The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell

by John Schofield

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  Ack
nowledgements

  Any work on Thomas Cromwell must pay tribute to the late Professor G.R. Elton, one of the greatest Tudor historians. His definitive studies and analyses of the Tudor age provide an indispensable foundation for an understanding of Cromwell and his times. Without them, this book could never have been started, let alone written.

  The works of a number of other scholars, notably Stanford E. Lehmberg and Rory MacEntegart, have also been invaluable: to them, many thanks. The research for much of the material in Chapters 6, 10 and 16–17 was undertaken as part of my doctoral thesis at Newcastle University, 2000–2003, so I would like to thank once again my supervisor Professor Euan Cameron – then of Newcastle, now at New York – and my examiners, Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch and Emeritus Professor John Derry for all their knowledge, kindness and assistance.

  Thanks of a rather different sort are due to R.B. Merriman for his labours nearly a century ago in collating and publishing Cromwell’s letters. He has saved me a great deal of time and trouble, so it is not without some regret that I must say that I find much of Merriman’s character analysis of Cromwell to be bewilderingly wide of the mark. If my work at times reads like an Apologia, then I feel that this is unavoidable given the fact that Merriman’s has been for a long time the standard biography of Cromwell. On this point, readers will make their own judgements.

  I also thank Newcastle University and particularly Professor Jeremy Boulton, Head of the School of Historical Studies, for accepting me as a guest member and visiting scholar, thereby allowing me to complete this book; the staff of Newcastle and Durham University libraries, the British Library, Public Records Office, Lambeth Palace Library, Hatfield House and the Vienna Archives; Tony Morris for his welcome advice and interest; and Jonathan Reeve and Miranda Embleton-Smith at The History Press for bringing this work to completion.

  Plates

   1. Thomas Cromwell.

   2. Portrait engraving of Cardinal Wolsey.

   3. Coin of Henry VII.

   4. Portrait miniature of Henry VII.

   5. Christening of Prince Arthur.