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Thomas More was recognized throughout early sixteenth-century Europe as one of the great lawyers, Christian humanists, and classical scholars of his day. He rose from humble origins to achieve the highest political and judicial office of England, second only to that of the king. He became Chancellor in 1529, at the age of fifty-one. As Chancellor, More concentrated on two major tasks: (1) streamlining and improving the judicial system; (2) addressing and personally refuting errors which he considered seditious and destructive of both state and church. In the assessment of Tudor historian John Guy, More made substantial contributions in this latter area, reforming the legal system far more effectively than Cromwell would later, in his far reaching legislative reforms of the 1530s.

More was Chancellor for only thirty-one months. He resigned on May 16, 1532, the day after Henry VIII and Cromwell manipulated the Parliament to take away the traditional freedom of the Church, a freedom that had been written into English law since the Magna Carta. At issue was the survival of the Church as well as the nature of law and the scope of the state's legitimate authority.

He was betrayed by his so called friend, Cromwell, imprisoned and eventually executed for his views. Before his execution, More was heavily pressured by his family and friends to sign the oath accepting Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church in England. He is said to have quoted Christ by saying, "What profits a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul!"

That all lawyers and politicians should be as ethical as More, what a different world we would live in.