Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex quotes

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex, was an English statesman and chief minister to King Henry VIII. As a key architect of the English Reformation, he helped engineer the break from the Roman Catholic Church. He played a decisive role in shaping Tudor policy and government until his dramatic fall from power. Here are 17 of his quotes:

Where by divers sundry old authentic histories and chronicles, it is manifestly declared and expressed that this realm of England is an Empire, and so hath been accepted in the world, governed by one Supreme Head and King having the dignity and royal estate of the imperial Crown of the same, unto whom a body politic compact of all sorts and degrees of people divided in terms and by names of Spirituality and Temporalty, be bounden and owe to bear next to God a natural and humble obedience.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

My lord, you had showed yourself of much more patience-I wll not say of much more prudency-if ye had contented yourself with their lawful appeal and my lawful injunctions and rather have sought fully to instruct me in the matter than thus to desire to conquer me by shrewd words, to vanquish me by sharp threaps [assertions] of Scripture which, as I know to be true, so I trust to God-as great clerk as ye be-ye allege them out of their place.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

[I am] A Subject and born to obey laws...The trial of all laws only consisteth in honest and probable witness.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

This had been no great cause more to reject the one than thother, for ye know by histories of the bible that god may by his revelation dispense with his own Law.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

My prayer is that God give me no longer life than I shall be glad to use mine office in edification, and not in destruction.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

A good household manager, but not fit to meddle in the affairs of kings.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

[ William Tyndale is a man] replete with venomous envy, rancour and malice.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

Many lamented but more rejoiced, and specially such as either had been religious men, or favoured religious persons; for they banqueted and triumphed together that night, many wishing that that day had been seven year before; and some fearing lest he should escape, although he were imprisoned, could not be merry. Others who knew nothing but truth by him both lamented him and heartily prayed for him. But this is true that of certain of the clergy he was detestably hated, & specially of such as had borne swynge, and by his means was put from it; for in dead he was a man that in all his doings seemed not to favour any kind of Popery, nor could not abide the snoffyng pride of some prelates, which undoubtedly, whatsoever else was the cause of his death, did shorten his life and procured the end that he was brought unto.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

Who seeth not that he that is an evil counsellor to a prince is an evil counsellor to a realm? If it be sin to be an evil counsellor to one man, wat abomination, what devilish and horrible sin is it to be a flatterer or an evil councillor to a prince?

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

[I have had many a talk with Cromwell] of god, of nature & of other polytyke & wordly thyngys [from which he has] geddryd more frute of truth then I have downe of any other man lyvyng syth I cam here to my cuntrey.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

I have meddled in so many matters under your Highness that I am not able to answer them all...but hard it is for me or any other meddling as I have done to live under your grace and your laws but we must daily offend.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

Tyndall (who assuredlie sheweth himself in myn opynyon rather to be replete with venymous envye rancour and malice then with any good lerning vertue knowlage or discression).

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

Suerly my lord I suppose this had been no greate cause more to reiect the one than thother for ye know by histories of the bible that god may by his reuelation dispense with his own Law, as with the Israelites spoyling the egiptians and with Jacob to hue iiij wifes, and suche other.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

I haue medelyd in So many matyers vnder your Highnes that I am not able to answer them all...but harde it ys for me or any other medlyng as I haue done to lyue vnder your grace and your lawse but we must daylye offende and wher I haue offendyd, I most humblye aske mercye and pardon at your gracyous will and plesure.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

I thinke that like as the Kinges Maieste cannot better or more hieghly advaunce thonour of god ne more prudently prouide for his owne suretie and the tranquilitie of his Realme domynyons and subgietes thenne in the discrete and charitable punishment of suche as doo by any meane Labour and purpose to sowe sedicion, diuision & contention, in opinion amonges his people contrary to the trouthe of goddes worde and his graces most christien ordenaunces... And therefore myne opinion is that you shal by all meanes diuise howe with charyte and myld handeling of thinges to quenche this slaunderous Bent as moche as you maye ever exhorting men discretely and without Rigour or extreame dealing to knowe and serue god truely and their prince and Souereign Lorde with all humilite and obedyence.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex