A Defense For Sir Thomas More

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A Defense For Sir Thomas More Preparatory notes: Act One, Scene seven: -part one- King Henry visits More at his home, having sailed there on his new battleship. After pulling More aside to have a talk and discussing several topics, King Henry suddenly broaches the subject of the divorce. More says that he cannot agree with the divorce, and thus would rather not talk about it than outright disagree with the king. “That you should put away Queen Catherine, Sire? Oh, alas as I think of it I see so clearly that I can not come with Your Grace that my endeavor is not to think of it at all.” The king is disappointed and asks More why he would deny him his wish as it is so important to him. More replies that he would gladly cut off his arm if it would mean that he could agree with the king, and politely reminds him that when he agreed to take the Great Seal, the king made a promise not to badger him about the divorce. The king reluctantly agrees and tries to convince More by quoting Leviticus, "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife." Leviticus, Chapter eighteen, Verse sixteen He also rebuffs More’s protests that he is not a suitable man to meddle in those matters by asking if one needed someone else to make such judgements, to which More responds by asking why would the king need his support then. The king says that More is different from the others who follow him, and then changes the subject suddenly to music, which More is relieved at. After a while, the king states that he would not tolerate any opposition from More regarding the matter of the divorce, and then promises More he would not press him to support him, but would not take kindly to any sort of action taken against him by More. “...No oppositio... ... middle of paper ... ...nts Norfolk to take part in the campaign as since he is More’s friend, it would make the campaign seem less malicious. Cromwell threatens him and Norfolk leaves. Cromwell turns on Rich and berates him for not mentioning the fact Norfolk was present earlier. As Cromwell leaves, Matthew offers to be in Rich’s service. Act Two, scene four Chapuys hints an alliance with Spain would be profitable for More. He tries to give him a letter from the king of Spain, but More refuses to take it and when Chapuys says it is just a letter of admiration from the king of Spain for the stand More has taken against the divorce. More, irritated, denies having made such a stand and Works Cited http://www.americanidea.org/americanidea.org/Upcoming_Programs_files/A%20Man%20For%20All%20Seasons.pdf http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/amanforallseasons/section8.rhtml

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