Sir Thomas Moore's Last Moments

"Sir Thomas Moore's Last Moments"

Sir Thomas Moore, the English scholar and lawyer,
was condemned to execution by the headsman in
1535 for the dreadful crime of disagreeing with
King Henry VIII.

As he approached the steps leading up to the
execution block, he paused. He was rather weak
from the strain of long imprisonment and he said
to the execution with typical courtesy, "I pray you,
sir, help me up the stairs. As for coming down,
I can shift for myself."

He is also reported to have arranged his beard so
that it would not be in the way of the headsman's axe.
He wanted it left intact, for as he said, "My beard, at
least, has not offended His Majesty."

Source: Isaac Asimov
Received on Wed Feb 6 07:55:36 2008