Claire | June 29, 2017
On this day in history, 29th June 1540, nineteen days after his arrest, a Bill of Attainder was passed against Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, and King Henry VIII’s former right-hand man. The Journal of the House of Lords records on Tuesday 29th June 1540, day 81 of that parliament, the following: “Item Billa Attincture […]
Claire | July 28, 2014
On this day in history, 28th July 1540, Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex and Henry VIII’s former right-hand man, was beheaded on Tower Hill. He had been arrested on 10th June 1540 at a council meeting, and a bill of attainder passed against him on 29th June 1540 for the crimes of corruption, heresy and […]
Claire | June 12, 2014
Following his arrest two days earlier, Thomas Cromwell wrote to Henry VIII on 12th June 1540, from his prison in the Tower of London, asking for mercy and pleading his innocence. Here is his letter: Prostrate at your Majesty’s feet, I have heard your pleasure by your Controller, viz., that I should write such things […]
Claire | June 10, 2014
At 3pm on 10th June 1540, the Captain of the Guard strode into the council chamber at Westminster, interrupting a meeting of the Privy Council, and announced that he had a royal warrant for the arrest of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, on a charge of treason. Charles de Marillac, the French ambassador, described the […]
Claire | June 12, 2013
On 12th June 1540, Thomas Cromwell, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his arrest on 10th June for treason, wrote to King Henry VIII regarding his “most miserable state”, asking for mercy and pleading his innocence. You can read the full letter in my article from last year – click here. Cromwell […]
Claire | June 10, 2013
At 3pm on 10th June 1540, while the Privy Council were in session at Westminster, the Captain of the Guard strode into the council chamber with a royal warrant for the arrest of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, for treason. A furious Cromwell threw his cap to the ground, asked those gathered if “this was […]
Claire | June 12, 2012
On the 12th June 1540, the newly imprisoned Thomas Cromwell wrote to King Henry VIII from the Tower of London, asking for mercy and pleading his innocence. It is an eloquent and rational letter written by a man in fear of his life: “Prostrate at your Majesty’s feet, I have heard your pleasure by your […]
Claire | June 10, 2012
On this day in history, 10th June 1540, Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, was arrested during a council meeting at Westminster. You can read an account of his arrest in my article 10 June 1540 – Thomas Cromwell’s Arrest
