This supreme historical drama ended with elegance and wit.
Warning: contains spoilers forThe Mirror and the Lightfinale.
Cromwell kept his composure and shrewdness until the last.
It was elegantly done, as was the death scene.
Was all Cromwells work done?
Not by half, but his Reformation had lasting effect even during the post-Henry chop-and-change.
Then, seven short years after Cromwell was killed, Henry died too.
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On the basis of this drama, good bloody riddance.
On the basis of this drama, he should have been the last one ever crowned.
What was behind Henry wanting to hear Cromwells letter read aloud a second time?
Not his conscience, but his vanity.
Oh well, Henry, perhaps marrying a teenager will help?
There was certainly no hope in what he interpreted as hopeful signs.
Still, he went down fighting.
If thered been a jury, Cromwell would have walked free, with a fat purse for damages.
Alas, there was no jury because the verdict had already been decided.
Even condemned, Cromwell still organised and instructed.
Son Gregory and nephew Richard were to repudiate him to save themselves.
A bruised and bloody Christophe was told not to fight.
He even had words of encouragement for his executioner, from one axe-man to another.
If dying bravely was his goal, then he achieved it.
Crucially, Cromwell didnt die alone.
Or perhaps Thomas conscience granted it to himself, depending on how you see the Cardinals apparitions.
Well, I dare say daughters sometimes get things wrong, offered Wolsey.
Perhaps that was the Light in this moribund episode.
His conscience has been pricked by his past, hence those recurring night terrors.
The nightmares are over.
Its his time to walk in the sweet, quiet air.
All episodes ofWolf Hall: The Mirror and the Lightare available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
