51 



bring- His childehoode, euen as far as his first youth, was spent at 

 ' up * home under the tutelage of worthy parents and discreet schoole 

 masters, ffro' thence as to a more uberant soyle he was remoued 

 to the University of Oxford, wher he prospered soe well that in 

 short space he became a man fully furnished w th all the excel- 

 lencies both of learning and vertue. 



lescrip- His speech (as that personating Eaphaell in More's Utopia* 



.on* 



doth demonstrate) well-pollished and effectuall, his will incom- 

 parable, his memory rather wonderfull than inimitable, his study 

 in both the lawes soe absolute, that it was disputable in which he 

 excelled ; his body of a mediocrity in stature, and comelinesse, in 

 grassitude his strength aboue the measure and firmenesse of his 

 outward p'portion, as if it had binne inbred to labour and made 

 absolute by exercise, his countenance com'anding a reuerence, 

 and to w ch thou couldst not but vouchsafe an obeysance, in hi g 

 gate, a comelynesse tempered with gracefullnes, and his person 

 not difficult of accesse, yet soe disposed that neither his seuerity 

 affrighted, nor affability embouldened any one. To this (besides 

 . many guifts of nature) he had a kinde of artificiall cunning to 

 insinuate with the f auour of greatt men, and reconsile the opinion 

 of the best judicious towards him. To conclude, whatsoever he 

 undertooke he gaue his mind to facelite and bring to perfection. 



* ; ' Sir Thomas More gives the following description of Morton in his 

 Utopia: "John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was also a 

 Cardinal, and the Chancellor of England, was a man not more to be 

 venerated for his high rank than for his wisdom and virtue. He was a man 

 of middle size, and in the full vigour of a green old age. Though serious 

 and grave in his deportment, he was nevertheless easy of access ; and though 

 his manner was somewhat brusque when suitors came before him to solicit 

 his favour, he acted with an object that object being to ascertain their 

 abilities and presence of mind. Upon those who exhibited readiness of 

 wit without pertness, he found pleasure in bestowing his preferments ; for 

 in this respect they resembled himself, and he regarded persons so endowed 

 as likely to be useful in public affairs. He was a man full of energy, but 

 of polished manners. He was eminent as a lawyer, being a man of great 

 grasp of mind, and blessed with a prodigious memory. By study and 

 discipline he had improved the talents with which nature had thus endowed 

 him. The king depended much upon the Archbishop's judgment, and the 

 Government seemed chiefly to be supported by him ; for he was a man who 

 had passed for the schools of learning into the courts of princes, and through- 

 out a long life he had been versed in public affairs. Under various muta- 

 tions of fortune he had dearly purchased for himself an amount of practical 

 wisdom which, once acquired, is not easily lost." Mozley, p. 17. 



