Thomas More and Charles V Part III / III Such a worthy councellour

Abstract

More’s retirement at Chelsea after his resignation lasted less than two years, a time which he devoted to write his books of controversy (especially during 1533), while trying to keep himself away from public life. The life of the ex-Chancellor contrasts with the Emperor’s frantic activity in Italy, Spain and Northern Africa. As the situation of Catherine of Aragón worsened, the possibility of war between England and Charles V became more and more real. And yet, a careful revision of available data proves that the Emperor never considered this course of action seriously: his real concerns were the Turks, the strengthening of his alliance with the Pope to face Lutheranism, and the ever hostile Francis I. As an epilogue to this research, I will bring into consideration the Emperor’s words of praise about the English Chancellor, as reported presumably by Sir Thomas Elyot.