Background
Joan was born in about 1490 in Yarmouth, Norfolk, the daughter of Peter Larke, variously named a Thetford innkeeper or a gentleman of Huntingdonshire.
Joan was born in about 1490 in Yarmouth, Norfolk, the daughter of Peter Larke, variously named a Thetford innkeeper or a gentleman of Huntingdonshire.
Her brother Thomas Larke was chaplain to Thomas Wolsey. In about 1509, when Wolsey served as almoner of the new king Henry VIII of England, Joan became his mistress, living with him in Bridewell. She bore him two illegitimate children: Dorothy Clancey (b 29 September 1512) She received a pension from Thomas Cromwell when her religious house was later dissolved.
Sometime after Wolsey"s arrest and death in November 1530, Thomas Wynter went to study at the University of Padua, at the King"s expense.
When he returned to England penniless in about 1535, he was financially assisted by Queen Anne Boleyn, Wolsey"s former adversary.
