Hankerings and Utopia

Dear Folk,

On this date in history July 6, 1535, a great intellect, philosopher, politician, and knight, Thomas More was executed. He had come to trial on July 1st, was found guilty of treason, and executed by Henry VIII, Lizzie I's dad.

Thom was born in Feb 7, 1478 in London to Agnes and John More. Dad was a lawyer and later a judge. Thom went to Oxford U. when he was 14. At 18 he went to study law -- ruined the boy. At 26 he entered Parliament. Fella even became an Under-Sherriff of London. No, that is not like Barney Fife; not hardly.

It was at the age of 37 he was sent to Antwerp -- folks there did like English wool -- and began writing his famous book Utopia. Fact is, he invented the term. "U" or "Eu" meaning perfect, "topia" is land. It was his vision of a perfect land, a prefect society. He finished that in 1516, what four hundred eight-something years ago? It is still read.

It was inevitable that Hank VIII would notice him. Hank knighted him and made him a Sub-Treasurer. A short time later he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. He also got interested in defending Catholicism , which was a definite turning point for him. On October 25th, 1529 Hank made Thom Lord Chancellor of England. Cardinal Wolsey had just been relieved of the post.

See, everything would have been really cooking for Thom except that Hank had this hankering. What king does not at some time or another? Hank wanted a son and decided that he needed a new wife to get one. Problem was that Hank was already married to a Catherine of Aragon who had given him a daughter Mary. Hank had fallen for a tempting enchantress with six fingers on one hand, Anne Boleyn. Kate, by the way, had previously married Arthur, Hank's elder brother but Art passed away. So does all Art when faced with greedy royalty. Anyway, Kate Aragon was no longer in favor. Hank petitioned the Pope to dissolve his marriage because Kate was sort of his sister (-in-law). The Pope said, " Hey, this is suddenly news? No way!" Hank said fine, he would start his own branch of Catholicism but based in England. Neat idea, franchising.

When Hank told the English bishops what he proposed, they mostly all said, "Attaboy, Hank, we're with you!" This was on May 15, 1532. The very next day Thom quit being chancellor. Not only did he resign, he started writing books pro-Roman Catholic and sort of just a little anti-Hank Catholic. In 1534 he was offered the guest room in the Tower of London. Hey, he could have fed the ravens or chased the ghosts around. Oh, probably not, he did have a rather strict booking.

And then on July 1, 1535 he was convicted of treason on really perjured testimony and beheaded 5 days later.

What about Hank? Well, Anne did not give him a son but did give him the best ruler in my opinion England ever had: Lizzie I. Anne was convicted of treason and arm-wrestling with an admirer. Hank had her shortened, too. I wonder if that spoiled Lizzie's view of men any? Jane Seymour replaced Anne and finally gave Hank a son, Eddie VI, a weak kid thrown in with some really powerful sisters. He lived to be all of sixteen. Since Lizzie died without an official child (as I told you earlier, we will not discuss Sir Francis Bacon as being Lizzie's kid. Really, I know nothing about that), Hank's line died out. You might remember that line was started by that danged Hank Tutor (VII) who had Ricky III bumped off. All his efforts for just two kings and a queen, then to be replaced by Jimmie Stuart. I know, we all loved him in "Harvey" and "It's a Wonderful Life." Dinna ken he could do a Scottish burr, didya neu, laddies?

In 1935, Sir Thom More was made a Roman Catholic saint. In 1960 Robert Bolt wrote a wonderful play called "A Man for All Seasons" which was made into a movie in 1966. It is all about Thom. Go rent it at better independent video stores. (Friends don't let friends rent at Bl#ckb*ster."

What have we learned? While some men dream of Utopia, others are making a kingdom on earth? It is dangerous to say no to kings? It takes some folks 400 years to make it big in the saint game? I think my take on all of this is "Thank heavens for little girls!" Hank could have saved us all a lot of trouble if he had had that as his motto. Besides, Hank, it is the dad who determines the sex of the child. Trust me on this.

Hey, thanks for those ecards and eletters coming in from darkest Tejas and elsewhere. Do write. An especial hello to you Stargators!

Saying what I think I think, I think,
Ells