Arthur and the Reformation

Arthur often tread a fine line during the Reformation of the English church. Although conservative in his personal beliefs, he often sought guidance from Thomas Cromwell and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer on how to implement the King’s will.[1]  He also received reports about Henry VIII’s religious observances to gain insight into what was acceptable to the King.[2]  In 1535, Cranmer wrote to Calais, concerned about reports claiming Arthur’s reluctance to administer the oath of supremacy in the English outpost, as required by the law.[3]  Rumours of the Lisle’s (Arthur and Honor) allegiances began to circulate. Arthur’s man in England, John Husee, warned him to tread a fine line on religious matters:

 

 

Henry VIII was astonished at the ‘papist fashion that is maintained in the town’ (Calais), and Cromwell hinted that Lisle would lose his Calais governorship position if he let such abuses be ‘suffered or winked at as have been hitherto in manner in contempt of his royal estate’.[5] 

 

But suspicions did start to fall on Arthur in November 1538, following the arrest of his first cousin, Margaret Pole, her two of her sons, and his nephew Henry Courtenay over treasonable dealings with Margaret’s other son, Cardinal Reginald Pole. Henry VIII identified the Pole’s  as a threat to the Tudor succession (Margaret was the daughter of Edward IV’s brother, George Duke of Clarence) and it was only Arthur’s illegitimate status that protected him from the same.[6] Cardinal Pole disapproved of Henry’s divorce and supremacy over the church, and left for Rome. Henry took this as a personal betrayal from a man he educated, favoured and was personally devoted too. When Pole was sent to England to encourage the rebellion of the Pilgrimage of Grace,  he became Henry’s arch-traitor. [7] Arthur was unwittingly caught up in a plot to hand over the town of Calais to the supporters of Cardinal Pole. The plot headed by Gregory Botolf, one of Arthur’s domestic chaplains and included a number of his household servants. The inclusion of so many of Arthur’s household in the treasonous plot cast doubt on his loyalty to the crown. Arthur was recalled to London and was eventually imprisoned in the Tower of London.[8] (Click for more on the Botolf Conspiracy)

 

 

 

A. D. Curry