Final answer:
Thomas More, a famous Christian humanist and friend of Henry VIII, refused to acknowledge Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England and was executed for treason.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who refused to acknowledge Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England and paid for it with his life is Thomas More.
Thomas More was a famous Christian humanist and a close friend of Henry VIII. Despite his friendship with the king, More remained loyal to the Roman Catholic Church and refused to acknowledge Henry VIII's authority over the Church.
As a result, More was charged with treason and executed in 1535. His refusal to compromise his religious beliefs and allegiance to the pope made him a martyr for the Catholic cause during the English Reformation.