Father’s dispatch of business is such that one day before the end of term he was told there was no cause or petition to be sett before him, a thing unparalleled, which he desired might be formally recorded.

July 28.

Here’s father at issue with half the learned heads in Christendom concerning the king’s marriage.  And yet for alle that, I think father is in the right.

He taketh matters soe to heart that e’en his appetite fails.

August.

He hath resigned the Great Seal!  And none of us knew it until after morning prayer to-day, when, instead of one of his gentlemen stepping up to my mother in her pew, with the words, “Madam, my lord is gone,” he cometh up to her himself, smiling, and with these selfsame words.  She takes it at first for one of his manie jests whereof she misses the point.

Our was but a short sorrow, for we have got father to ourselves again.  Patteson skipped across the garden, crying, “Let a fatted calf be killed, for this my brother who was dead is alive again!”

How shall we contract the charges of Sir Thomas More?  Certain servants must go; poor Patteson, alas! can be easier spared than some.

September 22.

A tearfull morning.  Poor Patteson has gone, but father had obtained him good quarters with my Lord Mayor, and he is even to retain his office with the Lord Mayor, for the time being.

1533, April 1.

The poor fool to see me, saying it is his holiday, and having told the Lord Mayor overnight that if he lookt for a fool this morning, he must look in the glass.

Patteson brought news of the coronation of Lady Anne this coming Easter, and he begs father to take a fool’s advice and eat humble pie; for, says he, this proud madam is as vindictive as Herodias, and will have father’s head on a charger.

April 4.

Father bidden to the coronation by three bishops.  He hath, with curtesie, declined to be present.  I have misgivings of the issue.

April 15.

Father summoned forth to the Council to take the oathe of supremacie.  Having declared his inabilitie to take the oathe as it stoode, they bade him take a turn in the garden to reconsider.  When called in agayn, he was as firm as ever, and was given in ward to the Abbot of Westminster until the king’s grace was informed of the matter.  And now the fool’s wise saying of vindictive Herodians came true, for ’twas the king’s mind to have mercy on his old servant, and tender him a qualified oathe, but Queen Anne, by her importunate clamours, did overrule his proper will, and at four days’ end father was committed to the Tower.  Oh, wicked woman, how could you!...  Sure you never loved a father.

May 22.

Mother hath at length obtaynd access to dear father.  He is stedfaste and cheerfulle as ever.  He hath writ us a few lines with a coal, ending with “Sursum corda, dear children!  Up with your hearts.”