Interestingly, Thomas Cromwell feels like he must leave town not because he is afraid of Walter, but because he is afraid that
he might kill Walter if he ever sees him again. This not only shows his confidence in his own capabilities but is also evidence of his clear and rational thinking. He knows that he will be hanged if he kills Walter, and he doesn’t think he should waste his life on it. However, this detail, as well as the fact that was probably fighting with a knife the previous day, suggests young Thomas Cromwell’s own potential for violence, which is different from the adult Cromwell’s loathing for it. This suggests that Mantel believes that violence comes from immaturity; Cromwell embraces violence when he’s younger but rejects it when he’s older and wiser.