Claire Nelissen

"Never!" Adamantly, Thomas More (1478-1535) refused to accept Henry VIII as head of the Curch of England; he would not sign Henry's Act of Supremacy. More literally lost his head over that refusal. Hilary Mantel describes in "Wolf Hall" from a viewpoint of filmed over shoulder, the pressure that has been executed on Thomas More to acknowledge the king's claim. He refuses. He is denied, strolls out, is refused visitors and in the end they take away his books, writing utensils and paper. More rises, walks to the window and closes the shutters, stating he will sit in the dark form now on then. And so he does, until on a wet day, rain water soaking the hem of his cloak, drizzle in his face, he find death on July 6th 1535.