Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/96

 God and the king, so should they not fail to disclose it to his grace, who otherwise might have just occasion to lay his fault wholly to their charge.

While he was Lord Chancellor, being at leisure, (as seldom he was) one of his sons-in-law on a time said merrily nntounto [sic] him: When Cardinal Wolsey was Lord Chancellor, not enly divers of his privy chamber, but such also as were his doorkeepers, gat great gain; (and since he had married one of his daughters, and gave still attendance upon him, he thought he might of reason look for some;) where he indeed, because he was ready himself to hear every man, poor and rich, and keep no doors shut from them, could and none; which was to him a great discouragement. And whereas some for friendship, some for kindred, and some for profit would gladly have his furtherance in bringing them to his presence, if he should now take any thing of them, he knew, he said, he should do them great wrong, for that they might do as much for themselves as he could do for them. Which condition, though he thought in Sir Thomas More very commendable, yet to him, he said, being his son he found it nothing profitable. When he had told him this tale, you say, well son, quoth he, I do not mislike that you are of conscience so scrupulous; but many other ways be there, son, that I may both do you good, and pleasure your friend also.