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C4: Henry VIII's last years. Factions at court and the succession -…
C4: Henry VIII's last years. Factions at court and the succession
Did Cromwell deserve his fate?
after execution of anne and marriage to jane seymour, cromwell seemed in control. moves towards protestantism were being introduced and monasteries were being dissolved: the birth of a male heir in 1537 was what henry had wanted.
death of jane provided cromwell and protestant factions at court to encourage a foreign prot marriage, especially because of spain/frances alliance at the time. cleves marriage was a failure and although cromwell complied with henrys wish for divorce, it weakened their relationship at a time when henry was growing unhappy with religious changes.
Cromwell's enemies at court
cromwells enemies at court made good use of cleves failure. henrys distaste for anne was heightened by his growing desire for catherine howard, the pretty, young and flirtaious niece of the duke of norfolk. the duke was cromwells bitterist rival. but in 1540, cromwell was still in henrys favour and was made earl of essex in 1540.
however as cromwell worked towards securing cleves divorce, catherine was instructed to spread rumours that he wasn't carrying out the task quickly enough. norfolk knew henry was particularly keen to resist further religious changes in church doctrine in the direction of protestantism, so suggested to henry that cromwell was protecting a group of protestants in calais.
Death of Cromwell, 1540
his fall came quickly, but his power had always depended on the absolute obedience to obey henrys wishes and provide him with what he wanted. the prot alliances, cleves marriage and his own religious preferences created suspicion in henrys mind that he has pursuing his own interests rather than the king: enemies at court were well placed to exploit this.
factionalism arguably clouded henrys judgement on this occasion. he seems to have realised afterwards he lost a faithful servant. cromwell executed on trumped up charges related to introducing further religious change and failing to enforce 6 articles. henry married catherine that same day.
Continuing factions, 1540-47
last years of henrys reign was dominated by rivalry of the conservative and the reform faction. this was encouraged by henrys weakening health, which questions how much influence he really had in this time period. however, henry was fully aware of this factionalism and even encouraged it: this was part egotism, but also maintained balance in views when discussing important matters such as religious change.
in 1540, conservatives were satisfied. the 6 articles had been implemented, cromwell had fallen and they had increased access to henry through his marriage to catherine howard.
however, this came to an end. firstly due to the loss of catherine. henry was besotted by her, but there was a significant age difference (she was 19). she had other admirers at court, and in 1541 henry was presented with the extensive evidence of her unfaithfullness. h furious and executed the men involved and catherine herself in 1542.
further damage came when conservatives tried to break friendship of henry and cranmer in 1543 by suggesting cranmer was dabbling in protestant heresy. the king not only rejected these claims, but put cranmer in charge of investigating these claims.
henry married catherine parr in july 1543. cath close to the seymour family and was a protestant sympathiser. she gathered scholars at court and allowed them to manage the education of henrys youngest kids, edward and elizabeth. the conservatie faction struck out at her in 1546 by accusing members of her household of heresy, but henry supported her. reform faction dominant by the end of his reign.
Succession act of 1544
: edward, then mary, then elizabeth.
the reform faction at the end of the reign
: sir anthony denny (reformist) became chief gentlemen of kings chamber. he tended to henrys needs and decided who got to see the king. he also got access to the dry stamp, which the faction used to alter the succession act to stregnthen the regency council to rule on E6's behalf.
the conservative faction at the end of the reign
: quickly fell apart. duke of norfolk and his son earl of surrey were arrested for treason as they spoke openly about their families claim to the throne. surrey executed, but norfolk escaped as henry died before giving the order.
Position of church by 1547
by henrys death, religion was at a stalemate: catholicism without the pope.
main doctrines of church remained catholic, such as the seven sacraments. however, some elements of protestantism had been introduced: bible available in english for example.