Also on this day in history, on the 6th July 1535, Sir Thomas More was executed on Tower Hill.
According to the Chronicler, Edward Hall, as Thomas More stumbled on climbing the scaffold, he said “merrily” to the Lieutenant: “Pray, Sir, see me safe up; and as to my coming down, let me shift for myself.”
You can read more about his execution in my article from last year “The Execution of Sir Thomas More” and if you want to read more about the man and his life then you should find the following articles interesting:-
RIP Sir Thomas More.
Incredible that he could make a joke at such a time. I’m very conflicted about him; on the one hand, he was known as honest, intellectual and straightforward. He wasn’t a “yes man”. But he could also be harsh and strict and burned non-Catholics. I know he was a product of his times and I’m a product of mine. I might just have to leave it at that, and admire his good qualities while trying not to think about the fact that if I had lived in his times, he’d have had no qualms about burning me alive.
I think it best, sometimes to put the strict religious beliefs of a person to one side, in certain cases,although it is difficult as it was such a big part of life then, and many atrocities were carried out in the name of it, as they can cloud and overpower our ability to recognise who they were and what else they achieved, I am guilty of that myself when Mary is a topic, seeing only all the religious executions rather than the mistreated, unloved woman she was.
Thomas was a very educated, wise, forward thinking man of those times. One of his many attributes was his thoughts on educating women. The whole of this country and Europe seemed to be in shock and disbelieve at his execution.
He was, also, another man who was not provided for in a manner he should have been when imprisoned, like Fisher.
The ironic thing is, he was executed on this day because of his disagreement with Henry remarrying to get a son and heir, (in basic terms) that when he finally managed to produce one, 18 years later on the same day that heir, Edward VI, died also….A sad day on two accounts
R.I.P Sir Thomas More. You will always be remembered, for the good mainly.
Not being an overly religious person with a slight catholic background I agree whole heartedly about honoring this mans attributes and contributions to society as it was. And putting aside ones strict religious beliefs is, in my view, maybe what he should have done for the welfare of his family not to mention what a learned scholar such as he may have contributed to society had he lived longer. After all God and in turn Jesus Christ forgives ALL things no matter how great. To make a historical point though. Thomas More had no public issues with the kings Marriage to Ann Boleyn. It was the swearing an oath to put King Henry as supreme head of the church that he had an issue with that cost hims his head.
I think we just said the same thing. 😉
We did, sweetie, in a different way, just realized that when I re-read the posts…..