The Fall of Cromwell

Question 1

Why did Henry marry Anne of Cleves?

Answer 1

1. For Cleves it was a chance to make an alliance with a great European power and like England it had expelled the pope.
2. Potential ally against Spain.
3. Family wanted her to marry Henry, unlike others who had heard of Henry’s reputation for mistreating his wives.

Question 2

What were Cromwell’s private motives for the union?

Answer 2

He could make more religious reforms without opposition from a Catholic queen. A foreign princess would also lack connections to great nobility.

Question 3

Why was his marriage to Anne important?

Answer 3

1. Henry and his advisors were worried about succession.
2. Anne was not his first choice, shows how his reputation had been tarnished.
3. Showed England’s level of isolation to ally with Cleves.
4. Showed that he had no intention of reversing the break with Rome. Cleves had also broken from Rome.
5. Cromwell played a key role and his future depended on it.

Question 4

How was England isolated?

Answer 4

June 1538: Charles V and Francis I meet at Nice and sign a 10 year truce.
December 1538: Pope Paul III issues a bull of excommunication and that Henry should be removed as King.
January 1539: Francis I and Charles V sign a further pact at Toledo promising not to enter into any agreement with England without the others consent.

Question 5

How did the marriage fail and its implication?

Answer 5

1. Henry described her as a ‘Flanders mare’
2. He fell in love with a lady in waiting to Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard.
3. When she accepted the annulment and she was richly rewarded like ‘Hever Castle’ and was granted the status as the king’s sister.

Question 6

The influence of Thomas Howard

Answer 6

1. In early 1540s, he instructed Catherine Howard to spread rumours that he was not putting enough effort into securing the divorce from Anne.
2. He claimed that Thomas was plotting to fully introduce Protestantism.

Question 7

The execution of Thomas Cromwell

Answer 7

1. 10 June 1540, he was arrested at a Privy Council meeting on charges of treason and heresy.
2. Royal officials seized his goods of £7,000
3. On 29 June parliament passed Act of Attainder, person is guilty of treason with no reason to prove it through a trial

Question 8

What were reactions to Cromwell’s death?

Answer 8

1. Religious reformers in England knew they lost an ally.
2. Catholic England was delighted.
3. Howard became more influential.
4. Henry became to regret his decision and accused his councillors of bringing Cromwell’s downfall through false charges.