Henry VIII Crisis of Royal Authority

Question 1

What suggests factional rivalry did cause a crisis in royal authority?

Answer 1

CONSERVATIVE:
- Fall of Cromwell caused by Norfolk who used his neice Catherine to increase his influence.
- Norfolk persuaded Henry to arrest Cromwell for heresy and treason

REFORMIST:
- Reformist faction found out about Catherine’s affair with Thomas Culpepper in October 1541 and gave Henry evidence. Henry was slow to believe the news and ultimatlely on 4 people were executed - leading conservatives like Howard and Gardiner remained untouched
- Reformist faction accused Gardiner of supporting the reinstatement of papal authority - false but saw his removal. Seymour gave Henry evidence that Norfolk had committed treason leadinf to his fall in December 1546

Question 2

What suggests factional rivalry did NOT cause a crisis in royal authority?

Answer 2

• During the Conservative 1543 Cranmer Plot Henry revealed the conspiracy to Cranmer himself and gave him his ring as a sign of support
• Conservatives tried to get rid of Parr as she was Lutheran - Parr visited Henry herself to plead with him herself promising to comply with his views - when the conservatives came to arrest Parr Henry insulted them for trying to commit a treasonous act
• Although England was legislatively protestant Henry still enforced certain catholic practices e.g. refounded 2 monastries

Question 3

How does the succession show that there was NOT a crisis of royal authority?

Answer 3

• 1543 Third Act of Succession: Henry chose to return his daughter to the line of succession behind Edward
• In Henry’s will he chose the 16 men who would form Edward’s regency council - both conservatives and reformists

Question 4

How does the succession show that there was a crisis of royal authority?

Answer 4

• By 1546, it was clear that Henry’s declining health would leave a minor to inherit the throne
• When the will was drawn up and signed there was plenty of space left for future ammendments - details of the regency council were added when Henry was too near death to do anything
• Seymour used a loophole from the will to effectively give himself monarchical power as Lord Protector he also then bypassed the Privy Council making his own ‘new council’ at Somerset house