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Anon. [1911], The book of Sir Thomas More (, Oxford) [word count] [S39300].
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Scene 16 noteEnter Sir Thomas Moore, the Lieutenant, and a seruaunt attending as in his chamber in the Tower.

Moore.
Mr. Lieutenant, is the warrant come,
If it be so, a Gods name, let vs [see] knowe it.

Lieu.
My Lord, it is.

Moore.
Tis welcome Sir to me, with all my hart,
his blessed will be doone.

Lieu.
Your wisedome Sir, hath bin so well approou'de,
And your fayre pacience in imprisonment,
hath euer shewne such constancie of minde,
and christian resolution in all troubles:
As warrants note vs, you are not vnpreparde.

Moore.
No Mr. Lieutenant, I thanke my God,
I haue peace of conscience, though the world and I,
are at a little oddes: But weele be euen now I hope,
ere long: when is the execution of your warrant?

Lieu.
To morrowe morning.

Moore.
So Sir, I thanke ye,
I haue not liu'de so ill, I feare to dye.
Mr. Lieutenant, I haue had a sore fitt of the stone to night,
But, the King hath sent me such a rare receipte

-- 58 --


I thank him, as I shall not need to feare it much.

Lieu.
In life and death, still merie Sr. Thomas Moore.

Moore.
Sirra fellowe, reache me the vrinall, &fslash;hee note giues it him.
ha, let me see,
grauell in the water
note
Fol. 21a

The man were likely to liue long enough
So pleasde the King: &fslash;heere fellowe, take it.

Ser.
Shall I goe with it to the doctor Sir?

Moore.
No, saue thy labour, weele cossen him of a fee,
Thou shalt see me take a dramme to morrowe morning,
shall cure the stone I warrant, doubt it not.
Mr. Lieutenant, what newes of my Lord of Rochester?

Lieu.
yesterday morning was he put to death.

Moore.
The peace of soule sleepe with him,
he was a learned and a reuerend Prelate,
and a riche man beleeue me.

Lieu.
If he were riche, what is Sr. Thomas Moore,
notethat all this while hath bin [
] Lord Chauncellour?

Moore.
Say ye so Mr. Lieutenant? what doo you thinke,
a man that with my time had held my place:
might purchase?

Lieu.
Perhaps my Lord, two thousand pound a yeare.

Moore.
Mr. Lieutenant, I protest to you,
I neuer had the meanes in all my life
to purchase one poore hundred pound a yeare.
I thinke I am the poorest Chauncellour
that euer was in England, though I could wishe,
for credit of the place, that my estate were better.

Lieu.
Its very straunge.

Moore.
It will be found as true.
I thinke Sir, that with moste parte of my coyne,

-- 59 --


I haue purchased as straunge c&obar;modities,
as euer you heard tell of in your life.

Lieu.
Commodities my Lord?
might I (with out offence) enquire of them?

Moore.
Croutches (Mr Lieutenant) and bare cloakes.
ffor halting Soldiours, and poore needie Schollers,
haue had my gettings in the Chauncerie.
To thinke but what acheate note the crowne shall haue,
by my attaindour. I pre thee, if thou beest a Gentleman,
get but a copie of my Inuentorie.
That parte of Poett that was giuen me,
made me a very vnthrift.
ffor this is the disease attends vs all,
Poets were neuer thriftie, neuer shall.
&fslash; Enter Lady Moore mour ning, daughters, Mr. Roper

Lieu.
Oh noble Moore.
My Lord, your wife, your sonne in lawe, and daughters.

Moore.
Sonne Roper, welcome, welcome wife and Girles.
why doo you weepe? because I liue at ease?
did you not see, when I was Chauncellour,
I was so cloyde note with suters euery houre,
I could not sleepe, nor dine, nor suppe in quiet.
Heer's none of this, heere I can sit and talke,
with my honest Keeper halfe a day together
laugh and be merie, why then should you weepe?

Ro.
These teares my Lord for this your long restraint
hope had dried vp, with comfort that we yet,
although imprisond, might haue had your life.

Moore.
To liue in prison, what a life were that?
The King (I thanke him) looues me more then so.
To morrowe I shall be at libertie,
to goe euen whether I can,
after I haue dispachte my busines.

Lady.
Ah husband, husband, yet submit your selfe,

-- 60 --


haue care of your poore wife and children

Moore.
wife, so I haue, and I doo leaue you all,
to his protection, hath the power to keepe
you, safer then I can,
the father of the widdowe and the Orphane.

Ro.
The world (my Lord) hath euer held you wise,
And't shall be no distaste vnto your wisedome:
to yeeld to the oppinion of the state.

Moore.
I haue deceiu'de my selfe, I must acknowledge;
and as you say Sonne Roper, to confesse the same:
it will be no disparagement at all.

Lady.
His Highnesse shall be certefyed note therof, immediatly.
&fslash; offring note to depart

Moore.
Nay heare me wife, first let me tell ye how,
noteI [had] thought to haue had a note Barber for my beard,
now I remember, that were labour lost,
notethe headsman now shall cut off head and all.

Ro. wife.
noteffather, his Maiestie vppon your meeke submission,
will yet (they say) receiue you to his grace: note

in as great credit as you were before

Moore
note
g, Fol. 21b
has appoynted me to doo a little busines.
If that were past, my Girle thou then shouldst see,
what I would say to him about that matter.
But I shall be so busie vntill then:
I shall not tend it.

daugh.
Ah my deare father.

Lady.
deare Lord and husband.

-- 61 --

Moore.
Be comforted good wife, to liue and looue my children,
for with thee leaue I all my care of them.
Sonne Roper, for my sake, that haue loou'de thee well,
And for her vertues sake, cherishe my childe.
Girle, be not proude, but of thy husbands looue,
Euer retaine thy vertuous modestie.
That modestie is such a comely garment,
as it is neuer out of fashis: note sits note as faire,
vppon the meaner woman, as the Empresse.
No stuffe that golde can buye, is halfe so riche,
Nor ornament that so becomes a woman.
Liue all, and looue together, and therby,
you giue your father a riche Obsequye.

both daugh.
your blessing deare father.

Moore.
I must be gon, (God blesse you,)
to talke with God, who now dooth call.

Lady.
A my deare husband,

Moore.
Sweet wife, good night, good night,
God send vs all his euerlasting light.

Ro.
I thinke before this houre,
More heauie harts nere parted in the Tower.
—exeunt.
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Anon. [1911], The book of Sir Thomas More (, Oxford) [word count] [S39300].
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