Cromwell Flashcards
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
Cromwell’s use of The Personal Monarchy
Until the 1530s the government of the country was based upon the Royal Household / Court.
This is known as ‘Personal Monarchy.’
It was during the 1530s that Cromwell reduced the role of the Royal Household in government and substituted instead a bureaucratic administration. i.e. a system of government by officials, responsible only to their departmental chiefs who in turn were responsible to a chief executive - Cromwell - presiding over the Privy Council.
This extended the size and importance of the Council and eroded the powers and privileges of the nobility.
THE COUNCIL: change
Prior to 1536 the Council had consisted of around 70 advisors (nobles, clergy, and beaurocrats).
Around 1536 a more professional ‘Privy Council’ of about 20 members (mostly trained lawyers and bureaucrats) emerged.
The Privy Council was involved in the daily workings of central government and operated with increased efficiency.
Trained officials were responsible to their department chief who in turn were responsible to Lord Chancellor E.g Court of Augmentations and court of first Fruit and Tenths
THE COUNCIL: continuity
Even under Henry VII, who ruled with a conciliar form of government, there had been a smaller ‘sub group’ of councillors who carried out the majority of day to day decision making. e.g; Fox, Morton, Bray.
THE COUNCIL: role of cromwell
Questionable whether Cromwell was the instigator of the emergence of the Privy Council. Likely that it was a response to opposition and the Pilgrimage of Grace
THE COURT/ ROYAL HOUSEHOLD: change
The business of government became less centred on the Royal Household (undertaken in the king’s private rooms by his personal staff) and more independent and bureaucratic.
THE COURT/ ROYAL HOUSEHOLD: continuity
-Historians have pointed out that medieval government was more bureaucratic and less concentrated on the household than previously thought.
-Henry VII had delegated powers to the Council Learned. During Henry VIII’s reign and beyond, the Privy Chamber remained at the heart of government at this time.
-Wolsey had already tried to reduce the importance of the Court (eg: Eltham Ordinances) though had largely failed.
-Administration continued to be a mixture of household and bureaucratic styles.
