In parts of medieval Europe, the official new year began on 25
March, Lady Day, which was believed to be the date when an
angel announced to Mary that she was carrying the child Jesus.
As early as 1522, Venice adopted 1 January as the start of the new
year, and other European countries followed at intervals, though
England did not catch up till 1752. In this book, as in most histories, the years are dated from 1 January, which was celebrated as
one of the twelve days of Christmas and was the day on which
gifts were exchanged.
The gentleman usher George Cavendish, after the death of
Wolsey, retired to the country, and in 1554, when Mary came to
the throne, began a book, ‘Thomas Wolsey, late Cardinal, his
Life and Death.’ It has been published in many editions, and can
be found online in an edition with original spelling. It is not
always accurate, but it is a very touching, immediate and readable
account of Wolsey’s career and Thomas Cromwell’s part in it. Its
influence on Shakespeare is clear. Cavendish took four years to
complete his book, and died just as Elizabeth came to the throne.