MARGARET ROPER, what worldly," on her entrance : What the good- year, Mr. More, I marvel that you, who have been hitherto always taken for a wise man, will now so play the fool as to lie here in this close, filthy prison, and be content to be shut up thus with mice and rats, when you might be abroad at your liberty, with the favour and good-will both of the King and his Council, if you would do as the bishops and best learned of his realm have done ; and, seeing you have at Chelsea a right fair house, your library, your gallery, and all other necessaries so handsome about you, where you might, in company with me, your wife, your children, and household, be merry, I muse what, truly, you mean here thus fondly to tarry !" Having heard her out, preserving his good humour, her lord said to her with a cheerful countenance, " I pray thee, good Mrs. Alice, tell me one thing." " What is it ?" said she, suspiciously. " Is not this house as near heaven as my own ?" She could not give any more seasonable reply than her favourite interjection, " Tillie value! Tillie vallie 1" Notwith- standing her displeasure, she did what she could for his comfort; and was at length obliged, on his pro- perty being confiscated, to sell her wearing apparel, to provide necessaries for him,-at which she took the satisfaction of grumbling a little. Their most overwhelming misfortune had brought all the family together again, in the house at Chelsea; and Margaret wrote to her father in touching words : " What do you think, most dear father, loth coxn.- 20
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