Comparison: The Most Serious Crime In Britain

As Lisa Steffen argued treason was the most serious criminal offense in Britain because it affected the crown and its commonwealth. The laws against treason were based upon the medieval legislation of Edward III, though it was occasionally modified, strengthened or adjusted in order protect the crown. The statute confirmed the authority of the monarch over his subjects and “protected the person of the king and his family.” Therefore, as Steffen observed, monarchs used treason law to confirm and authenticate their dynasty and in their choice of religion it exposes how religion becomes associated with the conviction of treason. For example, Thomas More, a knight lord chancellor of England, was convicted with high treason for refusing to take the Oath of Succession. …show more content…
More “would say no more than that the statute was like a two-edged sword for if he spoke against it, he should be the cause of the death of his body; and if he assented to it, he should purchase the death of his soul.” This suggests that More could not accept the Oath because of the implication of rejecting papal authority that underlay in the act: an act which would go against his evidently deeply held beliefs. Therefore, More’s actions became criminal as “it might be taken not only as a confirmation of the Bishop of Rome’s authority, but also as a reprobation of the King’s second marriage, particularly because it was a capital offence to deny members of the royal family. From this one can argue that it was because of his opposition to uphold the supremacy of the King that was the grounds for