The Black Book (Part 3)

Wolf Crawl Week 24: Monday 10 June – Sunday 16 June

To get these updates in your inbox, subscribe to Footnotes and Tangents and turn on notifications for the Cromwell Trilogy.

Welcome to week 24 of Wolf Crawl

This week, we are reading the final part of ‘The Black Book, London, January–April 1536.’ This runs from page 255 to 287 of the Fourth Estate paperback edition, starting with the line: ‘William Fitzwilliam comes to the Rolls House and sits down with him.’

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

A poll: Are you still reading along with us on Wolf Crawl?

Next week, I am heading off to the

Wolf Hall Weekend

in Devon. I’d love to be able to let people know how many of us are on this read-along. So, if you’re still reading, please reply to this poll:

Also, if you’re coming to the Wolf Hall Weekend, can you let me know in the comments? And if you’re not, let me know if you have any questions you’d like us to take to the experts. Thank you!

This is a long post and may get clipped by your email provider. It is best viewed online here.

Last week’s post:

The Black Book (Part 2)

This week’s story

William Fitzwilliam comes to see Crumb. He says Anne is harming the king. He implies it would be right to remove her. He accuses Crumb of dancing around the point. But in truth, they are both on their toes, one eye on the door.

Nicholas Carew has no such reticence or discretion. He is bristling with conspiracy. He represents the old families, and he wants to sign Cromwell up to the fight. The bargain is struck and sealed. Help us, and we might just let you live.

And so it begins. Fitz and Carew, the Courtenays and the Poles. They are all talking to each other, and they are all talking to him. And in his mind’s eye, he sets the table. All the guests are assembled and the meat is brought in, still yet unslaughtered. The Boleyns, laid at his hand to be carved.

Rafe is now in the privy chamber, so he hears all the gossip. It is sordid stuff that embarrasses Master Sadler. The gentlemen of the privy chamber speculate which one of them will sire the king’s heir. It is foolish talk, and he, Cromwell, hopes none of it will be needed.

But first, he must guide Henry into an alliance with the empire. He sets up a meeting with Chapuys and makes the ambassador endure an encounter with La Ana, and a dinner with her brother George. It is a carefully arranged humiliation to satisfy Henry that his marriage is recognised, before he may choose to discard it.

But Henry grows wise to the game. In return for an alliance, Chapuys wants Mary back in the line of succession. The king explodes with rage and demands an apology. He turns his anger on Cromwell. ‘I really believe, Cromwell, that you think you are king, and I am the blacksmith’s boy.’ He, Cromwell, protects himself, arms crossed, his father Walter at his side.

The next day, at the king’s council, they must talk their sovereign round to continue negotiations with the Emperor. Afterwards, he listens to the king’s humble words, his apology to his right hand. He needs Cromwell, and Cromwell will now go to work to free Henry from Anne.

So it is game on. The Seymours join the conspirators at Cromwell’s table. Anne, he knows, is plotting something. Something devious and dark. So he must pick up the pace, and break down the door, before it is too late.