In the Lion’s Court is a history of the court of the Tudor kings, particularly King Henry VIII. King Henry VIII is famous for having six wives. This book tells the history of six Thomases who lived, and sometimes died, during his reign. They were Wolsey, More, Howard, Cromwell, Cranmer and Wriothesley (pronounced RIZ-ly).
In the Lion’s Court starts during the reign of King Henry VII, in 1499. Wolsey, More and Howard were young men by this time, Cromwell was a teenager, Cranmer just a boy and Wriothesley yet to be born. The book is split into decades and the events of each decade affect the men’s fortunes. Wilson doesn’t just state facts, he offers reasons for the rise and fall of each man.
Henry’s wives are summarised as “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived”. The Thomases can be summarised as “Died, beheaded, survived, beheaded, survived, survived”. Wolsey’s death probably saved him from charges of treason and subsequent execution. More wasn’t the virtuous gentleman depicted in A Man for All Seasons. He was a religious zealot who persecuted anyone who wanted religious reform. Cranmer survived Henry’s reign only to be executed by Queen Mary. Howard, who always clung to Catholicism, survived into the reign of Queen Mary. Wriothesley died during the reign of King Edward VI, having served on his Council.
In the Lion’s Court is an interesting look at the time of one of England’s iconic monarchs. It examines the events of his reign by considering how they were affected by, and how they affected, a small number of men linked by the same Christian name. In the process it manages to give an even-handed picture of men who have previously been portrayed as either saints or self-serving.
