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[Enter the Sheriffs of London and their Officers at one door, the

Warders with their halbards at another.]

SECOND SHERIFF.

Officers, what time of day ist?

OFFICER.

Almost eight o'clock.

SECOND SHERIFF.

We must make haste then, least we stay too long.

SECOND WARDER.

Good morrow, Master Shrieves of London; Master Lieutenant

Wills ye repair to the limits of the Tower,

There to receive your prisoner.

FIRST SHERIFF.

Go back, and tell his worship we are ready.

SECOND SHERIFF.

Go bid the officers make clear the way,

There may be passage for the prisoner.

[Enter Lieutenant and his Guard, with More.]

MORE.

Yet, God be thanked, here's a fair day toward,

To take our journey in. Master Lieutenant,

It were fair walking on the Tower leads.

LIEUTENANT.

And so it might have liked my sovereign lord,

I would to God you might have walked there still!

[He weeps.]

MORE.

Sir, we are walking to a better place.

Oh, sir, your kind and loving tears

Are like sweet odors to embalm your friend!

Thank your good lady; since I was your guest,

She has made me a very wanton, in good sooth.

LIEUTENANT.

Oh, I had hoped we should not yet have parted!

MORE.

But I must leave ye for a little while;

Within an hour or two you may look for me;

But there will be so many come to see me,

That I shall be so proud, I will not speak;

And, sure, my memory is grown so ill,

I fear I shall forget my head behind me.

LIEUTENANT.

God and his blessed angels be about ye!—

Here, Master Shrieves, receive your prisoner.

MORE.

Good morrow, Master Shrieves of London, to ye both:

I thank ye that ye will vouchsafe to meet me;

I see by this you have not quite forgot

That I was in times past, as you are now,

A sheriff of London.

SECOND SHERIFF.

Sir, then you know our duty doth require it.

MORE.

I know it well, sir, else I would have been glad

You might have saved a labour at this time.

Ah, Master Sheriff, you and I have been of old acquaintance! you

were a patient auditor of mine, when I read the divinity lecture at

St. Lawrence's.

SECOND SHERIFF.

Sir Thomas More, I have heard you oft,

As many other did, to our great comfort.

MORE.

Pray God, you may so now, with all my heart!

And, as I call to mind,

When I studied the law in Lincoln's Inn,

I was of council with ye in a cause.

SECOND SHERIFF.

I was about to say so, good Sir Thomas……

MORE.

Oh, is this the place?

I promise ye, it is a goodly scaffold:

In sooth, I am come about a headless errand,

For I have not much to say, now I am here.

Well, let's ascend, a God's name:

In troth, methinks, your stair is somewhat weak;

I prithee, honest friend, lend me thy hand

To help me up; as for my coming down,

Let me alone, I'll look to that myself.

[As he is going up the stairs, enters the Earls of Surrey and

Shrewsbury.]

My Lords of Surrey and Shrewsbury, give me your hands. Yet before we….ye see, though it pleaseth the king to raise me thus high, yet I am not proud, for the higher I mount, the better I can see my friends about me. I am now on a far voyage, and this strange wooden horse must bear me thither; yet I perceive by your looks you like my bargain so ill, that there's not one of ye all dare enter with me. Truly, here's a most sweet gallery; [Walking.] I like the air of it better than my garden at Chelsea. By your patience, good people, that have pressed thus into my bedchamber, if you'll not trouble me, I'll take a sound sleep here.

SHREWSBURY.

My lord, twere good you'ld publish to the world

Your great offence unto his majesty.

MORE.

My lord, I'll bequeath this legacy to the hangman, [Gives him his gown.] and do it instantly. I confess, his majesty hath been ever good to me; and my offence to his highness makes me of a state pleader a stage player (though I am old, and have a bad voice), to act this last scene of my tragedy. I'll send him (for my trespass) a reverend head, somewhat bald; for it is not requisite any head should stand covered to so high majesty: if that content him not, because I think my body will then do me small pleasure, let him but bury