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Thomas Cromwell

Robert Hutchinson

The rise and fall of Henry's notorious minister - the most corrupt Chancellor in English history

The son of a brewer, Cromwell rose from obscurity to become Earl of Essex, Vice-Regent and High Chamberlain of England, Keep of the Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He maneuvered his way to the top by intrigue, bribery and sheer force of personality in a court dominated by the malevolent King Henry.

Cromwell pursued the interests of the king with single-minded energy and little subtlety. Tasked with engineering the judicial murder of Anne Boleyn when she had worn out her welcome in the royal chamber, he tortured her servants and relations, then organised a 'show trial' of Stalinist efficiency. He orchestrated the 'greatest act of privatisation in English history': the seizure of the monasteries. Their enormous wealth was used to cement the loyalty of the English nobility, and to enrich the crown. Cromwell made himself a fortune too, soliciting colossal bribes and binding the noble families to him with easy loans. He came home from court literally weighed down with gold.

  • Classification : History
  • Pub Date : JAN 1, 2007
  • Imprint : Orion
  • Page Extent : 368
  • Binding : PB
  • ISBN : 9780753823613
  • Price : INR 899
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Robert Hutchinson

Robert Hutchinson is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and the author of THE LAST DAYS OF HENRY VIII ELIZABETH'S SPYMASTER THOMAS CROMWELL HOUSE OF TREASON YOUNG HENRY THE SPANISH ARMADA and THE AUDACIOUS CRIMES OF COLONEL BLOOD. He was Defence Correspondent for the Press Association before moving to Jane's Information Group to launch JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY. He has a doctorate from the University of Sussex and was appointed OBE in the 2008 Honours List.

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