More is reported to have said on the scaffold, "I am the King's good servant, but God's first." Assess the justice of this judgement.
- It dramatizes a man's dilemma when two legal systems conflict.
- More could not honour his conscience and find a lawful divorce for Henry at the same time.
Dying for your principles is admirable because one of the most valuable assets one will ever possess is his/her own morals and values.
- Because we live in a very diverse society, each person's backgrounds and experiences are different, which results in everyone considering different aspects of life valuable.
- Sir Thomas is faced with a moral dilemma that will determine the outcome of his life. More, chancellor of England, and a strong Christian believer is forced to choose between his close friend, King Henry VIII, and the supreme lord his God.
- More also has strong respect for the king. Although he does not agree with his divorce, he does listen to Henry's reasons about not having sons, and More prays for the King for getting a male heir. (Page 11)
- More also stays quiet when he is asked about his opinion on the King's divorce, even to his family, because more believes "qui tacet consentire" (He who is silent agrees.) By this, More thinks he will not get commit a serious offense based on the fact that he did not disagree.
- More even resigned as Lord Chancellor because he did not want everyone to be disturbing him for an answer.
1. Sir Thomas More was deeply religious (prays daily, accepts fate, obedient to Church teachings.)
- He does not He disapprove the divorce between Henry and Catherine of Aragon, saying that the marriage was perfectly legal as stated in Deuteronomy (Page 31) after Henry said to More that under Leviticus, it was not right. – This proves that he is more obedient to his religious learning than to the King, who was obviously asking him for a favour.
2. ...