272 pages
5 stars
Thomas Cromwell left his home in Putney (a few miles from London), at about age fifteen. He fought in various European battles. With his excellent command of several languages, including Italian, he took a position with the highly esteemed traders, the Frescobaldis.
After some time in Italy with the Frescobaldis, Thomas was back in England. He worked as a lawyer, trader and a fixer of sorts. He had many friends where he lived in the Italian section of East London. His final home was called Austin Friars and was adjacent to the Austin Friars monastery. In 1524 he took a position working for Cardinal Wolsey. He had had previous dealings with the court and even traded ideas with King Henry VIII.
Thomas and Cardinal Wolsey worked closely together. They became firm friends. The one thing Henry wanted above all else was the dissolution of his almost twenty-year marriage to Catherine of Aragon. When Wolsey failed to deliver, he was banned from court. All of his assets were seized. He was to die on his way to the Tower of London. Thomas was very upset at the loss of his friend.
Anne Boleyn never cared for Cromwell. However, it was Thomas Cromwell and (later) Archbishop Thomas Cranmer who finally brought about the solution of Henry’s “Great Matter.”
After miscarriages and one live daughter, Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I), Henry became disenchanted with Anne. Being spirited and outspoken as a love interest was one thing, but a queen is expected to obey and reign in her impulses. Anne did not. The miscarriages did not help. It was Catherine of Aragon all over.
Henry’s eye was caught by the demure Jane Seymour. He complained to Thomas. Thomas came up with a solution. There may have been an element of revenge, for Anne had treated Thomas badly. She was executed by a French swordsman in the Tower in 1536.
Just a few days later, Henry married Jane and she finally gave him his heart's desire - a son he named Edward. However, she died a few days later of “childbed fever.”
Thomas was never too interested in religion, however he became so and even wrote his version of the bible. Instigated by Henry, but carried out by Thomas was the dissolution of the monasteries. Henry based this on his new religion, the Church of England. Henry was now head of the church and all tithes to the Catholic Church were ceased. This led to the Pilgrimage of Grace. Henry was absolutely ruthless in putting it down.
Thomas had many, many friends, among them was Eustace Chapuys, the Spanish Ambassador. He also loved his family and was almost destroyed by several deaths in his family, including his daughters, due to the “sweating sickness''. (?). He was godfather to many and treated his friends well and did all he could for them.
A court conspiracy was afoot to destroy Cromwell. The plotters thought he was too close to Henry and had too much power. Especially for a “commoner.” They succeeded. Thomas was the only person that Henry publicly regretted having executed.
This book is very well written and plotted. It is easy to read and presents a balanced and more human representation to the historically maligned Thomas Cromwell. I was very glad to have read this book, for I have always thought that he was much misrepresented by history. It is easy to read and understand and will appeal to those interested in Tudor, medieval history, or just history in general. I very much enjoyed this book.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this informative book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
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Top reviews from other countries
Moreton
Interesting insights - but I found it poorly written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2023