Also known as: Tom Truth
The story so far…
Week 31: Salvage (Part 1/3)
Thomas Howard the Lesser. No danger of confusing the two. The Lesser is the worst poet at court. The Greater never rhymed in his life.
In his dreams, he sees Howard faces. ‘Thomas Howard the Lesser. Half-waking he asks himself, what is the Lesser for? What does he do with his time? It is he who is the bad poet. His lines go thump and flop. Me/see. Too/do. Thing/bring. Flip-flap, they go, pit-pat.
Week 32: Salvage (Part 2/3)
Tom Truth is with his half-brother near the king’s chambers:
Norfolk: ‘An idle generation. Naught but riddles and games.’
Truth: ‘What would your lordship like instead? A war?’
Cromwell: ‘No harm sharing verses. Even poor ones are not a crime.’
Week 33: Salvage (Part 3/3)
Tom Truth comes with them to Hunsdon. Brandon makes a joke about his poetry. ‘Poor boy, he thinks. Even Suffolk knows how evil he rhymes.’ Cromwell notices that the two Howards are still whispering things. There is something he does not know.
Week 34: Wreckage (II) (Part 1/2)
Call-Me exposes the secret marriage between Douglas and Tom Truth. Truth is sent to the Tower, where Cromwell and Call-Me question him. They use his own poetry as evidence against him. They suggest he is plotting to become king.
Week 34: Wreckage (II) (Part 2/2)
Tom Truth is attainted for treason and awaits his punishment in the Tower.
Week 39: Vile Blood (Part 2/2)
Cromwell reads Tom Truth some of his and Meg’s poetry. ‘Your bad verse will choke you. I need not lift a finger. There are some prisoners I forbid to have paper. I might forbid you. For your own good, of course.’
Week 43: Nonsuch
Tom Truth dies in the Tower in November, 1537.