No. IX.
Another Letter of Sir Thomas More to his daughter Mrs. Margaret Roper, written with a cole.
Myne owne good daughter, our Lorde be thanked, I am in good helthe of bodye, and in good quiet of minde: and of worldly thynges I no more desyer than I haue. I beseche hym make you all mery in the hope of heauen. And such thynges as I somewhat longed to talke with you all, concerning the worlde to come, our Lorde put them into your myndes, as I truste he dothe and better to by hys holy spirite: who blesse you and preserue you all. Written wyth a cole by your tender louing father, who in hys pore prayers forgetteth none of you all, nor your babes, nor your nurses, nor your good husbandes, nor your good husbandes shrewde wyues, nor your fathers shrewde wyfe neither, nor our other frendes. And thus fare ye hartely well for lacke of paper.
No. X.
A third Letter of Sir Thomas More's to his daughter Mrs. Margaret Roper in answer to a Letter of hers to him persuading him to take the Oath of Succession.
Our Lorde blisse you.
If I had not ben my derely beloved daughter at a firme and fast point, I truste in Godde's greate mercy this good great while before, your lamentable letter had not a little abashed me, surely farre aboue al other thynges, of which I heare diuers times not a fewe terrible towarde me. But surely they all touched me neuer so nere, nor were so greuous unto me, as to se you my well beloued childe, in such vehement piteous maner, labour to parswade unto me, the thing wherein I haue of pure necessitie for respect unto myne owne soule, so often given you so precise aunswere before. Wherein as touching the pointes of your letter, I can make none aunswere. For I dout not but you well remembre, that the matters which moue my conscience, (without declaracion whereof I can nothing touche the pointes,) I haue sondry
