Somersham.info

Events are moving quickly. Queen Katherine has been removed, not in the event to Somersham but to the relative comfort of Kimbolton. The King now had a broader agenda. The process of assessing the wealth of the church with a view to acquiring it had begun. Thomas Cromwell was in charge of the administration of the process and his nephew Richard was helping out as the letter below shows. Ely was clearly not a den of Catholic intransigency and it seems the Cromwell's found little to concern them at Somersham.

To my Lord (Thomas) Cromwell

I have me most humbly commended unto your Lordship. I rode on Sunday to Cambridge to my bed and the next morning was up betimes, purposing to have found at Ely Mr Pollard and Mr Williams. But they were departed before my coming and so they being at dinner at Somersham with the Bishop of Ely, I overtook them there. At which time I opened your pleasure unto them in everything. Your Lordship I think. shall shortly perceive the Prior of Ely to be a forward sort, by evident tokens as at our coming, shall be at large related unto you.
At the writing hereof we have done nothing at Ramsey, saving that one night I communed with the Abbot; whom I found comfortable to everything, as shall be at this time put in act. And then as your Lordship's will is, as soon as we have done at ramsey, we go to Peterborough. And from then ce to my House and so to home. The which I trust, shall be the farthest on this day come seven days.

That the blessed trinity preserve your Lordship's health!

Your Lordship's most bounden nephew

RICHARD CROMWELL"

Sent from Ramsey on Tuesday in the morning.