The men who changed H8s underpants Flashcards
Why was the royal court the path to power in Tudor England?
being a courtier was the beginning to the rise of real influence. it was a menial job and could impress Henry and the leaders of various factions that competed for his favour.
What was the role of the groom of the stool?
he helped Henry go to the toilet. he was trusted and was confided in. he was called the ‘chief gentlemen of Chamber’ and was in charge of the ‘privy purse’. the king’s personal treasurer and directed England’s fiscal policy.
Who was Sir William Compton?
Henry’s first groom of the stool, holding the role from 1509 until 1526. Sir William of Compton in Warwickshire (1482-1528). ward of H7 after death of father at 11, page to Prince Henry. When H8 was king, he appointed his life long friend as his bottom wiper in chief. Compton would arrange romantic trysts for young Henry. Chancellor of Ireland, sheriff of Worcestershire and sheriff of Somerset and Dorset. By 1521, he stewarded more royal estates than all other courtiers put together. knighted in 1513, following battle of Spurs at Tornai (english forces defeated french). Mustered 578 soldiers following ‘bastard feudalism’. serverd Henry at diplomatic meeting with king of France at Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520. with king when he met Charles V.
Who was Sir Henry Norris?
from a gentry family (1490-1536). began as a page (they awoke the esquires of the body so they could wake up the king) and by 1517 had been made a gentleman of the pricy chamber. bailiff of Watlington and keeper of Langley New Park. groom of the stool in 1526 and helped Anne B establish herself at court, 1536 = reform faction advocated using money from the dissolved monasteries to help the poor and welcomed the reaching of an alliance with France. Boleyn was highly flirtatious. Cromwell discovered that she said to Norris “ if ought to some to the king but good, you would look to have to me” = treason to imagine king’s death. 29th April 1536, Cromwell interrogated Mark Smeaton and confessed to adultery with Anne and named Norris as guilty. May Day 1536, H8 rode with Norris to Westminster. Norris was interrogated and by end of the month him and other courtiers were beheaded for treason.
Who was Sir Anthony Denny (1501-49)?
Last groom of the stool and holder of the Dry Stamp. extreme Protestant and allied with Cromwell and became a courtier in the 1520s. appointed gentleman of the privy chamber in 1539 and Henry confided in him as to how he wasn’t attracted to Anne of Cleves. groom of stool by 1547. will of Henry needed to be finalised but it was treason to tell him he was dying. Denny took the risk and it meant that he could ensure that Edward Seymour was appointed lord protector. secured power for the Protestant faction.
What is an esquire of the body?
worked around the bedchamber of Henry. awoke him at 8 am and put him to bed at night. helped him change his vests and pants. helped him eat and controlled access to him at night.
Who was Sir Piers Dutton (1480-1545)?
esquire of the body in 1520 and rose to be the knight (chief esquire) of the body by 1527. uncle of William Brereton but loathed this rival for power in their native Cheshire. local power important because crown had limited control of the provinces and relied on local magnates to keep order. Cheshire was a semi-autonomous ‘palatine’ with no MPs. own legal system, own head of state. rose from languishing in Chester jail for breaches of the peace to being a powerful mayor. courtier in attempt to flatter local magnates . strongly Protestant wife was acquainted with Cromwell. C appointed Dutton to Cheshire offices and made him sheriff of Cheshire. Brereton executed in May 1536. 1535 = king had crossed out other candidates. put down a pro-monastery rebellion, plundered the abbeys and had enemies murdered.
Who was George Boleyn?
Viscount Rochford (1503-36). brother of Anne and son of the ambassador and courtier Thomas Boleyn. introduced to court aged 10 and became a page. became a court poet and criticised by other poets for being an arrogant womaniser. 1524 = appointed gentleman of the privy chamber but sacked after 6 months. esquire of the body in 1528. led a diplomatic envoy to France and a leading advocate for Henry becoming head of the church. guilty of incest with Anne and executed in 1536. the widow was executed in 1542 for aiding Catherine Howard commit adultery.
Who was Edward Seymour (1500-52)?
son of Sir John Seymour. young page boy and worked as a diplomat for Wolsey and was a leading soldier in France before being made Esquire of the Body in 1531. close friends with king. made a viscount after Henry marries Jane. When Jane produced Edward, he was elevated to Earl of Hertford. 1544 = lieutenant-general of the north. put in charge of what later became known as the ‘rough wooing’. invaded Scotland and sacked Edinburgh to punish the Scots for going back on their promise to marry off Mary, Queen of Scots to Edward VI. Protestant faction (reform) managed to take control and he was made lord protector and Duke of Somerset. de facto king. championed land rights for the poor and tried to negotiate with enemies France and Scotland. encouraged a nationwide theological debate about what the church should be. policies failed. and Dudley persuaded king to send Seymour to the Tower. Dudley replaced him as lord protector in 1550. found guilty of trumped up charges of treason. 1552 = Dudley executed.
