Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/79

 where he was received with very eloquent orations, his grace would always assign him (as one that was most prompt and ready therein) extempore to make answer thereunto. Whose manner was, whensoever he had occasion, either here or beyond the sea, to be in any University, not only to be present at the readings and disputations there commonly used, but also learnedly to dispute among them himself. Who being chancellor of the duchy was made ambassador twice, joined in commission with Cardinal Wolsey; once to the Emperor Charles into Flanders, the other time to the French king into France.

Not long after this, the water bailiff of London, sometime his servant, hearing, where he had been at dinner, certain merchants liberally to rail against his old master, waxed so discontented therewith that he hastily came to him and told him what he had heard, "And were I, Sir, (quoth he) in such favour and authority with my prince as you are, such men surely should not be suffered so villanously and falsely to misreport and slander me. Wherefore I would wish you to call them before you, and, to their shame, for their lewd