Rise and Fall of Cromwell

• When was Cromwell arrested?

  June 1540
• When was Cromwell executed?

  July 1540
• When was Thomas Cromwell born?

  1485
• When did Cromwell become an MP?

  1524
• When did Cromwell become a member of Wolsey's household?

  1524
• When did Cromwell become a member of the Privy Council?

  1531
• When did Cromwell become the secretary to Henry VIII?

  1534
• When did Cromwell become Principle Minister?

  1532
• When did Cromwell become Chancellor of the Exchequer?

  1534
• When did Cromwell become Master of the Rolls?

  1534
• When did Cromwell become Lord Privy Seal?

  1536
• When did Cromwell become Lord Great Chamberlain?

  April 1540
• How did Cromwell's religious beliefs lead to his fall?

  • The Pilgrimage of Grace, whose religious complaints were directed to 'that heretic Cromwell'.
  • His central role in the destructive dissolution of the monasteries
  • One of his charges when he was arrested was heresy
  • Opponents claimed that he was plotting to introduce a full Protestant church to England due to his close association with reformist beliefs and legislation
• How did Henry react to Anne of Cleves when he saw her in person for the first time?

  • 'If I had known as much as I know now, she should never have come into this realm'
  • 'Nothing so well as she was spoken of'
  • 'I like her not'
• What positions did Cromwell earn in 1540?

  • Earl of Essex, replacing Henry Bourchier
  • Earl of Oxford, replacing John de Vere
  • The Great Chamberlain of England, replacing John de Vere
• How did the Conservative faction use the marriage to Anne of Cleves to oppose Cromwell?

  They cited on its failure, claiming that Cromwell was plotting treason, had many men in his service who he could arm against the King, and was planning to marry Henry's daughter, Mary
• How was the link between Cromwell's fall and factional struggle reinforced?

  By the fact that Cromwell's execution took place on the same day as Henry's marriage to Catherine Howard (the 28th July 1540)