Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/88

 to meddle with such matters. The king, not satisfied with his answer, so sore still pressed upon him therefore, that in conclusion he condescended to his grace's motion. And farther, forasmuch as the case was of such importance as needed good advisement and deliberation, he besought his grace of sufficient respite advisedly to consider of it. Wherewith the king, well contented, said unto him, that Tunstal and Clarke, Bishops of Bath and Durham, with other learned of his privy council, should also be dealers therein. So Sir Thomas More departing conferred those places of Scripture with the exposition of divers of the old holy doctors. And at his coming to the court in talking with his grace of the foresaid matter, he said, "To be plain with your grace, neither my Lord of Durham, nor my Lord of Bath, though I know them both to be wise, virtuous, learned and honourable prelates, nor myself with the rest of your council, being all your grace's own servants, for your manifold benefits daily bestowed on us so much bounden unto you, be in my judgment meet counsellors for your grace herein. But if your grace mind to understand the truth, such counsellors may you have devised, as neither for respect of their own worldly commodity, nor for fear of your princely authority will be inclined to deceive you." To whom he named then St. Jerome, St. Augustine, and divers other old holy doctors both Greeks and Latins: and moreover showed him what