Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/72

 as much folly is uttered with painted polished speech, so, many, boisterous and rude in language, see deep indeed, and give right substantial counsel; and sith also in matters of great importance the mind is often so occupied in the matter, that a man rather studieth what to say, than how; by reason whereof the wisest man and best spoken in a whole country, fortuneth while his mind is fervent in the matter, somewhat to speak in such wise as he would afterward wish to have been uttered otherwise, and yet no worse will had he when he spake it, than he hath when he would so gladly change it. Therefore, most gracious sovereign, considering that in all your high Court of Parliament is nothing treated but matter of weight and importance concerning your realm and your own royal estate, it could not fail to let and put to silence, from the giving of their advice and counsel, many of your discreet Commons, to the great hinderance of the common affairs, except that every one of your Commons were utterly discharged of all doubt and fear how any thing that it should happen them to speak should happen of your highness to be taken. And in this point, though your well known and proved benignity putteth every man in good hope, yet such is the weight of the matter, such is the reverend dread that the timorous hearts of your natural subjects conceive towards your highness our most redoubted king and undoubted