6

he would tell his client he would not meddle in that matter, for all the good in the world.

Now, for his good skill and sinceritie, the Citie wherein he first breathed gave him his first office. For he was made Under-Sheriffe of London, when he was not above twenty-eight yeares of age; which office as it is very worshipful, so it is not verie combersome. In this place he dispatched more matters than ever did any before. No man ever used himselfe more sincere and upright than he, and lesse exacting; for often he forgave his owne

He would not meddle.] "We talked of the practice of the law. Sir William Forbes said, he thought an honest Lawyer should never undertake a cause which he was satisfied was not a just one." "Sir, (said Mr. Johuson), a Lawyer has no business with the justice or injustice of the cause which he undertakes, unless his client asks his opinion, and then he is bound to give it honestly. The justice or injustice of the cause is to be decided by the judge. Consider Sir; what is the pur- . pose of courts of justice? It is that every man may have his cause fairly tried, by men appointed to try causes. A Lawyer is not to tell what he knows to be a lie. He is not to produce what he knows to be a false deed; but he is not to usurp the province of the jury and of judge, and determine what shall be the effect of the evidence;-what shall be the result of legal argument. As it rarely happens that a man is fit to plead his own cause, lawyers are a class of the community, who, by study and experience, have acquired the art, and power of arranging evidence, and of applying to the points at issue what the law has settled. A Lawyer is to do for his client all that his client might fairly do for himself, if he could. If by a superiority of attention, of knowledge, of skill, and a better method of communication, he has the advantage of his adversary, it is an advantage to which he is entitled. There must always be some advantage, on one side or other; and it is better advantage should be had by talents than by chance. If Lawyers were to undertake no causes till they were sure they were just, a man might be precluded altogether from a trial of his claim, "though were it judicially examined, it might be found a very just clair." Boswell's Tour to the Hebrides, p. 14.

fee.

fee. Yet by this office, and learned counsaile, (for there was not any matter of weight or importance in any of the Prince's Courts, that he was not retained for counsaile on the one partie or the other) without grudge of conscience, or injurie to anie man, he gained above four hundred pounds yearlie. The Citie dearlie loved him, and for his wit, learning and experience had him in great esteem; in so much that the English merchants, and the Strangers of the Stilyarde, sent him twice as ambassador beyond the seas, althoughe he neither desyred nor liked to be imployed in such offices; for he was wont to say, 66 he liked not to be banished from his owne countrie, and shut up in a towne, where perhaps neyther the land or the ayre he very good and wholsome." But especially he misliked these ambassages, as subject to contentions and altercations, which of his owne nature he did much abhorre, but especially in a strange countrie with great princes; and where he suffered no little damages. For though he were worshipfully provided for, for the defraying of his charges, yet he suffered by his absence far greater losses. And therefore he would merrilie say, "that there was great difference betwixt a lay-man and a priest to be sent in ambassage; for a priest need not to be disquieted for wife, children and familie; for the first two they lacke, the other they may take all with them. And though I am not an evil husband, father, or maister, yet I cannot so fashion my houshold that my absence shall as well instruct, please, and provide for them as my presence." Yet he many tyines was sent in most honorable embassages by the king his maister. Twice he was joined in commission with Cardinal Wolsey; when he went into Flanders to Charles the fifth, and an other tyme in France. He was ambassador when

the

the famous peace betweene Charles the Emperor, Ferdinando King of the Romaines, and Francis the first of France, anno 1529, was made. Yet these paines he most misliked: but being once put upon him, he fore-stood nothing for the happie expedition of the same. And so he demeaned him selfe for the Merchants, that at his returne he purchased to him selfe great credit and estimation, both with them and the King; who at his home cominge offered him for recompence an annual pension duryng his life, which though it were both honorable and commodious, yet he refused it, lest the Citizens might conceive some sinister suspition, that when any controversie should happen concerning their privileges, betweene the King and them, (as often it happeneth), that he would not have been him selfe upright, being as it were feed and hired with the pension.

8. Moreover this King Henry was in hand with Cardinal Wolsey to procure him unto his service. The Cardinal did not slacke the matter, but dealt with him incontinently, and in very earnest manner, to serve the King; saying it was meet and convenient, and it could not be but for his advancement to do so. Yet he was very loath to change his estate, and so wrought the Cardinal by his faire speeche, that by him the king was satisfied for that tyme. But his estimation and fame every day so encreased, that after a while the King would by no manner of entreatie be induced to forbeare his service. And this was upon this occasion.

There chanced a great ship of burden of the Popes to arrive at Southampton, the which ship upon some title the King claimed as a forfeiture. The Popes Ambassador then resident in the realine, upon suit got a graunte of the King, to retaine for his Maister some learned in the lawes and customes

of

of the realme; and that the matter might be openlie heard and debated in his owne presence. Amongst all the lawyers choice was made of Mr. More, as one esteemed not partial, and verie skilful in theise affaires. He in the presence of the Lordes of the Council, in the Starr Chamber, where the matter was heard, so learnedlie and substantiallie argued in the defence of his cause, that he wonne to the Pope his ship, to him selfe great renoune and prayse in the mouthe of everie one.

Upon this the King entertained him for him selfe, and gave him this notable and worthie lesson, "that in all his doings and affaires touching the King, he should first respect God, then the King his maister." This lesson he willinglie heard, and most effectuallie performed. At this first entrance into the Kings service, he was made Master of the Requests, and within a month after Knight, and one of the Kings Privie Council. And in a short tyme, after the death of Mr. William Weston, Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer. And upon the death of Sir Richard Wingfield he was Chauncellor of the Dutchie: and after the death of the Lord Cardinal', Highe Chauncellour of England, the first lay-man that ever possessed that place in King Henry the eighths tyme.

9. It may seem strange, that Mr. More should be thus advanced, for he alwaies shewed himselfe to have more respect to weal publique, than to the Kings gaine or pleasure. But it followeth, that either the King was at this tyme a marvelous good prince, or that he had not that experience of his upright and plaine dealing: and this can I hardly believe. For he could not but know, how in his

After the death of the Lord Cardinal.] More correctly, "after the disgrace of the Lord Cardinal."

father's

father's tyme, in a parliament, whereof we spake before, he had demened himselfe in hindering the bill of three fifteenths that it passed not. But especialle, that which I shall now declare unto you, he could not but remember.

In the fourteenth yeare of his Majefties reigne, a Parliament was summoned, where the Commous chused Mr. More for theire Speaker, and presented him in the Parliament House; where he disabled himselfe, as a man unmeet for that office. Among. other things he brought forth a storie of the noble Hannibal, "to whome at a certaine tyme, Phormio made a solemne declaration concerning chivalrie and the feates of warre, which was liked by many. But Hannibal, being demanded what he thought thereof, answered, I never heard a more proud arrogant foole, that durst take upon him to instruct the flower and maister of chivalrie in his owne profession.' So, (quoth Sir Thomas), I may well looke for the same rebuke at the King's hands, if I should arrogate so much as to speake before him of the weelding and governinge publique affaires; seeing that he is so wise, learned, and expert in matters of his estate. Wherefore my humble petition is, that the Commons may freely chuse some other for their Speaker." But the Cardinal answered, "that the King had sufficient proofe of his every way sufficientie, and that the Commons could not chuse a meeter man." meeter man." In the end, when the King would not consent to the election of any other, he spake to his Grace in form following.

8 Disabled himselfe.] "The Commons chose for their Speaker Sir Thomas More... He according to the usage, disabled himselfe, both in wit, learning, and discretion, to speak before the King." Stowe's Annals, p. 519. edit. 1615.