Presuming Too Far ‘above his very base and low degree’? Thomas Cromwell’s Use of Textiles in his Schemes for Social and Political Success (1527–1540)

The article will examine the textiles and dress purchased and worn by Thomas Cromwell (c. 1485–1540). Focusing on the period between 1527 and 1540 (parameters shaped by the dates of the surviving primary documents), it investigates the extent to which Cromwell's relationship with textiles and dress reflects his ambition for, and eventual achievement of, social and political advancement.