Mistress and Issue
Wolsey lived in a 'noncanonical' marriage for around a decade with a woman called Joan Larke (born circa 1490) of Yarmouth, Norfolk. The edict that priests, regardless of their functions or the character of their work, should remain celibate had not been wholeheartedly accepted in England. Wolsey subsequently had two children, both born before he was made bishop. These were a son, Thomas Wynter (born circa 1510) and a daughter, Dorothy (born circa 1512), both of whom lived to adulthood. The son was sent to live with a family in Willesden and was tutored in his early years by Maurice Birchinshaw. He later married and had children of his own. Dorothy was adopted by John Clansey, and was in due course placed in Shaftesbury Nunnery, which had a fine reputation as a 'finishing school'. Following the dissolution of the monasteries (under Thomas Cromwell) she was awarded a pension. Following rapid promotion, Larke became a source of embarrassment to Wolsey who arranged for her marriage to George Legh of Adlington, in Cheshire, circa 1519. He himself provided the dowry. Henry VIII had a mansion built for Legh at Cheshunt Great House.
Read more about this topic: Thomas Wolsey
Famous quotes containing the words mistress and/or issue:
“See the kind seed-receiving earth
To every grain affords a birth:
On her no showers unwelcome fall,
Her willing womb retains em all,
And shall my Caelia be confined?
No, live up to thy mighty mind,
And be the mistress of Mankind!”
—John Wilmot, 2d Earl Of Rochester (16471680)
“If the issue doesnt matter a whole lot, just drop it. You dont have to win every fight ... and you will not have lost any of your authority by giving in when it doesnt matter very much.”
—Lawrence Balter (20th century)