Thomas More’s exEcution
On the 6th July 1535, Henry VIII’s former friend and Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, was b~headed on Tower Hill.
His crime?
High treason.
Early in the morning on the day of Sir Thomas More’s exEcution, he was visited by his friend, Sir Thomas Pope.
Pope came to the Tower to tell him that he would be exEcuted by nine of the clock.. .
More thanked Pope heartily and said that he was grateful to the King for giving him time in the Tower to reflect and pray….and to become resigned to death.
More reportedly said~
“I am most bound to him, that His Majesty is
pleased to rid me of these miseries of this
wretched world”
More then asked if his daughter Margaret would be able to attend his funeral, to which Pope replied that the King would allow More’s family and friends to be present.
More was led out of his prison cell around nine o’clock.
He carried a red cross, looking drawn and pale.
When a woman offered him wine, he refused, saying that since Jesus Christ had been given no wine at his exEcution, then neither could he accept it.
More was reportedly “merry” when he mounted the scaffold, saying to the lieutenant,
“Pray Sir, see me safe up, and as to my coming
down, let me shift for myself”
Since he was allowed no long speech on the scaffold, he asked only that those in attendance pray for his immortal soul, and declared that he died a loyal servant to both the King and to God.
It has been popularly reported that he announced,
“I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first,”
It is uncertain whether or not these were his exact words, it seems fitting, however, considering that he was dying as a result of his refusal to betray his conscience and faith in God.
More is also believed to have said to the eXecutioner that his beard was completely innocent of any crime, and did not deserve the axe.
More then positioned his beard so that it would not be harmed.
More then knelt at the block, looked up at the executioner, kissing him and saying~
“Pick up thy spirits, man, and be not afraid to do
thine office.
My neck is very short, take heed therefore thou
strike not awry for having thine honesty”.
Then, while he was still praying, his head was severed in one clean blow.
The great Sir Thomas More died a courageous and faithful man.
His head was set on a spike and displayed on Tower Bridge, where it remained for a few months.
His daughter Margaret retrieved it, placed it in a box, and bought it home for a proper burial.
It is believed Sir Thomas More’s head rests in the Roper Vault of St Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury, with the remains of Margaret Roper, and her husband’s family.