Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/130

 he trusted, he said, he would accept his good will, and such poor cheer as he had. "Master Lieutenant," quoth he again, "I verily believe as you may, so are you my good friend indeed, and would, as you say, with your best cheer entertain me, for the which I most heartily thank you: and assure yourself Master Lieutenant, I do not mislike my cheer, but whensoever I so do, then thrust me out of your doors."

Whereas the oath confirming the Supremacy and Matrimony was by the first statute in few words comprised, the Lord Chancellor and Mr. Secretary did of their own heads add more words unto it, to make it appear to the king's ears more pleasant and plausible, and that oath, so amplified, caused they to be ministered to Sir Thomas More, and to all other throughout the realm. Which Sir Thomas More perceiving, said unto my wife, "I may tell thee, Megg, they that have committed me hither for the refusing of this oath, not agreeable with the statute, are not by their own law able to justify mine imprisonment: and surely, daughter, it is great pity that any Christian prince should by a flexible council ready to follow his affections, and by a weak clergy lacking grace constantly to stand to their iearning, with flattery be so shamefully abused." But, at length, the Lord Chancellor and Mr. Secretary,