III. Observations on the circumstances which occasioned the Death of Fisher, Bishop of Rochester; in a Letter from John Bruce, Esq. F.S.A. to Thomas Amyot, Esq. F.R.S., Treasurer

Few men have suffered the extreme penalty of the law under circumstances more calculated to arouse general commiseration, than those which attended the death of Fisher, Bishop of Rochester. It has nevertheless happened, that whilst the most trifling circumstances relating to his illustrious companion in misfortune have been dwelt upon with great minuteness, the fall of Fisher has not been investigated with any thing like a proportionable diligence. The chief reason for this marked difference may be found, I imagine, in the personal character of Sir Thomas More, compounded as it was of qualities more showy and attractive than the meek and Christian virtues of Bishop Fisher. The discrepancies and contradictions in the accounts of the proceedings against Fisher given by our best historians are so numerous, that I have thought a careful statement of the circumstances which accompanied his fall, partly derived from MSS. which do not appear to have been printed, would probably be acceptable to you, and if you think the matter of sufficient general interest to merit the attention of the Society of Antiquaries, you will oblige me by submitting the following remarks to their notice.