ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the dress of those at Henry VIII's court who were not members of his immediate family nor his household. While the nobility played a leading role at the Henrician court, the part played by the leading figures within the ecclesiastical hierarchy underwent change as a consequence of the reformation. One facet of personal monarchy was to provide opportunities for a favourite, and Thomas Fuller highlighted examples drawn from Henry VIII's reign. Fuller believed Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk, to be exemplary of the good favourite, whose chief characteristics were to be the king's friend but not his chief minister. Thomas Wolsey typified the evil favourite who, having become the king's chief councillor, sought to usurp the king's authority. Hans Holbein's portrait of Thomas Cromwell was painted some time after his appointment as master of the king's jewels on 12 April 1532.
