The Life of Thomas More

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Karl Zuchardt's novel, Stirb du Narr! ("Die you fool!"), about More's struggle with King Henry, portrays More as an idealist bound to fail in the power struggle with a ruthless ruler and an unjust world. Thomas Edward Bridgett (1891). Life and Writings of Sir Thomas More: Lord Chancellor of England and Martyr Under Henry VIII. Burns & Oates. p. 436. thomas more head buried. In an essay examining the events around the addition to the Anglican calendar, Scholar William Sheils links the reasoning for More's recognition to a "long-standing tradition hinted at in Rose Macaulay's ironic debating point of 1935 about More's status as an 'unschismed Anglican', a tradition also recalled in the annual memorial lecture held at St. Dunstan's Church in Canterbury, where More's head is said to be buried." [136] Sheils also noted the influence of the 1960s popular play and film A Man for All Seasons which gave More a 'reputation as a defender of the right of conscience". [136] Thanks to the play's depiction, this "brought his life to a broader and more popular audience" with the film "extending its impact worldwide following the Oscar triumphs". [136] Around this time the atheist Oxford historian and public intellectual, Hugh Trevor-Roper held More up as "the first great Englishman whom we feel that we know, the most saintly of Humanists...the universal man of our cool northern Renaissance." [136] By 1978, the quincentenary of More's birth Trevor-Roper wrote an essay putting More in the Renaissance Platonist tradition, and claim his reputation was "quite independent of his Catholicism." [136] (Only, later on, did a more critical view arise in academia, led by Professor Sir Geoffrey Elton, which "challenged More's reputation for saintliness by focusing on his dealings with heretics, the ferocity of which, in fairness to him, More did not deny. In this research, More's role as a prosecutor, or persecutor, of dissidents has been at the center of the debate.") [136] Legacy [ edit ] Statue of More at the Ateneo Law School chapel, Makati, Philippines Maitland, Frederic William (1911). The Constitutional History of England: A Course of Lectures. Cambridge: University Press.

The trial was held on 1 July 1535, before a panel of judges that included the new Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas Audley, as well as Anne Boleyn's uncle, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, her father Thomas Boleyn and her brother George Boleyn. Norfolk offered More the chance of the king's "gracious pardon" should he "reform his [...] obstinate opinion". More responded that, although he had not taken the oath, he had never spoken out against it either and that his silence could be accepted as his "ratification and confirmation" of the new statutes. [90] Jeremy Northam depicts More in the television series The Tudorsas a peaceful man, as well as a devout Roman Catholic and loving family patriarch. [163] Our Family Station in St Pancras is open from 10.00-12.00 every Friday and we're continuing to welcome schools, as well as families and adult learners to our courses and access events. All our in-person and livestreamed events are going ahead. Other services a b c Apostolic letter issued motu proprio proclaiming Saint Thomas More Patron of Statesmen and Politicians, 31 October 2000 Vatican.vaMoynahan alleges that More influenced the eventual execution of William Tyndale in the Duchy of Brabant, as English agents had long pursued Tyndale. [75] This was despite the fact that the execution took place on October 6, 1536, several years after More had resigned as Chancellor and been executed, as well as in a totally different country. A historian has called this "bizarre". [49] :93 Modern treatment [ edit ] Stories of a similar nature were current even in More's lifetime and he denied them forcefully. He admitted that he did imprison heretics in his house – 'theyr sure kepynge' – he called it – but he utterly rejected claims of torture and whipping... 'as help me God.' [20] :298–299 In 1980, despite their staunch opposition to the English Reformation, More and Fisher were added as martyrs of the reformation to the Church of England's calendar of "Saints and Heroes of the Christian Church", to be commemorated every 6 July (the date of More's execution) as "Thomas More, scholar, and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Reformation Martyrs, 1535". [14] [135] The annual remembrance of 6 July, is recognized by all Anglican Churches in communion with Canterbury, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa. [136] Daniel J. Boorstin (1999). The Seekers: The Story of Man's Continuing Quest to Understand His World. Random House Digital, Inc. p.154. ISBN 978-0-375-70475-8. Pope John Paul II honoured him by making More patron saint of statesmen and politicians in October 2000, stating: "It can be said that he demonstrated in a singular way the value of a moral conscience ... even if, in his actions against heretics, he reflected the limits of the culture of his time". [12]

Wood, James (2010). The Broken Estate: Essays on Literature and Belief. New York: Picador. p.15. ISBN 978-0-312-42956-0. Eagle, Dorothy; etal., eds. (2008). The Oxford guide to literary Britain & Ireland (3rded.). Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. p.115. ISBN 978-0-19-861460-9. Sir Thomas More is a play written circa 1592 in collaboration between Henry Chettle, Anthony Munday, William Shakespeare, and others. In it More is portrayed as a wise and honest statesman. The original manuscript has survived as a handwritten text that shows many revisions by its several authors, as well as the censorious influence of Edmund Tylney, Master of the Revels in the government of Queen Elizabeth I. The script has since been published and has had several productions. [158] [159]

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Pope Pius XI canonised More in 1935 as a martyr. [11] Pope John Paul II in 2000 declared him the patron saint of statesmen and politicians. [12] [13] [14] Early life [ edit ] Main article: Chelsea Old Church §16th century and Sir Thomas More Statue of Thomas More outside Chelsea Old Church in west London All of our upcoming public events and our St Pancras building tours are going ahead. Read our latest blog post about planned events for more information. Henry Ansgar Kelly; Louis W. Karlin; Gerard Wegemer, eds. (2011). Thomas More's Trial by Jury: A Procedural and Legal Review with a Collection of Documents. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. p.189. ISBN 978-1-84383-629-2. Thomas More, as lord chancellor [1529-1532], was in effect the first port of call for those arrested in London on suspicion of heresy, and he took the initial decisions about whether to release them, where to imprison them, or to which bishop to send them. He can be connected with police or judicial proceedings against around forty suspected or convicted heretics in the years 1529–33. [note 6] Torture allegations [ edit ]

George M. Logan, ed. (2011). The Cambridge Companion to Thomas More. Cambridge University Press. p.122. ISBN 978-1-139-82848-2. Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Thomas More". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Utopia' was intended as a devastating criticism of how far Tudor England was from any ideal society. Utopia Rex, Richard (2011). Logan, George M. (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to Thomas More. Cambridge University Press. p.93. ISBN 978-1-139-82848-2. Gerard Wegemer (1995). Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage. Scepter Publishers. p.xiv. ISBN 1-889334-12-X.Morton enthusiastically supported the " New Learning" (scholarship which was later known as "humanism" or "London humanism"), and thought highly of the young More. Believing that More had great potential, Morton nominated him for a place at the University of Oxford (either in St. Mary Hall or Canterbury College, both now gone). [20] :38 You can also still join BIPC events and webinars and access one-to-one support. See what's available at the British Library in St Pancras or online and in person via BIPCs in libraries across London. In March 1534, the First Succession Act passed parliament, "investing Henry VIII with the power to “visit, redress, reform, correct or amend all errors, heresies and enormities;” to define faith; and to appoint bishops. This law also directed the monies which had previously been paid to Rome to the king's coffers. The Treason Act 1534 ( 26 Hen. 8. c. 13) passed in the same month among other things made it treasonable to deny the king's role as Supreme Head of the Church.' "St. Thomas More". Catholic Encyclopaedia.