At around 8am on the 29th November 1530, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey died at the Abbey of St Mary de Pratis, Leicester. He had stopped at the abbey while on his way from his home, Cawood Castle in Yorkshire, to London to face charges of high treason.
Wolsey’s famous last words were “I se the matter ayenst me howe it is framed, But if I had served god as dyligently as I have don the kyng he wold not have geven me over in my grey heares.” He was laid to rest at the abbey.
You can read more about his last days in my article 29 November 1530 – The Death of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey at Leicester Abbey and click here to read about his life and career.
One could argue that Wolsey’s death was a fortunate avoidance of a traitor’s condemnation. Had he lived long enough to be tried, he almost certainly would have been convicted of and executed for treason.
Claire do you know if Cardinal Wolsey’s tomb is still visible or whether it was despoiled when the abbey was dissolved?
Hi Sheila,
His resting place is lost at present because there’s pretty much nothing left of the abbey where he was buried. Since the discovery of Richard III’s remains, there have been calls to do digs in the area to try and find Wolsey’s remains but I’m not sure whether this will go ahead. Two previous digs did not find anything.
Hi at the park now on the site, there are some small remains and close to what would have been the centre of the choir is a modern plaque that simply says near this place was buried Wolsey, date, so on..a commemorate plaque only, but his grave has been lost a long time ago. Nothing else remains in what is now a public park. There are a few stone ruins scattered around. Richard’s discovery has opened the door to suggestions for finding all sorts of people, but most digs are not as simple and fortunate as Greyfriars was. Digs are also expensive, and records of lost tombs don’t always match the reality of where they are. It would be wonderful to find Wolsey, then after Richard is required in March, a new debate on what to do with the body can begin, joke. For Leicester it would seem as if the cities archaeology is really would blessed. If two surveys have found nothing, he may have been moved, lost or maybe we need a. feeling to find Wolsey. In archaeology there is always a chance you will stumble on the right place, workman digging foundations have uncovered all manner of finds. I think finding Wolsey to be remote, but then again you never know.