thomas cromwell

• RANDALL: marked the change from mediaeval to modern forms of government (bureaucracy)
• SCARISBRICK: may be described as a return to the mediaeval practice of building bureaucratic government rather than a modern event
• PRIVY COUNCIL:

  Went from royal council - privy (private council)

  Permanent changes: continued to develop throughout the Tudor dynasty
• PRIVY COUNCIL:

  A select body (about 20 members) of trusted ministers 

  Became a permanent and established part of government UNDER CROMWELL
• privy council experienced changes in personnel: a professional body, made up of educated and knowledgeable people
• SPECIALISED, DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNMENT (lawyers and bureaucrats rather than the ruling class)
• Some of these changes were already implemented under Henry VII:

  Arguably these changes were part of an evolution in govt.
• continued the use of the privy chamber introduced by Edward IV AND WOLSEY
• • REFORMATION PARLIAMENT (crucially important)

  Uses parliament to push through legislation that broke England from the Catholic Church
• By using Parliament he LEGITIMISED this change: parliament represents people, therefore strengthens the decision as unanimous
• KING IN PARLIAMENT”: represented ultimate authority; partnership between parliament and the king
• REVOLUTIONARY: huge impact on the way the country is governed- massively increased the power of parliament, vastly different from how Wolsey and Henry VII governed (both avoided Parliament)
•  INCREASE IN THE INFLUENCE OF PARLIAMENT 

  • First time ever that Parliament has passed a law on religion: now a key part of English government and RELIGION
  • Now involved in Foreign policy → influence within the Dynasty
• ELTON: Argues Cromwell MASTERMINDED a new type of government

  It was his idea and he implemented it
• • Created four new courts to manage the break with Rome:

  Court of argumentation

  Court of first fruits and tenths

  Court of wards and liveries

  Court of general surveyors
• • The break with Rome + Dissolution of the monasteries meant there was a huge increase in revenue; Cromwell introduced these departments to organise this increase 
  • Professionalism + bureaucracy
• Increased specialism introduced into the management of royal finances: continued the use of the privy chamber introduced by Edward IV AND WOLSEY
• This is NOT revolutionary- both Henry VII and Wolsey understood and implemented professionalism into finances (Henry + Empson and Dudley, Wolsey + finances into the Privy Chamber)
• • BREAK WITH ROME: increases the power of the crown, all of it concentrated within England 

  Wealth, authority, English sovereignty
• ACTS OF UNION 1536: gave the crown power over Wales: consistency in law by organising local government, increase in land
• IRELAND: Cromwell insures that there is more power over Ireland
• • ACT OF RESTRAINT OF APPEALS 1533: set up the agreement that Englishmen did not have the automatic right to appeal to Rome: KING WAS SUPREME
  • Created the idea of England as a unitary state 
• MORRIS: extension of royal authority into the localities (ACTS OF UNION)
• CRITICS:

  Argues Cromwell was  SYSTEMISER, not a CREATOR of new structures (did not come up with the ideas)
• Went from royal council - privy (private council)