Pluck up thy spirits, man, and be not afraid to do thine office; my neck is very short; take heed therefore thou strike not awry, for saving of thine honesty.
Source: Said to the headsman. Life of Sir Thomas More, (Roper)
-- Thomas More, (Feb 7 1478-1535), English humanist , statesman; He was the chancellor of England, 1529-32, who was beheaded for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England.