ADVERTISEMENT. THE following Life of Sir Thomas More is now for the first time submitted to the public. It was transcribed, by permission of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, from a volume of manuscripts (No. 179) in the Lambeth Library. It was the Editor's original intention to have contented himself with a republication of the Life of Sir Thomas, composed by his son-in-law, William Roper, a valuable and authentic piece of biography, and now not frequently to be met with. But, finding in the archiepiscopal library two lives of Sir Thomas More, neither of which had hitherto been printed, it became his duty, at least to peruse those histories, for the sake of extracting from them (under the favourable permission, so generously conceded) such parts as might seem subservient to his present design. One of these volumes, he was gratified to find, was of very considerable antiquity, being written during the reign of Q. Mary, about the same time with the account by Roper, and probably in some part of the year 1556; for the author speaks of the collection of Sir Thomas's English Works, as then preparing for publication; which in the title-page bears date A. D. 1557. In many parts this writer' treads closely in This writer.] From the words cited, this appears to be the same Life as that which is quoted by the Cambridge Antiquary, Mr. Thomas Baker, (from a copy in the library of Emanuel College in that University) in Burnet's History of the Reformation, Vol. III. p. 400. Appendix. In the course of my notes I have not hesitated to speak of it as the work of Nicholas Harpsfield; and on the following evidence. Harpsfield is mentioned as one of the biographers of Sir Thomas More, in the preface to the Life now printed. The writer, the footsteps of William Roper; insomuch, that if Roper's (as seems probable) was the earlier production, he must have had a copy of that work lying before him: but he has also communicated several additional particulars. The other Life (No. 179), which was written towards the end of the reign of Q Elizabeth, by a zealous papist, the Editor found possessed the advantage of combining together almost every thing of any value, that is to be found in the two Lives of Roper and Harpsfield, and often in the very same words; with the addition also of further materials collected from Stapleton and other sources. On these accounts he presumes that his Readers will not regret the change which has been made in favour of the subsequent performance The author's name does not appear. At the end of the preface he subscribes Ro: Ba: That preface, which is long and not interesting, the Editor has taken the liberty to omit. The rest, with one exception, mentioned in the notes, is given entire. The preface is preceded by the following commendatory epistle, written by a friend of the author. (whose name we are in quest of,) near the end of his volume, promises a special work on the Divorce between Henry VIII, and Q. Catherine. But Nicholas Harpsfield is known also to have composed a tract on that argument. (Tanner's Bibliotheca, p. 381.) And therefore the presumption is very strongly confirmed, that Harpsfield and the author of this Life were the same person. TO MY DEARE AND THRICE DEAR FRIEND Of all mortall, most beloved, and most worthie to be beloved of Mee. THE Collector of these papers communicated to me this first copie with speciall charge to recommend them to my best, chief and choysest friend. The fairest flowre of my garland is a red rose: therefore to thee sweet Rose, by hest is this homage more than dewe. Fair is the carnation for his vermilion blush; delightsome is the pansie for his interchangeable colours. The daysie, the primrose, the hyacinth, the pyana, for varietie of hue want not theire prayse. The corsmary, sweet margeram, baline, lavender, though not so beautifull, yet sweet and odoriferous is their scent. The fume of hilicampana is very pleasing. The forme and fashion of the rose royall, french-marygold, cariophilone, munckes-hoode, and columbine is very admirable: yet many a shrub excels all these in vertue. But the aromaticall red rose, for composition and forme gives place to none; for scent and beautie to be compared with the best; but for medicinable vertue and operation, none so much in request as the red rose, distilled, preserved, conserved, pulverised, for eyes, for head, for stomache, for heart; of all hearbes and flowers the prime and soveraigne. Wherefore in this respect also this little booke, being a sweet posie of select and fragrant flowres, an epitome of celestiall vertues, springing in the paradise of delights, the Life of Sir Thomas More; the walks whereof are paved with camimile of humilitie; the borders are set with patience, enamiled with pinckes and violetes of rich povertie; the knots are all of thyme, intermingled with germander ever the same; and here and there hysope of mortification; the rowes and hedges musk roses and rosemary of sweet conversation; the vacant plots are spangled with flowres, the golden marygold of obedience, hearts-ease of a settled conscience, flowers of Jerusalem of his desire to be in heaven; white lilies, puritie of his intentions; red roses, the glorie of his death. So, most faire and comfortable of all flowers, I nothinge doubt the acceptance of this jewell. Symbolizing natures are easily combined. A saincts life is a welcome theame to a sainctlike man. Make happie thy good beginnings; knit up the end like the rest; so shalt thou everlastingly live in blisse. And for the obtayninge thereof I will not faile to pray. Farewell, Marche the 25. 1599. Thine, os, cor et manus, B. R. SIR THOMAS MORE, BOOK FIRST. 1. THOMAS More was borne in London, the principall Citie of this noble realme of England, of a verie worshipful familie. His fathers name was John More, a man pleasant and wittie in his conceits. Verie cunning and expert he was in the lawes of the realme. For his worthiness and well-deserving parts he was advanced to be one of the Judges of the Kings Bench, and to the worshipful degree of knighthoode. His mothers name is unknowne. none. Brothers he had Sisters two: Joane married to Richard Stafferton, an ancient gentleman in his countrie; and Elizabeth wife to John Rastall of equal calling. His mother, the first night after her marriage, sawe in her sleepe the number of children she should have, written as it were in her marriage ring; and the formes, shapes, and countenances, of them all. One was very dim and obscure, and could skarcelie be discerned; for of one she suffered by an untimelie byrth an aborsement. Another she saw full bright and beautiful, and fairer than all * Borne in London.] A. D. 1480. See Life of Sir Thomas More, by his Great Grandson, Thomas More, Esq. p. 6. edit. |