Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/100

 cretly to me: I perceive, son, why they like not so to do. For they see that they may, by the verdict of the jury, cast off all quarrels from themselves upon them; which they account their chief defence: and therefore am I compelled to abide the adventure of all such reports.

And, as little leisure as he had to be occupied in the study of the Holy Scripture, and controversies about religion, and such other virtuous exercises, being in a manner continually busied about the affairs of the king and the realm; yet such watch and pain in setting forth of divers profitable works in the defence of the true Christian religion, against heresies secretly sown abroad in the realm, assuredly sustained he, that the bishops (to whose pastoral care the reformation thereof most principally appertained) thinking themselves by his travail (wherein by their own confession they were not able with him to make comparison) of their duties in that behalf discharged; and considering that, for all his prince's favour he was no rich man, nor in yearly revenues advanced as his worthiness deserved: Therefore,at a convocation among themselves and others of the clergy, they agreed together and concluded upon a sum of four or five thousand pounds, at