Master of Phantoms (Part 1/5)

Wolf Crawl Week 25: Monday 17 June – Sunday 23 June

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Welcome to week 25 of Wolf Crawl

This week, we are reading the first of five parts of ‘Master of Phantoms, London, April–May 1536’. This section runs to page 323 of the Fourth Estate paperback edition and the line: ‘And then you count the money. And lock it in your strongbox.’

You will find everything you need for this read-along on the main Cromwell trilogy page of my website, including:

• The reading schedule

• Weekly updates, like this one

• Plot summaries for each character

• Online resources about Mantel’s writing and Thomas Cromwell

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Last week’s post:

The Black Book (Part 3)

This week’s story

Inquiries have begun. His friend Fitz has asked him to fathom ‘what the devil is going on among the queen’s waiting-women’. So, he, Cromwell, has opened his own court of inquiry. With almond cakes. Lady Worcester is first up, keen to dispel speculation that the child she carries is Henry’s. In return for Cromwell’s support, she will swear on oath that ‘doors are often closed’ in the queen’s chambers.

On St George’s Day, the Garter Knights gather to fill a vacancy in their order. Brandon throws him a wink, but no one makes Master Secretary a knight. Anne’s brother George is also passed over in favour of Crumb’s new friend, Sir Nicholas Carew.

With Richard Sampson, Bishop of Chichester, Cromwell looks for a clean solution to the Boleyn matter: annulment. He talks to Thomas Boleyn, who, for the right price, seems ready to testify against his daughter. But George comes too, and he is disgusted. Thomas Wriosthesley minutes our Lord Rochford’s displeasure.

He, Cromwell, calls in Mary Shelton. She tells him about a quarrel between Anne and Lady Rochford. She reports what she has witnessed without understanding its full significance. In the queen’s chambers, they have envisaged the king’s death. And Harry Norris has spoken about his love for Anne, alluding to more secrets yet uncovered.

Bring in Lady Rochford. Anne’s sister-in-law has her knives out for the queen. And she hates Anne’s brother, George, her husband. But Cromwell wants particulars. So Rochford says sister and brother are lovers. Why? ‘The better to rule.’ Anne needs a boy who doesn’t look like a bastard. A prince that looks like a Boleyn.

Lady Rochford will testify against Anne. She will give evidence against her husband.

He says, ‘Be advised by me. Talk to no one.’
Jane Rochford says, ‘Be advised by me. Talk to Mark Smeaton.’