# Thomas Cromwell — The Fifth Queen character guide > Thomas Cromwell in The Fifth Queen by Ford Madox Ford. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Cromwell, VI Cromwell, the Lord Cromwell, my Lord Cromwell, Lord Privy Seal, Privy Seal **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-the-coming ## Snapshot The Lord Privy Seal rules England through fear and favors, staging three hundred liveried servants as theater while he hunts treason in every shadow. ## Who they are Cromwell commands the machinery of state with cold precision, from his barge on the Thames to the eleven hundred dishes of his revels, yet he watches even his own agents for signs of drift. He takes Katharine Howard into his keeping, assigning her to spy on the Lady Mary's household, and his suspicion of everyone becomes the engine of the plot. His rivalry with Gardiner and his grip on the King define the political weather of the entire book. ## Relationships ### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/katharine_howard) _rivalry_ Katharine is a fierce political and ideological enemy of Cromwell, opposing his reformist agenda and influence over the king. ### [Stephen Gardiner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/stephen_gardiner) _rivalry_ Gardiner and Cromwell are bitter political rivals, each scheming to control the king and the direction of the English Reformation. ### [Nicholas Throckmorton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/nicholas_throckmorton) _rivalry_ Throckmorton opposes Cromwell's policies and schemes, aligning with Katharine's faction against the reformist minister. ### [Nicholas Udal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/nicholas_udal) _professional_ Udal has a complex professional relationship with Cromwell, serving as a scholar and occasional informant while maintaining his loyalty to Katharine. ### [Thomas Cranmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/thomas_cranmer) _professional_ Cranmer and Cromwell are uneasy allies in the Reformation, working together politically but with underlying theological and personal tensions. ### [Lady Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/lady_mary) _rivalry_ Lady Mary despises Cromwell for his role in her mother's downfall and his relentless pressure to renounce her Catholic faith. ### [Duke of Norfolk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/duke_of_norfolk) _rivalry_ The Duke of Norfolk is a powerful nobleman who bitterly opposes Cromwell's rise and his leveling policies against the old aristocracy. ### [Stephen Gardiner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/stephen_gardiner) _rivalry_ Gardiner and Cromwell are bitter political rivals, each scheming to control the king and the direction of the English Reformation. ### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/katharine_howard) _rivalry_ Katharine is a fierce political and ideological enemy of Cromwell, opposing his reformist agenda and influence over the king. ### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/katharine_howard) _rivalry_ Katharine is a fierce political and ideological enemy of Cromwell, opposing his reformist agenda and influence over the king. ### [Nicholas Throckmorton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/nicholas_throckmorton) _rivalry_ Throckmorton opposes Cromwell's policies and schemes, aligning with Katharine's faction against the reformist minister. ### [Stephen Gardiner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/stephen_gardiner) _rivalry_ Gardiner and Cromwell are bitter political rivals, each scheming to control the king and the direction of the English Reformation. ## In the story ### [Part I: The Coming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/part-i-the-coming) Present as a key political operator, maneuvering in the background. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/i) The Lord Privy Seal, absent at Greenwich; Udal fails to see him. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/ii) Returns from Rochester on his barge, arrogant and calculating, aware of the political crisis caused by the King's disgust with Anne of Cleves. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/iv) Present at the King's side, sardonic and confident, he subtly undermines Norfolk and advises the King. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/v) Accompanies the King, discusses state matters, and warns Henry about Katharine's reputation. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/vi) Attempts to win Lady Mary's favor through persuasion and bribes; orders Udal to write an interlude; warns Katharine and Udal to report his words. ### [Part II: The House of Eyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/part-ii-the-house-of-eyes) The powerful Lord Cromwell, who warns Katharine about the King's interest and seeks to use her for his own political ends. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as having triumphed and sent a man to Katharine; Gardiner accuses him of plotting. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/ii) Hosts the revels for Queen Anne of Cleves; is seen talking with Chapuys, the Imperial ambassador. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/vi) Holds court, threatens Katharine, and assigns her to spy on Lady Mary; also handles legal disputes. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as having contrived the treasonable letter; present at the revels, talking with Baumbach. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/viii) Referenced as 'Privy Seal,' the mastermind behind the plot against Katharine. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/ix) Discussed as the target of political maneuvering; Throckmorton advises speaking against him while praising the King. ### [Part III: The King Moves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/part-iii-the-king-moves) Warns Katharine about the King's intentions, maneuvering to maintain his influence. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/ii) Referenced as Privy Seal, his influence looms over the political maneuvering. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/iii) Considers Throckmorton's plan to arrest and torture Katharine, but hesitates due to the King's affection for her. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/iv) Referred to as Privy Seal; he is the recipient of Katharine's intercepted letter and is expected to arrive shortly. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/thomas_cromwell - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters