More abounded in light, in intellectual interests, in single-minded care for the common weal.

He was as anxious as any man of his time for the improved ordering of the Church, but he could not endure that reformation should be bought at the price of breaking up the ancient spiritual unity of Europe.

He was willing to slay and be slain rather than he would tolerate the destruction of the old faith, or assent to the violence of the new statecraft.

He viewed Thomas Cromwell's policy of reformation, just as Burke viewed Mirabeau's policy of revolution.

Burke too, we may be very sure, would as willingly have sent Mirabeau and Bailly to prison or the block as More sent Phillips to the Tower and Bainham to the stake.