being a Judge, and his son a Chancellor at the same time. Every day,
as the Chancellor went to the Bench, he kneeled before his father, and
asked his blessing. The people soon found the difference between the
intolerable pride of Wolsey, and the gentleness and humility of More;
he permitted every one to approach him without reserve; he dispatched
business with great assiduity, and so cleared the court of tedious
suits, that he more than once came to the Bench, and calling for a
cause, there was none to try. As no dignity could inspire him with
pride, so no application to the most important affairs could divert
him from sallies of humour, and a pleasantry of behaviour. It once
happened, that a beggar's little dog which she had lost, was presented
to lady More, of which me was very fond; but at last the beggar
getting notice where the dog was, she came to complain to Sir Thomas
as he was sitting in his hall, that his lady withheld her dog from
her; presently my lady was sent for, and the dog brought with her,
which he taking in his hand, caused his wife to stand at the upper end
of the hall, and the beggar at the other; he then bad each of them
call the dog, which when they did, the dog went presently to the
beggar, forsaking my lady. When he saw this, he bad my lady be
contented for it was none of hers. My Lord Chancellor then gave the
woman a piece of gold, which would have bought ten such dogs, and bid
her be careful of it for the future.

A friend of his had spent much time in composing a book, and went to
Sir Thomas to have his opinion of it; he desired him to turn it
into rhime; which at the expence of many years labour he at last
accomplished, and came again to have his opinion: Yea marry, says he,
now it is somewhat; now it is rhime, but before it was neither rhime
nor reason.