Book Review: "Henry VIII: King and Court" by Alison Weir (Pt. 7)

Henry VIII had a lot of ailments following 1528 and so, there are headaches, fevers, sores etc happening almost all the time. The King was a hypochondriac according to the author who thought he was an expert on illnesses. Well, I think that of course Henry would think he was an expert on illnesses, he thought he was an expert on everything else as well. Henry was determined to marry Anne Boleyn and so, the slowness of the decision from Rome was obviously making him frustrated - but that was added to by the lack of painkillers available back then. Falling ill is definitely seen as something to be avoided at any cost because without actual medication it could have meant certain death.

The Boleyns are doing a lot of social climbing and Wolsey is now one of the most hated people at court. People wanted to turn the King against Wolsey and yet, there were many people who wanted Anne in power instead of Catherine. Catherine of Aragon hated Wolsey because of his influence and Anne hated Wolsey because he had broken up a former affair of hers. So on both sides, this man had enemies. I love the fact that this is one of the main ideas of the chapter because it really makes it easier to understand how things are split up. However, it was Anne who caused the fall of Wolsey according to Alison Weir. He was no longer in great favour with the King - his grasp was beginning to weaken as the Boleyn family made way for themselves.

By 1529, Wolsey is in disgrace even though he had tried his best. I would like to feel sorry for him but honestly, I don't. He seems to have wanted so much power that it backfired spectacularly. Anne Boleyn spoke to the King about his audiences (Wolsey) and stated that there was no reason to entertain him. Of course, the Boleyn family influenced the idea that Wolsey should be arraigned and stripped him of his titles. It must have been most satisfying for many people in the court who hated him for consolidating power over these years. Alison Weir writes Henry as being merciful towards Wolsey, making sure he still had somewhere sufficient to live instead of taking away his castles as well.

But Wolsey doesn't disappear completely - in 1530, Thomas Cromwell moves into the circles of the King. Another cleric, another scholar, another man who is an efficient and astute person. Cromwell is a loyal man with a talent for finances. He is described as a "hard-working businessman" and grew in the King's favour. However, he is not as disliked as Wolsey. Nowhere near. Alison Weir states that his portraits don't do his happiness justice. She states that he was often jovial and joking with the King even though the portraits show him as being cold and stern. The Boleyn family liked him and thus, he would succeed in court. For now...

It's not long before Cromwell starts to influence the law and policy of the country and even starts to make his own stuff too. Henry sets himself up as the head of the English church and we're on the way to the break from Rome. Henry thought about the break from Rome and in the rest of the country there was an anti-papal sentinement too since there were huge taxes to pay to an already wealthy (and obscenely corrupt) church.

Cromwell is again, not as hated as Wolsey. But Alison Weir makes us understand there are huge differences between the two and that is including that Wolsey, a cardinal, represented the (popularly circulating) papal notion of being overtly wealthy and selfish at the time. Cromwell was much more modest and wasn't there because of the huge amounts of money and palaces. He was loyal and worked on, living in a middle class establishment and wearing clothes that were of his standing.

This is about the same time, according to Alison Weir, where Henry starts to work on King's College Cambridge and the improvements on Hampton Court. 1532 is a great year for decorating it seems and with Wolsey gone, Hampton Court is back in the faction of the King. In the book The Palace by Gareth Russell, we get to see some of these changes early on, especially those that are carved to represent Henry and Anne. I would highly recommend that book if you're looking to read anything amazing about a beautiful palace.

Catherine may have been Spanish, but Anne loved the French style with their more revealing and provocative dresses. They were initially viewed as horrific but some thought it was daring in new. Catherine was told to give up her Queen's Jewels to Anne, who was now queen in everything but name. Anne then stole the Queen's barge and replaced it with her own colours and coat of arms. She was now pretty sure that she was going to be Queen even though Catherine of Aragon was right there. Alison Weir makes Catherine seem upset, but she also respects the decision of the King and could not possibly get in the way, really. Anne would accompany Henry everywhere. It is all getting underway now.

Of course, Anne gets pregnant and there's a secret wedding - Henry is waiting for a son and we all know where it's (be)heading. Henry's happiness towards being with Anne and being in court with her was so great that Catherine had to move out. Henry even enjoys the company of Thomas Cranmer, who he doesn't really share much theological friendships with. We can tell he's getting happier and there's a whole reformation going on for him too. Instead of sending the taxes to Rome, England would now send them to Henry. So much for not being wasteful...