1480-1535
[Sidenote: More’s _Life of Sir Thomas More_.]
“He was of a meane stature, well proportioned, his complexion tending
to the phlegmaticke, his colour white and pale, his hayre neither
black nor yellow, but betweene both; his eies gray, his countenance
amiable and chearefull, his voyce neither bigg nor shrill, but speaking
plainely and distinctly; it was not very tunable, though he delighted
much in musike, his bodie reasonably healthfull, only that towards his
latter ende by using much writing, he complained much of the ache of
his breaste. In his youth he drunke much water, wine he only tasted
of, when he pledged others; he loved salte meates, especially powdered
beefe, milke, cheese, eggs and fruite, and usually he eate of corse
browne bread, which it may be he rather used to punish his taste,
than from anie love he had thereto. For he was singularly wise to
deceave the world with mortifications, only contenting himselfe with
the knowledge which God had of his actions: et pater ejus, qui erat in
abscondito reddidit ei.”
[Sidenote: Campbell’s _Lives of the Lord Chancellors_. *]
“Holbein’s portrait of More has made his features familiar to all
Englishmen. According to his great-grandson, he was of ‘a middle
stature, well proportioned, of a pale complexion; his hair of a
chestnut colour, his eyes gray, his countenance mild and cheerful;
his voice not very musical, but clear and distinct; his constitution,
which was good originally, was never impaired by his way of living,
otherwise than by too much study. His diet was simple and abstemious,
never drinking any wine but when he pledged those who drank to him, and
rather mortifying than indulging his appetite in what he ate.’
[Sidenote: _Life of Sir Thomas More._ *]
“He is rather below than above the middle size; his countenance of
an agreeable and friendly cheerfulness, with somewhat of an habitual
inclination to smile; and appears more adapted to pleasantry than
to gravity or dignity, though perfectly remote from vulgarity or
silliness.”