St. Thomas More of London (Vision Books)

St. Thomas More, the light-hearted but heroic Chancellor of England, comes to life in this biography by Elizabeth M. Ince from the acclaimed Vision Books series of saints for youth 9 - 16 years old. Raised in the London of the late 1400's, Thomas was a bright student eager for knowledge. When serving as a page for Cardinal Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury noticed his bright wit and sent him to Oxford. There young Thomas became a scholar of great repute, and later one of the greatest lawyers that England had ever seen. Going on to serve his King, Thomas More soon became one of Henry VIII's most trusted advisors. But then the unthinkable happened. King Henry VIII defied Rome and set himself up as the head of the Church in England, commanding all of his subjects to acknowledge him as such. Sir Thomas resigned as Chancellor rather than betray his faith, but his defiance came at a price. King Henry had him arrested and charged with treason. On July 6, 1535, Sir Thomas More was beheaded for high treason and became a martyr for the Church.