Henry VIII - Thomas Cromwell

• What is the background of Thomas Cromwell?

  - Was born around 1485 in Putney

  - Humble origins
• Who was Cromwell the advisor of in his early days and for how long?

  - Wolsey

  - Between 1526 and 1529
• What did early historians think of Thomas Cromwell?

  - early historians argue that Cromwell was ruthlessly dedicated to the King, and worked entirely to his command
• How does Elton present Cromwell?

  - Elton argues that Cromwell was a central figure in the revolution of government and the genius that created the English Reformation
• How have historians presented Cromwell since Elton's arguments?

  - Tend to agree with him, but not to such a high extent
• How can Wolsey and Cromwell's roles be compared?

  - Wolsey had a much easier time passing laws, as Henry was youthful and inexperience
• How did Thomas Cromwell change the privy council?

  - changed the privy council from 70-90 members to 20 members

  - these members were trained lawyers or bureaucrats
• What did Cromwell do to manage the finances created by the Break with Rome?

  - Created 4 key courts

  - Court of Augmentations

  - The Court of General Surveyors

  - The Court of First Fruit and Tenths

  - The Court of Wards
• What was the Court of Augmentations?

  - Made in 1536

  - Controlled land and finances previously under the control of the Catholic Church
• What was the Court of General Surveyors?

  - This handled ex-monastic lands, before it was amalgamted into the Court of Augmentations
• What was the Court of First Fruit and Tenths?

  - This collected the money that was previously sent to Rome as annates
• What was the Court of Wards?

  - Collected money from the estate of a minor when they had inherited the land
• What was the traditional role of Parliament?

  - Often dealt with finances

  - Was used frequently in the Wars of the Roses, when finances were insecure, but was not used often under Edward IV or Henry VII
• What were Cromwell's aims in changing Parliament?

  - meet more regularly

  - have more power

  - needed to be more reliable in giving Henry what he wanted
• What were Cromwell's physical changes to Parliament?

  - MPs had to physically move to one side or the other when voting on an issue

  - This meant that Cromwell could easily see who opposed him, and intimidate them

  - Moreover, Cromwell wrote letters to those who opposed him, telling them that they need not attend the next meeting, meaning that Parliament was comprised wholly of those who supported his reforms
• How did Cromwell use Propaganda?

  - He would created leaflets and books on his future laws in order to sway the opinion of those voting on them
• How did Cromwell use Parliament?

  - Cromwell combined the power of Parliament in passing Laws, with the authority of the King to create laws that were of the highest authority
• Why did Cromwell use Parliament more frequently?

  - He used Parliament more frequently as his changes were risky and revolutionary, they needed to be passed into a strong law that was of the highest authority