– Everything That Could Go Wrong, Does –
by Damianista | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | December 9, 2024
“Have you not read it in The Book Called Henry which I wrote for you? Never say what the King will not do.” – Thomas Cromwell
In the penultimate episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light, everything that could go wrong goes wrong for Cromwell, reminding us what the Imperial Ambassador Chapuys tells him in Episode 1 Wreckage:
“For when all is said, you are a blacksmith’s son. Your whole life depends on the next beat of Henry’s heart and your future on his smile or frown.”
We have seen Cromwell guiding the King’s thoughts in the direction that he prefers for a long time. However, as his tasks pile up, Cromwell is not able to spend as much time with the king as he would like. He is well aware of his vulnerability: that he has more enemies than friends in the court and there is a lot of conversation going on without him especially after Gardiner’s return from France. And the fever that keeps Cromwell away from Henry for some time gives Gardiner enough time to get closer to the King and poison him against Cromwell.
From Cromwell’s point of view, an arranged marriage is a political statement. As a staunch defender of the Reformation, he thinks that an alliance with a Protestant country is critical to make sure England does not return to Catholicism. Add to this the recently signed 10-year long peace treaty between the Emperor and the King of France, and England definitely needs new allies. That is why Cromwell looks into House of Cleves and chooses Anne of Cleves, the sister of Duke Wilhelm, as a potential bride for Henry. Holbein is sent to Germany to paint Anne so Henry could see her.
As Henry appreciates the painting, he has questions about Anne and is baffled by the answers. Anne does not know any other language but English. She never had a music teacher because ladies may lose their good name in Germany if they sing or dance. But then what will they do after supper? Norfolk recommends drinking, this is his way of insulting the Germans.
Henry signs the marriage agreement, sends a ring to his new bride who has started her long journey from Germany to England. Fitzwilliam is tasked with meeting Anne of Cleves when she arrives on English soil in Calais. Cromwell also sends Gregory to welcome the queen-to-be and make her look at the Cromwells for anything she wants or needs.
Now that he is sacrificing himself for his country, Henry expects his daughter to do the same and marry Anne of Cleves’ cousin Philip of Bavaria and make the new alliance stronger. While Mary, if reluctantly, agrees to the marriage, and even lets Philip kiss her when he visits to court her, Cromwell voices a concern at the Privy Council meeting. He thinks it is risky to have Mary leave England. The Emperor still threatens Duke Wilhelm’s rule, and if the Duke fails, Mary will fall in the hands of Henry’s enemies who would use her against him. UGH. This is exactly the moment Norfolk is looking for to make Cromwell look bad in front of Henry!
“Your daughter will never marry. Cromwell breaks every match made for her. I wonder why.”
Norfolk is obviously talking about the rumors that Cromwell wants to marry Mary!
Cromwell is no fool. When Henry tells him that he has few friends in the courts of Spain and France, Cromwell responds that it is so because they know he serves Henry well and they want him to be displaced to weaken Henry’s rule. And while he probably knows that it is not a realistic request, Cromwell still kindly asks Henry to talk to him before believing anything about him. The King is not convinced. He thinks Cromwell has few friends in the courts of Spain and France because of what he is. They don’t know what to make of him.
So… what is Cromwell?
A blacksmith’s son?
Henry remembers his first meeting with Cromwell. I remember it, too, vividly. Here is what I wrote in my Wolf Hall, Episode 1: Three Card Trick recap:
The King does not make an appearance until the last few minutes of the first episode; however, he has a strong presence all over it, because people are constantly talking about him and his “private matter.” And, when we eventually get to meet him, all the gloom that we have had so far in the episode, goes away. With Henry, comes a romantic setting with finely manicured gardens, beautiful flowers — you can almost smell the roses — and the bright daylight!
The first conversation between Henry and Thomas starts the relationship that will be central to the series.
Henry: “You said, in Parliament, in a speech, some six years ago, that I could not afford a war.”
Cromwell: “Wars are not affordable things.”
Henry: “When I went into France, I captured the town of Therouanne which you called…”
Cromwell: “A dog hole, majesty?”
Henry: “How could you say so?”
Cromwell: “I’ve been there…”
Henry: “So have I, at the head of an army! You told me I could not lead my own troops. You told me if I was taken prisoner, the ransom would bankrupt the country. So what do you want? You want a king to huddle indoors like a sick girl?”
Cromwell: “That would be ideal, for fiscal purposes.”
At this very moment, the LOOK Henry gives to Cromwell is PRICELESS! He is obviously pissed off with Cromwell, but he also gets that the man is right… so he just takes a deep breath and decides to… smile
Henry is intrigued. He now sees what Wolsey has seen in Cromwell. He does not necessarily trust or like Cromwell at the moment. But he knows he can make some good use of him.
This was more than 10 years ago. And how appropriate that the actors are now 10 years older than they were when they filmed Series 1!
Henry admits that Cromwell has got some great work done for him in the last 10 years. But then he is not surprising Henry like once he did. The King still misses the Cardinal of York. I wonder if Cromwell thinks that his days could be numbered as he tells Rafe that Henry takes Wolsey’s ghost over him.
The word from Fitzwilliam, who has met Anne of Cleves in Calais, is all high praise that makes the king impatient to meet his new bride.
In one of the funniest scenes in the series, Cromwell and Wriothesley find the king rummaging his treasure – costume – chests to find the right disguise in which to go surprise his new bride. Henry remembers his young days when he used to get in disguise and surprised Catherine of Aragon who played along and pretended she did not recognize him…
“Because everybody knows the King.”
Cromwell tries to convince Henry that this may not work out since Anne of Cleves may be embarrassed if she does not look at her best when he shows up without any notice, but the king is not listening.
Read the rest of the original article at Fan Fun with Damian Lewis