xperiment whether they could discover one
another by conversation. They met accordingly, and remained some hours
undiscovered; at last an argument was started in which both engaged
with great keenness, Erasmus designedly defended the unpopular side,
but finding himself so strongly pressed, that he could hold it no
longer, he broke out in an extasy, aut tu es Morus, aut Nullus. Upon
which More replied, aut tu es Erasmus, aut Diabolus, as at that time
Erasmus was striving to defend very impious propositions, in order to
put his antagonist's strength to the proof.

When he lived in the city of London as a justice of peace, he used
to attend the sessions at Newgate. There was then upon the bench a
venerable old judge, who was very severe against those who had their
purses cut; (as the phrase then was) and told them that it was by
their negligence that so many purse-cutters came before him. Sir
Thomas, who was a great lover of a joke, contrived to have this
judge's purse cut from him in the sessions house by a felon. When the
felon was arraigned, he told the court, that if he were permitted to
speak to one of the judges in private, he could clear his innocence to
them; they indulged him in his request, and he made choice of this old
judge, and while he whispered something in his ear, he slily cut away
his purse; the judge returned to the bench, and the felon made a sign
to Sir Thomas of his having accomplished the scheme. Sir Thomas moved
the court, that each of them should bestow some alms on a needy person
who then stood falsly accused, and was a real object of compassion.
The motion was agreed to, and when the old man came to put his hand in
his purse, he was astonished to find it gone, and told the court,
that he was sure he had it when he came there. What, says More in
a pleasant manner, do you charge any of us with felony? the judge
beginning to be angry, our facetious author desired the felon, to
return his purse, and advised the old man never to be so bitter
against innocent men's negligence, when he himself could not keep his
purse safe in that open assembly.

Although he lived a courtier, and was much concerned in business, yet
he never neglected his family at home, but instructed his daughters
in all useful learning, and conversed familiarly with them; he was
remarkably fond of his eldest daughter Margaret, as she had a greater
capacity, and sprightlier genius than the rest. His children often
used to translate