The Irish standard., 1911-11-04
SIR THOMAS MORE
Was a Willing Martyr for the Faith
His Wonderful Eortituda.


Faithless as England has been to
the Faith she furnished the world
With one OF the most devoted and
loyal champions of the Catholic
Church, and one of its most heroic
martyrs.
Sir Thomas More, lord chancellor
of England, was born in London, 147s.
From his earliest youth this great
man was distinguished by his extra
ordinary piety and love of study. Be-
fore being made chancellor Sir Thorn
as was employed by Henry VIII, on
various embassies; first to France,
and afterwards to Flanders, to con-
firm a league between England and
Burgundy. After his return he COM
posed his Utopia" work so much
admired that it was speedily trans
lated in French, Italian, Dutch and
English. For the space of twenty
years Sir Thomas was in high favor
with the King, who created him one
of his prdvy councillors, dubbed him
knight and then advanced him to be
treasurer of the exchequer, and sub
seQuently he was made speaker of
the House of Commons. So delighted
was the King with More's wit and
learning that he would scarce even
spare him from the court. so that Sir
Thomas could only with difficulty OBJ
tain leave once q month to go to his
home in Chelsea, where his wife and
children lived. A little before the
elevation of Sir Thomas to the post
of chancellor, the question was urged
by the King aus to whether he could
divorce his wife, Catherine of Ara
gon, and gladly would he have secur-
ed the approval of his scheme on the
part of Sir Thomas, whose virtue and
prudence would have given a parti-
cular weight to any opinion he might
have expressed. There is little doubt
but that the chancellorship was be-
slowed on More as bait to bring
him over to the Kings views, but
whenever Henry addressed him on
the subject More urged his ignorance
of theology and suspended his judg.
ment.
On his coming into office as chan
cellor he heard many cases at home
after the ordinary routine of his daily
work
between both parties, and in every
possible way helping poor clients.
More was finally ordered as Speaker
to go down to the Lower House, ac-
companied by twelve of the peers,
and address the Commons on the sub
ject of divorce. 1t was out of his
power to refuse, but every word he
uttered expressed his embarrassment
IN dealing with matter against his
conscience, and he then resolved to
resign the Great Seal on the grounds
OF his advancing age and an infirmity
OF the chest to which he was subject.
Henry, as he received the seals of
his Office from his hands, thanked
him for hds good services, saying "in
whatever suit he might hereafter
have, which might effect either his
honor or his profit, he should not fail
to find him good and gracious lord"
The King then gave the Great Seal
to Audley, lawyer of less tender
conscience, and More retired to his
beloved retreat at Chelsea. When 1t
was subsequently enacted that the
King should be reputed supreme head
of the Church Of England, the oath
of supremacy was twice rendered to
Sir Thomas and Bishop Fisher, and
both, on their refusal to take it, were
committed to the Tower
In the days of his prosperity, More
had been bountiful to the Church,
and a loving friend of the poor, whom
he used to visit at their homes, be-
slowing ON them not pence but
crowns of gold. He also opened a
house at Chelsea for aged and desti.
tute people; he never took fees from
the poor; and his home sheltered not
only his children after their marriage,
but also his grandchildren.
When he resigned the Great Seal
he had but small annual income,
and at the time of his committal he
had no resources for the support of
life but the charity of his friends. To
add to his shame and sufferings on
the day of his trial, he was led on
foot, clad in a coarse wooden gown,
from the Tower to Westminster Hall;
his hair had become quite gray, his
face pale and emaciated, and the staff
on which he leaned for support, told
of the rigor of his confinement. He
made long and eloquent defense in
to the charges brought against
him, and after judgment of death had
been pronounced, was allowed to ad-