Sir Thomas More
A Man For All Seasons
Thomas More's Education and Career
Thomas More was born into a distinguished legal family in 1477, the oldest son of lawyer John More. He attended St. Anthony's school in London and then served in Archbishop Morton's household. In 1492 he attended Canterbury College in Oxford and subsequently went to study law at Lincoln's Inn in 1493.
In 1501 More was called to the Bar, after which time he rose quickly through the ranks of English Society. He was elected to Parliament in 1503, appointed Under-Sheriff of London in 1510, knighted in 1521, and became speaker of Parliament in 1523.
During this time he was also active in the fields of literature and philosophy. His best know work is Utopia, considered one of the best dialogues of all time, in which he tackled such controversial subjects as: the economic system, the prevalant philosophy, divorce, suicide, and the toleration of religious differences.
Thomas More and Henry VIII
Both More and Henry VIII were well educated and humanistic in their thinking. More assisted Henry VIII with his reply to Luther's 95 Thesis, entitled Defense of the Seven Sacraments, which earned Henry the title of "Defender of the Faith". Among other things, this reply to Luther defended the pope as head of the Church of England, a statement which Henry would later contradict.
After serving his king faithfully, More was made Lord Chancellor of England, a position outranked only by the king, This was a position that More not only did not seek, but attempted to turn down. However, Henry forced the Chancellorship upon him.
More was appointed Chancellor of London, many think, as a bribe for his support of Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. He refused to support the king on the matter which became known as 'The King's Great Matter', but agreed not to take any public part in the controversy as he was not inclined to express his opinions.
Thomas More's Downfall
More resigned from his Chancellorship on May 16, 1532, the same day Archbishop Warham delivered the document Submission of the Clergy. This document required that:
- clergy repudiate their right to make any new constitutions for the future
- clergy consent to submit all constitutions already made to third party people appointed by the king
- laws approved by the commission should receive royal assent and have full force of the law
Henry wanted to be recognized as “Protector and Supreme Head of the English Church and Clergy.” More believed the acts would destroy the nature of England, including the traditional land and legal systems. He could not serve Henry without accepting the articles, but in resigning his post he had insulted the king. As further insult, More declined the invitation to Anne Boleyn’s coronation.
More was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London in April of 1534. He was found guilty of treason because:
- he disapproved of the royal divorce
- he rejected the oath of the Submission of the Clergy
- he refused to admit or deny the King's supremacy over the church
He was executed on July 6, 1534. Thomas More was Canonized on February 10, 1935 by Pius XI, becoming the patron saint of Catholic lawyers, university students, and parishes.
Sources:
Cecil, Algernon. A Portrait of Thomas More: Scholar, Statesman, Saint. [London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1937]
Maynard, Theodore. Humanist as Hero: The Life of Sir Thomas More. [New York: The MacMillan Company, 1947]
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