[MR] History Blog: Cardinal Wolsey’s Arms

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the History Blog features a story on Cardinal Thomas Wolsey's
heraldic arms. Recently an expertly carved wooden panel identified as the
Cardinal's device surfaced on the art market.

The piece was probably carved around 1520 when Wolsey's career in the
church and in Henry VIII's inner circle were on the rise. Wolsey fell from
grace in 1529 over his failure to secure Henry's Papal annulment from
Catherine of Aragon. It wasn't the Cardinal's fault, but Henry always had
to take out his rage on somebody. Wolsey was on his way to London to face
treason charges when he died of dysentery at Leicester Abbey on 29 November
1530. Although a slow and painful death, it was certainly a less
humiliating end than what Henry had planned for his former friend and
advisor.

A terra cotta version of Wolsey's arms exists in a wall at Hampton Court
Palace. When Henry appropriated the house from Wolsey, he ordered the arms
covered over. They were discovered during conservation work in 1845, and
may be seen today. The Hampton arms feature two naked cherubs as
supporters, while the wooden arms have griffins.

The History Blog does not say what is to become of the wooden arms. The
site implies that the piece is still in the hands of art dealer Simon
Dickenson, but there is no mention of it going to a museum.

You can see both Wolsey arms at
https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/74454 .

More about Wolsey and his fall is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wolsey .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.