Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/77

 disagreeing together, that he should never be able to do his grace acceptable service there, knowing right well that if his grace sent him thither he should send him to his grave; but showing himself nevertheless ready according to his duty, all were it with the loss of his life, to fulfill his grace's pleasure in that behalf. The king allowing well his answer, said unto him:

"It is not our pleasure, Master More, to do you hurt, but to do you good we would be glad: we therefore for this purpose will devise upon some other, and employ your service otherwise. "And such entire favour did the king bear him, that he made him Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster upon the death of Sir Richard Wingfield who had that office before. And for the pleasure he took in his company would his grace suddenly sometimes come home to his house at Chelsea to be merry with him, whither, on a time, unlooked for he came to dinner, and after dinner, in a fair garden of his, walked with him by the space of an hour, holding his arm about his neck. As soon as his grace was gone, I rejoicing thereat, said to Sir Thomas More, how happy he was whom the king had so familiarly entertained, as I never had seen him do to any before, except Cardinal Wolsey, whom I saw his grace walk once with arm in arm. "I thank our lord, son, (quoth he) I find his grace my very good lord indeed, and I believe he doth as singularly favour