death we have above related, passed, by Henry's orders on their way to be executed, by More's window. At that moment it was so arranged that Margaret should be with her father. On hearing the tramp of the guards, the clashing of the arms, the trotting of the horses, Thomas More arose, went to the window, and perceived through the iron bars of his cell the three victims on their way to the scaffold. Do you observe," he exclaimed, seizing his daughter by the arm, "how the countenance of those Fathers is radiant with joy; one would say they were going to a wedding; God purposes to reward their lives of devotion, and therefore they are not permitted to remain longer in this valley of tears, and He calls them to Himself to give them the crown of eternity. How happy are they! But your poor father is not worthy of so great a happiness; he is condemned, on account of his sins, to remain yet longer in this world a prey to misery and suffering."(c)

Scarcely had the three Religious

been executed before Cromwell entered More's cell.(d) He came to see what effect the Carthusians had produced on the prisoner he was quite joyful. The secretary endeavoured to mutter forth a few remonstrances in the name of his sovereign, for he no longer felt sufficient courage to make use of threats. More always appealed to his conscience, which no human power could vanquish; the interview was only for a few minutes. Scarcely had Cromwell left, ere the chancellor, imbued as it were with celestial light, took up a piece of charcoal,

and wrote in the language of angels :"Avaunt tempter! with thy Satanic smile and thy deceiving words thou hast lost thy time; my hope is in God. Sail, O my bark, sail towards the celestial haven! It is the only harbour where thou wilt find shelter against the tempestuous storm."(a)

His trials were not yet at an end. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Norfolk, and the Earl of Wiltshire came to besiege him in his strong castle; but God watched over his servant. Cromwell ever played the part of the tempter. 'His majesty," said he to the prisoner, "is not at all pleased with you, Mr. More, and he is perfectly right; for you do him great wrong. You have an inexplicable antipathy against your sovereign. Reniember your duty as a subject, and reply to the lords who are now listening to us. We ask you, in the king's name, if you mean to recognise him as Supreme Head of the Church, or if you still maliciously persist in refusing him. that title." (b) "Maliciously!" replied Sir Thomas, with a smile. "Oh, no. I bear no malice in my heart. I persist in making the same reply as I have already given you, my lord. My only grief is in finding that his majesty, as well as you, my lord, has so bad an opinion of me; but the day will come, and this hope encourages me much, when my innocence will be inade manifest before God and his saints. The Lord hears me, and he knows, that although the king may wreak his vengeance on my head, still I wish him no evil. I can lose my life, and yet retain my honour. I bear no hatred in my heart to the king. I revere the king more than any one else, after God." But the king can compel you to say whether you accept or reject these statutes," remarked some of the councillors. "I do not dispute his majesty's power, my lords. I have not expressed my opinion on the statutes; I have on that subject no answer for you; only I solemnly declare that I cannot reproach myself with having

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(a) As soon as Mr. Secretary was gone, to express what comfort he received of his words he wrote with a coal certain excellent witty verses, which are printed in his book.

(b) Rudhart.-More.-Stapleton.

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acted or spoken against either of these statutes." Here is a formula of the oath to which, doubtless, you will subscribe," said Cromwell: swear that in all that regards the king's person you will act as a true and loyal subject." "I shall not swear; because I have vowed never again to take an oath." "What obstinacy! But every one at the Star Chamber bas taken this oath." "I understand you, and I know what use you would make of it; it is a double-edged sword. I shall not swear." Will you then refuse to tell us whether you have read the statute of supremacy ?” "I know it." "Does the statute seem to you to be legal?" "I shall not answer." On retiring, Sir William Kingston was strictly ordered by them to keep a strict watch over his prisoner. The lieutenant now perceived that there was no hope for the ex-chancellor's life.

Shortly after this interview, the SolicitorGeneral, Rich, accompanied by Richard Southwell and Mr. Palmer, deprived More of all the books and papers in which he had till then found such delight. More was employed in his favourite work, his Commentary on the Passion, which he desired to bequeath to his children, and had arrived at the words, " And they laid their hands on Jesus," when the piece of charcoal was taken out of his hand. While Southwell and Palmer were packing up his books and MSS., Ritch took him by the hand, and led him gently towards the window of the cell, at the same time making a signal to his companions to listen to their discourse; but they were too deeply affected to do so. After a few indifferent subjects had been introduced, Rich smiled on his unhappy victim, and after a long silence thus addressed him: "Really, Mr. More, I know that you are possessed of as much wisdom as science. You are a celebrated

ON the 1st of June, 1535, More was taken from the Tower to Westminster Hall, where his judges had assembled. He was led on foot like a highwayman, with his shoulders covered with an old cloak. His back bent double, his emaciated appearance, the staff on which he was compelled to lean, showed the sufferings he had endured during his long captivity; but his countenance evinced neither fear nor any other emotion, and a spectator might have imagined that the chancellor was on his way from Chelsea to the court to administer justice.(a) His judges took their places on velvet chairs ornamented with fringes. They were Sir Thomas Audley, Lord High Chancellor, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, Sir John Fitz James, Lord Chief Justice, Sir John Baldwin, Sir Richard Leicester, Sir John Port, Sir John Spelman, Sir Walter Lucke and Sir Anthony Fitz Herbert. Nearly all had had the honour of being, as Audley, the prisoner's guests, and some of them were his intimate friends. On the left of the court, and near the jury, was seated Richard Rich, a creature of Cromwell's, and Solicitor-General. The clerk read aloud the indictment. It was drawn up with great art, in which the accusations were clothed in

() More.-Rudhart.

such a multiplicity of phrases and words, that it would have been utterly impossible for the most retentive memory to have recollected the principal charges. Two of the principal accusations against Sir Thomas were his refusal to take the oath required by Parliament, acknowledging the spiritual supremacy of the king, and his obstinate disobedience to the sovereign. All that could possibly be brought to prove these charges was adduced against More: his letters to Fisher, written in prison, his allusion to the oath, which he compared to a double-edged sword, calculated to kill the soul as well as the body, and his conversation with Rich, which had been heard by Palmer and Southwell. More was consequently accused of high treason.(b)

After the reading of the indictment, the Lord Chancellor thus addressed the prisoner: "You have just heard the indictment. You perceive that the charges brought against you are very serious, but such is the goodness of the king that he will pardon you, at least such is our belief, your unpardonable obstinacy, if you will

(b) Statutes of the realm.-Roper.-Stapleton. Hodderdon. More. - Hall. -Stowe. -Collier--State Trials.-Biog. Brit.-British Plutarch.-Liter. Conversationsblatt, No. 1. Jan., 1826.