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Gregory Cromwell
Richard is Cromwell’s nephew, and the son of Kat and Morgan Williams. After his parents die, he moves into Cromwell’s household at Austin Friars and Cromwell brings him up like one of his own children. Richard is sharper than Cromwell’s own son, Gregory, which leads to Cromwell trusting Richard more readily with his affairs. Richard is very attached to Cromwell and asks to change his last name from Williams to Cromwell since Cromwell is like a father to him. Through his father’s family, Richard is a distant relative of King Henry, which leads Anne Boleyn to suggest that he marry her sister Mary Boleyn since he has some royal blood. Cromwell thinks this would be a great opportunity for Richard and the whole family, but Richard is reluctant when Cromwell discusses it with him, asking him if he even has a choice in the matter. Cromwell tells him he certainly does, but he goes on to persuade him by telling him that the whole family would gain immensely from the alliance. However, it doesn’t work out, to Richard’s relief, and he ends up marrying a young woman named Frances. Years later, when Mary Boleyn writes Cromwell a letter asking him for money, Richard says he is glad he didn’t marry her, and that he managed to find happiness and success without the Boleyns’ interference.
Richard Williams/Richard Cromwell Quotes in Wolf Hall
The Wolf Hall quotes below are all either spoken by Richard Williams/Richard Cromwell or refer to Richard Williams/Richard Cromwell. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 3: Chapter 1
Quotes
He stops to have a word with some of the benchers: how was this allowed to go forward? The Cardinal of York is a sick man, he may die, how will you and your students stand then before God? What sort of young men are you breeding here, who are so brave as to assail a great man who has fallen on evil times—whose favor, a few short weeks ago, they would have begged for?
The benchers follow him, apologizing; but their voices are lost in the roars of laughter that billow out from the hall. His young household are lingering, casting glances back. […]
Rafe touches his shoulder. Richard walks on his left, sticking close. “You don’t have to hold me up,” he says mildly. “I’m not like the cardinal.” He stops. He laughs. He says, “I suppose it was…”
“Yes, it was quite entertaining,” Richard says.
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Richard Williams/Richard Cromwell Quotes in Wolf Hall
The Wolf Hall quotes below are all either spoken by Richard Williams/Richard Cromwell or refer to Richard Williams/Richard Cromwell. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 3: Chapter 1
Quotes
He stops to have a word with some of the benchers: how was this allowed to go forward? The Cardinal of York is a sick man, he may die, how will you and your students stand then before God? What sort of young men are you breeding here, who are so brave as to assail a great man who has fallen on evil times—whose favor, a few short weeks ago, they would have begged for?
The benchers follow him, apologizing; but their voices are lost in the roars of laughter that billow out from the hall. His young household are lingering, casting glances back. […]
Rafe touches his shoulder. Richard walks on his left, sticking close. “You don’t have to hold me up,” he says mildly. “I’m not like the cardinal.” He stops. He laughs. He says, “I suppose it was…”
“Yes, it was quite entertaining,” Richard says.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
