Hey, this is Heather from the Renaissance English History Podcast, and this is your Tudor Minute for June 12.
Today in 1540 Thomas Cromwell, imprisoned in the Tower of London for just two days, wrote a letter to Henry VIII proclaiming his innocence, and answering the charges against him. It begins:
Most gracious King and most merciful sovereign, your most humble, most obedient and most bounden subject and most lamentable servant and prisoner. Prostrate at the feet of your most excellent Majesty, I have heard your pleasure by the mouth of your Controller, which was that I should write to your most excellent Highness such things as I thought meet to be written concerning my most miserable state and condition.
He ends…
Beseeching the almighty maker and redeemer of this world to send your Majesty continual and long health, wealth and prosperity with [nestors] years to reign, and your most dear son the Prince’s Grace to prosper, reign and continue long after you – and to anyone who would wish the contrary, a short life, shame and confusion.
Written with the quaking hand and most sorrowful heart of your most sorrowful subject, and most humble servant and prisoner, this Saturday at your Tower of London.”
That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com.
Links: full text on Janet Wertman’s blog:
https://janetwertman.com/2015/06/12/june-12-1540-cromwells-initial-plea-to-henry-viii-full-text/
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Heather Teysko is the creator, writer, and producer of The Renaissance English History Podcast, the original Tudor history podcast, started in 2009. She's been writing about history online for over 25 years, since her first site on Colonial American history became number one in history on Yahoo in 1998. In 2019 she created Tudorcon, which is now a yearly event, in addition to writing books, and running TudorFair.com - a whimsical Tudor Merch shop. She has been passionate about Tudor England since she first read Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII 20 years ago, and subsequently moved to London after college to spend her time immersed in Tudor history.