WELL, in truth not really, but there’s certainly something to admire in working-class lad Thomas Cromwell, especially in his empathetic portrayal by Mark Rylance.

Certainly, against the entitled mob of Tudor aristocrats he confronts, he appears as a true “Man of the People.”

This wasn’t really the case (his mother was from the gentry), but Cromwell was looked down upon by the court, who despised his relatively humble origins, legal knowledge, multilingual ability, and formidable intelligence.

Cromwell was behind the social and economic reforms during his dominance as Henry VIII’s trusted political adviser in the 1530s, including poor relief legislation, promoting English cloth exports and action against enclosures, all relatively “socialist” — for the time, that is.

Aside from the mercurial nature of Henry VIII, schemers such as Thomas More, the Pole family and “Wily Winchester” — bishop Stephen Gardiner, Cromwell’s main foe in the show (and possibly in real life) is Thomas Howard, the 3rd Duke of Norfolk.

In the second season of Wolf Hall, he’s played by Tim Spall (the late Bernard Hill in the first) as a perma-scowling intriguer, a niece-pimping blueblood with a visceral hatred of the commoner Cromwell – it must be said, a dislike Thomas returns in full measure.

Although Cromwell should definitely have taken the advice of one of his household, and had the duke done away with earlier, when he could have accomplished the task with relative ease.

I imagine Cromwell would be pretty cheesed off to see the ducal Howards, still lording it as they do over their estates and remaining Catholics, in fact the highest-ranking Popish family in the land.

This hasn’t stopped their fawning attendance on Charles III, current head of The Church of England, despite his modest previous stated desire to be hailed as “Defender of All Faiths.”

In contemporary times, one feels that the no-nonsense Putney boy would have sorted the whining millionaire farmers, if his no-holds-barred treatment of the 1536 Pilgrimage of Grace is anything to go by.

Clarkson and Farage would be howling in terror on their way to Tyburn – London’s principal execution site where more than 50,000 people were put to death – if Cromwell was in charge.

He may also have something to say about the current Church of England and its wealth and seedy secrets, as well as the vast estates, privileges, and tax exemptions enjoyed by the monarchy, his old employer.

But, to his possible comfort, Cromwell’s descendant Oliver (great-grandson of his nephew Richard) at least continued Cromwell’s good work and obtained a measure of revenge for Henry VIII ordering his ancestor’s beheading, Charles Stuart being directly descended from Henry VIII’s elder sister Margaret Tudor.

Possibly Sir Keir Starmer could learn something from Cromwell’s ruthlessness in dealing with opposition as well, rather than continually triangulating or resorting to impenetrable lawyerly word salads.

“This then is my reward for faithful service!” exclaimed Cromwell on being arrested in June 1540.

The TV show missed out his botched execution (Norfolk, typically, wanted Cromwell hung, drawn and quartered), just as well really. Apparently the nervous or inept headsman needed multiple blows to accomplish the deed, however, others said it was achieved in the correct fashion with just one blow.

But Cromwell’s rather pitiful pleading for his life (“Most gracious Prince, I cry for mercy, mercy, mercy”) was retained, through the lens I believe of a quite understandable and successful attempt to spare his family and supporters from Henry’s continued unhinged wrath.

Here’s an extract from Cromwell’s speech from the Tower Hill scaffold: “And it is not unknown to many of you, that I have been a great Traveller in this World, and being but of a base degree, was called to high estate, and sit hence the time I came thereunto I have offended my Prince, for the which I ask him heartily forgiveness, and beseech you all to pray to God with me, that he will forgive me. Many have slandered me and reported that I have been a bearer of such as have maintained evil Opinions, which is untrue.”

In his final prayer final prayer Cromwell said: “I have no merits nor good works which I may allege before thee. Of sins and evil works, alas, I see a great heap; but yet through thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sins; but wilt take and accept me for righteous and just, and to be the inheritor of everlasting life. “

French ambassador Charles de Marillac, reporting in 1541 Henry VIII’s regrets over executing Cromwell, wrote: “He had put to death the most faithful servant he ever had.”