This simple event is but a brief footnote to the whole saga of the King’s annulment and divorce which continued for years, but it seems to have had dramatic consequences. Firstly it destroyed Cardinal Wolsey’s reputation with King Henry. Secondly his secretary Thomas Cromwell may have had some knowledge of the affair which he used to consolidate his position with the King who he represented in parliament within a month of the fall of his master and within a few years had equalled in power and wealth.
Ned Bedwell and his companion’s adventures continue in The Liberties of London (see Amazon link at front piece), a Christmas time misadventure through the lowlife of Tudor London. Also The Queens Oranges (see Amazon link at front piece), a case of murder, oranges and treason that will enmesh them deeper into the internecine political and religious struggle that convulsed Europe and England during the fifteen hundreds.
Tudor Religion and Thought
A brief note on views of religion and spirituality in the Tudor Age as portrayed in the Red Ned Tudor Mysteries. In this modern secular era, it is sometimes difficult to encompass how deeply religion was embedded in the words and thoughts of our ancestors. The church was for good and ill part of every day life, its parish and cathedral bells announced the time of day and the whole pattern of the year was structured around the calendar of religious festivals. Every individual in the kingdom understood this, starting from birth with the urgent importance of baptism to death and the saying of perpetual masses for the souls of the departed. At this point we have the emergence of the concept of ‘indulgence’ and the ability of the Pope to remit sins via payment and we know were that led to with Martin Luther. In all of this the Latin Vulgate Bible was the fount of authority and knowledge for both the King, the Catholic church and all levels of society, which is why its translation into the vernacular was believed to threaten the very foundations of ‘their christian society’. The sways to and fro in the Tudor Age were equally about power and belief, with the two sometimes so intermixed it was difficult to separate them, especially in the figures of Sir Thomas More, Cardinal Wolsey and their Sovereign Majesty Henry VIII.
To make a valid attempt at presenting this internal and external conflict we have Ned viewing his conscience as two distinct entities his daemon and better angel. This kind of division of moral thought and reflection represents how those in the Tudor period saw and justified their decisions. Ie ‘the devil sorely tempted me and I gave in’ or my good angel or patron saint steered me clear of the peril of sin’. Based on my reading of the religious writing of the times this is my interpretation for fiction of this inner debate for decisions regarding advantage, moral questions of conscience and action.
Regards Gregory House
Acknowledgements
I must mention a few people who have been pretty crucial to this book. Firstly my partner Jocelyn who is a discriminating critic and editor, my daughter Meg for allowing me to put her in the book, Donald for his unwavering support, my friend Wayne for his constant assistance and never ending wealth of knowledge on matters circa 1500’s and finally to a few historians who inspired me and whose collected works and research were invaluable to this story; the famous G.R. Elton, David Starkey, J.J. Scarisbrick, Joanna Denny, Robert Hutchinson, Lacy Baldwin Smith, Liza Picard and Derek Wilson to name but a few. Finally to my excellent and fine company of Beta Readers the KDD ipsum bonum et beneplacitum est cerevisia at vinum. My deepest thanks.
Timeline
10 May 1529
Cardinals’ Campeggio and Wolsey finally convene the Legatine court to hear Henry’s petition of divorce. All attempts at delay are now exhausted. Though the proceedings are so slow it is not until mid June did any witnesses appear.
Queen Catherine of Aragon makes a dramatic appearance and statement then refuses to return or take any part. There are records of her letters to Emperor Charles V calling for his assistance in any way possible to stop the divorce or annulment.
25 July 1529
Papal legate Campeggio adjourns the court hearing Henry’s petition of annulment, proposing to reconvene in October and give judgement. The Cardinal claimed that he was following the normal sitting dates of Rome (not really appropriate in England). This outrages Henry and others including the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk.
19–20 September 1529
The Lord Chancellor Cardinal Wolsey and Cardinal Campeggio ride from London to seek an urgent audience with King Henry at Grafton Regis in Northamptonshire. Cardinal Wolsey was sidelined while Campeggio is ordered to leave England within the next few days. His luggage is searched at Dover for the missing correspondence. However his son Rodolpho has already left for Rome with the crucial letters.
The Cardinal's Angels (Red Ned Tudor Mysteries) Page 34
