St. Thomas More, Knt.
ARMS: Argent a chevron engrailed between three moorcocks sable,
wattles and legs gules,
SOURCE/NOTES & CREDITS:
Arms from page 703, “The General Armory”, Burke, 1884, reprinted Ramsbury, 1989.
St. Thomas was born on 7 Feb 1478 in London and died on 6 July 1535 in London, England, age 57. A lawyer, scholar, statesman, knighted by Henry VIII in 1521, became speaker of the House of Commons in 1523, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1525-1529 and Lord Chancellor of England 1529-1532.
He was the only person who started out richer as Lord Chancellor than when he stepped down. He refused to recognize the King as head of the Church, so was convicted of treason and beheaded on 6 July 1535. Beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 and he was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935 with his feast day being 6 July.
The artwork is a rendering by John Hamilton Gaylor.
Wedvick Armorial, 032c St. Thomas More,
2008 0323
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