Thomas Cromwell's downfall

On 12th June 1540, two days after his arrest, Thomas Cromwell wrote to Henry VIII pleading for his life. The letter, written from the Tower, was probably not read by the king. Fortunately it still survives and is currently on display at the Henry VIII exhibition at the British Library.

Within Cromwell implores:

"ffor myne offencys to your grace which god knowyth wer neuer malycyous nor willffull and that I neuer thought treson to your highness your Realme or posteryte so god helpe me ayther in woorde or dede, neuertheles prostrate at your magestes [feet] in what thing soever I have offendyd I appell to your highnes ffor mercy grace and pardon".


Later, after realising he was to die, he wrote a final letter to Henry, asking him to be kind to his family. However he could not help but make one last plea:

"Most gracyous prynce I crye for mercye mercye mercye"

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Thomas
• Cromwell
• minister
• earl
• of
• Essex
• Henry
• VIII
• Anne
• Cleves
• marriage
• sixteenth
• century
• Tudor
• England
• tower
• London
• primary
• document
• David
• Starkey
• treason

[ladydeath40]

Is this portrait of Jane Seymore on display because of Henry VIII accession to the throne? All of your videos are fantastic. Thank you for sharing them with us>

[littlemisssunnydale]

Thank you! The portrait of Jane Seymour in the video is the one at Hever Castle. Another posthumous portrait of Jane can be seen at the British Library exhibt on Henry.

[LNor19]

Oh wow, I've never seen that painting of Jane before! I wonder if there are any full shots of it?

The one of Anna looks familiar, but I can't be sure.

[littlemisssunnydale]

I believe the portrait (which is posthumous) is currently housed at Hever Castle. It looks very similar to the one I saw at the Henry VIII exhibition at the British Library, and considering Starkey was a curator for the exhibit and uses several artefacts from it for this documentary, it may be the same portrait.

[LNor19]

Thanks for the information =)

It's beautiful, you wouldn't happen to have any pictures of it, would you?

[littlemisssunnydale]

I just checked my copy of the exhibition's catalogue and it is not the same portrait. The one in the exhibit is from the collection of the Duke of Buccleuch, whilst the portrait in the video is part of the Hever collection. Both are posthumous (and after Holbein).

[peymaania]

Poor Poor King Henry, he could only get his flaccid member up by the thought of rupturing untainted hymen!

[Gvanillavodka]

why didnt henry just marry cromwell from the start and things woulda been peachy haha.

[farken001]

monarchy the documentary season 2

(sorry if i spelt it wrong)

[1andonlyhistorylover]

what is the name of the documentary you cliped this from? i would love to check it out???

[DuttyGyal718]

Where are the clips taken from Ms. Sunny? Id like to enjoy the entire collection! I love starkey.

[TheMrGobble]

yeh this henry doesnt really suit the henry i think he was! hes more like father christmas.

[Albukhshi]

At least Oliver was dead when they decapitated him...

[svoba4af]

Oh well, Henry looks like such a nice man in this video :)

[oarfrost]

It is heart breaking to think that both Thomas Cromwell and his great-great-grandnephew were beheaded on the same day.

Many thanks for the upload littlemisssunnydale

[Karkaroff26]

Cool video but poor Cromwell as Henry betrayed him