Scenes from the life of Sir Thomas More

STAfcK
ANNEX

5

ObS
711^

^HHH^3

CENES FROM
HE-LIFE OF
THOMAS MORE

Arranged by

;TER MARY BERCHMANS

The Talbot Press Limited
89 Talbot Street, Dublin

SCENES FROM

THE LIFE OF

SIR THOMAS MORE

Arranged by

SISTER MARY BERCHMANS

EX LIBRIS
IRENE DWEN ANDREWS

The Talbot Press Limited
89 Talbot Street, Dublin

Printed at

ctie cAtboc pness

89 Talbot Street
Dublin

SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF
SIR THOMAS MORE

2073643

CHARACTERS :

1. SIR THOMAS MORE.

2. MARGARET EOPER (his Daughter),

3. BESS (aged 13 or 14).

4. BEATRICE ALLINGTON (his Step-daughter).

5. MARY SAVILLE (her Cousin).

6. ERASMUS (his Friend).

7. WILL EOPER (More's Son-in-law).

8. PATTESON (Sir T. More's Fool).

9. A MAID.

SCENES FROM THE
LIFE OF SIR THOMAS MORE.

Scene I.

At Chelsea — the home of SIR THOMAS MORE.

(MARGARET ROPER alone, glancing at a large
folio. Looking up she says to herself) — " On
asking Mr. Gunnel to. what use I should put this
fair volume, he did suggest my making it a kind
of family register, wherein to note the more
important of our domestic passages, whether
joy or grief, ' You are ready at the pen, Mistress
M., he was pleased to say, but 'twill be well
to write in English, which it is expedient
for you not altogether to neglect, even for the
more honourable Latin.' (Smiling.) It is well
to make trial of Gonnellus — albeit our daily
course is so methodical that 'twill afford scant
subject for the pen."

(Voices are heard outside, and MARGARET
goes to the lattice and bends out.)

6 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

MARGARET. There's Erasmus, I hear his-
pleasant voice, and the dear little man is coming,
up from the riverside with my father, and who
can the tall stripling be to whom he has given
his coat? Could it be Will Eoper? (Turns
round., arranges her hair, and blushing, says):
How glad I am he has returned from my father's
errand overseas ; he has grown hugely and looks
mannish ; I hope my kerchief is straight, I wish
I had time to put on my new grogram gown, that
I might look my prettiest when he sees me.
(Arranges her dress.) I shall rub my cheeks,
lest I be pale from joy. (Rubs them. She sits
demurely at her desk, but rises as her father, E.
and R. enter. MARGARET kisses the hands of
M. and E. and gets their blessing.)

MORE. My loved child, are you content to see
us after our absence?

MARGARET. Who knows better than you, my
dearest father, what joy it gives me to see you
again (she strokes Ms hand and he returns the
caress), and our good friend Erasmus.

MORE. Here is Will Roper. Have you quite
forgotten him ?

MARGARET (shyly.) Welcome to Chelsea
(curtseys), Will — have you had a pleasant
journey?

ROPER. The pleasantest part of it has been
the end, when I meet my dear friends once more,
(He looks at her and smiles.)

SIR THOMAS MORE 7

MORE. Not badly put for a raw youth,
Erasmus — but let us sit down and rest. Megg,
child, tell Mercy Giggs we shall want a better
dinner than our wont ; say we are hungry, so let
all the kitchen wenches start at once to get the
meal ready.

MARGARET. Yes, my dear father, I, too,
shall help to make the sweet marchpane, such as
you dearly love. (Goes out. WILL smiles at her
and looks after her. She curtseys.)

MORE. The child is growing daily more
womanly and sweet, Erasmus. She is dearer bo
me than the apple of mine eye. Let you, Will,
make your bow to Dame Alice (slyly smiling.}
You know she likes a little consideration as the
lady of the house. (WILL goes out.) But, friend.
take this softer chair and rest. What new
doings have you to relate to me? (Turns to
ERASMUS.)

ERASMUS. My dear More, there is little new
to tell of. Wolsey's ambition is daily increasing
and his state now almost rivals that of the King
himself. They do say indeed that Henry does
not look with favour on his great parade of
wealth, and some go so far as to foresee a down-
fall to his monstrous pride. But I am a man for
a quiet life, and love not the bustle and gossip
of a palace, like that in which Wolsey dwells.

MORE (seriously.) Stranger things have hap-
pened than the disgrace of the ruling favourite.

8 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

Between ourselves, Erasmus, His Grace, the
King, oft reminds me of the king of beasts. I
would not like to raise his anger for fear of
being rent to pieces in his fury—

ERASMUS. Tush, man, no fear of you ever
falling from his favour. He thinks so highly of
you that I marvel you have never entered his
service in some public capacity, wherein your
learning and knowledge of both men and things
would not only serve your own interest, but that
of your friends and the people.

/ MORE. I am happier and better as I am. As
to my friends, I already do for them what I can.
(Changes his voice.) The Cardinal did indeed
offer me a pension a little while back as retain-
ing fee to the King, but I told him I did not care
to be a mathematical point — to have position
without magnitude.

ERASMUS (laughs.) I would not have you the
slave of any King, howbeit you might assist him.

MORE. The change of the word does not alter
the matter. I should be a slave as completely as
if I had a collar round my neck. (Here MAR-
GARET and BESS, her younger sister, enter.
MARGARET sits at MORE'S feet; he puts his hand
on her head. BESS sits on a little stool near
ERASMUS.)

MORE. No — I'll change my lot with no
courtier — (laughs.) But what nonsense learned
men (points at ERASMUS) sometimes talk — (both

SIR THOMAS MORE 9

girls smile.) I wanted at court, quotha ! Fancy
a dozen starving men with one roasted pig be-
tween them. Do you think they would be really
glad to see a thirteenth come up with an eye to
a small piece of the crackling? (All laugh.)

ERASMUS. By the Mass, I swear to you they
would look on him with scant favour.

MORE. Well, believe me, there is none that
courtiers are more sincerely respectful to than
the man who avows he hath no intention of
attempting to go shares, and e'en him they care
mighty little about, for they love none with true
tenderness save themselves.

ERASMUS. We shall see you at Court yet.

MORE. Then I will tell you in what guise.
With a fool's cap and bells. (Enter a MAID.)

MAID (to MORE.) There is a strangely comic
fellow outside who says you will see him, sir.

MORE. Then let him come in, for I never deny
my presence to any, who set value on a thing so
mean. Stay, ERASMUS (who has got up to go),
we may get a laugh together, and that is always
good for the mind. (A loud voice is heard talk-
ing very fast — a shabby poor fellow, rather
wild-looking, enters and nods to MORE, saying) :

FOOL. Master, Sir Knight, may it please
your Judgeship, my name is Patteson.

MORE. Very likely, and my name is More,
but what is that to the purpose ?

(U 406i A*

10 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

FOOL. And that is more to the purpose, you
might have said.

MORE. Why, so I might, but how should I
have proved it ?

FOOL. You, who are a lawyer, should know
best about that ; 'tis too hard for poor Patteson.

MORE. Well, but who are you and what do
you want of me ?

FOOL. Don't you mind me (looks at MORE.) I
played in last Xmas revel five years, and they
called me a smart chap, but last Martinmas I
fell from a church steeple, and shook my brain-
pan, I think, for its contents have seemed addled
ever since, so what I want now is to be made
a fool. (All laugh.}

ERASMUS. At any rate you don't ask much—

MORE. Then you are not one already ?

FOOL. If I were, I should not have come to
you.

MORE (laughing.) Why, ' like cleaves to
like," you know, they say.

FOOL. Aye, but I've reason and feeling enow
too to know you are no fool, tho' I thought you
might want one. You are like to be Lord
Chancellor, I know (all start back), and great
people like fools at their tables, tho' I for sure
can't guess why, for it makes me sad to see fools
laughed at — ne'ertheless as I get laughed at
already, I may as well get paid for the job if
I can. (Laughs.)

SIR THOMAS MORE 11

ERASMUS (aside.) Cute fellow !

FOOL. Being unable now to do a stroke of
work in hot weather, and I'm the only son of my
mother, and she is a widow woman. Hut per-
haps I'm not bad enough. (Sadly.}

MORE (kindly.) I know not that, poor knave,
and for those who laugh at fools, my opinion,
Patteson, is that they are the greater fools who
laugh. To tell you the truth, I had had no mind
to take a fool into my establishment, having
always had a fancy to be prime fool in it myself.

FOOL. And a good fool you'd make, I've no
doubt. (All laugh.)

MORE. However, you incline me to change in y
purpose, so I'll tell you what we will do — divide
the business and go halves — / continuing the
fooling, and you receiving the salary, that is. if
I find on inquiry thou art given to no vice,
Including that of cursing.

FOOL. May it please your Goodness, I've
been the subject oft of cursing and affect it too
little to offend that way myself. I ever keep
a curb tongue in- my head, especially among
young ladies. (He looks at the girls.)

MORE. That minds me of a butler, who said
he always was sober, especially when he only had
water to drink. Can you read and write ?

FOOL. Well, and what if I cannot? There
was but one, I ever heard of, that knew letters,
never having learnt, and well He might, for He

12 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

made them that made them. (All look aston-
ished.}

MORE. Megg, there is sense in this poor
fellow ; take him to the buttery, and be kind to
him. (The FOOL goes out with MEGG.)

ERASMUS. How marvellous to hear such talk
from one whose mind is touched — truly God's
Ways are strange ! (Rising.) Well, good
friend, I must leave you. Dr. Linacre and
Bishop Latimer await my coming before the
ringing of the Ave Maria. (Changing his tone.)
Again I say we shall see you at Court yet—

MORE (rising.) Yes (smiling), when Plato's
year comes round. (They shake hands.)

ERASMUS (stoops to pat BESS on the head.)
Farewell, Sweet Bess, love your books a little
more. The Dutch schoolmasters thought me dull
and heavy, so there's hope for you yet. (He goes
out)

MORE. Come, Bess, let us go to your mother.
(Exeunt both.)

CURTAIN.

SIR THOMAS MORE 13

Scene II.

At SIR T. MORE'S home in Chelsea. MARGARET
works at a piece of tapestry and BESS does
a sampler. MORE has been appointed Lord
Chancellor. BEATRICE ALLINGTON, MORE'S
step-daughter and MARY SAVILLE, her cousin,
are spending a few days with the MORES.

BEATRICE. Sister Margaret, when you come
to Court, you will see many strange things.

MARGARET. Forsooth, Beatrice, if ever I do
become a Court butterfly, I am sure I shall. Hut
dost thou think that such a dull body as I am
could ever adorn a Court ? No, Beatrice, home
is my Court. There let me reign as Queen.

MARY SAVILLE. But, Megg, do put aside that
tapestry for a while, and come, we shall teach
you to dance a pavane. The Lady Anne loves to
see all her maidens trip it gaily. Come — (nhe
tries to make MARGARET get up.}

MARGARET (pushing her aside.} Mary, I have
no turn for the dance, though I have been well
taught.

BESS. I should dearly love to see the pavane.
Megg, do coax Beatrice and Mary to dance it
for us.

14 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

MARGARET. If you are diligent at your sew-
ing, I may. (BESS takes up her work to sew
diligently.}

MARY (turns to BEATRICE.) Come, Beatrice,
let us show Margaret what Lady Anne has
taught us.

(The girls put aside their work and MARY
and BEATRICE dance the pavane.)

BEATRICE. This home of yours is so quiet
and calm after the bustle of the palace, but I for
one would not care for it always. I love the
excitement of the Court.

MARGARET. Do you like the Lady Anne, and
is she handsome as they say she is ? She is often
in my thoughts.

BEATRICE. I cannot say that I love her, if
that was your meaning. Yet she can be kind.
But prosperity has made her haughty — however
she is generous. See this ring (shows it to them.)
She gave me that from her finger when I saved
a little pet dog of hers from being trampled upon
by a horse.

BESS. And is she beautiful ?

BEATRICE. Yes, she is — but I shall describe
her, and you, Mary, can put me in mind if I
overlook any point. (MARGARET and BESS stop
to listen.) In stature, she is tall and slender,
with an oval face, black hair and a complexion

SIR THOMAS MORE lf>

inclining to sallow. Her eyes are wonderful,
deep pools of silence when in repose, but when
lit up, radiantly lovely. Her feet and hands are
tiny and well shaped.

MARY. Her mouth is large and her lips are
like ripe cherries : her teeth are white, though
one of the upper ones projects somewhat. She
has an extra finger on her left hand, and always
wears long sleeves to conceal it. On her throat
there is an unusually large mole, but this she
carefully covers with a pearl collar-band, and
that is why we Maids of Honour blindly imitate
our Supreme Lady. (Laughs.)

MARGARET (aside.} I hope not on every point.
The tales we hear of her accomplishments seem
overdrawn.

BEATRICE. As to that, I can answer you at
once, and say No. She really excels all others.
Her voice is exquisitely sweet both in speaking
and singing. Sir Thomas Wyatt, the Court
Poet, says she would make bears and wolves
attentive. She plays the flute and rebec sweetly
and has a talent for poetry. Her dancing is
a wonder, and she has learned all that the
French could teach her. You must know she was
Maid of Honour to four Royal ladies, and hence
her manners have a distinction that is very
charming.

MARY. And add— a lightness peculiar to
herself. (7VMARGARET.) But Megg, you should

16 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

see her in her Court costume. (They listen.) At
a Masque at Greenwich given by the King, she
wore blue velvet, trimmed with miniver and
hung all round with little bells of gold and
a surcoat of white watered silk with hanging
sleeves.

BEATRICE. Yes, she was indeed beautiful.

MARY. On her little feet she had blue velvet
brodequins, and her insteps were adorned each
with a diamond star. On her head she wore
a golden-coloured aureole of plaited gauze, and
her hair fell in ringlets.

BESS. I envy you, Mary, to see such a lovely
lady.

MARGARET. Silly child, mind your sewing.

MARY. Think you, Beatrice, that the
prophecy will come true?

MARGARET. Of what prophecy do you speak ?

BEATRICE. Hush, Mary. (She lowers her
voice.) Walls have ears. It is not safe to speak
of such things; heads have been lost for less. I,
myself, do not pay any heed to such things, but
it would seem there is an old book at the Court,
and one day the Lady Anne found it in her
chamber. She turned over the leaves and saw
her own name interwoven with that of the King,
and beneath, a warning that her head would be
cut off if she married him.

MARGARET. When was that ?

BEATRICE. Shortly before the marriage. She

17

•calfed Rosamund Dudley (you remember her)
from heir tapestry, and laughing, showed her
the page, saying : " See, here is a book of
prophecies — this is the King, this the Queen
wringing her hands, and this is myself, with my
head cut off." Rosamund answered : ' If I
thought it true, I w^ould not have him myself
were he an Emperor.'' ' Tut, child/' replied
.she, " / think the book a bauble, and am resolced
to have him, whatever may betide."

MARY. It makes me shudder. She and I were
in the ballroom at her home in Hever Castle, and
suddenly she bent down and lifted up a board
and told me to look, for below was a darksome
dungeon. She only smiled, and said, " One step
from a gay dance to death ! How many have
to pass that way" ? Already there are rumours
that His Grace hath grown less fond of her. It
was whispered that at a banquet given after
Xmas, while the Lady Anne waited for the
waiter to offer her the first dish, with the King's
wonted compliment : "Much good may it do
you," that he passed her in silence, and handed
the dish to one of the Court beauties, the Lady
•Jane Seymour. All present saw the Lady Anne
grow deadly pale, but she said nothing, and the
meal went on.

BEATRICE. Her enmity to Wolsey hath
'harmed her.

MARY. And some say, Margaret, that her

18 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

harshness towards your noble father is due to
his refusal to approve of the King's marriage.

MARGARET. As to that, my father's con-
science would not let him waver. He knows
Queen Katherine is the true wife of His Grace
(sighs), and may God grant he may never have
to suffer for his loyalty.

MARY. Do not speak of such a thing ; it will
never come to pass. His Grace hath many
fancies, and a new face attracts him, if it
happens to be a pretty one. But we are getting
as solemn as owls. Bess, you call in Patteson;
he will cheer us somewhat. (BESS goes out.)

MARGARET. Bess hath a taste for gewgaws
and frivolity that I like not in one so young.

MARY. Margaret, you are too staid. Let
poor Bess have a little frivolity — it will not
harm her.

( Voices are heard outside — the girls all listen.)

MORE (behind the scene, in the distance.} Let
me go on, Patteson, time presses. I must needs
be at the riverside within the hour.

PATTESON (also behind} Give place, brother.
You are but Jester to King Harry and I'm
Jester to Sir Thomas More. I'll leave you to-
decide which is the greater man of the two.

MORE (still behind and farther away} Why,.
gossip, His Grace would make two of me—

SIR THOMAS MORE 19

BESS (behind, loudly calling.} Patteson.
Patteson, do come — take your long strides— I
want you.

PATTESON (behind, panting.) Coming, little-
Mistress.

BESS (and he come on stage.) Here is Patte-
son, Mary. (Sits down near MARY.) (PATTESON
stands twirling peacock feathers and making
faces.)

MARGARET. I heard you speak to my father,
Patteson. Did you mark if he were cheerful ?

PATTESON. Why, Mistress Megg, / never
saw him sad; 'tis he has the merry heart. (He
turns to BESS, twirling the feathers.) Can you
tell me, Mistress Bess, why peacocks have so
many eyes in their tails, and only see with two
in their heads ?

BESS. Because those two make them vain
enough already.

PATTESON. And the less we see or hear of
what goes on behind our backs, the better for us,
say I. (They smile at this.) (Seeing MARY
wearing a gold cross, he says to her): " Tell me.
mistress fair, why you wear two crosses" ?

MARY. Nay, Fool, I wear but one (holding
it up.)

PATTESON. Oh, but I say you wear two — one
on your chain and the one nobody sees. (MARY
starts back.) We all wear the unseen one, you
know. Some of theirs of gold, all carven and

20 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

shaped, so you hardly tell it for a cross, like
My Lord Cromwell, but it is one for all that.
For me, I'm content with one of wood, like that
our dear Lord bore. Do you take me, Mistress ?
(To BESS.)

BESS. I take you for what you are, a poor
Fool.

PATTESON. Perhaps I am — but I can see as
far into a millstone as other people. For example.
When a certain man (shakes his head in a know-
ing way] is o'erta'en with qualms of conscience
(ahem !) for having married his brother's widow
when she is no longer so young and fair as she
was a score of years ago, I know what that is
a sign of — do you ?

MARY. Patteson, hold your silly tongue, such
talk is treasonable these times.

(Loud voices are heard outside and Sir
Thomas More's name is heard distinctly.
A MAID rushes in wildy.)

MAID. Mistress Margaret, there is a pur-
suivant outside, saying he has a warrant from
the King to arrest our good Master. (General
consternation.)

MARGARET (with agony.) My God ! My God !
The blow he dreaded has fallen. Where is the
man? (Goes out — all leave the stage.)

CURTAIN.

SIR THOMAS MORE 21

Scene III.

In the Prison of the Tower. MORE seated on
a low seat, his meditation book in his hand,
lost in thought. MARGARET rushes in and
throws herself into his arms — they both
burst into tears and she strokes his face
affectionately.

MORE (half -laughing and crying, looking at
her face.) Why, Megg, you are getting freckled.
(She smiles up at him.) You should get some
freckle water from the Lady Anne that sent me
here. Depend on it, she hath face washes and
tinctures in plenty; and after all, Megg, she'll
come to the same end at last, and be as the lady,
all bone and skin, whose ghastly legend used to
scare you so as a child.

MARGARET. How well do I mind me of it,
father. (Sighs)

MORE. Don't tell that story to thy children,
'twill hamper 'em with unsavoury images of
death. (Brightly.) Tell them of Heavenly Hosts
awaiting to carry off good men's souls in fire-
bright chariots with horses of the sun, to a lanrf
where they shall never more be weary.

22 SCENES FROM THE LIEE OF

MARGARET (passionately.) Oh, father, would
that you and I were there together !

MORE. Sure Megg, you are right, my child.
Who wpuld live that could die ? One might as
well be an angel shut up in a nut-shell, as bide
here. Fancy how gladsome the sweet spirit
would be to have the shell cracked ! no matter by
whom, the King or the King's favourite, Let
her dainty foot but set him free, he'd say ' ' For
this release, much thanks." (Changes his voice.)
But, Megg, you ask me nought of my trial-
would you not like to hear what passed ?

MARGARET. Will told us somewhat of it; do
you tell me more.

MORE. The indictment was as follows : — 1st,
my opinion on the King's marriage; 2nd,
my writing sundry letters to the Bishop of
Rochester ; 3rd, refusing by oath to acknowledge
the King's supremacy. When this was read to
me, the Lord Chancellor saith : " Ye see how
grievously you have offended the King, His
Grace, and yet he is so merciful as that if ye will
lay aside your obstinacy, and change your
opinion, we hope you may yet obtain pardon."

MARGARET. And what answer did you make
to that?

MORE. I said : " Most noble Lords, I have
great cause to thank your honours for this your
-courtesy, but I pray Almighty God I mav con-

SIR THOMAS MORE 23

tinue in the mind I'm in thro' His Grace until
death."

MARGARET. But, father, could you not take
the oath ? Others have done so \

MORE (reproachfully.) Megg, Megg, if I
thought you meant that, it would cut me to the
heart. None of the terrible things that may
befall me touch me so nearly as that you, my
dearly beloved child, whose opinion I so much
value, should desire me to overrule my con-
science.

MARGARET (imploringly.) Forgive me, I am
distraught with sorrow — but when I heard that
many learned and good men have taken the oath
—(she stops hesitatingly) — I thought—

MORE (hotly.) But tho' they did, daughter,
it matters not to me, even should I see Bishop
Fisher swear the oath before me. Verily, child,
I never intend by God's help to pin my soul to
another man's back, not even the best man living,
for I know not whither he may chance to carry
it. There is no living man of whom, while he
lives, one can make sure, therefore though other
men can take the Oath of Supremacy, I dare not
do it, my conscience standeth against me. (He
sighs and looks sadly at her.)

MARGARET. You make me wish I had not so
good a father !

MORE (smiles sadly.) Little you know me,
and the struggles I endure lest I forswear myself

24 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

• — my only hope, daughter mine, is that if I
weaken at the end and fall, Our Lord will cast
a loving glance on me as He did on St. Peter,
and make me stand again and abide the shame
of my fall. And once for all Megg, this know
I for certain (firmly) that without I so will, He
will not let me foreswear myself. Therefore I
pray, I beg, my own good daughter, to pray with
me that it may please God that hath given me
this mind, to give me the grace to keep it.

MARGARET (aside.) Oh, God ! what a terrible
prayer for a child to have to say ! Father, did
the Council give you no hope ?

MORE (firmly) No hope, child; one of the
judges said to me when I firmly refused the
Oath. '' Have you anything more to say?" and
I replied : " More I have not to say, my Lords,
but that, like as the blessed Apostle, St. Paul
was present, and consented to the death of St.
Stephen, keeping their clothes that stoned
him to death, and yet they be now two holy
saints in Heaven, and there shall be friends
together for ever, so I verily trust that though
your Lordships have been here on earth my
judges, yet we may hereafter meet merrily to
our everlasting joy."

MARGARET. I marvel at you, father, to be able
to say that when they had condemned you.

MORE. Let us speak no more of it (trying to
"be bright.) And how goes the Court, Megg ?

SIR THOMAS MORE 25

MARGARET. In faith, father, never better.
There is nothing else there, I hear, but dancing
and disporting, since the Lady Anne is ruling.

MORE. Never better, child, sayest thou?
Alas ! Megg, it pitieth me to consider what
misery, poor soul, she will shortly come to.
These dances of hers will prove such dances that
she will spurn our heads off like footballs.
(MARGARET sighs deeply.) But 'twill not be long
ere her own head will dance the like dance.

MARGARET. Oh, father ! But the King loves
her so.

MORE. Mark you, Megg, a man that re-
straineth not his passions hath always some-
thing cruel in his nature, and if there be a woman
toward, she is sure to suffer heaviest for it, first
or last. You'll find it. as I say — seek Scripture
precedent for it — " Strong as death, cruel as the
grave."

MARGARET. Yes, father, I am sure you are
right.

MORE. Those Pharisees, that were to a man
convicted of sin, yet brought an erring woman
before the Lord, and would fain have seen the
dogs lick up her blood. When they lick up mine,
dear Megg (she shudders and covers her eyes),
let not your heart be troubled, even tho' they hale
thee to London Bridge to see my head stuck on
.a pole.

26 SCENES FKOM THE LIFE OF

MARGARET. Father, father, do not say such-
dreadful things. (She weeps.)

MORE. Think, most dearest, I shall then
have more reason to weep for thee than thou for
me. But there's no weeping in Heaven, and
bear in mind distinctly, Megg, that if they send
me thither, 'twill be for obeying the law of God,
rather than of man.

MARGARET. The very thought of it breaks my
heart.

MORE. Do not be so downcast. After all, we
live not in the barbarous old times of crucifying
and flaying; one stroke, and the affair is done,
A clumsy chirurgeon would be longer extracting
a tooth.

MARGARET. Father, do not speak any more of
such things. (She draws a parcel from under
her cloak.} Here is the h'air-cloth and the dis-
cipline and your New Testament, and Plato, and
look (she tries to smile), I have brought you some
sweet marchpane that I made for you, and some
suckers and barley sugar that you like so well.
(He smiles too, almost gaily.)

MORE. Thanks, my sweetest child, I shall
hide them away — 'twould not tell well before the
Council that on searching the prison cell of Sir
T. More, there was found mysteriously laid up
a piece of barley sugar. (They both smile.)

MARGARET. Tell me, is there aught that I
can bring to ease your discomfort ?

SIR THOMAS MORE 27

MORE. I want for nothing here, and I assure
you, mine own good daughter, that if it had not
been for my wife and you and my dear children,
I would fain have been closed up long ere this
in as straight a room as this, and straighter too.

MARGARET. Oh, but, father, we miss you
sorely. Tell me, have you no clue to some secret
passage whereby we could both steal away to-
gether— how I wish I could set you free—

MORE. ' Wishes never filled a sack" — I
make it my business, Megg, to wish as little as
possible, except that I were better and wiser.
You fancy these four walls lonesome — how oft
do you suppose I here receive some holy saint
and martyr ? My jailers can no more keep them
out than they can exclude the sunbeams.

MARGARET. But don't you think of us at all
at Chelsea? (sadly.)

MORE. Why, I am with you constantly in
spirit — in the chapel, in the hall, the garden-
in the hayfield with my head on your lap, on the
river, with Will at the oar. In place of thinking
of me in thy night-watches as beating my wings
against my cage-bars, trust, daughter, that God
comes to look in upon me without knocking or
bell-ringing.

MARGARET. Oh, but, father, if they take you.
how shall I live without you ?

MORE (greatly touched — kisses her.) Hush,
my child, do not let me break down, for oh, I love

28 SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF

you dearly, as God knows. (He stops, unable to
speak.) I shall be with you still if they take my
life — you will not see me about your path, you
won't see my disembodied spirit beside you here-
after, but it may be close upon you once and
.again for all that. Maybe at times when you have
prayed with most passion, or suffered with most
patience, or performed my hests with most
exactness, or remembered my care of you with
most affection.

MARGARET (weeping.) Father, father I
(Throws her arms around his neck.)

MORE. And now, God-speed, good Megg. I
hear the key turn in the door. (Sound of key —
kisses her.) This kiss for thy mother, this for
Bess, this Cecy, this for them all, and one for
thyself, my best-loved child. Keep dry eyes and
a hopeful heart, and reflect that nought but un-
pardoned sin should make us weep for ever.
(They cling together till the curtain comes
down.)

CURTAIN.

SIR THOMAS MORE 29

Scene IV.

At Chelsea — ERASMUS comes to enquire about
the last moments of SIR T. MORE.

MARGARET (sitting, looking very sad.) Dear
friend, how often I wished you had been here
during these past days.

ERASMUS. Only the extreme pressure of busi-
ness prevented me. I arrived from Holland this
morning and then heard the sad news on land-
ing. Would it pain you to tell me something of
the end?

MARGARET. I will, but my thoughts are so
confused. (She pauses and then speaks sadly.)
They brought him back from Westminster by
water, and Will, by a specially signed paper, got
leave for me to bide at the Tower Wharf till
father passed. Someone laid a cold hand on
mine arm. 'Twas poor Patteson — but so
changed. I scarce knew him.

ERASMUS. I mind well the day your father
took him.

MARGARET. He had a rosary of gooseberries

that he kept running thro' his fingers. He saith

— " Bide your time, Mistress Megg; when he

30 SCENES FEOM THE LIFE OF

comes past, I'll make a passage for you." Then
he wrung his hands piteously, and said— ' Oh,
brother, brother, what ailed thee to refuse the
oath ? I've taken it." (They smile sadly.)

ERASMUS (shakes his head.) Aye, indeed,
what ailed thee?

MARGARET. In a moment he saith— '( Now,
Mistress Megg, now." Flinging his arms right
and left, he made a breach thro' which I darted
fearless of the bills and halberds, and did cast
mine arms about father's neck. He cried " My
Megg," and hugged me as tho' our souls should
grow together. He saith — ' ' Bless thee, bless
thee; enough, enough, my child. What mean ye
to weep and break mine heart ? Remember, tho'
I die innocent, 'tis not without the will of God.
Kiss them all for me," and gave me back into
Will's arms.

ERASMUS. Poor father. What a parting !

MARGARET. But I could not lose sight of him,
and made a second rush and clave to father
again. This time there were large drops stand-
ing on his brow and big tears in his eyes. He
whispered : " Megg, for Christ's sake (she sobs),
don't unman me ! Thou'llt not refuse my last
request?" I said " No," and at once loosened
mine arms. : ' God's blessing be on you," he said,
with a last kiss.

ERASMUS (passes his hand over his eyes
several times) My poor, poor friend !

SIR THOMAS MORE 31

MARGARET. I could not help crying ' ' My
father." Then he vehemently whispered, point-
ing upwards with so passionate a glance, ' ' The
Chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof/'
that I looked up, almost expecting a beatific
vision, and when I turned around, he was gone.
(Sobs helplessly — takes a paper from her reti-
cule.) But he sent this written with a coal in his
•cell, and oh ! I value it as most precious !

ERASMUS (taking the paper, reads.) ' I
never liked your manner better than when you
kissed me last. Ah ! Ah !" (Sobs.)

ERASMUS (puts his hand on her arm caress-
ingly.) He loved you as the apple of his eye.
You were as dear to him as his own soul.

MARGARET. And I loved him as fondly as
•ever father was loved by a child. (She stops and
sighs) At times, I taste to the fullest the bit-
terness of the years I must live apart from him.

ERASMUS. Were it not for our Faith, Mis-
tress Margaret, we might well despair.

MARGARET. Yea, truly, my friend. It is only
the thought of Heaven that keeps my reason
secure, and when my agony of mind is most
severe, I open your copy of the New Testament
(draws it from her pocket) See, I always keep
it with me, and I ever find fresh strength in that
matchless verse of the Apocalypse. (She opens
the book, and reads slowly and with great feel-
ing) ' ' And God shall wipe away all tears from

32 SIR THOMAS MORE

their eyes : and death shall be no more, nor cry-
ing, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former
things are passed away."

(They both stand. She turns to ERASMUS
with almost rapture.) - ' Friend, think of it ! to
be happy with father for all Eternity and to see
God face to face."

(She looks up — so does ERASMUS, and they
remain so till the Curtain falls.)

CURTAIN.