and pray for your Grace the while, it may like your Highness Of your accustomed benignite, somwhat to tender my pore honesty, and neuer suffer (by the meane of such a byll put forth against me) anye man take occasion hereafter against the troth to slander me: which should yet by the peryll of their owne soules do themself more hurt then me: which shal I trust settle my harte with your gracious fauour, to depende vpon the comfort of the trouth and hope of heauen, and not vpon the fallible oppinion, or sone spoken woordes of light and sone changeable people. And thus most dradde and most dere soueraine Lord, I beseche the blessed Trinite, preserue your most noble Grace both body and soule, and all that are your well willers, and amende al the contrarye: amonge whome, if euer I be or ever have bene one, than praye I God that he maye with my open shame and destructcion declare it.
No. V.
Another Letter written by Sir Thomas More to Mr. Thomas Cromwell[1].
Right worshipful, after my most harty recommendacion, it may plese you to understand that I have perceived by the relacion of my sonne Roper (for which I beseche Almighty God reward you) your most charitable labour taken for me toward the Kinge's gracious Highnes in the procuringe at his most gracious hande, the relief and comfort of this wofull heauines in which my hart standeth, neither for the losse of goodes, landes or libertie, nor of anye respect either, of this kinde of honesty that standeth in the opinion of people and worldly reputacion; al which manner thinges (I thank our Lord) I so little esteme for any affeccion therin toward my self, that I can wel be content to jubard lese and forgo them al and my lyfe therwith, without any ferther respite than euen this same present day, either for the pleasure of God or of my prince. But surely,
- ↑ February or March, 1533-4.
