Calais in the time of Henry VIII, British Library MS Cotton, Augustus I, ii, 70, lithographic facsimile published by John Gough Nichols, 1846
This letter to the king discusses the jewels being prepared for the royal trip to France, as new collars and various other pieces were being made by Cornelis one of the royal jewellers. Cromwell also interrupts himself to mention the case of Edmund Knightley, a man perpetually in trouble with the law. In 1532, Knightley teamed up with his brother Richard and their sister Lady Susan Spencer, whose husband had just died. The three attempted to defraud the king by claiming Sir William Spencer of Althorp (yes, those Spencers) died with nothing, that the lucrative wardship of their eldest son, John Spencer could not go to the king as expected, and that many valuables could not be given to those listed to inherit. Sir Edmund Knightley took the blame for the scam, and was put in Fleet prison, but was released when a judge in the Common Pleas asked Cromwell to let him go. The complaining and attempts to claim various inheritances swirled for years around the Knightleys, to no avail. Edmund Knightley’s attempt to become a judge in the late 1530s went nowhere, because Cromwell remembered this case, and many more disputes his family had caused. The young John Spencer became a ward of the king and grew up to be a lawyer and head of the Althorp estate without any issues.
MASTER CROMWELL TO KING HENRY VIII, 7 September 1532 (LP v. no. 1298)
Please it your highness to be informed that according to your gracious commandment, I have caused patrons (the jewellers) to be drawn after your Grace’s device, albeit I have willed your goldsmith not to proceed to the making of anything in perfection until your gracious pleasure shall be further known. For the which purpose, both he and I shall return to your highness on Saturday night or Sunday morning, and with the intent your Grace may determine your pleasure. I have sent by this bearer the patron of your collar of balasses (red ruby-like spinels) and diamonds drawn according to your Grace’s first plan.
Touching a certain matter in variance between the executors of Sir Thomas William Spencer, deceased, and Mr. Edmund Knightley, (and) my Lady Spencer, information was made to your highness that great spoils of the goods of the said Sir William Spencer was made by the executors, and how that the executors would have put out my lady, late the wife of William from the execution of the testament. The matter has been heard here, before my lord the Keeper of your Great Seal, Sir William Paulet, and me with oath of your Grace’s counsel. And as it appears by the examination of the executors, as by Edmund Knightley and Richard his brother, the whole spoil and belonging of the goods and plate was made only by Edmund Knightley his brother Richard as has been had and made of the said goods and also such offences as have been committed in that behalf have been only done and executed by the said Edmond Knightley his Sister and such other of that part and none otherwise and the said Lady Spencer, their sister, notwithstanding that there was agreement made between the executors, and the Lady Spencer that she should enter into bargain with your highness and also into the execution of the testament with them as an executrix, which undoubtedly she had done if Edmund Knightley had not been.
Edmund Knightley has not only travailed as much as in him is to set a pike between the said lady and the executors, and to defeat your Grace of your title to the heir of Spencer, but also justified the same before the lord Keeper of the Great Seal, where on the other part it was openly proud that your Grace had good title, and all his allegation untrue, yet nevertheless for the reducing of the same his untrue purpose to effect, and to the intent to slander your Grace’s title and others, he has caused to be made certain proclamations in your counties of Warwick, Leicester and Northampton in diverse of your highness’ towns there, to the high contempt of your Grace and your laws. For it has not been seen nor heard that any subject within this realm should presume to make proclamation within your realm, but only in your Grace’s name. Wherefore, for his offences and other contempt against your highness, in that behalf my lord the Keeper of your Great Seal, taking that matter to be a grievous offense against your crown and imperial majesty, has committed Edmund Knightley to your prison of the Fleet where he now remains until your high pleasure shall be further known in that behalf.
As touching the cup of gold and corporas (communion cloth) case, I sent your highness’ word by Thomas Alvard, the truth whereof this bearer Stephen Vaughan can advertise your Grace who has made perfect books as well of the said cup and corporas case, as also of all other your highness’ jewels, now being in the hands of Cornelis, to be ordered according to your Grace’s pleasure. And thus, the holy trinity preserve your most royal estate of your most excellent majesty.
John Seymour Lucas, Cardinal Wolsey in Disgrace, 1901, Richmond Borough Art Collection.
Cromwell wrote to Wolsey yet again on 18 August 1530, this time to calm the cardinal. The letter is similar to the previous letter, the earlier one likely an initial draft, this one being the full letter sent. Cromwell spends the first half writing to Wolsey about what he needs to do to help himself and then follows up with news from court and a heartfelt attempt to ensure Wolsey still feels remembered and loved. Cromwell also mentions Thomas Strangwish/Strangways, the Porter of Berwick, who kept writing to Wolsey and the court about a huge sum of money owed by Wolsey. This message travelled with a well-informed bearer, who is unnamed, but whoever went, Cromwell dispatched someone close to him. It could have been Ralph Sadler who had undertaken the trip to York before.
THOMAS CROMWELL to CARDINAL THOMAS WOLSEY, 18 August 1530 (MSS. Jesus Coll. in Bibl. Bodl. Oxon. c.74, pp. 262 ff)
my lorde Cardenall
Please it your grace to be informed, that perceiving after the receipt of your letters dated at Southwell on Saint Laurence Day (10 August), I perceived how your Grace remained in some displeasure and anxiety of mind. My letters had before certified you of the finding certain offices concerning your bishopric of York, the finding whereof, as I perceive by your letters, you do suppose should be much to your dishonour and detriment. For which intent that your Grace may put yourself in repose and quietening of mind, I have sent to you this bearer who shall at length declare to you, besides the demonstration of the copies of such offices as be drawn for that purpose that the finding of said offices, saving only that in the preamble is touched by the conviction of your Grace in the premunire, which all the world already knows shall be for your good only profit and avail.
And yet your pardon and restitution stand in good and perfect effect, so that your Grace shall have no need neither to be in fear of loss of any your spiritual or temporal goods, or to be troubled about these being put to any new suit in the obtaining of any other pardon or restitution. And if in case your said pardon and restitution were in any part insufficient, I assure your Grace I know that the king’s highness would see it be made good as by any council. It could be devised and doubt not that his Highness is your gracious and benign sovereign lord and would in no ways see you be grieved, molested, or troubled. Wherefore, it may please your Grace to quiet yourself and to take the finding of these offices patiently and upon the return of the same, there shall be such orders taken that your Grace shall not be interrupted in the receiving of your revenues, nor otherwise be molested in any manner or case for any new suit.
As touching your colleges, the offices shall be found, however the dean and such others as have sued to the king’s highness have had very good answers, whereof I think they have certified your Grace for this time. As touching the 1000 marks (about £45,000 today) of the revenues of Winchester, I doubt not it shall be obtained at the audit. And concerning Battersea, it may please your Grace that such copies of may be sent hither under seal, for we will trust no friends, and also that search may be made for Bishop Bothes’ will concerning the same.
(Thomas) Strangways continually cries and makes exclamation in the court of you, so much that the lords of the council have determined to write to you on that behalf, so our lord your Grace are rid of that man. As concerning the prebends of Wetwang (parish in York), doubt it not, all things shall be ordered to your good contention. Sir, I assure your Grace that you be much bound to our lord God that in such ways has suffered you so to behave and order yourself in these parties to attain the good minds and hearts of the people in the whole country there. The reports in the courts and elsewhere in these parts is, and has been, your great good to the acquiring and augmenting the good opinions of many persons towards your Grace. Beseeching your Grace therefore to continue, after such sort and fashion by your approved high wisdom as you lose not, the well and benefit for you may daily increase, not only in the favours of the people there but also here and elsewhere, to the pleasure of God and the Prince. And notwithstanding your good, virtuous, and charitable demeaning and using yourself there, I assure your Grace you have in these parts not your enemies, which do and will not interpret all your doings in the best part, alleging that your only desire interpreted, after the best fashion, is always as follower and pursuer of worldly affections. I shall serve to stand best with the pleasure of God and the King.
Sir, some there say that your Grace keeps too great a house and family and that you are continually building. For the love of God therefore I eftsoones (again), as I often have done most heartily, beseech your Grace to have respect to everything and consider the time to refrain yourself for a season from all manner of building, no more than mere necessity required. I assure your Grace shall be good to yourself, shall sense and silence persons that much speak of the same.
For the geldings which your Grace did send me, I do most humbly and heartily thank you, beseeching your Grace to give further credence to this bearer, who shall declare to your Grace other things not written. I do realise your Grace is happy that you are now at liberty to serve God, and to learn to experiment how you shall banish and exile the vain desires of this unstable world, which undoubtably does nothing else but lure every person therein. To be satisfied in finding and seeking whereof, most persons, besides the great travails and afflictions that men suffer daily, are driven to extreme repentance, and search for pleasure and felicity, and find nothing but trouble and sorrow, anxiety, and adversity. Wherefore, in my opinion, your Grace, being as you are, I suppose you would not be as you (were if you) were to win a hundred times as much as you were possessed from the Bishop of Bayonne as is daily looked for (Bishop Jean du Bellay was Wolsey’s French counterpart with King Francis).
And my lord of Wiltshire (Thomas Boleyn) is coming home saying that the Emperor has good obedience from his subjects in all things, saying that they will not dissent to the Lutheran sect. It is also said that Emperor makes musters for a great army to be prepared against the Turks, to pass into Hungary for the recovery of that region, and that the second son of the Emperor has departed this present life (Ferdinand died aged eight months). The news here is that the Germans will have a general Council for the Reformation of many things.
The Florentines do still continue to defend the power of the Pope, and it is supposed that they shall win by means, but there is a great pestilence fallen amongst them in the Pope’s party (The Siege of Florence ended in August 1530, with Florence becoming part of papal Italy). There is also a great caristie (change) in Italy of all manner of grain, in so much quarter of wheat is worth generally forty shillings. They look daily for an ambassador from the Pope who at the furthest and will be here within eight days.
The King’s Highness is this night at Ampthill and there will continue there for nine days. It may please your Grace to pardon me that I do not repair (visit) you at this time, for undoubtably it is not possible, as this bearer shall further declare to your Grace, our lord knows my will and mind. And I trust verily that your Grace does perfectly think that I would be glad to see you and unfeignedly I would have seen your Grace longer if I had not been letted (delayed) by important business, wherefore I eftsoones (again) most humbly beseech your Grace of pardon, and though I am not with you in person, be assured I am, and during my life, shall be with your Grace in heart, spirit, prayer, and service to the uttermost of my poor and simple power as knows our lord, whom I most heartily beseech to preserve your Grace in long life good health with the increase of your heart’s desire.
At London, the 28th day of August. I beseech your Grace to dispatch this bearer, whom I might evil have forbid at this time, but I was persuaded by your letters that you much desired to be put in quietation, and that besides myself I could not send any that could certify your Grace of the effects of such things as you desire to be answered. But only he eftsoones (again), beseeching your Grace, speedily returns home, for my business is such that I cannot lack him.
While this letter does not have a year on the letter itself, Cromwell talks of Parliament, and Parliament only sat twice in the 1520s (mid-1523 and late 1529). The messy handwriting is an honest and casual letter to one of Cromwells closest friends, John Creke, who was in Bilbao, Spain, working as a merchant. Creke regularly wrote long letters despairing at being apart form Cromwell.
THOMAS CROMWELL TO JOHN CREKE, 17 August 1523* (SP 1/28 f. 154)
To my special and entyrelye belouyd Frende John Creke be this youyn Bylbowe in Biscaye.
Master Creke, as heartily as I can, I commend me, and in the same way thank you for your gentle and loving letters to me at various times. I accordingly have not likewise remembered and written, as it has been that I have not had anything to write or which to advertise to you. I assure you if it were in my little power, I could be well contented to favour you as far as any one man living. But at present, I am somewhat intending to remember and remunerate old acquaintances, and to renew our not forgotten various communications. Supposing you desire to know the current news in these parts, it is said that news refreshes the spirit of life.
You shall understand that for a long time, I among others have endured a Parliament which contended the space of 17 whole weeks where we communed of war, peace, strife, contention, debate, murmured grudges, riches, poverty, penury, truth, falsehood, justice, equity, distaste, oppression, magnanimity, accurate force, intemperance, treason, murder, felony, consuls… and also how a common wealth might be edified and continued within our realm. However, in conclusion we have done as our predecessors have done, that is to say, that we left where we began.
You should also know the Duke of Suffolk is furnished with a great army to go with all goodly haste when I know not, when I know I shall advertise you. Our Parliament granted the King’s Highness a right large subsidy, the like whereof was never granted in this realm. All your friends, to my knowledge, be in good health and especially those that you want of: you know what I mean. I think it best to write in parables because I am in doubt. Master Vaughan fares well, and also Master Munkcaster. Master Woodall is merry without a wife and I commend you. So is Nicholas Longmede, who has paid William Wilford. And thus, fare you well as I would do myself. At London, the 17th day of August by your friend to all his possible power
Thomas Manner, 1st Earl of Rutland by Jeremiah van der Eyden (1635–1695)
Cromwell wrote to John Manners, the 1st Earl of Rutland, to arrest of Friar John Colsell, a friar who was just eighteen yet ‘schoolmaster’ at the Grantham Greyfriars in Lincolnshire, accused of magic and astrology. Rutland’s men captured Colsell on 23 August, who accused many others at Grey Friars in Grantham of similar crimes. Colsell, while in prison, was accused of being a performer of divination and teaching 13-year-old novice friar William Nobul, ‘ to bear false witness.’ The case overturned significant issues with Colsell and the house, but they were not dissolved until 1539.
SECRETARY THOMAS CROMWELL TO JOHN MANNERS, EARL OF RUTLAND, 9 August 1535 (Belvoir Castle MSS)
To the right honourable my lord the Earl of Rutland be this given.
My lord, after my right hearty commendations this shall be to advertise to your lordship that having received your letters and declared the effects of the same to the king’s highness, who for your diligent advertisement of such things as do touch his majesty, and for your goodwill showed towards the correction of such transgressions given to you, his Grace’s hearty and consigned thanks, Forasmuch as the king’s highness is informed that the warden of those friars which have spoken those seditious words, is a right honest person and that it may be that he is accused by such light persons as perchance cannot justify the same. The king’s highness therefore requires your lordship to call before you the warden and all other his friars and to take some pains thoroughly and exactly to hear debate and examine the matter with them and their accusers, so as the truth and the whole circumstances of the matter may truly and substantially appear in such ways as every man may have his merits and desserts according to good justice. And of your lordship’s proceedings in that behalf, and what matter you shall find upon the said examination, it may please your lordship to signify the same with the circumstances to the king’s highness or his council, upon the which advertisement your lordship shall know further of the king’s pleasure. Touching the other friar named Friar John Colsell using the deceitful art of magic and astrology, the king’s pleasure is that you shall cause him to be taken and apprehended and detain him in ward until you shall have other knowledge and advertisement of the king’s pleasure in that behalf. And thus, the Holy Trinity preserve your lordship in long life and health with the increase of honour. At Berkeley Herons, the 9th day of August.
‘A true Christian confession of the L. Cromwel at his death.’
July 28 marked a dramatic day at Tower Hill. The most powerful man in England was to die due to forces entirely outside of his control. Cromwell had selected the perfect queen in Anna of Cleves, a beautiful, well-connected duchess, whose brother Duke Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, and her sister Electress Sybilla of Saxony, had powerful allies and the Schmalkaldic army on their side. But when Duke Wilhelm threatened war with Emperor Charles over the duchy of Guelders while Anna was travelling to England to her marriage, suddenly the duchess who promised powerful allies now also tied King Henry to enter a war he could not win, and would not benefit from at all. Cromwell’s paperwork on the marriage was as strong and watertight as all his work; it could not just be undone, and Henry wed a woman who tied him to war. Henry believed in Cromwell still, even making him an earl in April 1540, but when sexual humiliation reared its head (excuse the pun), Henry snapped and arrested his most faithful servant. Cromwell undid the marriage contract from his room in the Tower, bolstered by fabricated affidavits, talking of Anna being so ugly that Henry couldn’t consummate. An annulment would stop Emperor Charles’ anger at England potentially allying against him, but there needed to be proof, there needed to be someone to blame for the marriage to a duchess who linked England to war. With statements about throwaway comments made to his enemies, Cromwell was attainted for heresy and treason, and conspiring to marry Princess Mary (based on literally no evidence). Even though Henry started to realise his mistake on 9 July, a man attainted could not have his sentence wiped; it would set a legal precedent. But as much as Cromwell’s enemies wanted him dragged on a hurdle to Tyburn and hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor, or burned at the stake as a heretic, Henry granted Cromwell’s cry for mercy and ordered a beheading.
While primary sources of the day offer sketchy detail, the works Foxe, Hume, Cox, Galter, Herbert, and Hall all offer insights to the day. It is suggested that Cromwell only learned of his style of execution on the morning from William Laxton and Martin Bowes, two sheriffs at the Tower, who came to him after breakfast, which he had just after dawn on a sunny summer’s day. Hume wrote that one thousand halberdiers were there to flank Cromwell’s short walk from the Tower to the scaffold on the hill, for an unfounded fear that Cromwellians would mount an escape bid. There, Cromwell met Walter Lord Hungerford, who was also destined to die for the crimes of incest, buggery and wife-beating, and had lost his mind by the time of his death. The men knew one another through their work for the king, and Foxe wrote that Cromwell tried to comfort the mad baron:
“There is no cause for you to fear. If you repent and be heartily sorry for what you have done, there is for you mercy enough from the Lord, who for Christ’s sake, will forgive you. Therefore, be not dismayed and though the breakfast which we are going to be sharp, trusting in the mercy of the Lord, we shall have a joyful dinner.”
Final words on the scaffold were not a time to defend oneself, fire anger at your enemies or beg for freedom. Cromwell had to deliver a speech to cement his legacy and save his son Gregory, daughter-in-law Elizabeth and their three sons, as well as Richard and Frances Cromwell and Ralph and Ellen Sadler, their very young children, and Cromwell’s wide extended family. Cromwell, accompanied by Thomas Wyatt on the scaffold for support, gave his final speech.
“I am come hither to die, and not to purge my self, as some think peradventure that I will. For if I should so do, I were a very wretch and a Miser. I am by the Law condemned to die, and thank my Lord God, that hath appointed me this death for mine Offence. For sithence the time that I have had years of discretion, I have lived a sinner, and offended my Lord God, for the which I ask him heartily forgiveness. And it is not unknown to many of you, that I have been a great Traveller in this World, and being but of a base degree, was called to high estate, and sithence the time I came thereunto I have offended my Prince, for the which I ask him heartily forgiveness, and beseech you all to pray to God with me, that he will forgive me. And now I pray you that be here, to bear me record, I die in the Catholic Faith, not doubting in any Article of my Faith, no nor doubting in any Sacrament of the Church. Many have slandered me and reported that I have been a bearer of such as have maintained evil Opinions, which is untrue. But I confess, that like as God by his holy Spirit doth instruct us in the Truth, so the Devil is ready to seduce us, and I have been seduced; but bear me witness that I die in the Catholic Faith of the holy Church; and I heartily desire you to pray for the Kings Grace, that he may long live with you in health and prosperity; and that after him his Son Prince Edward that goodly Imp may long Reign over you. And once again I desire you to pray for me, that so long as life remaineth in this flesh, I waver nothing in my Faith.”
Cromwell then went on to pray:
“O Lord Jesus, which art the only health of all men living, and the everlasting life of them which die in thee; I wretched sinner do submit my self wholly unto thy most blessed will, and being sure that the thing cannot Perish which is committed unto thy mercy, willingly now I leave this frail and wicked flesh, in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to me again at the last day in the resurrection of the just. I beseech thee most merciful Lord Jesus Christ, that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my Soul against all temptations, and defend me with the Buckler of thy mercy against all the assaults of the Devil. I see and knowledge that there is in my self no hope of Salvation, but all my confidence, hope and trust is in thy most merciful goodness. I have no merits nor good works which I may allege before thee. Of sins and evil works, alas, I see a great heap; but yet through thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sins; but wilt take and accept me for righteous and just, and to be the inheritor of everlasting life. Thou merciful Lord wert born for my sake, thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake; thou didst teach, pray, and fast for my sake; all thy holy Actions and Works thou wroughtest for my sake; thou sufferedst most grievous Pains and Torments for my sake; finally, thou gavest thy most precious Body and thy Blood to be shed on the Cross for my sake. Now most merciful Saviour, let all these things profit me, which hast given thy self also for me. Let thy Blood cleanse and wash away the spots and fulness of my sins. Let thy righteousness hide and cover my unrighteousness. Let the merit of thy Passion and blood shedding be satisfaction for my sins. Give me, Lord, thy grace, that the Faith of my salvation in thy Blood waver not in me, but may ever be firm and constant. That the hope of thy mercy and life everlasting never decay in me, that love wax not cold in me. Finally, that the weakness of my flesh be not overcome with the fear of death. Grant me, merciful Saviour, that when death hath shut up the eyes of my Body, yet the eyes of my Soul may still behold and look upon thee, and when death hath taken away the use of my Tongue, yet my heart may cry and say unto thee, Lord into thy hands I commend my Soul, Lord Jesus receive my spirit, Amen.”
Cox wrote that Cromwell then turned to Wyatt and sad “farewell, Wyatt,” and that his friend was deeply upset at this stage, and Cromwell added, “gentle Wyatt, pray for me.” Cromwell removed his gown, gave forgiveness to his executioner and prayed him to take his head with a single blow. Conflicting reports exist of what came next. The news of the execution travelled Europe, changing with every letter. Hume wrote Cromwell’s head came off with a single blow. But Galton wrote that the axeman, a “ragged and butcherly wretch” and that the first blow instead hit Cromwell’s skull, and that it took half and hour to cut through Cromwell’s neck. While that seems like a story built on dramatics and exaggeration, regardless of the number of blows required, Cromwell would have been unconscious or dead within seconds.
Hungerford, however, was quickly killed without fanfare or wise words, and Cromwell’s mangled head went on London Bridge like all the rest, his body buried at St Peter ad Vincula, close to Anne Boleyn, whom the king had ordered killed during an Easter conversation with Cromwell only four years earlier. King Henry married Katheryn Howard at Oatlands the same day, not that any knew that at the time. No one who rose in the English court escaped eventual fates like this; it would be surprising if Cromwell had never considered this as his eventual fate.
Thomas Cromwell was undoubtedly the genius of the English court, a man whose mind far exceeded those about him. While his genius was exploited by King Henry, whose orders Cromwell could not refuse, it meant that many never truly appreciated Cromwell, too busy sneering at the rank of his birth. These people were only in power due to their birth, and should have been grateful to breathe the same air as a man who far exceeded them in intelligence, generosity and charm.
~~~
Cromwell’s final speech: Passages from Foxe’s Ecclesiastical History, Vol. ii. p 433
John Foxe, Acts and Monuments, 1563
Arthur Galton, The Character of Times of Thomas Cromwell, 1887
Edward Hall, The Triumphant Reigne of Kyng Henry the VIII, vol 2, p306-7
Edward Herbert, Life and Raigne of King Henry the Eighth, Bodleian Library Oxford, Folio 624, 462
Richard Cox, Elizabethan Bishop of Ely, Corpus Christi College Cambridge, Parker Society MS 168 f. 209rv
Martin Hume, The Chronicle of King Henry VIII 1889, p104
CAROLINE ANGUS 