Cromwell’s Jury Gambit: The Hair Shirt and the Noose
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
As the court fills, Cromwell assures Riche that the jury comprises Londoners who remember More's past persecutions, suggesting a bias against the defendant.
During a recess, Norfolk expresses concern that the trial is not going well, heightening Audley's panic; Cromwell calmly alludes to More's asceticism as something that could alienate the jury.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Hostile and resolute, their bias against More solidifying into a verdict of guilt.
The jury of Londoners, initially selected for their resentment of More, react with hardening faces as he delivers his defiant speech. His patronizing tone and moral certitude alienate them further, solidifying their bias against him. Their expressions reflect a mix of hostility and resolve, contributing to the trial's inevitable outcome.
- • To deliver a verdict that aligns with their resentment of More and the Crown's expectations.
- • To assert their authority as jurors in the face of More's defiance.
- • More's past actions as a heresy hunter justify their bias against him.
- • The Crown's authority must be upheld, even if it means convicting a man of conscience.
Eager yet increasingly flustered, his ambition clashing with More's unshakable defiance.
Riche, flustered by More's contemptuous dismissal, presses his accusations with increasing frustration. His attempt to incriminate More through fabricated or misrepresented statements is met with More's smug defiance, further undermining his credibility. Riche's eagerness to secure a conviction is palpable, but his legal tactics are outmaneuvered by More's moral stance.
- • To secure More's conviction by exposing his alleged treasonous statements.
- • To regain control of the trial's narrative after More's dismissive remarks.
- • More's refusal to acknowledge the King's authority over the Church is treasonous and must be proven.
- • His own legal tactics, though aggressive, are justified in the service of the Crown.
Calmly calculating, with a growing sense of unease as the trial spirals beyond his control.
Cromwell sits quietly, observing the jury's reactions with a calculating gaze. He notes their hardening expressions as More's defiance and condescension alienate them, realizing the trial has shifted from a political strategy to a moral reckoning. His calm demeanor masks the recalibration of his approach, as he watches More's speech with a mix of fascination and concern for the trial's outcome.
- • To maintain control over the trial's outcome despite More's defiance.
- • To recalibrate his strategy in response to the jury's hardening bias against More.
- • The jury's resentment of More can still be leveraged for a conviction, but his defiance complicates the political narrative.
- • More's moral stance, while admirable, is ultimately self-destructive in the face of the Crown's authority.
Outraged and panicked, his authority challenged by More's defiance and the trial's unpredictable turn.
Norfolk, outraged by More's defiant speech, interrupts him with a shout, demanding silence. His explosive reaction highlights his personal and political investment in the trial's outcome. His panic and frustration are palpable as he grapples with the trial's unpredictability and More's unyielding stance.
- • To silence More and reassert the court's authority over his defiant speech.
- • To ensure the trial's outcome aligns with the Crown's interests and his own political survival.
- • More's defiance is a direct insult to the Crown and the court's authority.
- • The trial must result in a conviction to uphold the regime's stability and his own position.
Defiant and resolute, his moral certitude unshaken despite the court's hostility.
More, disheveled and unshaven, delivers a defiant speech invoking Christendom against Henry's authority. His patronizing tone and moral certitude alienate the jury, whose faces harden in response. More's refusal to acknowledge the court's authority and his invocation of a higher moral power mark the turning point of the trial, transforming it into a theological reckoning.
- • To assert his conscience and moral authority over the court's legalistic power.
- • To expose the court's statute as flawed and its authority as baseless.
- • His conscience and moral principles are superior to the court's legal authority.
- • The court's statute is flawed and cannot compel his loyalty to Henry's spiritual jurisdiction.
Composed and authoritative, maintaining courtroom decorum despite the escalating tensions.
FitzJames intervenes to stop Audley from prematurely passing sentence, ensuring the trial follows proper legal procedure. His authoritative presence maintains the court's decorum, even as the trial spirals into chaos. His action underscores the importance of procedural integrity amid the political and moral tensions.
- • To ensure the trial adheres to legal procedure and due process.
- • To prevent premature judgments that could undermine the court's credibility.
- • Legal procedure must be upheld, even in the face of political pressure.
- • The court's authority depends on its adherence to the rule of law.
Panicked and desperate, his authority momentarily undermined by his own impulsiveness.
Audley, panicked by the trial's direction, prematurely attempts to pass sentence on More before being stopped by Chief Justice FitzJames. His desperation to secure a conviction reflects his fear of losing his livelihood and the Crown's favor. His outburst underscores the high stakes of the trial for the prosecution team.
- • To secure a swift conviction to protect his political standing and livelihood.
- • To reassert control over the trial's proceedings after More's defiant speech.
- • A conviction is necessary to uphold the Crown's authority and his own position.
- • More's defiance is a direct threat to the stability of the regime.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The hair shirt, worn by More under his clothes, is referenced by Cromwell as a symbol of More's asceticism and revulsion for the flesh. Cromwell suggests that the jury might find this trait alienating, particularly in contrast to the 'vices' tolerated in younger men like Riche. The object serves as a psychological tool to sway the jury's perception of More, though it ultimately backfires as More's defiance transforms the trial into a moral reckoning.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Westminster Hall serves as the grand stage for More's trial, packed with jurors, legal figures, and observers. The hall's imposing architecture and formal setting amplify the tension as More delivers his defiant speech. The jury's hardening faces and the uproar that follows underscore the hall's role as a battleground for moral and political authority. The space is charged with the weight of institutional power and the fragility of conscience.
The back room off Westminster Hall serves as a cramped recess area where Cromwell, Audley, Riche, and Norfolk strategize during the trial's recess. The dim confines amplify their urgency and panic as they grapple with More's defiance. The space acts as a temporary shield from the courtroom's glare, allowing them to recalibrate their approach amid rising stakes. The room's intimacy contrasts with the grandeur of Westminster Hall, highlighting the private desperation behind public authority.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Crown, represented by Cromwell, Audley, Riche, and Norfolk, seeks to secure More's conviction for treason. The organization's authority is challenged by More's defiant speech, which invokes Christendom against Henry's kingdom. The Crown's legal and moral legitimacy is put on trial as the jury's bias and More's conscience collide. The organization's goals of upholding royal supremacy and suppressing dissent are tested by the trial's unpredictable turn.
The Jury of Londoners, composed of citizens resentful of More's past actions, plays a decisive role in the trial's outcome. Their hardening faces and bias against More reflect their role as decision-makers swayed by local grudges and Cromwell's manipulation. The jury's verdict will determine More's fate and the Crown's ability to suppress dissent. Their collective resolve, shaped by More's defiance and the trial's moral reckoning, becomes a tool for the Crown's agenda.
The Court of Westminster Hall, presided over by Norfolk, Audley, and FitzJames, serves as the formal arena for More's trial. The court's authority is challenged by More's defiant speech, which invokes Christendom against Henry's kingdom. The court's role as a stage for public confrontation between moral conscience and institutional power is highlighted by the uproar that follows More's words. The court's ability to uphold the law and secure a conviction is tested by the trial's moral and political tensions.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Riche reveals that he baited More by appealing to their past relationship, and the ensuing action shows the jury against More, suggesting the Riche got a confession from More."
"More faces Riche's accusation that he denied Parliament's spiritual jurisdiction but More deflects, however, Cromwell observes that More's patronizing demeanor hardens the jury against him. More then declares he sides with Christendom against Henry, furthering the conflict."
"Amidst shouts from the court, Cromwell watches More intently and next we see A young Cromwell ascends, the act connecting his past to the present turmoil ."
"More faces Riche's accusation that he denied Parliament's spiritual jurisdiction but More deflects, however, Cromwell observes that More's patronizing demeanor hardens the jury against him. More then declares he sides with Christendom against Henry, furthering the conflict."
Key Dialogue
"THOMAS CROMWELL: ((To Richard Riche)) I’ve given you a jury of Londoners. AUDLEY: Is that wise? They’ll know More. THOMAS CROMWELL: Yes, they will. And they’ll remember Monmouth and Bainham and Petyt and every other Londoner that More had killed or ruined, and how he set spies amongst their apprentices and in their homes."
"THOMAS CROMWELL: ((Calmly)) The late cardinal once told me that you should always find out what a person wears under their clothes. THOMAS CROMWELL: ((CONT’D)) Thomas More, for example, wears a hair shirt under his. AUDLEY: I fail to see the relevance. THOMAS CROMWELL: It speaks of a certain... revulsion for the flesh, don’t you think? Your average Londoner, for example, might think certain vices tolerable, even natural, in a young man like Richard here. But not More."
"THOMAS MORE: ((Ignoring the uproar)) My conscience holds with the majority. Against Henry’s kingdom I have all the kingdoms of Christendom! Against each one of your bishops I have a hundred saints!"