Cromwell, according to Elton, was the architect of the Henrician reformation, in his establishment of royal supremacy over the Church and national sovereignty enacted by parliamentary statute. Nevertheless, Scarisbrick challenges this, by emphasising the role of Henry, who he argues was devoted to reform before Cromwell entered the inner circle. However, the question of significance to the advancement of the reformation also brings into question the role of Cranmer who held responsibility for the divorce decree, but also was involved in parliamentary statute to an extent. This essay will weigh these arguments along with primary sources to show that, it was Cromwell who was more significant in the advancement of the reformation. It can be said …show more content…
Cranmer’s divorce decree directly challenged the Pope’s authority, by establishing Henry’s sovereign entity . Thus illustrating Cranmer’s ability to exert his position to such an extent in order to strengthen Henry’s position is partially significance for the reformation . This evident in Source 4 where Henry credits Cranmer for operating his ‘...said office in so weighty and great a cause, pertaining in [his] most humble wise’ despite being the king’s ‘subject’, thus illustrating Cranmer’s wider role, parallel to Cromwell, but with Cranmer credited largely for helping ‘set some direction and end in the said cause of matrimony’ in a period of discontinuity of action by the clergy in orchestrating a solution. Thus illustrating the idea of Cranmer as the ‘...principal minister of spiritual jurisdiction’ as noted by Henry, in that although Henry, Cranmer carried out the ideals for the reformation: ‘...to the pleasure of Almighty God’, to which he could only agree to.” This is clearly evident in the significance of Cranmer’s granting of the divorce, thus disagreeing largely with Sources 1, 2 and 3 on Cromwell’s significance. Although, Source 4 is unreliable to some extent in suggesting Henry’s motives, it is reliable in implying Cranmer’s significance, providing sufficient indication of Cranmer’s role. Nevertheless, the significance of the divorce can be challenged by Ridley who states that if the royal supremacy was believed to be by ‘the people at the time and many historians since’ to do with the King ‘changing his woman’, it would be considered a ‘serious injustice’ . Thus, although the decree satisfied the king it was of minimal significance, reinforced by Cranmer’s part in Source 5 (a letter written by Cranmer to Henry on the fall of Anne Boleyn),
“The key factor in limiting royal power in the years 1399-1509 was the king’s relationship with parliament.”
The claim that Thomas Cromwell carried out a revolution in Tudor government was generated by the historian Elton, the success of Cromwell as minister in his aims of sovereignty, Parliament and bureaucracy under King Henry VIII. Elton’s claims are met with many sceptic opponents such as Starkey and Guy, criticising that Cromwell’s work up to 1540 was anything but revolution, it was a mere pragmatic approach to fulfilling the king’s wishes which led to his escalation of power and a lucky set of consequential changes in government. The criticisms seem plausible when taking into consideration that Cromwell’s reformations within the Tudor government were not permanent, his work was quickly undone after his death. The work of Cromwell in government was hardly a revolutionary movement as it failed to deeply imprint itself upon England but it is undeniable that he made significant changes to England at the peak of his professional career.
The Elizabethan Deliverance - Arthur Bryant Reformation and Revolution 1558-1660 - Robert Ashton Elizabeth and her Parliaments - J.E. Neales Elizabeth and her Reign - Richard Salter Elizabeth I and religion 1558-1603 - Susan Doran Tudor England - John Guy Elizabeth I - David Starkey
Oliver Cromwell was a well known military dictator. He helped the Parliamentarians win the First Civil War and was named Lord Protector. He died in 1658 but many people still remember him as one of the best leaders in history although others believe he was a harsh tyrant and always wanted too much power for himself. Throughout the years, numerous historians have changed their views on whether he was a good leader or not. This work will look at three interpretations from different people on who Cromwell was and what he was like and compare them.
Cromwell initiated these changes to the faith, but Henry's Catholic faith ensured these changes were not too radical and chantries were still allowed to pray for souls in purgatory. Although Henry remained a Catholic, the end of papal power was signified in his becoming the head of the Church of England. However, with such movements that shook the foundations of England's faith, why was there so little opposition to the Henrician reformation? Perhaps on of the greatest tactics employed by the crown to prevent opposition was provoking fear amongst those who were likely to oppose the reformation. Henry had to start from the top, and therefore started by controlling parliament.
Thomas Cromwell Is known as the architect of the English Reformation and legal advisor to King Henry VIII. However not many historians look into the life of Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is notorious with the English Reformation. Every source on Cromwell speaks a little on the man himself, they focus on the part he played in the Kings “great matter”. Thomas Cromwell was a self taught man and struggled for everything he had. Cromwell began his journey to the Kings court in the most modest of ways. He left home at age fifteen because of a dispute with his father. His life before the reformation helped shape his decisions and his actions. Yet very few historians spend any real time looking at whom and what led Thomas Cromwell to become the Kings
The series of various reformations shows in the European Continental 1 whereby the monarch plays vital affair in formulating the law regarding personal life. The history meddles much into the life of Henry VIII bringing his marriage close to format. Nevertheless, the history holds the best for him allowing him to marry once again and bear an heir. The essay is going to explore the concepts
In The Voices of Morebath: Reformation and Rebellion in an English Village, renowned scholar Eamonn Duffy investigates the English Reformation. Duffy pears through the eyes of the priest of a small, remote village in Southwestern England. Using Sir Christopher Trichay’s records of the parish, Duffy illustrates an image of Reformation opposite of what is predominantly assumed. Duffy argues the transformation that took place between 1530 and 1570, through the transition of four monarchs, was much more gradual that many interpret. Even though state mandate religious change affected the community of Morebath, the change did not ensue the violence that is often construed with the Reformation. Sir Christopher Trichay’s leadership and his portrayal of community life, the development and removal of St. Sidwell, and the participation in the church through stores develop Duffy’s argument of appeasement rather than violence during the English Reformation.
The English Civil war was partially a religious conflict, which brought Church and State against Parliament. Under the reign of James I, England saw the rise in Protestants dissenters. Groups like Barrowists, Puritans, Fifth Monarchists, Quakers, and many more demanded for more religious reform. They felt that the Church of England’s liturgy was too Catholic for a Protestant church. James VI and I accepted the more moderated Puritans and other dissenters, and he was able to keep his kingdom in peace. However, his son Charles I did not believe that kings were answerable to Parliament, but to God. In fact, he ruled without Parliament for many years. He trusted the running of the Church of England to William Laud, who believed that the Church had already gone through too many reforms. Laud went wrong when he tried to make church services more about doctrine and sacraments, and sought to make freewill the official doctrine of the Church. He did not stop there. He ordered that alters should be re-sited from the central places in churches to the east end of churches across the country. This essay will discuss Laud’s Arminian doctrines and his misjudgement of England’s religious mood, which led to his downfall and to the civil war.
Loach, Jennifer. “Mary Tudor And The Re-Catholicisation Of England.” History Today 44.11 (1994): 16. World History Collection. Web. 18 Nov.2013
Henry VIII is approached as one of the most dependable kings in English history. The king was determined to have his name carried on with male heir. This led him to doing something that no one ever had dared to do during the 1400s and 1500s. After establishing that his first wife Catherine of Aragon was not able to bare him a son, he wanted to divorce. Henry asked Pope Clement to divorce him and his wife but the pope refused. By the king being so determined to continue the tradition it persuade him to do something. King Henry VIII hopelessness to divorce his first wife drove him to becoming head of The Church of England. This paper will examine his early life, the purpose of the church
In Henry’s reign, the Church had its own courts and any member of the Church could decide to be tried in a Church court rather than a royal court.
Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I may have been the English Reformation’s greatest benefactors, all because of self interest. Henry VIII was not originally Protestant, but after the pope denied him of his divorce, Henry VIII took things into his own hands. Due to the power kings had in the Middle Ages, Henry VIII was able to control Parliament and force it to do whatever he wanted. So in 1534, Henry VIII forced Parliament to pass a law he made known as the Act of Supremacy. The Act of Supremacy stated that the king ought to be the head of the Church of England. This law gave the king complete power over the Church of England, instead of the pope. However, the type of church and state relationship did not change. Rather all the Act of Supremacy did was take power from the pope and give it to the king. Surprisingly, the Catholics did not retaliate against this strong change. The pope had always been the head of the church, but now the king had taken his position. This serves as an example of nationalism. The Catholics did not think about how removing the pope could harm their religion in any way. However, instead the people blindly followed Henry VIII because he was the leader of the nation and they assumed he was right. Also, by imposing other laws that punished Protestants, Henry VIII did not give the people much of a choice. Fortunately, for Henry VII, nationalis...
Pettegree, Andrew. "The English Reformation." BBC History. BBC, 17 Feb 2011. Web. 1 Oct 2013.
Burns, Julia. "Notes MLA 6318". Church and State in Early Modern England. Fall 2013. Dr. D. David.