Location: Team Frain/Cromwell

Discussion: You Learn Something New Everyday!Reported This is a featured thread

Category: Discussion Forum / Tudors Media
Showing 2 posts
Elliemental
Elliemental
You Learn Something New Everyday!
Nov 9 2009, 6:40 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 9 2009, 6:40 AM EST
As I stated in another thread, I`m currently reading John Schofield`s biography of Thomas Cromwell, and have just finished reading about the fall of Anne Boleyn and her faction. I always assumed that the story about Smeaton`s torture with the knotted rope was true. Its` mentioned in several places, shown in just about every film adaptation of the period and really, took it at face value. However, according to the Schofield biography, the only evidence of this comes from the Spanish Chronicle, and isn`t mentioned anywhere else. The same Spanish Chronicle also claims Cromwell was pivotal in the downfall of Katherine Howard, that Anne of Cleves was Henry`s fifth wife and numerous other `howlers` (as Schofield calls them).
This is one of the key reasons why Cromwell has been portrayed as a blood stained monster for the last 500 years, and now it turns out it is almost certainly a fabrication. My mind is clean amazed, as Cranmer would say.
I`m sorry for starting a seemingly pointless thread about this, but its` a very interesting point, and something that needs to be taken into consideration before the vilification of Cromwell is continued. Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None
Reggie19
Reggie19
1. RE: You Learn Something New Everyday!
Nov 9 2009, 7:09 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 9 2009, 7:11 AM EST
"As I stated in another thread, I`m currently reading John Schofield`s biography of Thomas Cromwell, and have just finished reading about the fall of Anne Boleyn and her faction. I always assumed that the story about Smeaton`s torture with the knotted rope was true. Its` mentioned in several places, shown in just about every film adaptation of the period and really, took it at face value. However, according to the Schofield biography, the only evidence of this comes from the Spanish Chronicle, and isn`t mentioned anywhere else. The same Spanish Chronicle also claims Cromwell was pivotal in the downfall of Katherine Howard, that Anne of Cleves was Henry`s fifth wife and numerous other `howlers` (as Schofield calls them).
This is one of the key reasons why Cromwell has been portrayed as a blood stained monster for the last 500 years, and now it turns out it is almost certainly a fabrication. My mind is clean amazed, as Cranmer would say.
I`m sorry for starting a seemingly pointless thread about this, but its` a very interesting point, and something that needs to be taken into consideration before the vilification of Cromwell is continued."
There isn't definite proof that Mark was even tortured, never mind that Cromwell tortured him. It's assumed because of was of low-birth, which allowed him to be tortured, and because he was the only person who did confess, that he was most likely tortured. That, and Anne wouldn't have touched him with a bargepole given his low-born status, so it's assumed he gave a confession under duress, and assumed it was Cromwell who did it! Assumed, assumed, assumed! I'm not trying to whitewash Cromwell, i find people like him and Mary interesting for their faults, moreso than their assets. They're complicated, difficult to figure out, and they're all the more interesting for it! But i do think both have been unfairly villified! Do you find this valuable?