Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/111

 it would make him merrily run to death. He showed to them before what trouble might after fall unto him: wherewith and the like virtuous talk he had so long before his trouble encouraged them, that when he after fell into trouble indeed, his trouble was to them a great deal the less. Quia spicula previsa minus lædunt.

Now upon this resignment of his office, came Sir Thomas Cromwell, then in the king's high favour, to Chelsea to him with a message from the king. Wherein when they had thoroughly communed together, Master Cromwell, quoth he, you are now entered into the service of a most noble, wise, and liberal prince; if you will follow my poor advice, you shall, in your counsel-giving to his grace, ever tell him what he ought to do, but never what he is able to do. So shall you show yourself a true faithful servant, and a right wise and worthy counsellor. For if a lion knew his own strength, hard were it for any man to rule him.

Shortly thereupon was there a commission directed to Cranmer, then Archbishop of Canterbury, to determine the matter of the matrimony between the king and Queen Katharine, at St. Alban's, where, according to the king's mind, it was thoroughly determined. Who, pretending, because he had no justice at the pope's hands, from thenceforth sequestered himself from the see