Sir Thomas More

Why did he oppose?

• did not agree with Henry’s divorce from Catherine

• Did not believe that the Church should be under lay (non-clerical) control

• Supporter papal authority

When was he appointed as Lord Chancellor?

1529 after Wolsey, despite HenryMs awareness of his opposition to divorce

what did More oppose? What did he refuse to acknowledge in regards to Henry and his marriage to Anne Boleyn?

The Protestant Reformation, directing polemics against Martin Luther and William Tyndale. He also opposed Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church, refusing to acknowledge Henry as supreme head of the Church of England and the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon

What did he become increasingly uncomfortable with?

Divorce proceedings on moral grounds and resigned in 1532 after the Submission of the Clergy- retired from public life, but remained a high-profile non-cooperator

When did his opposition become serious and why?

1534, when he refused to swear the Oath of Succession, but would not give reasons: his silence enraged Henry, who had him imprisoned in the Tower of London and interrogated by Cromwell

What did his silence mean?

No charge could be brought against him under the Treason Act until he was visited by the Solicitor General, Richard RicheX and allegedly denied the King’s supreme authority in conversation

When was he executed?

July 1535