William Brereton (1487 – )
The story so far…
Week 7: Entirely Beloved Cromwell (Part 2)
One of the foot-devils carrying Wolsey at the farce held at Hampton Court after the cardinal’s death. Cromwell notes that, like Harry Norris, Brereton is “old enough to know better.”
Week 8: The Dead Complain of Their Burial / Arrange Your Face (Part 1)
He comes at Christmas to order Cromwell to Greenwich to see the king. He has “ordinary ways” of showing his impatience: slapping his glove and tapping his foot. The Breretons are up in the Welsh borders, “a quarrelsome crew, great disturbers of the peace”, that Walter would have got on with.
Week 9: Arrange Your Face (Part 2)
Brereton is an expert at bilocation. “Why are you not at court?” Cromwell asks him when he has been arrested in the New Year revels. “I am. I am at Greenwich.”
Earlier in the year, he is hunting in his own country of Cheshire while simultaneously with the king down south.
He is also with Anne at Advent, one of her pets, paying her compliments. God knows where he is supposed to be on that occasion.
Week 12: Anna Regina (Part 1)
William Brereton is a witness at the king’s marriage to Anne. “Are you truly here?” Cromwell asks. “Or are you somewhere else?”
Brereton threatens Cromwell. He, Cromwell, calls him back, politely. That, William, was a mistake.