A Man for All Seasons Robert Bolt

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A Man for All SeasonsRobert Bolt

• Henry VIII
• and
• Sir Thomas More

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The Kings good servant, but Gods servant
first-Sir Thomas More on himself
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• February 7, 1478 - Thomas More was born in London.

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• 1491-1493 - More went to study at Oxford
  University. He wrote comedies and studied Latin
  Literature.
• 1494 - He returned to London to study law.

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• 1501 - He became a barrister. However, he did not
  follow his father's footsteps by becoming a
  judge. More was torn between a monastic calling
  and a life of civil service.

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• 1504 - For 3 years, More took practiced prayer,
  fasting, and penance habits at a nearby
  monastery.

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• These habits stayed with him for the rest of his
  life. Finally, More sense of duty to serve his
  country in the field of politics took over and he
  entered Parliament.

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• 1510 - More was appointed as one of the two
  undersheriffs of London. He gained a reputation
  for being impartial and a patron to the poor.

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• 1491 - Henry VIII born.

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• 1509 - Henry VIII ascends to the throne. He
  marries his brother Arthur's widow, Catherine of
  Aragon.

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Catherine of Aragon

• Catherine of Aragon was the youngest surviving
  child of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
• Married Henrys older brother, Arthur, who died 6
  months later.

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• The English king was interested in keeping
  Catherine's dowry, so 14 months after her
  husband's death, she was betrothed to the future
  Henry VIII, who was too young to marry at the
  time.

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• By 1505, Henry was old enough to wed.
• However, Henry wasn't as keen on a Spanish
  alliance, but he was forced to repudiate the
  betrothal.

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• 1515 -Thomas Wolsey became chancellor and head of
  both state and church under Henry.

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• 1517 - Placement of Martin Luther's "99 Theses"
  on Wittenberg Cathedral. These were stated
  grievance against the church. This starts the
  Reformation period.

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• 1518 - More became a member of the Privy Council
  which is an executive advisory board for the
  King.1521 - More is knighted by Henry VIII.

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• 1523 - More was made Speaker of the House of
  Commons. As Speaker, More helped establish the
  privilege of free speech.

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• 1522 - Anne Boleyn is introduced to the English
  court and meets Henry VIII. Anne refuses to
  become his mistress.

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• Anne also showed real interest in religious
  reform and may have introduced some of the 'new
  ideas' to Henry.
• However, she gained the hatred of some members of
  the Court.

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• 1527 - Henry consults More about divorce. More
  refused to endorse King Henry VIII's plan to
  divorce Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn.

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• 1527- With the help of Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII
  began the attempt to have his marriage annulled.

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• 1529 - More became Lord Chancellor, the first
  layman yet to hold the post.

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• 1529 - Catherine refused to acknowledge that her
  marriage to Henry was invalid or to retire to a
  convent.

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• 1529 - The Pope authorized a commission
  consisting of Thomas Wolsey to decide the issue
  of Henry's divorce in England. Eventually, the
  committee adjourns to Rome.

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• 1530 - Wolsey died.

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• 1531 - Henry is declared Supreme Head of the
  Church in England.
• 1531 - The clergy submits to Henry's threat of
  limiting their powers if they did not switch
  allegiance from Pope to him.

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• 1532 - More resigned citing ill heath, but the
  reason was probably his disagreement with Henry's
  stance toward the church.

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• 1532 - Thomas Cromwell had become the king's
  chief minister and was responsible for drafting
  most of the acts of Parliament.

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• Oath of Supremacy - Parliament confirms the Henry
  VIII is the Supreme Head of the Church of
  England. This cancels the Pope's authority in
  England and gives the king the right to reform
  the church.

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• 1532 - Anne becomes pregnant and Henry marries
  her in secret.

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• Act of Succession - Parliament declares Henry
  VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled
  and Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn to be lawful.

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• 1534 - More refused to swear to the Act of
  Succession and the Oath of Supremacy and was
  jailed to the Tower of London.

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• 1533 - Henry finally marries Anne in June. The
  Pope condemns the marriage and excommunicates
  Henry.

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• 1536 - Anne Boleyn gives birth to Elizabeth I.

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• Anne was soon convicted of adultery and beheaded.
  Two days before her death, her marriage was
  declared void.

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Jane Seymour

• Within 24 hours of Anne Boleyn's execution, Jane
  Seymour and Henry VIII were formally betrothed.
  On May 30th, they were married.

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• Henry does have a male heir with Jane Seymour.
• Two weeks after Edwards birth, she dies.

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• Henry declares Edward as his heir. However,
  Edward does die. Elizabeth I, eventually becomes
  the successor to Henry.

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• Henry marries 4 other wives.
• He never has a male successor.
• 1547 - Henry dies.