Alison’s Weir’s recent book THE CARDINAL, an historical novel about Thomas Wolsey (1471-1530), sheds light on the personality of Henry VIII.
If, like me, you are used to seeing Henry as the paranoid monster of his later years, you will be very surprised to hear him described repeatedly by Ms Weir as “aimiable.” And yet I trust Ms. Weir’s account of this relationship between the young Henry VIII (who was all of seventeen years old when he ascended the throne of England on 21 April 1509), and Wolsey, who was twenty years his senior, for she has access to primary documents which she deploys to great advantage.
Wolsey had the most astonishing luck, and his rise at court was meteoric. Reluctantly taking his vows in 1498 at the age of twenty-seven (the church was the only way for ambitious young men to rise high), he soon found patrons who admired his industry and brilliance. By 1507 was chaplain to Henry VII, the father of Henry VIII. So when Henry VII died in 1509, Wolsey was perfectly poised to become important. Making himself useful to the young King (who was more interested in hunting, jousting and partying), he soon was ruling England, befriending monarchs, and making peace treaties.
It is not surprising to learn that Wolsey had a fatherly regard for Henry. Nor that he became very fond of the glittering, charismatic young man who possessed great charm and had his grandfather’s ability to put anyone at ease. By 1515, aged 44, Wolsey was not only Cardinal, but Archbishop of York, Primate of England and Lord High Chancellor of England. He had managed to achieve all this in six years flat.
Much to my surprise, Wolsey maintained his role as Henry VIII’s Chief Minister for the first twenty years of his reign. It seems that the young Henry was genuinely fond of Wolsey, for not only did he shower him with gifts, but he took him into his confidence.
It was not until Anne Boleyn rose to power in 1527 that things soured between Henry and his Chief Minister. For Anne, it seems, was jealous of his power over the King, and spread lies and misinformation to manipulate Henry into thinking the worst of Wolsey. Of course, it did not help that Wolsey was unable to find a solution to the King’s Great Matter, unable to persuade the Pope that Henry’s first marriage to Catherine of Aragon should be annuled so that he could marry Anne Boleyn and gain a male heir for England.
Ms Weir writes with great empathy about the last three hellish years of Wolsey’s life, when he was out of favor with the King. His enemies treated him with great cruelty, not only stripping him of practically everything he owned, but also toying with him by raising his hopes one moment, only to dash them the next. The only good thing to come out of this terrible time is that Wolsey died before he could be executed at the Tower of London. Although Wikipedia states that Wolsey died of natural causes, it is possible that he was poisoned. In any event, this reader felt great relief when Wolsey finally expired, as his enemies would be unable to torture him any more.
