On this day in history, 5th July 1535, Sir Thomas More, Henry VIII’s former chancellor, wrote a last letter from his prison cell in the Tower of London.
He’d been imprisoned in the Tower since 17th April 1534 and had been found guilty of high treason by a commission of oyer and terminer on 1st July 1535. He chose to write his final letter on the eve of his execution, using coal to write the words to his beloved daughter, Margaret (Meg) Roper.
Picture: Miniature of Margaret Roper by Hans Holbein the Younger.
I find his letter extremely poignant especially the bit where he said ‘I never loved your manners better than when you kissed me last’ they sound like their relationship was very close, also when she stole his head from London bridge and took it home with her, that’s the sort of thing I would have done, it was an act of defiance towards the king, she was telling him he was no traitor and he should not be treated as such, all Thomas More wanted was to live in peace with his family he had principles and he stuck to them, he said at his trial, ‘ I say none harm I mean none harm’, he was persecuted because he would not sign the act of supremacy and because of that Henry decided to have this brilliant lawyer, this one time friend of his who was admired throughout Europe, senselessly put to death, a bleak day in England’s history, it was however something Henry did regret as he was playing cards with Anne when he was informed of his death, and he was that upset he couldn’t play anymore, he also blamed Anne, there were thorns in their relationship even then.
Henry could really NOT pick his spots. Apparently he came to rue having Thomas Cromwell executed, too. Two of his best servants sent to the block because they would not tell him he had clothes when he was bare-assed naked.
Thomas More, the normal human being, father, husband, grandfather, all the things that he wanted to be allowed to be. Henry should have left him alone to be a family man, in fact he should never have made him Chancellor, knowing how he felt about the divorce. More was a family man first, before anything, but in the end, he could not betray his faith even to go home. He even said at his trial that he hoped all would meet in heaven. His words here revesl a man who is concerned with the small things of memory, of caring for every family member, in a way that is tender and moving. For me, this is the real More, not the saint or fanatic as he is shown in films, but the man who was painted in the midst of his loving family, the man for a few moments who is back with them.