Thomas Cromwell’s Beheading Under King Henry VIII

HILARY MANTEL, AUTHOR, “THE MIRROR AND THE LIGHT”: I suppose Cromwell is an illustration of man who has tremendous personal faith. But he also respected faith of others and knew that you couldn’t bully people in or out of belief. Above all, what he was, was a peace keeper. And he kept the peace for most of Henry’s reign. The king was inclined to go to war because (INAUDIBLE) in those days, it was however you demonstrated your glory. But the king said — well, Cromwell said to the king time and again, no, you can’t afford a war. Wars are not affordable things. You get into a war and you never know where it’s going to end. It can end in your country bankrupt. Cromwell have been a soldier. He knew the human cost of it. And I think it’s this principle and yet pragmatic stance and his skill in negotiation and in balancing interests that still has something to teach politicians today. Henry was a ruler who was prone to get out of control and think only of his own military glory. Cromwell constantly reined him back because of practical factors but also because of principle.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Do you think because I think you’ve said that this could be, you know, after the queen, the bigness of the British monarchy, the English monarchy, you know, could sort of gradually fade away? In other words, you know, it doesn’t have a long time in the future to go. Do you still think that?

MANTEL: Well, it’s not a preoccupation of mine and I’m the most reluctant commentator on these affairs. I think that Charles who will be our next king is a man with a huge sense of responsibility and a wonderful (INAUDIBLE) of service who was been waiting in the wings to do something for his country for many, many years now. But, of course, it’s part of the mystique of monarchy that however old, however tired, however sad, the monarch must stay in place, that’s written into the institution. I think Charles will be a good king. I think he may revitalize the institution. But I honestly can’t see it outliving his children and their children.