his favourite daughter Margaret,
who had not seen him since his confinement, came there to take her
last adieu, and forgetting the bashfulness and delicacy of her sex,
press'd thro' the multitude, threw her arms about her father's neck
and often embraced him; they had but little conversation, and their
parting was so moving, that all the spectators dissolved in tears, and
applauded the affection and tenderness of the lady which could enable
her to take her farewel under so many disadvantages.

Some time after his condemnation Mr. secretary Cromwel waited on Sir
Thomas, and entreated him to accept his Majesty's pardon, upon the
condition of taking the oath, and expressed great tenderness towards
him. This visit and seeming friendship of Cromwel not a little
affected him, he revolved in his mind the proposal which he made,
and as his fate was approaching, perhaps his resolution staggered
a little, but calling to mind his former vows, his conscience, his
honour, he recovered himself again, and stood firmly prepared for his
fall. Upon this occasion it was that he wrote the following verses,
mentioned both by Mr. Roper and Mr. Hoddeson, which I shall here
insert as a specimen of his poetry.

Ey flattering fortune, loke thou never so fayre,
Or never so pleasantly begin to smile,
As tho' thou would'st my ruine all repayre,
During my life thou shalt not me begile,
Trust shall I God to entre in a while
His haven of heaven sure and uniforme,
Ever after thy calme loke I for a storme.

On the 6th of July, 1534, in the 54th year of his age, the sentence of
condemnation was executed upon him on Tower Hill, by severing his head
from his body. As he was carried to the scaffold, some low people
hired by his enemies cruelly insulted him, to whom he gave cool and
effectual answers. Being now under the scaffold, he looked at it with
great calmness, and observing it too slenderly built, he said merrily
to Mr. Lieutenant, "I pray you, Sir, see me safe up, and for my
coming down let me shift for myself." When he mounted on the
scaffold, he threw his eyes round the multitude, desired them to pray
for him, and to bear him witness that he died for the holy catholic
church, a faithful servant both to God and the King. His gaiety and
propension to jesting did not forsake him in his last moments; when he
laid his head upon the block, he bad the executioner stay till he
had removed aside his beard, saying, "that that had never com