Henry VIII and the Merchants

Abstract

Drawing heavily from the State Papers of Henry VIII, Merchants and the Crown in the Reign of Henry VIII traces Stephen Vaughan’s careers as a servant of Thomas Cromwell and of the King in the 16th century. Stephen Vaughan, a Londoner with an international outlook, was a member of the Company of Merchant Taylors, as well as a Merchant Adventurer in the Low Countries. As a young man Vaughan was drawn into the employ of Thomas Cromwell and worked in his private office. Thus, Vaughan became heavily involved in the world of government and court politics at a time when the style, tempo and effectiveness of official life in London was changing rapidly and the world was quickly opening up as his travels to Europe drew him into the enticing world of business and finance. For the first time, this notable study uncovers the secrets of Vaughan’s life from his