Among the Wolves of Court by Lauren Mackay

Author:Lauren Mackay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Tudor History, Biography, History 1500–1700, History of Religion, Diplomacy, British and Irish history, Social and Cultural HistoryHIS015030, Tudor & Elizabethan Era (1485–1603), Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn
ISBN: 9781786725523
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2019-11-24T00:00:00+00:00

Thomas may well have tried to calm his daughter, urging her to keep her peace and not rail at the King. It was a stressful arrangement for the family, and only Anne's uncle, Norfolk, seemed unaffected by the bizarre arrangements, and was everywhere, cheerfully gambling with du Bellay until 4am (du Bellay thought of nothing else, reported Chapuys disdainfully) and up early in the morning with the Privy Council, though how he fared may only be guessed at.52

Henry's attention was still fixed firmly on obtaining his divorce, but his tone in early 1530 had softened towards his old advisor. In mid-February, Chapuys reported that Wolsey had again been ill, or, as some believed, feigned illness, in the hope that the King would see him. Henry resisted the temptation, but he did send his former Chancellor, in Chapuys' words, the best remedy for his illness, namely a promise of pardon and grace, as well as absolution from all the charges brought against him. Wolsey made a miraculous recovery, especially upon hearing the news that Henry had decided to allow him to remain as Archbishop of York and give him a yearly pension of 3,000 angels on the revenues of the bishopric of Winchester.53 Anne by all accounts was furious, but Henry ignored her, sending Wolsey a hefty gift of money, two services of plate, and enough tapestries and hangings for five rooms. Without her father's guidance – he was on a mission, as we shall see – she took her anger out on those around her, including individuals who her father would have urged her to cultivate favour with, not alienate. John Russell, for instance, a highly influential Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and ambassador, had earned Anne's wrath for quietly saying a few words in Wolsey's favour, and she had not spoken to him for nearly a month. She was also feuding with her uncle, Norfolk, who followed Henry's suit and was working with the Cardinal when necessary, even though Norfolk had made it clear that that he would ‘sooner than allow the Cardinal's return to favour under such circumstances he would eat him up alive’.54

Eventually, Anne decided to send a messenger to the Cardinal. Either she thought that the Cardinal was upon his deathbed, Chapuys mused, or else she was trying to show her capabilities for dissimulation and intrigue, ‘in which arts she is generally reputed to be an accomplished mistress’.55

What was not immediately apparent was Wolsey's reaction to this fortunate turn of events. He had begun to consider the possibility of a return to Henry's side and, while he had never enjoyed a close rapport with Katherine, they both had a common interest. Wolsey quietly turned to the Imperial cause and supported Charles, bolstered by the court gossip that Henry missed him, as nothing in the government had gone well since he had been sidelined. Chapuys was certain that if Wolsey were restored, the Howards and the Duke of Suffolk would pay with their heads, which was highly unlikely.

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