Thomas More and Charles V Part II / III: A good servant of the Queen

Abstract

By 1527 Henry VIII was convinced that his marriage with Catherine of Aragon was not valid. In the complex net of political relations between Western European monarchies, this was not to remain a private issue; rather on the contrary, it would condition English foreign policy during the late 1520’s and the 1530’s. In March 1531, the Emperor Charles V wrote a brief letter to the Chancellor of England, Sir Thomas More, as a proof of his Majesty’s gratitude to More for being, in Chapuys’ words, a good servant of the Queen Catherine in the “King’s Great Matter”. However, the English Chancellor refused to receive the letter (or even meet the ambassador). A year later, More resigned as Henry declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England. In this continuation of a previous paper (Moreana 50.191-192), I will draw a parallel narration of the lives of More and the Emperor – from 1527 to 1532 (the year of Sir Thomas’ resignation) –, since both were framed (in different degrees) by three major issues: the King’s Matter – and his attitude towards Catherine; the war against the Turks; and the spread of Lutheranism. Chapuys is a central character in my approach, since he was a determinant key in bringing More and Charles closer to each other.