Wolf Hall

Thomas takes Helen Barre, a poor, local woman into his household. Helen’s husband beat her and left her with their two young children. Thomas is granted a coat of arms: “azure, on a fess between three lions rampant or, a rose gules, barbed vert, between two Cornish choughs proper” (390). The black birds on the crest were retained from Wolsey’s coat of arms.

Bad weather keeps the king’s entourage in Calais for 10 days. At the end of the 10 days, a French boy seeks out Thomas. The boy’s name is Christophe and he asks to go with Thomas. Thomas is reminded of himself as a kid, and the boy becomes his servant.

Henry and Anne are married in a small, secretive service. At the service, William Brereton threatens Thomas not to mess with his family’s affairs; Thomas tells him it was a mistake to threaten him.

Thomas begins drafting a document defining the king as the “one Supreme Head and King” of the English Empire (396). He dines with Cranmer, newly instated as the Archbishop of Canterbury. He tells Cranmer that Anne Boleyn is already pregnant. The documents Thomas has been drafting will outlaw appealing to the pope in religious and political matters; it will give Cranmer discretion concerning Henry’s suit.

Anne lets slip in front of Chapuys that she is pregnant. In private, with Thomas, she discusses marrying her sister Mary to Richard Cromwell, who is related to the Tudors.

Thomas works on various projects. He arranges to have Gregory be sent to the household of Rowland Lee. He works on shoring up the kingdom’s finances and minting better quality coins.

In the Tower of London, Thomas visits John Frith, a married priest imprisoned by More while the rest of the court is in Calais. He is an extreme reformer and is disliked by the king. Thomas arranges to have him freed.

Henry introduces Thomas to the new French envoy, Jean de Dinteville, who is unaccustomed to the cold English weather. Jean tries to convince Thomas to postpone Anne’s coronation: King Francois did not know Anne was pregnant when he negotiated with Henry.

Thomas takes Richard and Gregory to court. Henry praises them; he wishes to see Richard jousting, bearing his family colors. Gregory is overjoyed to be praised by the king. Later, Thomas brings up Anne’s proposal to Richard Cromwell, who seems chagrined by it, but agrees to think it over. Thomas assures Rafe that there is nothing between he and Mary, and that Austin Friars will not become like Wolf Hall. Rafe is worried because all of their future hopes rest on Anne, who is both fickle and mortal.

Anne’s attendant ladies speculate on the gender of the baby. Anne and Henry are confident it will be a male heir. Anne questions why Thomas’ bill is taking so long to pass parliament. She has also heard that Elizabeth Barton had a vision of Princess Mary crowned queen.

Chapuys is in an increasingly perilous situation, at odds with the king. He questions Henry’s motives and tells him that there is no guarantee that Anne will provide a male heir.

Thomas’ bill passes, and Henry, greatly pleased, gives him “Lord Brener’s old post, chancellor of the exchequer” (411). At mass on Easter, Anne is “prayed for as Queen of England” (411). Thomas thinks of the young people of his household during the service; they must be married soon.

Henry talks to Thomas in private. He is worried; his sister is dying, and he does not know what to do with Princess Mary. He denies the proposed marriage between Richard and Mary Carey. Thomas “understands his reason. When Anne understands it, she will spit nails” (413).

Back in Austin Friars, Thomas meets with Richard and Gregory. He fears for their safety because of their jousting practice. He tells Richard that the marriage is off because Henry wants Mary for himself, to gratify his sexual urges while Anne is pregnant. Thomas agrees that Henry’s behavior is not becoming of a leader, but because he is a good king in most regards, he can overlook it. He instead intends Richard to marry Frances Murfyn, the daughter of a Lord Mayor. Richard is relieved, and Mercy approves of the union.

Riding into Bedfordshire, Thomas and Christophe discuss Cicero and Reginald Pole, a Plantagenet claimant to the throne who is abroad and feared to be plotting with the emperor against the king. Thomas visits Katherine, now called the Dowager Princess of Wales. She still holds out hope against Henry and Anne’s union. She believes Henry is fundamentally good, and that he will come back to her.

Thomas More “has fallen into poverty” (422). Thomas goes to visit him in Chelsea. More is still against Anne; he says her coronation will be “a day of shame for the women of England” (424). They discuss Elizabeth Barton and other prophetesses. Thomas warns More that he suspects the Franciscan monks of working against Henry and that they may be interrogated. He demands that More helps get John Frith released. However, Frith is taken from the tower to be examined by Cranmer. He is to be executed.

Preparations are made for Anne’s coronation. Henry knights many Boleyns and Howards. Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle, is to replace Lord Berners as governor of Calais. Anne arrives in Westminster in an elaborate procession. Thomas visits Chaypuys. The ambassador is despondent; he has failed Katherine and the emperor.

Anne’s coronation day arrives. Thomas prays for her unborn child. He recognizes the opportunity to shape a prince, the same way that Wolsey shaped Henry. Anne is anointed and crowned by Cranmer. Henry is delighted; he tells Thomas, “This is my best day” (433). He gives Thomas a diamond ring to give to Anne.

Thomas goes to Anne’s bedchamber, where he is met by Norfolk’s niece, Mary Howard. He sees that Jane Seymour has matured, and he apologizes to Mary Carey about the failed union with Richard. He speculates that Henry will get her pregnant. He attempts to comfort her.

Stephen Gardiner is to be sent to France. Henry indicates that Thomas will take his position of Master Secretary. The king has grown tired of Gardiner impeding his wishes.

That night, Thomas and Christophe go to see Cranmer. In his chambers is a German woman—Cranmer’s wife, Margarete. Thomas is shocked. In Lutheran Germany priests may marry, but not in England. This was the secret Cranmer indicated in his letter. Margarete is pregnant.

Thomas agrees to help his friend keep his wife secret. Thomas returns to Austin Friars and summons Helen Barre. He refuses to tell Rafe what is going on. He takes Helen back to the Archbishop’s house to help Margarete.

Thomas is out hunting with the king on the day John Frith is burned. The king worries he is coming down with the plague, but he recovers by evening.

The pope declares Henry’s new marriage void. Cranmer meets with Elizabeth Barton. Rumors spread about midwives in Thomas’ household and about him hiding a foreign woman at a country house who “has given him a daughter” (446). Anne goes into confinement to prepare for childbirth.