Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/187

 this othe already more gladly than I would dooe; as he that reckoneth himselfe more diepelye bounden vnto the kinges hyghnesse, for his most singular bountie, many wayes shewed and declared, than any of them all besyde. But sith standing my conscience I can in no wyse dooe it, and that for the instruction of my conscience in the matter, I haue not sleightly looked, but by many yeres studied, and aduisedly considered, and neuer could yet see nor heare that thing, nor I thinke I neuer shal, that could enduce mine own mind to think otherwise than I do, I have no maner remedy, but God hathe geuen me to that streight, that either I must dedly displease him, or abyde any worldly harme that he shal for mine other sinnes, vnder name of this thyng, suffer to fall vpon me. Whereof (as I before thys haue told you to) I have ere I came here, not left vnbethought nor vnconsidered, the very most and the vttermost that can by possibilitie fall. And albeit that I know mine own frailtie ful well, and the natural faintnes of mine own heart, yet if I had not trusted that God shold geue me strength rather to endure al thinges, than offend him by swearing vngodly against mine own conscience, you may be very sure I woulde not have come here. And sith I looke in this matter, but only vnto God, it maketh me little matter, though men cal it as it please them, and say it is no conscience, but a foolish scruple. At this word I toke a good occasion, and said vnto him thus: In good faith, father, for my parte, I neither doo, nor it cannot become me, either to mistrust your good minde or your learnyng. But because you speake of that that some calle it but a scruple, I assure you you shall see by my sisters letter, that one of the greatesse estates in this realme, and a man learned too, and (as I dare say your self shal thinke when you know him, and as you have already right effectuallye prooued him) your tender frend and very speciall good lord, accounteth your conscience in this matter, for a right simple scruple. And you may be sure he saith it of good mind, and lyeth no little cause. For he saith, that where you say your conscience mooueth you to this, all the nobles of this realme, and almost all other men too, go boldly forth with the contrary, and sticke not thereat, saue only yourself and one other man: whom though he be right