Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/31

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
LEWIS'S PREFACE.
xxvii

they[O 1] were pretty even with him in the answers which they made to him, and treated him with as little ceremony as he had used towards them.

But besides the reflections made on their persons, its but too plain that Sir Thomas is not always so careful, as one would expect a person of his learning and of so tender and scrupulous a conscience would be, in reporting matters of fact wherein they whom he called hereticks were concerned. For instance, Tyndall had written[O 2] 'that the cardinall was compelled even with his awne good will to resygne his chauncelareshippe, and that to whome he lysted himselfe: that he thought to undo his destenye with his policyes, and went and put downe himselfe under a colour and sett up in his roume————the chefest of all his secretaries——More.—And as for the bishopryche of Durham he coude not of good congruyte but rewarde his old chappellayne, and one of the chefe of all his secretaryes with all——Tunstalle.'

These stories seem indeed to be perfect tattle and romance, but thus Sir Thomas misrepresents them.—[O 3] The practise of prelates; wherin Tindall had [O 4]went to have made speciall shewe of his highe worldly

  1. The subversion of More's false foundation whereupon he sweteth to set faste and shove under his shameles shoris to underproppe the Popis Churche: made by George Joye.
    More is become a vayn lyer in his owne resoning and arguments: and his folyshe harte is blynded. Where he beleved to have done moste wysely, there hath he shewed himself a starke foole. Moros in Greke is stultus in Latyn, a foole in Englyshe.—Emdon, 1534.
  2. The Practyse of Prelates, ed. 1530.
  3. English Works, p. 342, col. 1.
  4. Thought.