When else by cruel riotous assault

Thou hadst been torn in pieces. Thou art reserved

To be my summ‘ner to yon spiritual court.

Give me thy hand, good fellow. Smooth thy face.

The diet that thou drink’st is spiced with mace,

And I could ne‘er abide it. ’Twill not digest,

’Twill lie too heavy, man, on my weak breast.

SHREWSBURY

Be brief, my lord, for we are limited

Unto an hour.

MORE

Unto an hour? ’Tis well.

The bell, earth’s thunder, soon shall toll my knell.

LADY MORE (kneeling)

Dear loving husband, if you respect not me,

Yet think upon your daughters.

MORE (pondering to himself) Wife, stand up.

I have bethought me;

And I’ll now satisfy the King’s good pleasure.

BOTH DAUGHTERS

O happy alteration!

SHREWSBURY

Come then, subscribe, my lord.

SURREY

I am right glad of this your fair conversion.

MORE O pardon me,

I will subscribe to go unto the Tower

With all submissive willingness, and thereto add

My bones to strengthen the foundation

Of Julius Caesar’s palace. Now, my lord,

I’ll satisfy the King even with my blood.

Nor will I wrong your patience. [To Downes] Friend, do

thine office.

DOWNES Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, I arrest you in the King’s name of high treason.

MORE Gramercies, friend.

To a great prison, to discharge the strife

Commenced ‘twixt conscience and my frailer life, 185

More now must march. Chelsea, adieu, adieu.

Strange farewell: thou shalt ne’er more see More true,

For I shall ne‘er see thee more.—Servants, farewell.—

Wife, mar not thine indifferent face. Be wise.

More’s widow’s husband, he must make thee rise.—

Daughters, ( ) what’s here, what’s here?

Mine eye had almost parted with a tear.—

Dear son, possess my virtue; that I ne’er gave.

Grave More thus lightly walks to a quick grave.

ROPER

Curae leves loquuntur, ingentes stupent.

MORE

You that way in. Mind you my course in prayer.

By water I to prison, to heaven through air.

Exeunt [More, Downes, and Attendants at one door, the rest at another]

Sc. 14 Enter the Warders of the Tower, with halberds

FIRST WARDER Ho, make a guard there!

SECOND WARDER

Master Lieutenant gives a strait command

The people be avoided from the bridge.

THIRD WARDER

From whence is he committed, who can tell?

FIRST WARDER

From Durham House, I hear.

SECOND WARDER

The guard were waiting there an hour ago.

THIRD WARDER

If he stay long, he’ll not get near the wharf,

There’s such a crowd of boats upon the Thames.

FIRST WARDER

Well, be it spoken without offence to any,

A wiser or more virtuous gentleman

Was never bred in England.

SECOND WARDER

I think the poor will bury him in tears.

I never heard a man since I was born

So generally bewailed of everyone.

Enter a poor Woman [with others in a crowd]

THIRD WARDER

What means this woman?—Whither dost thou press?

FIRST WARDER

This woman will be trod to death anon.

SECOND WARDER [to the Woman] What makest thou here?

WOMAN

To speak with that good man Sir Thomas More.

FIRST WARDER

To speak with him? He’s not Lord Chancellor.

WOMAN

The more’s the pity, sir, if it pleased God.

FIRST WARDER

Therefore if thou hast a petition to deliver

Thou mayst keep it now, for anything I know.

WOMAN

I am a poor woman, and have had, God knows,

A suit this two year in the Chancery,

And he hath all the evidence I have,

Which should I lose I am utterly undone.

FIRST WARDER

Faith, and I fear thou‘It hardly come by ’em now.

I am sorry for thee even with all my heart.

Enter the Lords [of Shrewsbury and Surrey], with Sir Thomas More, and attendants; and enter Lieutenant and Gentleman Porter

SECOND WARDER

Woman, stand back. You must avoid this place.

The lords must pass this way into the Tower.

MORE

I thank your lordships for your pains thus far

To my strong-house.

WOMAN

Now good Sir Thomas More, for Christ’s dear sake

Deliver me my writings back again

That do concern my title.

MORE

What, my old client, art thou got hither too?

Poor silly wretch, I must confess indeed

I had such writings as concern thee near,

But the King

Has ta’en the matter into his own hand;

He has all I had. Then, woman, sue to him.

I cannot help thee. Thou must bear with me.

WOMAN

Ah, gentle heart, my soul for thee is sad.

Farewell, the best friend that the poor e’er had.

Exit

GENTLEMAN PORTER

Before you enter through the Tower gate,

Your upper garment, sir, belongs to me.

MORE

Sir, you shall have it. There it is.

He gives him his cap

GENTLEMAN PORTER

The upmost on your back, sir. You mistake me.

MORE

Sir, now I understand ye very well.

But that you name my back,

Sure else my cap had been the uppermost.

SHREWSBURY

Farewell, kind lord. God send us merry meeting.

MORE Amen, my lord.

SURREY

Farewell, dear friend. I hope your safe return.

MORE

My lord, and my dear fellow in the Muses,

Farewell. Farewell, most noble poet.

LIEUTENANT

Adieu, most honoured lords. Exeunt Lords

MORE

Fair prison, welcome. Yet methinks

For thy fair building ‘tis too foul a name.

Many a guilty soul, and many an innocent,

Have breathed their farewell to thy hollow rooms.

I oft have entered into thee this way,