# Thomas Cromwell — Privy Seal character guide > Thomas Cromwell in Privy Seal by Ford Madox Ford. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the Lord Cromwell, Cromwell, This Cromwell, Thomas Cromwell, Cur Crummock, Crummock **First appearance:** 0002-privy-seal ## Snapshot The Lord Privy Seal, a man of immense labors and minute notebooks, who can reward a chance informer with his own golden collar and ruin a woman with rustics' tales. ## Who they are Cromwell rules England through terror and paperwork, knowing the opinion of every man with a vote from shire to burgh, burning his lamp while the kingdom sleeps. He believes Katharine Howard virtuous, and therefore plans to prove her unchaste: bring her cousin Culpepper raging from France, plant witnesses from Lincolnshire, catch the King and her together. He reasons justly, Throckmorton thinks bitterly, and that is the horror of him. His cold logic is the engine that drives the whole plot toward its crisis. ## Relationships ### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard) _rivalry_ Katharine Howard and Thomas Cromwell are fierce political enemies, each plotting to destroy the other's influence. ### [Cardinal Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/cardinal_pole) _rivalry_ Cardinal Pole and Thomas Cromwell are bitter ideological and political opponents, representing Catholic and Protestant factions. ### [Wriothesley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/wriothesley) _professional_ Thomas Cromwell and Wriothesley are colleagues and allies in the king's service, working together on political machinations. ### [Magister Udal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/magister_udal) _psychological_ Magister Udal is manipulated and used by Thomas Cromwell as a pawn in political schemes. ### [Lascelles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/lascelles) _professional_ Lascelles is an agent and informant working for Thomas Cromwell, providing intelligence against Katharine Howard. ### [Duke of Cleves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/duke_of_cleves) _professional_ The Duke of Cleves is a political ally of Thomas Cromwell, connected through marriage negotiations and diplomacy. ### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard) _rivalry_ Katharine Howard and Thomas Cromwell are fierce political enemies, each plotting to destroy the other's influence. ### [Cardinal Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/cardinal_pole) _rivalry_ Cardinal Pole and Thomas Cromwell are bitter ideological and political opponents, representing Catholic and Protestant factions. ### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard) _rivalry_ Katharine Howard and Thomas Cromwell are fierce political enemies, each plotting to destroy the other's influence. ### [Wriothesley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/wriothesley) _professional_ Thomas Cromwell and Wriothesley are colleagues and allies in the king's service, working together on political machinations. ### [Magister Udal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/magister_udal) _psychological_ Magister Udal is manipulated and used by Thomas Cromwell as a pawn in political schemes. ### [Duke of Cleves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/duke_of_cleves) _professional_ The Duke of Cleves is a political ally of Thomas Cromwell, connected through marriage negotiations and diplomacy. ## In the story ### [Part I: The Rising Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-i-the-rising-sun) Central figure of power and manipulation in the court. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii) Referred to as Lord Privy Seal; his spies are feared, and the embassy is suspected to be connected to his rivalry with Katharine Howard. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iii) Referenced as the object of Udal's hatred and the master he spies for, though his grip on power is perceived to be weakening. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iv) Paces the gallery, listens to the debate, and questions Wriothesley about the Cleves envoy in Paris. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/v) Referenced as Privy Seal, the target of the plot; not physically present. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vi) Meditates on Katharine as half foe, half friend; berates Wriothesley; rejects Katharine's offer of alliance, insisting on a King supreme over Pope and Church. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vii) Plans to destroy Katharine Howard by bringing her cousin from France and gathering witnesses to swear against her, believing her virtuous but dangerous. ### [Part II: The Distant Cloud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-ii-the-distant-cloud) Cromwell's influence looms over the chapter as the central figure of power and manipulation. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/i) Referred to as Lord Privy Seal; his spies and influence are felt throughout, and Throckmorton acts to undermine him by stopping Culpepper. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iii) Not directly present in this chapter, but referenced indirectly through the political context of Cleves and the divorce. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iv) Referenced as Privy Seal; plots to use Katharine's cousin to ruin her reputation and bring witnesses against her. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/v) Referenced as Privy Seal, whose spies and organization are pervasive; the printer expresses devotion to him. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vii) Privy Seal, devising a plot against Katharine Howard, reflecting on his political power and the need to purge treason. ### [Part III: The Sunburst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-iii-the-sunburst) Central figure in the political intrigues of the chapter, maneuvering to maintain power. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii) Referenced as the target of Throckmorton's accusations, with witnesses prepared to testify against him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_cromwell - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters