Henry VIII and the Merchants

A historical examination of the life of Stephen Vaughan and everyday life under the reign of Henry VIII.

Drawing heavily from the State Papers of the King, Henry VIII and the Merchants traces Stephen Vaughan’s careers as a servant of Thomas Cromwell and of Henry VIII 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 relatively humble beginning to his high power career as an ambassador, spy, and financial agent of the crown on the Bourse at Antwerp. What is more, on a wider canvas this intimate tale shows how individuals were affected by and reacted to the drastic changes in religion, politics and everyday life under the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII.