Discussion: Question about Thomos More

"I am starting read more about him since seeing the character in the series. My question did King Henry feel as much gulit as about More death as he did in the series.

Thanks :)"

"Do you think Henry wouldnt have been good friends with More because he was from common stock? Wasnt Wowsey fairly commen too?? "

"Given the way in which Henry VIII's wives were treated, and the kind of lusty madness/meaness he descended into, I have to say that while I'd like to think he'd feel a bit guilty about it, I suspect that he was more of a tyrant than that - or perhaps that's just the way I can justify what happened to More.

I studied him at Uni last semester, and despite him not being perfect, I had really come to admire the man, so it was utterly heartbreaking to watch his execution. Jeremy Northam acted his role brilliantly; to the point where if I saw him in the street I might have to stop myself running up and hugging him just because he's alive! Then, of course, I'll realise that he's just an actor...I cried buckets, though, I tell you."

"Again Im going to respectfully disagree with Both you and Ms....

First in almost all historical books that I have read it is true that More really did not think of Henry as his best buddy. More felt best at home with his wife and children. Henry sought out a friendship with More because he respected his knowledge on many things of interest to the King. He would call for him at all hours of the day and night. And More obligied ever the servant to the King. More did not take the Oath because it went against his religious beliefs and to do so would be going against God in his eyes. He however did make an attempt to just live quietly away and not bring up the matter. But It was Henrys ego that this person he held in high regard (even if he was of common stock!) would not declare the oath. Even when his family begged him, he was a faithful servant to God first before the King. Placing blame like that to say More died because it was his own fault is like saying its Annes fault she couldnt shut her mouth and produce a male heir."

"That is true from Henrys perspective Anne should have just kept quiet and given him a son and when she didnt...the rest is history. Are we all going to quote Henryp point of view now lol!"

"How does anyone really know what Henrys POV was about Mores death?? How do you know that he thought it was Mores own fault-just curious??"

"I don't know. As you say, nobody can.

However, based on the impression of Henry's character I've got from reading up on him over the past sixteen years or so, I think that he was a man who could convince himself of whatever he wanted to convince himself of, and that he would have viewed the Oath of Succession as a test of loyalty. Did people side with their King or with others? My opinion is that he saw himself as making it easy for people to prove their loyalty, it'd only take a minute to take the Oath and then their loyalty would be a matter of record. So, when he's made it so "easy" for them, if they're refusing, he'd be ticked off.

As a defence mechanism, he wouldn't be able to blame himself for More's death so I would say that he initially blamed More. It was a battle of wills between the two of them and Henry lost. He wasn't able to make More side with him.

In later years, Anne probably inherited the role of scapegoat."

"I think a new book is coming out A daughters love about his daughter.....I need to look it up and see when it comes out. And what its about I really would like to get that book."