James Baquet

    Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) was an English lawyer, statesman, and philosopher. Like many Humanist scholars of the Renaissance, he was also an author, and produced a well-known novel written in Latin.

    More was Lord High Chancellor to King Henry VIII, one of the highest positions in the royal government. Before obtaining this official position, he had been the secretary and personal advisor to Henry, meaning he always had the king’s ear.

    A great controversy arose during his chancellorship: Henry wanted to divorce his wife, and rejected the Pope’s authority to decide such matters. At first taking the king’s side, More later supported the Roman Catholic Church, putting him in direct conflict with his boss. This contrary stance would eventually prove fatal.

    His position was part of a general objection to the Reformation started by Martin Luther. More believed that the Roman Catholic Church was God’s sole representative on Earth. He also felt that if the Church lost its power, society would become less unified.

    And a unified, harmonious society was of utmost importance to More. Back in 1516, a decade before he became chancellor, More’s friend Erasmus of Rotterdam published More’s magnum opus. The title is “Utopia,” a play on words that means both “no place” and “good place.” We give this second meaning to the term today. A “utopia” is a place where everything is perfect, and all the people are happy.

    In More’s Utopia, there is no private property. All goods are held in common and distributed as needed. Hospitals are free, and meals are served in community dining halls. Clothes are simple and uniform, with no finery, and gold is not valued. For these reasons, More was recognized by the Soviet Union as a proto-communist. There are no locks on the doors, and people move house every 10 years to prevent attachment to their property. Leisure is more important than wealth, and the people use it to improve themselves through learning.

    In the end, More’s opposition to Henry became too much, and he was imprisoned, tried, then executed in 1535. For this, the Catholic Church considers him a saint.

    Vocabulary

    Which word above means:

    1. deadly

    2. one and only

    3. highest, top

    4. going against, opposite

    5. head of the Roman Catholic Church

    6. agreeable, smooth-running

    7. put in jail

    8. disagreement, opposition

    9. position

    10. a movement to separate from the Roman Catholic Church