Had the Queen Lived: by Raven A. Nuckols

Author:Raven A. Nuckols [Raven A. Nuckols]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2011-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

5.6 Ensuring Support for Change

Various notes from the Boleyn’s private meetings on the education plan, and how they sought to implement it, still survive. The majority of these documents came from Lord Rochford’s estate and contained key background information on each Member of Parliament and all of the courtiers. They also outlined the entire strategy on how to overcome opposition to Anne’s agenda. Because the lessons were held in the servant area, where nobles rarely went, it was hoped that the lessons had little chance of being discovered. Still, it was better to be prepared than not.

The main surviving volume is a secret journal of each courtier’s private activities. Did the subject keep his tithes to the church, pay his taxes on time, was he a gambler, a drunkard, did he frequent whore houses or have secret bastard children? Was the subject committing fraud of office, or was he a suspected papist, and could it be proven in court? Most of all, even though all had had to swear the oaths of Supremacy and Succession, was the subject thought sincerely loyal to Queen Anne and the new Prince, or was the subject deserving of further investigation for possible treason? These records were meticulously kept, and contained every lurid detail—detailed back several years—about every member of the court and Parliament, including even the Star Chamber jurists, the groomsmen and ladies-in-waiting to their majesties, the Tower Constable, Members of Parliament, local sheriffs and mayors and the Yeoman Guards.

While those who gathered this intelligence have never been confirmed, it is highly probable that Viscount Rochford did much himself, with the aid of Sir William Bryan, who was known for conducting such operations for Rochford. Bryan’s involvement in the plot is significant. His loyalties had previously lain with the Seymour family, perhaps earning his reputation for playing both sides of the political aisle to suit the current winds. Regardless, he diligently performed espionage and regularly met with Lord Rochford. As an evident reward of his services, Rochford generously granted him a salary of 1,000 pounds a year, recorded only as “for his counsel.”

Gradually the information started leaking out only when it suited the Boleyn’s purposes. A clear example of how this trove of information was put to use took place early in the effort to find support and funding for the reform effort. In February 1538, the Privy Council met to discuss imposing new beard taxes on barbers, for use by the crown in paying for the upkeep of shop supplies at a discount. The barber merchants would obtain their materials, chairs, razors, semi-clean water, lotions, herbs and oils at a generously discounted rate and in turn would voluntarily submit over 60% of their profits back to the crown. This arrangement, primarily with the barbers in London, managed to grant the exchequer a continuous, albeit small, source of revenue. With the increase in court spending by Henry and Anne, not to mention Henry’s various military expenditures, the crown’s coffers were running dangerously low. Anne

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.