Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/182

 and the whole parlement upon the tother, I woulde be sore afraide to leane to mine owne minde only against so many. But on the other side, if it so be that in some thinges for which I refuse the othe, I haue as I think I haue upon my part as great a counsail and a greater to, I am not than bounden to change my consciens, and conforme it to the counsail of one realme, against the general counsaile of Christendome. Upon this Maister Secretary as he that tenderly fauoreth me, saide and sware a gret othe, that he had leuer that his own onely sonne (which is of trouth a goodly young gentilman, and shall I trust come to much worship) had lost his hedde than that I should thus haue refused the oth. For surely the Kinge's Highnes woulde now conceiue a great suspicion against me, and think that the matter of the nonne of Canterburye was all contriued by my drift. To which I saide that the contrary was true and well known. And whatsoeuer should mishappe me, it lay not in my power to helpe it without the perill of my soule. Than did my Lorde Chauncellour repete before me my refusell unto Maister Secretarye, as to hym that was going unto the Kinge's Grace. And in the rehersing, his Lordship repeted again, that I denied not but was content to swere unto the succession. Wherunto I sayde, that as for that pointe I woulde be content, so that I might se my othe in that pointe so framyd in suche a manner as might stand with my consciens. Than said my Lord: Mary Maister Secretary marke that to, that he will not swere that neyther, but under some certaine maner. Verely, no, my Lorde, quoth I, but that I wyll see it made in suche wyse fyrst, as I shal my selfe se, that I shall neyther be forsworne, nor swere againste my conscience. Surely as to swere to the succession I see no perill. But I thought and thinke it reason that to mine owne othe I looke well my selfe, and be of counsayle also in the fashion, and neuer entended to swere for a pece, and set my hand to the whole othe. Howbeit as helpe me God, as towching the whole othe I neuer withdrewe any man from it, nor neuer aduised any to refuse it, nor neuer put nor wil put any scruple in anye manne's hedde, but leaue euerye man to hys owne conscience. And me thynketh in good faith that so were it good reason that every man shoulde leaue me to myne.