Thomas More—a great man

Press, 26 July 1977, Page 20

Thomas More—a great man

This year, many people are remembering Sir Thomas More, one of the bravest and wisest of all Englishmen. He lived a long time ago, in the fifteenth century, and it is now the 500th anniversary of his birth.

Sir Thomas was a scholar, a writer, and a fine and honest statesman.

Henry VIII realised his outstanding ability and made him Lord Chancellor. However, Thomas More was not only gifted; he was just and good, the sort of man who would obey his own conscience and do what he believed to be right — even if it meant opposing the will of a king. In those times only an exceptionally brave man would dare do that for Henry VIII was powerful and ruthless. He thought nothing of throwing men into prison, having them totured and their heads chopped off, if they held views different from his own.

More’s conflict with the king came about in this way. Henry wanted to divorce his queen, Katharine of Aragon, in order to marry Anne Boleyn, but the Pope would not give him permission. Henry then decided to make himself head of the church in England so that he could do as he wished. He asked prominent Englishmen to support him and take an oath acknowledging his leadership in religion. Thomas More was loyal to the king but he refused. He could not take an oath

about something he believed to be wrong. He knew, though, that his refusal would anger Henry, and that he might be cruelly punished. He did not have to wait long. He was charged with high treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London — a grim fortress with dark dungeons.

There, Sir Thomas showed great courage, thinking of those in need rather than himself. He wrote tender and loving letters, particularly to his daughter, using coal to write with when he had nothing else. His dungeon was a cold, hard place and his health suffered. However, he had

always been a merry man. And although the King sentenced him to death, he continued to make jokes and comfort his sad family and friends. On the day of his execution he remaind calm and concerned for others. People came to watch him die and he said a few words to them, words which showed how steadfastly he held to his beliefs. He said that he was "the king’s good servant but God’s first.” Just before the axe fell on his head, he saw that the executioner was shaking and unwilling to perform his task. More comforted him, and made a joke, saying: “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.” Today, we honour Sir Thomas More as a saint, statesman, and scholar, and as a man who was not afraid to act as he believed right, although the consequences would be terrible for himself.