More Returns the Great Seal to Henry

Great Seal of England (reverse, ca. 1509 -
Possibly that of Henry VII rather than Henry VIII)

On May 15, 1532, the Catholic bishops effectively made Henry the head of the Church in England. The next day, Thomas More resigned.  Here is Ackroyd's description of the event:

Old Palace of Whitehall
 (site of former York Place)
 by Hendrik Danckerts (ca. 1675)

"At three o'clock of a spring afternoon in 1532, Thursday 16 May, Sir Thomas More was admitted to York Place 'beside the village of Westminster', as the official report of the ceremony puts it.  It had been Wolsey's home but it now belonged to the king.  He was taken to the garden, where the king awaited him.  In the presence of the Duke of Norfolk, More then ceremoniously handed Henry VIII the pouch which contained the Great Seal of England.  The king graciously received this symbol of office, and granted More leave to bestow the rest of his life in preparing his soul 'in the service of God'. 'And for the service which you before have done me,' Henry went on to say, 'you will find me a good and gracious lord unto you in any suit which should concern your honour or pertain unto your profit'."

Wolsey surrenders the Great Seal
to Norfolk and Suffolk

More bowed and withdrew.  This was the last time More and Henry met in person.  The seal, which had been returned by Wolsey before it was given to More, would soon be passed on to More's successor Audley.

Text:  Peter Ackroyd, The Life of Thomas More (Anchor Books, New York, 1999) unpaginated Kindle edition.