replied, "Thanks be to God, that the king's majesty hath but one fool in his right honourable council *!"

In the year 1523, More was, by the king's direction, chosen speaker of the house of commons. When that arbitrary monarch signified his pleasure on such occasions, the house durst not refuse to appoint the person he nominated; neither durst the person nominated refuse the appointment. More undertook the office with great reluctance, and soon experienced the difficulties then attendant on the station. In our times, the speaker of the house of commons holds an honourable and independent situation, the court does not presume to control him, and he may, in perfect security, act as his conscience shall dictate. But in the reign of Henry the Eighth, the speaker was frequently placed in a most disagreeable and dangerous situation. While, as a man of principle, he refused to accede to the unjust demands of the court, he was in danger, if he ventured to assert the privileges of the house, or to support what he believed to be the interests of his country, of ruining himself without promoting the public welfare.

It happened that the king, being reduced

* Wordsworth, in More, p. 120. Macdiarmid, p. 44.

I

by his extravagance to great straits, demanded a large supply from the parliament; and Wolsey knowing, that though very compliant in other respects, the commons often refused such grants, especially when they did not approve of the manner in which the public money was expended, resolved, in hopes of overawing the members, to be present at the discussion of this question. He entered the house with his customary pomp, preceded by his maces, his pillars, his pole-axes, his crosses, his cardinal's hat, and the great seal. He then, in a solemn speech, stated the king's necessities, and concluded by demanding an immediate answer. The members were irritated by this arbitrary conduct, and resolving not to be deprived of their accustomed right of deliberating on any question proposed to them, they maintained a profound silence. Wolsey addressed himself successively to the principal members, but not a word could he obtain in reply. He now became very angry, and expressing his astonishment at this obstinate silence, he turned to the speaker, and put the same question to him, affecting to imagine that the members were waiting till he should answer for them. More, desiring rather to elude an insolent demand than to push matters to extremity, apologized, with great appearance of reverence, for

the conduct of the members, which he imputed to their being abashed by the presence of so extraordinary a personage. He then explained, that to return an answer by any persons, how great soever they might be, who were not members of that house, would be contrary to its ancient privileges; and concluded by declaring, that though all the members had intrusted him with their voices, yet, unless they could also put their several judgments into his head, he alone was not able, in so weighty a matter, to make a proper reply to his Grace. This evasive answer increased the displeasure of the cardinal, he hastily rose up, and in great wrath quitted the house.

A few days afterwards the cardinal had an interview with More, in which, after loudly complaining of his behaviour, he exclaimed, "Would to God you had been at Rome, Mr. More, when I made you speaker!" "Your Grace not offended," replied he, "so would I too; for then I should have seen an ancient and famous city, which I have long desired to see.

Harry could not forbear laughing heartily at this unexpected reply; and amused himself and

* Ib. p. 44-49; and Wordsworth, in More, p. 76.

his sister, by conjecturing the discomfiture of the cardinal, when he found that he had vented "his noble rage" without making any impression." I can imagine nothing more provoking," said he," than a cool, witty turn like that; and I like it the better, because it was not illnatured."

"I believe," observed his mother, "that the wit of Sir Thomas More was generally entitled to this praise: his jests were free from bitterness, and he was careful not to promote the mirth of the present company by exercising his facetious humour at the expense of the absent*. But I think you have read enough for one evening: let us reserve the conclusion of our story till tomorrow."

When they resumed the narrative, Lucy was the reader, and she proceeded as follows:

The two favourites were still in the height of their prosperity, when an event took place which was followed by important consequences, not only to them but to the nation at large.

The king had lived happily for many years with his wife, Catharine of Arragon, a very

Wordsworth, ib. p. 120.

amiable princess, whose unvarying sweetness of temper, obliging behaviour, and steady attachment, well deserved the continuance of her husband's affection. No cause of offence or misunderstanding appears to have arisen between them; but, about the year 1527, Henry's mind was afresh disturbed by some former scruples, which appeared to have been long silenced. The queen, as we have already noticed, came to this country as the bride of prince Arthur, who survived his marriage only a few months. She was then contracted to his brother Henry, and notwithstanding some scruples on account of their relationship, a dispensation was obtained from the pope, and they were married soon after Henry's accession to the throne. The union of persons so related, was not, however, generally approved, and when the princess Mary was of an age to be sought in marriage, the king of France and the emperor Charles respectively declined or evaded the proposed alliance, on the ground of this objection. The mind of the king does not appear to have been at once alarmed at the imputation of illegitimacy being thus cast on the birth of his only child; but the idea was soon suggested, that after the death of Henry, the king of Scotland might lay claim to the crown, and thus the country be involved in the evils of a disputed