me as any subject within this realm: howbeit, son Roper, I may tell thee, I have no cause to be proud thereof, for if my head would win him a castle in France (for then there was war between us) it should not fail to go."
This Sir Thomas More, among all other his virtues, was of such meekness, that if it had fortuned him with any learned men resorting to him from Oxford, Cambridge, or elsewhere, (as there did diverse, some for desire of his acquaintance, some for the famous report of his wisdom and learning, some for suits of the Universities), to have[1] entered into argument (wherein few were comparable to him) and so far to have discoursed with them therein, that he might perceive they could not without some inconvenience hold out much further disputation against him; then, lest he should discomfort them, (as one that sought not his own glory, but rather would seem conquered than to discourage students in their studies, ever showing himself more desirous to learn than to teach), would he by some witty device courteously break off into some other matter and give over. Of whom, for his wisdom and learning, had the king such an opinion, that at such time as he attended upon his highness, taking his progress either to Oxford or Cambridge,
- ↑ In disputationibus nihil fingi potest acutius adeo ut summis etiam Theologis sæpe negotium facessat, in ipsorum arena versans.—Erasmi Epist.
