King _Henry_ the Eighth coming to the Crown, first Knighted him, then made him Chancellor of the Duchy of _Lancaster_, and not long after L. Chancellor of _England_, in which place he demeaned himself with great integrity, and with no less expedition; so that it is said, at one time he had cleared all Suits depending on that Court: whereupon, one thus versified on him, When _More_ some years had Chancellor been, No more Suits did remain; The same shall never more be seen, Till _More_ be there again. He was of such excellency of Wit and Wisdom, that he was able to make his Fortune good in whatsoever he undertook: and to this purpose it is reported of him, that when he was sent Ambassador by his Master _Henry_ the Eighth into _Germany_, before he deliver'd his Embassage to the Emperor, he bid one of his Servants to fill him a Beer-glass of Wine, which he drunk off twice; commanding his Servant to bring him a third; he knowing Sir _Thomas More_'s Temperance, that he was not used to drink, at first refused to fill him another; telling Sir _Thomas_ of the weight of his Employment: but he commanding it, and his Servant not daring to deny him, he drank off the third, and then made his immediate address to the Emperor, and spake his Oration in _Latine_, to the admiration of all the Auditors. Afterwards Sir _Thomas_ merrily asking his Man what he thought of his Speech? he said, that he deserved to govern three parts of the World, and he believed if he had drunk the other Glass, the Elegancy of his Language might have purchased the other part of the World. Being once at _Bruges_ in _Flanders_, an arrogant Fellow had set up a _Thesis_, that he would answer any Question could be propounded unto him in what Art soever. Of whom, when Sir _Thomas More_ heard, he laughed, and made this Question to be put up for him to answer; Whether _Averia capta in Withernamia sunt irreplegibilia_? Adding, That there was an _Englishman_ that would dispute thereof with him. This bragging _Thraso_, not so much as understanding the Terms of our Common Law, knew not what to answer to it, and so became ridiculous to the whole City for his presumptuous bragging. Many were the Books which he wrote; amongst whom his _Utopia_ beareth the Bell; which though not written in Verse, yet in regard of the great Fancy and Invention thereof, may well pass for a Poem, it being the _Idea_ of a compleat Commonwealth in an Imaginary Island (but pretended to be lately discovered in _America_) and that so lively counterfeited, that many at the reading thereof, mistook it for a real Truth: insomuch that many great Learned men, as _Budeus_, and _Johannes Paludanus_ upon a fervent zeal, wished that some excellent Divines might be sent thither to preach Christ's Gospel: yea, there were here amongst us at home, sundry good Men, and learned Divines, very desirous to undertake the Voyage, to bring the People to the Faith of Christ, whose Manners they did so well like.