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CHAPTER XXIII.

MARGARET ROPER.

THE headless corpse lay in the Chapel on the Tower Green, awaiting the last sad duties, which were to be performed by the hands of Margaret. Vain would be the endeavour to express her sensations as she gazed on the mutilated and ghastly remains of one whom she had so dearly loved and reverenced.

During the confinement of More in the Tower, he had no means of support save such as were raised by his daughter from the charity of friends, or contributed from her own purse. When about to bury the body of her father, says the old biographer, she found she had forgotten to bring a sheet to wrap it in, and there was not a penny left amongst them, she having given the last as a dole to the poor. Her maid, Mrs. Harris, offered to try and get her out of her trouble, so going to the first draper's shop she bargained as to the price of some linen, and then taking her purse from her pocket she made as if she were going to look for the money before asking if they would give her credit, when to her amazement she found it contained the exact sum she had to pay, though she knew previously she had not one penny about her. This anecdote has been omitted in the modern accounts of More, possibly as savouring too much of the marvellous; those who read it will draw their own conclusions, we do not choose to let the narration pass unnoticed.

But great was the sorrow of Margaret and her family, while that venerated head remained on the bridge, and when the rumour reached the ears of William Roper that it was to be cast into the Thames, Margaret at once determined, at all hazards, to possess herself of it. How she got it in her keeping we know not, most probably she bribed heavily the person whose duty it was to remove the heads of those who had suffered for treason, when they had been exposed a sufficient time, and room was required for others. Any way, she possessed herself of the precious relic, and caused a leaden box to be made in which she placed the head of her martyred father, and left orders that after her own death it should be buried in her tomb.

Moreover, this celebrated woman did not rest till she had procured the remains of Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, they had been cast by soldiers into a grave in All Hallows Church-yard, Barking, but she is said to have obtained them and laid them beside those of her father in the Tower Church of S. Peter ad Vincula.

"A story current in the family was, that one day as one of his daughters was passing under London bridge, looking on her father's head, sayd she, that head has layde many a time in my lappe, would to God, would to God, it would fall into my arms as I passe under."

She was then summoned before the council, and this heroic and beautiful woman bravely maintained herself before the assembled lords. "You keep your father's head, esteeming it as a relic, Mistress Roper," said the Chancellor. "Moreover, you contemplate publishing his works; remember, fair Mistress, he suffered death as a traitor." "I procured my father's head, my Lord, lest it should become

food for fishes," retorted brave Margaret, and I have buried it where I thought it most fit; methinks, that I could scarce do less; it listeth me not, my Lords, to say how I obtained it. I glory in the deed, and if for such ye deem me worthy of punishment, I am in your hands; do with me as it pleaseth you. Moreover, I shall publish his works when opportunity shall serve." Margaret was then dismissed, while the Lords conferred together as to how they should punish her brave speech. Then they resolved to imprison this admirable woman; they dared not, however, detain her long, for the indignation of the people was excessive, and, after a short imprisonment, she was sent home to her husband.

"Of all his children Margaret resembled her father most closely, as well in wit, wisdom, and learning, as also in pleasant and cheerful conversation. She was to her servants a mild and gentle Mistress, and to her brother and sisters most amiable and loving, to her friends very good, stedfast, and affectionate, and (a rare thing in woman) so grave and prudent, that when men of good calling were wont in difficult matters to counsel and deliberate with her, they found her advice so good, and profitable, that they doubted ever to have seen the like in woman; these were men of virtue, learning, and experience, who were held in great account."

"To her children she was doubly a mother, for, not content with bringing them into the world, she instructed them herself in virtue and learning. Once, when Roper had been imprisoned in the Tower, having incurred the King's dis'pleasure, leave was given by the King to search the house, when suddenly coming on Margaret, his officer found her not bewailing and lamenting, but busily employed teaching her children, and beholding her evince no surprise, and

admiring the wisdom and calmness of her speech, such as they little looked for, they were filled with astonishment, and left her full of admiration, nor ever afterwards could they speak too highly of her, as I myself heard from one of them. But above all things else, she was to her father, and her husband, such a daughter and such a wife as I suppose it would be hard to match in all England."

"But her filial love was notable not only in her conduct all his precious life, but after his trouble and imprisonment, as well for the pains she took to procure some relief and comfort for her father as for her wise and godly conversation; and for many other considerations she was his chief, and almost his only earthly comfort, to whom he at that time wrote amongst others, one letter answering two of hers, in which he says "that a peck of coals, if he had them, for he had no pens to write with, would not suffice to do her justice."

"On the other hand she was so good, and meek, and gentle a wife, that her husband esteemed himself a most happy man in the possession of such a treasure."

"A treasure I may well saie, for such a wife incomparably exceedeth (as Solomon saith) all worldly treasure, and he was on his parte so good, so sweet, so sober, so modest, so loving a husband, that as Erasmus long agoe writeth, if he had not been her husband he might have been her owne Germaine brother."

"And, Mr. Roper had her in such great estimation, or rather admiration, that he thought, and he hath also said, that she was more worthy, for her excellent qualities, to have binne a Prince's wife."

"And the said Erasmus for her exquisite learning, wisdom,

and virtue, made such an account of her, that he called her the flower of all the learned matrones of England, to whom as yet being very younge, but yet adorned with a child, he dedicated his Commentaries made upon certain Hymnes of Prudentius. And so said he the truth, she was a Sappho-Aspasia-Hypathia-Damiani-Cornelia."

"But why speak I of these, though learned, yet infidels. Nay, rather, she was of Christian, Fabiola and Marcella, Paula and Eustochium."

We will now, gentle reader, give thee a little taste of her learning and of her pregnant wit. St. Cyprian's works had been in those days many times printed, and yet, after so oft printing, there remained, among other defects and faults, one notable one among all their printing uncorrected and unreformed. The words are these:-'Absit enim ab Ecclesia Romana rigorem suum suum tam prophand facilitate dimittere et nisi vos servitatis eversâ fidei majestate dissolvere,'* which place, when Mistress Margaret had read without the help of an ensample, or any other instruction, these words (nisi vos), should be, quoth she, "I trow," wherein she said a very truth, "nervos.”+

* Far be it indeed from the Church of Rome to throw aside her rigour with such profane facility, and to loosen the reins of subjection by the majesty of the faith being overwhelmed.

Harleian MSS.