Wolf Hall

Thomas Wolsey is the “Archbishop of York, cardinal, papal legate, Lord Chancellor,” and “Thomas Cromwell’s patron” (xx). The son of a butcher, Wolsey works his way up in the church to become archbishop. Initially, Henry VIII trusts Wolsey as a confessor and confidante. Consequently, the cardinal holds a tremendous amount of political as well as religious power in England. The cardinal is a large, corpulent man with a dry sense of humor. He is generous to his friends and merciful to his enemies. Thomas Cromwell is his lawyer, fixer, and right-hand man. He trusts Thomas completely, and Thomas reveres the cardinal as a friend, benefactor, and mentor.

The cardinal is charged with arranging an annulment between King Henry and Queen Katherine due to his influence in Rome. Wolsey first runs into trouble when he seeks to establish a college at Cambridge by closing failing monasteries and diverting the funds into education. The Duke of Norfolk, Anne Boleyn’s uncle, begins spreading rumors that escalate into a tide of negative public opinion toward Wolsey.

Wolsey’s failure to arrange the king’s divorce is his undoing. Though he tries his best, he is unable to speed up the legal process of the Catholic Church, which operates on a thousand years of precedent. Anne Boleyn’s rancor toward the cardinal causes the king to label him as a traitor. He is stripped of his property and position and arrested. Cardinal Wolsey dies of illness on his way to the Tower of London. 

Thomas More is introduced in Wolf Hall as Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor. Son of Sir John More, wife of Alice, and father to Margaret (Meg), More is well-known throughout Europe as an accomplished statesman, councilor, author, lawyer, and statesman. He is perhaps most famous for his philosophical book, Utopia, about which Thomas Cromwell frequently makes puns. More is described as somewhat feeble; his right shoulder is higher than his left due to the amount of time he spends writing. As his fortunes fall, so does his health. He is later described as sickly and skeletal, with paper-like skin and a long beard.

More and Thomas Cromwell have a rivalrous relationship, often exchanging jabs at each other’s expense. More grew up in a position of privilege and became a page at Cardinal Morton’s house. Thomas met him there as a child, though More was aloof and would have nothing to do with a kitchen boy. This scene returns in their final interaction, though their roles are reversed. Thomas holds the power, and More is beneath him.

More is staunch opponent of Protestants, William Tyndale, and Cardinal Wolsey. Following Wolsey’s death, More takes his position as Lord Chancellor, an important advisory and administrative position in the court. He uses this position to torture and persecute those who oppose the Catholic faith. More’s opposition to reformation is his downfall. His loyalty to the church and his stubborn refusal to take the Oath of Supremacy lead to his execution.

Notorious for executing several of his wives, King Henry VIII is often seen historically as an embodiment of the cruelty and decadence of the British monarchy. Mantel’s Henry, however, captures the king in his prime, in the days leading up to England’s schism with the Catholic Church. Henry is a deeply complex character. He is handsome and athletic, not disposed to negotiations and litigation. Henry is a man of action, and he tends to see military force as the first priority of a king. This leads him to initially have a negative opinion of Thomas Cromwell, who, in his first term as a member of the House of Commons, opposed the king’s proposed invasion of France.

Henry is notoriously fickle. He is a man of great emotion whose disposition toward his courtiers (and even close friends) fluctuates with his mood. He is also highly susceptible to the influence of his precocious mistress—later wife—Anne Boleyn. Despite these shortcomings, he is a generous master to work for, and he values loyalty above all—even if his loyalty is not a guarantee. Thomas’ loyalty to Cardinal Wolsey endears him to the king. Henry is quick to take Thomas into his confidence after Wolsey’s death.

The younger son of Henry VII, Henry was not intended to become king. His elder brother, Arthur, was married to Katherine of Aragon, daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Since Katherine was also the aunt of the Holy Roman Emperor, and because Spain was close with the Vatican, this was a highly strategic marriage for the advancement of England. When Arthur died young, Henry VII arranged for Henry to marry his brother’s wife.

The central concern of Henry’s life is the lack of a male heir. After twenty years of marriage, he and Katherine only have one surviving daughter, Mary. Henry wishes to annul his marriage, believing it is Katherine’s fault that he has no sons. He charges Cardinal Wolsey and later Thomas Cromwell with advancing his cause with Rome. His annulment is never granted. Instead, Thomas draws on biblical and historical precedent to draft the Act of Supremacy, making Henry the highest ruling power in his kingdom. This allows him to annul his own marriage, but causing a massive rift between England and the rest of humanity. Ultimately, Henry is known historically for the enaction of the English Reformation, creation of the Anglican Church, and inception of the events that would see England become a Protestant world power within a generation. 

Anne Boleyn is the infamous and polarizing second wife of Henry VIII. Anne is the daughter of Thomas Boleyn and the niece of Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk. The Boleyns and Howards wield much political power; Anne represents the union of both families and the hope for their advancement through her marriage with the king. Anne is beautiful and queenly, but vindictive and haughty. She is the object of Henry’s desires, and though “Anne is not a carnal being, she is a calculating being, with a cold slick brain at work behind her hungry black eyes” (323). She is known to have a terrible temper, often lashing out at others (frequently her sister, Mary Shelton) and even breaking things in rage.

Anne Boleyn is largely responsible for Cardinal Wolsey’s fall. Years ago, Anne had an affair—though it is not clear how far this affair actually went—with Henry Percy. Wolsey, knowing the importance of Percy staying in the north to defend the kingdom form Scotland, forces Percy to renounce his ties with Anne. Though Anne wishes to become queen, she nevertheless resents Wolsey for meddling in her affairs. When Wolsey fails to get the church to agree to the annulment of Henry and Katherine’s marriage, Anne helps turn Henry against him, eventually leading to his death. Wolsey’s death comes back to bite Anne when Henry Percy asserts that he and Anne had essentially been betrothed. Without Wolsey, she turns to Thomas Cromwell for help.

Anne is derisive toward Katherine and Lady Mary, who she often refers to as “Spanish Mary.” She is jealous that King Henry still loves his daughter, and fears that their daughter Elizabeth will be out of the line of succession in favor of her elder half-sister. Katherine’s existence is grating to Anne; many of the king’s subjects still see Katherine as the legitimate queen and refuse to accept Anne, even after her coronation.

Though she gets exactly what she wants, Anne feels insecure in her position. The Act of Supremacy contains a provision for her death, which makes her furious at Cromwell. Anne’s position becomes more precarious following the miscarriage of her second child. Rumors are that Henry has eyes for another woman, and now that Henry has ultimate say in dissolving his own marriages Anne’s situation is uncertain.

Daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain and aunt of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Katherine of Aragon was originally married to Henry VIII’s elder brother, Arthur. Their marriage was intended to shore up an alliance between England and Spain. When Arthur, Henry VII’s heir apparent, died young, the throne went to Henry VIII. In order to keep up the alliance, Katherine and Henry married. They have one surviving child, Princess Mary.

Katherine is a devoted to her faith, her daughter, and her husband. She actively fights Henry’s attempt to annul their marriage, maintaining the position that she never slept with Prince Arthur and so their marriage remains valid. Even after Henry marries Anne Boleyn, she continues to make the king’s clothes, sending him a new shirt weekly. She believes Henry will come back to her.

Due to her relations with Spain and Rome, the court consistently fears that Katherine will raise an army against England. This fear rises when Pope Clement threatens to excommunicate England. Katherine remains more popular than Anne Boleyn in the eyes of many English citizens, and some fear that the country would support her cause over Queen Anne’s.

Removed from succession by Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, Princess (later “Lady”) Mary is the only surviving child of Henry and Katherine. Mary is unnaturally small for her age, described at times as almost deformed. She is often sickly. Mary likes Thomas Cromwell, despite his plot against her mother. Thomas treats her kindly.

Mary is sent into exile in the countryside when Anne becomes queen, separated from her mother. Mary, like Katherine, refuses to acknowledge Anne as Henry’s legitimate wife, and thus incurs Anne’s rancor. She refuses to be seen as a bastard child and will not acknowledge anyone who does not refer to her as “Princess.”

Mary Carey is a widow and former mistress of King Henry VIII. She is also Anne Boleyn’s sister; many are surprised when Henry chooses Anne over Mary, who is regarded as the more attractive sister. At first Mary comes across as a flirt; her coquettish attitude both tempts Thomas Cromwell and pushes him away. However, throughout the course of the novel, her sad situation becomes evident. She is hated by her sister and derided by her father and her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, and she is sexually used by the king when it is convenient for him. Mary suffers from rumors concerning her promiscuity, suggesting that she has fathered many of the king’s bastard children. It begins to negatively affect her comportment and mental health.

Thomas initially has some feelings for Mary but sweeps them away. Instead, he thinks to arrange a marriage between her and Richard Cromwell. Anne forbids this. Mary gives Cromwell insight into Anne and Henry’s sex life; she is the first point of contact for Thomas to learn if and when they consummate their relationship or if Anne is pregnant.

Mary’s downfall is due to her sister’s jealousy. Shortly after Anne miscarries her and Henry’s second child, Mary becomes pregnant with her new husband’s child. Rumor, of course, insinuates that the baby she carries is actually Henry’s. Anne takes this personally and expels her sister from court. Mary is helped out by Thomas, who arranges a pension for her to insure comfort in exile.

Jane Seymour, daughter of Old John Seymour of Wolf Hall, is a lady-in-waiting in the court and spends much of her time in the company of Anne Boleyn. Anne is cruel to Jane, referring to her as a “milk-faced creeper” who “cries if you look at her sideways” (242). She is small, slight, and rather plain. Despite this, Thomas Cromwell begins to take an evident interest in her. The two meet several times throughout the novel.

Jane suffers disgrace and falls out of favor with the court when it comes out that her father has conducted an affair with her brother’s wife. This scandal does not last long, however. Thomas’ interest in her grows, and by the end of the novel, he plans his autumn travel route to include a stop at Wolf Hall—presumably to go see Jane. 

A crass and wolf-like man, Norfolk is the head of the powerful and influential Howard family and is the uncle of Anne Boleyn. Norfolk is sixty years old, a veteran of the royal court. The alliance between the Howards, Boleyns, and Tudors is very important to Norfolk, and he is often frustrated and furious at the slow pace of the legal system. Norfolk turns on Cardinal Wolsey, spreading rumors that he has raised an evil spirit to follow him around. Norfolk is a deeply superstitious man; his whole body rattles with “concealed relics: in tiny jeweled cases he has shavings of skin and snippets of hair, and set into medallions, he wears splinters of martyr’s bones” (150). Norfolk flirts with religious hypocrisy, despite his outward devotion. He frequently utters blasphemous swears, and he supports the reformation efforts because they advance his family.

Norfolk is a strong supporter of the class system, reluctant to work with or take advice from people of a lower social station. Because of this, Norfolk has a tense relationship with Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is a commoner, but his political skills and knowledge of finances are impossible to ignore. Despite his misgivings, Norfolk comes to like Cromwell, especially after the effort Thomas puts into advancing Anne Boleyn’s cause.

Thomas Cranmer is a learned Cambridge scholar and clergyman in favor of Henry VIII’s cause. Close friends with Thomas Cromwell, Cranmer is a reformer, pushing for the king’s right to rule, rather than the pope. Because of this, Cranmer becomes Archbishop of Canterbury when Archbishop Warham dies. Though he is a clergyman, he comes back from Europe with a wife and a child. Thomas Cromwell helps hide them away from the public eye.

Cranmer supports Thomas’ project of slowly reforming the church in England. Cranmer purges monastic communities of Katherine’s. He also presides over the investigation and interrogation of Elizabeth Barton and her followers. Cranmer aids Thomas in ensuring the Act of Supremacy aligns with biblical precedent and that it is enforced throughout the land. Cranmer interrogates Thomas More and helps officiate his trial.

Famed poet, diplomat, and suspected lover of Anne Boleyn, Wyatt negotiates a difficult position as one of Henry VIII’s courtiers. Historically, Thomas Wyatt worked actively to make it understood that English is a poetic language and to break the supremacy that French, Italian, and Spanish had over poetry. His translations of Petrarch brought the sonnet form to England.

Wyatt once rescued his father from their pet lion by distracting it. He is handsome, though self-conscious of his thinning hair. His father charged Thomas Cromwell with acting as a second father to him. Thomas is led on and emotionally tortured by Anne Boleyn. The two had a physical relationship that stopped short of sexual intercourse. Wyatt left to be a diplomat in Italy to avoid trouble. Rumors still circulate in court about Wyatt and Boleyn’s supposed relationship. Wyatt confesses to Thomas that he is still plagued with feelings for her; he knows that he will not be safe in the court as long as Anne is there to tempt him. 

Though Henry VIII was rumored to have fathered many bastard children, Henry Fitzroy is the only one he openly acknowledges. The fact that he appoints him Duke of Richmond is a brazen acceptance of a child born out of wedlock. Henry Fizroy is young, not yet fifteen. His father marries him to Mary Shelton, but does not allow him to live with his new wife, or consummate the marriage. Since he is a bastard, Henry is out of the line of legitimate succession. He will never be king.

Henry Percy holds a strategically important position as a protector of England’s border with Scotland. He claims to have had an arrangement for marriage with Anne Boleyn before Henry VIII; this claim nearly causes Henry VIII to break off his engagement with her. Cardinal Wolsey manages to smooth this over. Despite this, Percy treats Wolsey cruelly when he is sent to arrest him. Thomas never forgets this. As Percy’s debts rack up, Thomas plots to undo him financially, possibly causing him to lose his earldom. 

Rowland Lee is a friend of Thomas Cromwell who later becomes Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. Thomas sends Gregory to Lee’s household to learn from him. Lee later helps Thomas and Cranmer in the interrogation of Elizabeth Barton and her followers.

John Seymour is the master of Wolf Hall and father to Edward, Thomas, Jane, and Lizzie Seymour. Scandal erupts when John is caught having an affair with Edward’s wife, causing the Seymours to briefly fall out of favor with the court. This causes problems for Jane, but the scandal eventually blows over.

Rafe Sadler is Thomas Cromwell’s chief clerk, brought up from age seven at Austin Friars. Rafe is a sharp-witted young man with ginger hair. Thomas trusts him immensely, delegating him important tasks or turning to him with personal problems when there is nobody else to talk to. Rafe accompanies Thomas on nearly all of his political excursions and visits to court, so even King Henry is accustomed to his presence.

Rafe only breaks Thomas’ confidence once: he marries Helen Barre and keeps this a secret from Thomas for a year before guilt makes him confess. Thomas is concerned; Helen is of a lower class than Rafe, ruining Rafe’s chance to marry into a politically or financially beneficial situation. However, Thomas supports Rafe, helping to make Rafe’s father amicable to the union. 

Elizabeth Barton is a popular prophetess in Bishop Fisher’s bishopric. A nun aligned with the Franciscan order, Barton issues prophecies that describe Henry VIII’s downfall if he marries Anne Boleyn and divorces Katherine. This causes unrest, as Henry’s new marriage is already unpopular with his people.

Elizabeth is taken to Austin Friars to be put to an inquisition headed by Archbishop Cranmer. Through the course of questioning, she reveals that she is a fraud. Barton is taken to the Tower of London and is eventually executed along with many of her followers, including Bishop Fisher.

Wriothesly is a “Clerk of the Signet, diplomat, protégé of both Cromwell and Gardiner” (xx). He tells others to pronounce his last name as “Risley,” so members of Thomas’ household frequently refer to him as “Call-Me-Risley” or “Call-Me.” Rafe Sadler and Richard Cromwell think he is a spy for Stephen Gardiner. Wriothesley was an actor at Trinity Hall and still “has certain affectations, a consciousness of himself, of how he appears” (208). Wriothesley eventually comes into conflict with Gardiner, and so becomes more loyal to Thomas. 

Liz is Thomas Cromwell’s wife and mother of his children. Calm, practical, but never described as attractive, Liz is a silk-worker by trade. Liz dies suddenly from the plague, leaving behind her three children: Gregory, Anne, and Grace. Guilt over her death causes Thomas to put off seeking another wife. 

Walter is Thomas and Kat’s abusive father. A blacksmith by trade, Walter is a violent man who has the habit of ambushing his victims with a blow to the back of the head. He is a town menace, feared by most in Putney. Walter’s abuse spurs Thomas to leave his hometown and seek his fortunes elsewhere. When Thomas and Walter reunite, Walter has calmed down to a great degree, but he still retains his temper. Thomas does not want Walter to have anything to do with his children.

From a young age, Anne Cromwell is shown to be intelligent beyond her years. With her dark hair and sharp wit, she takes after her father. She wishes to learn Greek in order to not be surpassed by Thomas More’s daughter. She expresses interest in Rafe Sadler, her father’s chief clerk, though she knows that she is too young to marry him. Anne and her sister Grace both die young from the summer plague.

Eustache is the ambassador of the Holy Roman Emperor. Thomas notes that each of his actions seem studied and artificial, much like an actor who wandered into a comedic play. Chapuys sends frequent dispatches back to the emperor, and when “news is scant he sends the gossip” (330). Chapuys does not speak English, so he communicates with Henry’s courtiers in French, Italian, and Latin. Chapuys remains in contact with Katherine and Anne, presumably plotting their return to power along with the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. Though their opposing viewpoints put them at odds, Chapuys and Thomas maintain a friendly relationship.