The arrest and execution of Thomas Cromwell.

The most recent episode of Wolf Hall The Mirror and the Light culminated in Thomas Cromwell’s shocking arrest. Based on the accounts of the real moment, the show certainly delivers on accuracy, but what is less clear for people watching is what actually caused Thomas Cromwell’s arrest. What was it that actually brought down Henry VIII’s most effective chief minister, and why is the story of Anne of Cleves disastrous marriage to the king often cited as the cause, but was in fact just part of a wider plan to destroy Cromwell for good.