On this day in 1536, John Skip, Anne Boleyn’s almoner, delivered a bold and controversial sermon. 

The sermon followed a disagreement between Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell over how to use the wealth gained from the dissolution of the monasteries. Anne, a committed reformer, advocated that the funds be used for charitable causes, whereas Cromwell vouched for the funds to act as padding for the crown’s purses. This sermon was without a doubt a direct attack from Anne on Cromwell.

In his sermon, Skip used biblical allegory to to make a daring comparison. He depicted Henry VIII as King Ahasuerus, who had been misled by his corrupt advisor Haman (symbolising Cromwell) into ordering the destruction of the Jews (representing the English clergy). According to the story, the Jews were saved by the intervention of the virtuous Queen Esther – paralleling Anne Boleyn’s own efforts to influence Henry’s policies.

This was a risky move. Openly challenging Cromwell was dangerous, and just weeks later, Anne would find herself in a far more precarious position…