Wolf Hall

Thomas and Henry discuss breaking up the wealth of the church in England through “an intricate legal process of dispossession, repossession: the assertation of ancient sovereign rights” (494). Thomas estimates that “the clergy own a third of England” and he intends to reclaim this wealth (495). Thomas has a vision of Cardinal Wolsey, warning him one day that Henry will be his undoing.

Thomas is popular in court. Noblemen lobby him to take on their children in his household to learn statecraft and the finer points of surviving as a courtier. Thomas takes on these boys, educating them seriously.

Stephen Gardiner, Henry, Anne, and Thomas look over the bill Thomas “proposes to pit into Parliament to secure the succession of Anne’s children” (498). Anne is outraged that the bill has a provision concerning her death. The bill makes any of their male heirs Henry’s successor; in the event of no male heir, Elizabeth would be queen.

The bill includes an oath to seal the act. Gardiner questions how Thomas will get the whole country to swear this oath. They argue over new regulations concerning shepherding. The king is displeased with Stephen. They discuss the need to make new bishops; Anne has a ready list of names, including Hugh Latimer and