Section 2, Chapter 3 Flashcards
Cromwell's role in Parliament, supporters of the King's change, opponents of change.
Key events that led emphasised the Break with Rome?
- Catherine of Aragon banished from court.
- Anne Boleyn crowned Queen at Westminster.
- Various people of opposition to Henry are executed.
Why did the Church in Rome not take any action to the Break from Rome in England.
- It was thought the break was not going to be permanent and that it was to put pressure on the Papacy to gain an annulment.
- It was believed that once Charles V did not have control of the Pope an agreement could be made between England and Rome.
Who was a critical figure of ensuring support for Henry in Parliament?
Thomas Cromwell.
What positions did Thomas Cromwell hold?
From 1532 - Chancellor.
From 1534 - Chief minister and Principal Secretary.
What were the two key factions in court during the struggle to achieve the annulment?
- The Boleyn faction
- The Aragonese faction
Who were the key supporters of change?
- Thomas Cranmer.
- Thomas Cromwell.
- Anne Boleyn.
How was Cromwell involved in change?
- He manipulated anti-clerical criticisms of the Church into support for a break with Rome.
- When Cromwell became the principal adviser to Henry VIII he used his influence to re-focus parliamentary legislation a from the failing attempts to pressure the Pope and towards the establishment of an independent state.
- The break with Rome was key to Cromwell’s confirmation as chief minister and Principal Secretary in April 1534.
How was Cranmer involved in change?
Cranmer produced The Collectanea Statis Capiosa, (compiled in 1530) which sought to prove that English bishops had the right to pronounce on Henry’s divorce without reference to Rome.
Who were key opposers of change?
- Aragonese faction
- Sir Thomas More
- Bishop John Fisher
- Elizabeth Barton
- Carthusian Monks
Explain the role of the Aragonese faction in opposition to change.
What became known as the Aragonese faction had begun to develop in opposition to the power and influence exercised by Cardinal Wolsey. Thomas More and Bishop Fisher were loosely connected to the faction, but the strength of the faction lay in its supporters within the court. Two members of the king’s household spoke out in support of Catherine; these were Sir Nicholas Carew, and Sir Henry Guilford. Two other key players were Lords Darcy and Hussey.
Explain the role of Sir Thomas More in opposition to change.
- The day after the Submission of the Clergy, in May 1532, More resigned his position as Chancellor hoping that he would be able to continue his support for the Catholic Church but not to publicly comment on the divorce.
- When invited to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn; he declined. Henry VIII saw this as an opportunity to destroy him publicly.
- The Act of Succession and the required oath presented More’s enemies with an opportunity to attack him. More was called to take the oath and refused. More argued that he had not strictly broken the law as he refused either to swear the oath or to speak against it.
- On 1 July 1535 More was tried for treason at Westminster. He lost his case and his life and on the 6 July he beheaded.
Explain the role of Bishop John Fisher in opposition to change.
- Fisher became the chief supporter of Catherine of Aragon and stated that he would be prepared to die rather than see the marriage dissolved.
- In 1532 Fisher spoke openly against the divorce, and shortly after the secret marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in January 1533, Fisher was arrested.
- In 1534 a Bill of Attainder was lodged against Fisher for his support of Elizabeth Barton.
- It was his refusal to swear the oath of succession which led to his arrest for treason. As a commoner, the result of the Act of Attainder was that Fisher was ordered to be hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn. Only a public outcry against the barbarity of treating a bishop so brutally resulted in his being beheaded in June 1535.
Explain the role of Elizabeth Barton in opposition to change.
- In 1532 Elizabeth Barton prophesied that if Henry were to divorce Catherine he would die shortly afterwards.
- Initially no action was taken, as to do so would have been to threaten a person regarded as a saint. Only a prolonged campaign to ruin her reputation gave Henry the opportunity to try her for treason.
- On 20th April 1534 she was hanged at Tyburn.
Explain the role of the Carthusian Monks in opposition to change.
- Carthusians were the strictest of all the monastic orders and were regarded as the most holy.
- When five Carthusian monks refused to swear an oath recognising the right of Anne’s children to succeed, their loyalty to the Catholic Church was sorely tested. They refused to speak, even when subjected to the most extreme torture. In 1535 the monks were executed in a most barbaric way.
Why was Henry’s treatment to opposition so severe?
He wanted his marriage to Anne and any subsequent children to be considered legitimate - anyone who challenged this had to be eliminated.
