Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/127

 works. Where by the space of four days he was betaken to the custody of the Abbot of Westminster, during which time the king consulted with his council what order were meet to be taken with him. And albeit in the beginning they were resolved that with an oath, not to be acknowne, whether he had to the supremacy been sworn, or what he thought thereof he should be discharged; yet did Queen Anne by her importunate clamour so sore exasperate the king, against him, that, contrary to his former resolution, he caused the said Oath of the Supremacy to be ministered unto him. Who albeit he made a discreet qualified answer, nevertheless was committed to the Tower.

Who as he was going thitherward wearing, as he commonly did, a chain of gold about his neck, Sir Richard Cromwell, that had the charge of his conveyance thither, advised him to send home his chain to his wife or to some of his children. "Nay, Sir, quoth he, that I will not: for if I were taken in the field by my enemies I