is own
to answer that of Lucian; for as he had defended him who had slain a
tyrant, he opposed against it another with such forcible arguments,
that it seems not to be inferior to Lucian's, either in invention or
eloquence: When he was about twenty years old, finding his appetites
and passions very predominant. He struggled with all the heroism of a
christian against their influence, and inflicted severe whippings and
austere mortifications upon himself every friday and on high fasting
days, left his sensuality would grow too insolent, and at last subdue
his reason. But notwithstanding all his efforts, finding his lusts
ready to endanger his soul, he wisely determined to marry, a remedy
much more natural than personal inflictions; and as a pattern of life,
he proposed the example of a singular lay-man, John Picas Earl of
Mirandula, who was a man famous for chastity, virtue, and learning. He
translated this nobleman's life, as also many of his letters, and his
twelve receipts of good life, which are extant in the beginning of his
English works. For this end he also wrote a treatise of the four last
things, which he did not quite finish, being called to other studies.

At his meals he was very abstemious, nor ever eat but of one dish,
which was most commonly powdered beef, or some such saltmeat. In his
youth he abstained wholly from wine; and as he was temperate in his
diet, so was he heedless and negligent in his apparel. Being once told
by his secretary Mr. Harris, that his shoes were all torn, he bad him
tell his man to buy him new ones, whose business it was to take care
of his cloaths, whom for this cause he called his tutor. His first
wife's name was Jane Cole, descended of a genteel family, who bore him
four children, and upon her decease, which in not many years happened,
he married a second time a widow, one Mrs. Alice Middleton, by whom he
had no children. This he says he did not to indulge his passions (for
he observes that it it harder to keep chastity in wedlock than in a
single life,) but to take care of his children and houshold affairs.
Upon what principle this observation is founded, I cannot well
conceive, and wish Sir Thomas had given his reasons why it is harder
to be chaste in a married than single life. This wife was a worldly
minded woman, had a very indifferent person, was advanced in years,
and possessed no very agreeable temper. Much about this time he became
obnoxious to Henry VII for opposing h