On this day in Tudor history, 2nd July 1536, Master Secretary, Thomas Cromwell, the king’s chief advisor, was formally appointed Lord Privy Seal.
The previous holder, Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, had been stripped of the office following the falls and executions of two of his children, Queen Anne Boleyn and George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, in May of that year.
But what is a privy seal and what does the Lord of the Privy Seal do?
Find out more in this video or the transcript below…
Transcript:
On this day in Tudor history, 2nd July 1536, Thomas Cromwell, the king’s right hand man, was formally appointed Lord Privy Seal.
The previous holder of the office had been Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire. Wiltshire had held the office since January 1530, but he was stripped of the office on 29th June 1536, just over a month after the executions of his children, Queen Anne Boleyn and George Boleyn, Lord Rochford.
The record of Cromwell’s appointment in Letters & Papers, dated 1st July 28th year of Henry VIII’s reign, reads:
“Th. Crumwell. Appointment as keeper of the Privy Seal, with fees of 20s. a day, or 365 pounds. a year; 90 pounds thereof out of the customs of Pole, 200 pounds small custom of London, 56 pounds 13s. 4d customs of Bristol, and the remaining 18 pounds 6s. 8d customs of Plymmouthe and Fowey, the office having been granted during pleasure to Thomas earl of Wiltshire and Ormond by patent. 23 Jan. 21 Hen. VIII. Westm.”
But what is the privy seal and what does it mean to be Lord Privy Seal?
Well, the privy seal is not to be confused with the Great Seal of State, which was held by the Lord Chancellor. The privy, or private, seal was the personal seal of the monarch, in this case Henry VIII, which was used for authenticating documents. The Lord Privy Seal was the keeper of this seal and was one of the top officers of state, coming below the chancellor and treasurer.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica explains that the first privy seal was used by King John who ruled from 1199 to 1216 but back then it was kept by the clerks of the king’s chamber. Then, in the reign of King Henry III, it was transferred to the Wardrobe and in the reigns of Kings Edward I and Edward II it was kept by the comptroller of the Wardrobe. In 1311, the seal was transferred to its own keeper and the term Lord Privy Seal was first used in the 15th century when Richard Foxe, Bishop of Winchester, was its custodian. The monarch would produce writs of privy seal which would have his personal seal on them and would authorise his chancellor to issue letters under the great seal. The Encyclopaedia also explains that the “privy seal was used for royal letters sent to foreign monarchs and to officers and subjects in England as well as those overseas.”
As well as Thomas Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, Tudor Lord Privy Seals included Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of London; Sir Nicholas Bacon; William Cecil, Lord Burghley; William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham; Sir Francis Walsingham, and Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury.
The office of Lord Privy Seal is still going today. The UK government’s website states that “The Lord Privy Seal is responsible for the organisation of government business in the House, providing assistance to all Lords and offering advice on procedure. The Lord Privy Seal also expresses the collective feelings of the House on formal occasions, such as motions of thanks or congratulations.” The present holder is The Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park.
