Henry Percy
The Earl of Northumberland's heir
Henry Percy (1502 – 1537), heir to the Earl of Northumberland. He was betrothed in secret to Anne Boleyn in 1523.
“You are in your early twenties when you first become involved with Anne Boleyn. You were brought up in Wolsey’s household and he had a poor opinion of your abilities… You seem to be a muddle-headed, emotional, unreliable young man, with poor judgement; not a man to dislike, not a cowardly man, but a confused one, frequently out of his depth.”
Hilary Mantel, notes on characters
The story so far…
Week 3: An Occult History of Britain (Part 1)
Harry stumbles into our story in 1523 as the betrothed of Anne Boleyn. Wolsey makes short work of this silly notion and calls in Harry’s father to take him away and marry him to Mary Talbot.
Week 7: Entirely Beloved Cromwell (Part 2)
He is tasked with the arrest of the cardinal. “Vengence deferred” for breaking up Anne and Harry. George Cavendish says the townspeople wept and asked God to send vengeance on Harry Percy. Cromwell: “God need not trouble, he thinks: I shall take it in hand.”
Week 10: 'Alas, What Shall I Do For Love?' (Part 1)
Mary Shelton: ‘Harry Percy has gone mad. Everybody knows it. He is spending all his money.’
He claims once again he is married to Anne Boleyn. Cromwell is sent in to make him think otherwise. He thinks he can speak truth to power, and his “ancient titles” will protect him. But Cromwell explains that it is otherwise.
Percy goes to the king’s council to swear on the Bible that he is not married to Anne Boleyn.
Week 16: The Map of Christendom (Part 1)
Christmas, 1534. Cromwell considers a map of the Scots border. ‘Harry Percy’s country. Look, let me show you. These are parcels of his estates he has given away to his creditors. We cannot let it continue, because we can’t leave our borders to chance.’
Cromwell intends to take away his earldom. Gregory suspects this is punishment for what he did to the cardinal.
Week 28: Master of Phantoms (Part 4/5)
Cromwell and Call-Me visit the earl at his home in Stoke Newington. Cromwell costs the premises since he hopes soon to have it soon for himself or the king. Percy is ill; he says he is dying.
Cromwell wants him to find fault with his oath and say now that he is married to Anne Boleyn. The earl will not do it. ‘Sense as fled,’ Cromwell tells Call-Me. Since he is not Anne’s husband, Percy will be a judge at Anne’s trial.
Week 29: The Book of Phantoms (Part 5/5) / Spoils
At Anne’s trial, he faints in the ‘warm and airless’ room. He is carried off in a blanket. Richard Riche says, ‘There is another man who the queen has ruined. I suppose we will not know them all for years.’
Week 42: The Image of the King (Part 2/2) / Broken on the Body
In June, 1537, Percy dies. On his deathbed, he says he is still married to Anne Boleyn. The Percys’ house is ‘now utterly undone’, with no heir, and all land and titles reverting to the crown.