This starts with a loyal Catholic, a Statesman, dedicated to the Crown and God, his Patron, his Mentor, his Father? Then it ends with a loyal Catholic, a pious Statesman, another lawyer, and another Thomas and His, that is Cromwell’s, lifelong foe. He, Cromwell, Protestant (mainly), gutter born (nearly), educated in trade and commerce, law, speaker of many tongues, blessedly unknown and unknowable; He rises above in station above both of these men he will never quite forget.

He seeks to rewrite England's laws, balance her books, divert Rome’s prosperity back to the Realm, and all for a reasonable sum. Meanwhile, He witnesses two Queens play at politics and religion, while the King, who is also a Statesman of sorts, dreams of being a lover and a father. He, Cromwell was once a lover and a father too, and maybe once more but first he must rewrite the Treason laws.