Thomas Cromwell: Henry VIII's Most Notorious Minister: The Rise and Fall of a Tudor Tyrant: The Rise and Fall of Henry VIII's Most Notorious Minister

"Robert Hutchinson investigates the rise and fall of Henry VIII's most notorious minister. The son of a brewer, Cromwell rose from obscurity to become 'Earl of Essex, Vice-Regent and High Chamberlain of England, Keeper of the Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Exchequer'. He manoeuvred his way to the top by intrigue, bribery and sheer force of personality in a court dominated by the malevolent King Henry." "Cromwell pursued Henry's interests with single-minded energy and no little subtlety. Tasked with engineering the judicial murder of Anne Boleyn when she had worn out her welcome in the royal chamber, he tortured her servants and relations, then organized a 'show trial' of Stalinist efficiency. He orchestrated the 'greatest act of privatisation in English history': the seizure of the monasteries. Their enormous wealth was used to cement the loyalty of the English nobility, and to enrich the crown."--Jacket. Read more... Abstract: The rise and fall of the most corrupt Chancellor in English history Read more... The Rise And Fall Of Henry's Notorious Minister - The Most Corrupt Chancellor In English History The Son Of A Brewer, Cromwell Rose From Obscurity To Become Earl Of Essex, Vice-regent And High Chamberlain Of England, Keep Of The Privy Seal And Chancellor Of The Exchequer. He Maneuvered His Way To The Top By Intrigue, Bribery And Sheer Force Of Personality In A Court Dominated By The Malevolent King Henry. Cromwell Pursued The Interests Of The King With Single-minded Energy And Little Subtlety. Tasked With Engineering The Judicial Murder Of Anne Boleyn When She Had Worn Out Her Welcome In The Royal Chamber, He Tortured Her Servants And Relations, Then Organised A 'show Trial' Of Stalinist Efficiency. He Orchestrated The 'greatest Act Of Privatisation In English History': The Seizure Of The Monasteries. Their Enormous Wealth Was Used To Cement The Loyalty Of The English Nobility, And To Enrich The Crown. Cromwell Made Himself A Fortune Too, Soliciting Colossal Bribes And Binding The Noble Families To Him With Easy Loans. He Came Home From Court Literally Weighed Down With Gold. Robert Hutchinson Investigates The Rise And Fall Of Henry Viii's Most Notorious Minister. The Son Of A Brewer, Cromwell Rose From Obscurity To Become 'earl Of Essex, Vice-regent And High Chamberlain Of England, Keeper Of The Privy Seal And Chancellor Of The Exchequer'. He Manoeuvred His Way To The Top By Intrigue, Bribery And Sheer Force Of Personality In A Court Dominated By The Malevolent King Henry. Cromwell Pursued Henry's Interests With Single-minded Energy And No Little Subtlety. Tasked With Engineering The Judicial Murder Of Anne Boleyn When She Had Worn Out Her Welcome In The Royal Chamber, He Tortured Her Servants And Relations, Then Organized A 'show Trial' Of Stalinist Efficiency. He Orchestrated The 'greatest Act Of Privatisation In English History': The Seizure Of The Monasteries. Their Enormous Wealth Was Used To Cement The Loyalty Of The English Nobility, And To Enrich The Crown.--book Jacket. Robert Hutchinson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 330-344) And Index. The son of a brewer, Thomas Cromwell rose from obscurity to become the confidant of the King and one of the most influ ential men in British history. Cromwell drafted the law that allowed Henry VIII to divorce his first wife and marry Anne Boleyn, setting into motion the brutal Pro testant Reformation. Over the course of his career, Cromwell amassed a fortune through bribery and theft, and created many enemies along the way. His fall was spectacularbeheaded out side the Tower of London, his boiled head was placed on a spike above the London Bridge. Rich in incident and colorful detail, this is narrative history at its finest.