The Life of Sir Thomas More

FORASMUCH as Sir Thomas More, Knight, sometime Lord Chancellor of England, a man of singular virtue and of a clear unspotted conscience (as witnesseth Erasmus), more pure and white than the whitest snow, and of such an angelical wit, as England, he saith, never had the like before, nor ever shall again: universally, as well in the laws of the Realm (a study in effect able to occupy the whole life of a man) as in all other sciences, right well studied, teas in his days accounted a man worthy perpetual famous memory. I William Roper (though most unworthy) his son in law by marriage of his eldest daughter, knowing, no one man that of him and of his doings understood so much as myself, for that I was continually resident in his house by the space of sixteen years and more, thought it therefore my part to set forth such matters touching his life as I could at this present call to remembrance, among which things very many notable, not meet to have been forgotten, through negligence and long continuance of time are slipped out of my mind. Yet to the intent that the same should not all utterly perish, I have at the desire of divers worshipful friends of mine, though very far from the grace and worthiness of him, nevertheless, as far forth as my mean wit, memory and knowledge would serve me, declared so much thereof as in my poor judgment seemed worthy to be remembered.