SHORT PLOT/SCENE SUMMARY (Synopsis)

Sir Thomas More tries to show Richard Rich that becoming a teacher would be better than striving to become rich. He does not succeed. Sir Thomas gives Rich a cup that he received from a woman whose case he had reviewed. It was a bribe, but More did not realize that until after she gave it to him. So, after that he did not want to keep it.

Sir Thomas visits Cardinal Wolsey who is Lord Chancellor of England, as well as Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cardinal has a letter to show him. The letter is to be sent to Rome, to the Pope. It is requesting the PopeÂ’s approval for dissolution of the marriage of King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine. More says that the Pope may be reluctant to grant another exemption. The Pope had allowed Henry to marry Catherine even though she was his brotherÂ’s widow. Wolsey wants More to be realistic. The King wants the marriage ended.

More meets Thomas Cromwell, the cardinalÂ’s secretary, a man who seems to be an admirer of Machiavelli, who flatters him. Then he sees Chapuys, the Spanish ambassador to England, who is a friend of Queen Catherine. Catherine wants to stay married to the King. Catherine is the aunt of the Spanish king which is another reason for Chapuys to take the QueenÂ’s side in the matter of dissolving the marriage. Chapuys gets the impression that More is also against the idea of a royal divorce. He tells More that an insult to Catherine would be an insult to the King of Spain. He asks More what his response to Wolsey was. MoreÂ’s response to Chapuys leads Chapuys to think that More is against the divorce.

When More returns to his home in Chelsea it is late. His daughter, Margaret, is still awake. Her suitor, Will Roper, is there. He tells Sir Thomas that he wants to marry Margaret. Roper is a Lutheran so More is against the marriage.

Cardinal Wolsey, after failing to get the PopeÂ’s agreement on the issue of the royal marriage, dies in disgrace, leaving the position of Archbishop of Canterbury open. More is the new Archbishop of Canterbury. This means that he will now be under even more pressure from the King and his Court to change his position regarding the royal marriage.

At a pub, Cromwell has a meeting with Richard Rich, the man to whom More earlier gave the cup. Rich is in a frame of mind to be bribed. He wants to move up in the world and is willing to do whatever is asked of him by someone willing to help him rise. Cromwell brags that he does whatever the King wants to be done. He tells him that he knows that the King will be visiting More soon to discuss the marriage with him. Matthew, MoreÂ’s steward arrives on the scene. All three men, one at a time, try to get information from Matthew. He gives them information, but nothing really secret.

The King arrives at Sir ThomasÂ’ home. The household is not supposed to know that the King is coming, but everyone does. The household pretends to be surprised. Throughout the visit, both the King and MoreÂ’s family continue the pretense. The King notices how well-educated Margaret is. The King switches from friendly to demanding and back again throughout his visit. He must have his divorce. If More has not changed his mind on the matter, then he should give the matter more thought. More reminds the King that he promised not to push him on this subject when he became chancellor. The King says that he is breaking his word, and then he says that he is joking. Both quote from the bible to back up their side. The King says that he needs MoreÂ’s backing in this matter because everyone respects his word. The King says that English subjects who oppose him are guilty of treason. This implies that, if More opposes him, he too is guilty of treason. Sir Thomas is not to write anything against the King.

After the King departs, MoreÂ’s wife, Alice, questions More about his reasons for not agreeing to do as the King wants him to do. Life would be so much easier if he would just go along with the King. More explains that he must follow his conscience.

Rich arrives and says that Cromwell is asking questions. He says that Matthew is one of his sources. More is not surprised. Rich says that Chapuys is also asking questions. More explains that is part of Chapuys job. Rich asks More for a job, but he refuses to give him one.

After Rich leaves, Alice wants to know why people are asking questions about her husband. More tells her that it is because he is well known. He does not want her to know any more about the situation than absolutely necessary for her own protection.

Thomas Cromwell meets Rich at a pub and offers him a job as Collector of Revenues for York Diocese. Rich knows that he will have to do something in return. Cromwell questions Rich in detail about the cup that More gave him, the cup that was originally a bribe. Cromwell thinks that knowing that something improper is known about himself is enough to make a person do what is needed. Rich thinks that More will be hard to frighten.

At this point several years have passed. It is now May of 1532. An Act of Parliament has created the Church of England. Anyone who did not agree met an unpleasant fate. The King has obtained his divorce and banned Catherine from the Court. Also, during the time just past Roper has become a Catholic and married Margaret.

Chapuys is visiting More, trying to make him feel guilty for not speaking out against the King. Roper and the Duke of Norfolk arrive. Norfolk tells More that the bishops have submitted to the will of the King. More takes of his chain of office. He no longer wishes to be chancellor. Norfolk does not understand his friend, MoreÂ’s action. Then he says that Henry will continue to be his good lord anyway. More tells Norfolk what he heard from Chapuys, that there may be trouble to the north in the spring.

The Duke of Norfolk and Cromwell discuss Sir Thomas. Cromwell says that he has information about Sir Thomas taking a bribe once. That is an offense that could send him to the Tower. They meet Rich and the woman who bribed More. Norfolk does not think they have a good case because More got rid of the cup after he realized that it was a bribe. Cromwell can see the friendship between Norfolk and More. He believes that will be helpful in showing that More is not being persecuted.

A later day Chapuys bring More a letter from the King of Spain in which he speaks appreciatively about MoreÂ’s stand. More does not want the letter. It should be shown to the King. News of MoreÂ’s loyalty to the King has not been spread as widely as gossip about his views.

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