Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/119

 would be to Sir Thomas More so troublous and terrible that it would force him to relent and condescend to his request: wherein his grace was much deceived. To which bill Sir Thomas More was a suitor personally to be received in his own defence to make answer. But the king not liking that, assigned the Bishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Norfolk and Master Cromwell, at a day and place appointed, to call Sir Thomas More before them. At which time I, thinking that I had a good and fit opportunity, earnestly advised him to labour to those lords for the help of his discharge out of the parliament bill. Who answered me he would. And at his coming before them, according to their appointment, they entertained him very friendly, willing him to sit down with them, which in no wise he would. Then began the Lord Chancellor to declare unto him how many ways the king had showed his love and favour towards him; how fain he would have had him continue in his office; how glad he would have been to have heaped more benefits upon him; and finally how he could ask no worldly honour nor profit at his highness' hands that were likely to be denied him; hoping, by the declaration of the king's kindness and affection towards him, to provoke him to recompense his grace with the like again, and unto those things which the parliament, the bishops, and the Universities had already passed