Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/106

 a parish clerk! You dishonour the king, and his office. Nay, quoth Sir Thomas More, smiling on the duke, Your grace may not think that the king, your master and mine, will with me for serving of God his master, be offended, or thereby account his office dishonoured.

When the duke, being thereunto often solicited, by importunate suit had at length of the king obtained for Sir Thomas More a clear discharge of his office, then, at a time convenient, by his highness' appointment, repaired he to his grace to yield up to him the great seal. Which, as his grace with thanks and praise for his worthy service in that office, courteously at his hands received, so pleased it his highness to say more unto him, that for the good service which he before had done him, in any suit which he should after have unto him, that should either concern his honour (for that word it pleased his highness to use unto him) or that should appertain unto his profit, he should find his highness' good and gracious lord unto him. After he had thus given over the chancellorship, and placed all his gentlemen and yeomen with noblemen and bishops, and his eight watermen with the Lord