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Letter to his wife Alice on the burning of his barns.

[Works. 1557.]

Sir Thomas More was made Lord Chancellor of England in Michaelmas Term in the year of our Lord 1529, and in the 21st year of King HENRY the EIGHTH. And in the latter end of the harvest then next before, Sir THOMAS MORE then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster being returned from Cambray in Flanders (where he had been Ambassador for the King), rode immediately to the King at the Court at Woodstock: and while he was there with the King, part of his own dwelling house at Chelsea and all his barns there full of corn, suddenly fell on fire and were burnt and all the corn therein, by the negligence of one of his neighbour's carts that carried the corn; and by occasion thereof, were divers of his next neighbours' barns burnt also. Upon which news brought unto him to the Court, he wrote to the Lady his wife the letter following.

A Copy of the Letter.

Mistress Alice, in my most hearty wise I recommend me to you. And whereas I am informed by my son HERON of the loss of our barns and our neighbours' also, with all the corn that was therein: albeit (saving GOD's pleasure) it is great pity of so much good corn lost, yet since it hath liked Him to send us such a chance, we must and are bounden not only to be