Henry VIII and his ministers Flashcards
Why did the marriage of Henry to Catherine of Aragon work well?
> Henry was an affectionate husband
Catherine was a popular queen
She was supportive of Henry
Strengthened Henry’s relationship with Spain and the Holy Roman empire
What were the reasons for the dissolution of monasteries? (3)
> Religious - Cromwell and Cranmer disapproved of many religious practices in the monasteries
Political - Henry felt that many monks were loyal to the pope rather than himself so closing the church would strengthen Henry’s control of the church
Financial - Monasteries were very wealthy. It would pay for any future wars and help defend against a possible Catholic Crusade. It would make him financially independent from the parliament. Land could be sold to the nobility to win over landowners
What were the aims of the foreign policy? (4)
> Create better relationships with both France and the Habsburg Empire. This would prevent England from being diplomatically isolated
Play Europe’s two major powers (France + Habsburg Empire) off against each other to England’s advantage.
To provide opportunities for Henry to gain military glory, while making sure that wars weren’t too expensive.
To allow Henry to be seen to be a major peacemaker, enhancing his prestige without the expense of major wars.
Describe the Act of Succession - 1534 (3)
> Stated that only children from the second marriage could inherit the throne so Mary became illegitimate and Elizabeth legitimate.
Final rejection of the Pope’s authority in England.
Pope’s name was crossed out of all prayer books
What bad qualities did Henry have?
> Gambles - will lose England’s wealth
> Selfish - buys stuff for him not country
What was the Amicable Grant?
A tax of a third on the property of priests and a sixth on the property of ordinary people. It was to help pay for the invasion of France.
What were the other reasons for the fall of Cromwell? (2
> Hated by French Catholics, Francis I, removing him from power would lead to a better relationship with France and would reduce the possibility of a Catholic Crusade.
Had many enemies in the court and church. To them, Cromwell was an ‘evil counsellor’ who had misled the king.
Why was the Amicable Grant controversial?
> The Amicable Grant had not been approved by the parliament and was being collected by the Royal Decree
People only had 10 weeks to pay these taxes. Many resented this demand and couldn’t afford to pay these taxes. Was a risk of people refusing to pay and the possibility of a rebellion against the king.
Who benefitted from the dissolution of the monasteries? (3)
> Religious reformers such as Cromwell and Cranmer - powerful symbol of the church was brought to an end. Another step towards a protestant church
Henry VIII - made him rich and independent. Helped end opposition within the church
Nobility - received land from the king as a gift so they could increase their wealth
Describe the style of government after Cromwell’s reforms
> Centre of the government - had legislative power - could pass laws
Laws were passed with the approval of both houses and the king which strengthened his authority
Parliament couldn’t be ignored - had to be consulted before major laws the king wanted to pass
What good qualities did Henry have to be king?
> Strong > Sporty > Healthy - long life > Speaks 3 other languages - crucial for relations with other countries > Bright character
What were the reasons for the Pilgrimage of Grace? (4)
> Religious - fear that the attack on the ‘old religion’ would continue and Parish Churches would be next
Social - anger of the closure of monasteries leading to hunger, homelessness and no help for the sick
Political - resentment at Cromwell’s interference in local affairs and his attempts to centralise power
Economic - resentment at taxation, rising rents and increase in enclosure.
Who lost from the dissolution of the monasteries? (5)
> Monks - lost homes and livelihood
Nuns - lost homes and livelihood
Devout Catholics - mourned the end of Catholic practices
Poor and the sick - had nowhere to go
Tenant farmers - saw rents rise or thrown off the land by gentry
Describe Cromwell’s reform of the Royal Council (5)
> Argued that the council was too big
Replaced it with a newer and simpler Privy Council upto 20 permanent advisers
Composed of lawyers and professional administrators rather than noblemen
Wanted everyone to have equal status and experience in it
Clerk was appointed to record decisions
What factors affected Henry’s decision to execute Cromwell? (4)
> Pressure from the Duke of Norfolk
Pressure from the Church
Pressure from Court
Ill health made Henry bad-tempered and led him to make hasty decisions.
What was the Treason Act 1534?
> People who committed treason suffered traitor’s death (handing, drawing and quartering
Included plotting the king’s death, waging war against him or helping his enemies and speaking out against the royal supremacy
How did Henry deal with the opposition from John Fisher?
Fisher condemned Henry’s attempts to divorce and the split from Rome. Henry couldn’t do anything. He could arrest him for treason but fined him instead. Fisher refused to accept the oath of succession so he was executed.
Why did Wolsey come to power?
Henry worried that nobles would snatch throne from him. Wanted to reduce power of nobles and promote the less privileged. Appointed Wolsey as chief minister. Wolsey was intelligent, loyal, dedicated, huge ability, string ambition and happy to do menial tasks. He grew powerful in the church became Papal Legate and Cardinal.
Describe the marriage of Henry to Jane Seymour (3)
> Jane fulfilled her royal duty by giving birth to a son in October 1537
Strengthened the succession because there was less of a chance of competing claims for the throne
Strengthened Henry’s authority because it suggested that God blessed Henry implying that his marriage to Jane and the annulment of others were acceptable.
How did Cromwell develop the parliament?
> Used it more regularly
Changes in church and the state was made by the parliament
King and Cromwell used it to gain support from significant people: nobility, churchmen, merchants and the gentry.
Describe the reasons for Cromwell’s rise to power (4)
> Loyalty - remained loyal to Wolsey and impressed Henry
Wit and Charm - it won him many supporters at the court including the king
Ruthlessness - king was prepared to rely on him to manage violent acts and discouraged rivals and opponents from challenging his power
Efficiency - Cromwell carried out Henry’s instructions quickly and efficiently as the king’s loyal servant.
What were the roles of monasteries? (7)
> Religious > Educational - educated young boys > Medical - act as hospitals > Place of refuge > Social and economic - for poor > Commercial - businesses that controlled estates and rented out land > Administrative
Why did Pope Clement VII oppose the annulment of Henry’s and Catherine’s marriage?
Reluctant to grant as he did not want to offend Charles V whose troops were close to Rome
Why did Henry want to annul the marriage with Catherine of Aragon? (3)
> Henry blamed Catherine for not giving him a healthy son as he had a healthy illegitimate son with his mistress Bessie Blount
Henry lost interest in Catherine and had turned his interest to younger women, including Anne Boleyn
By marrying his dead brother’s wife, Henry thought God was punishing him by not giving him a male heir - in the old testament it states: ‘If a man shall take his brother’s wife it is an impurity…. they shall be childless’
What was Cromwell’s role in enforcing the Acts in 1534 (Succession and Supremacy)?
> Was the Vicar-General
He could wield the powers that belonged to the king to deal with anyone who spoke out against Henry, the split from Rome or Henry’s control of the church.
What were the types of religious houses?
Large - Abbeys
Medium - Priories
Smaller - Friaries
Describe the significance of Henry’s marriage to Anne of Cleves (5)
> Provides Henry with a European ally who might persuade other German states to help attack
Duke of Cleves seemed happy to marry Anne off
Henry only had 1 male heir
Duke of Cleves had also broken from Rome
Cromwell believed that by marrying Henry to Anne, the Protestant cause would be strengthened in court.
Describe Wolsey’s reform of wales
> Wales became a part of England and English law replaced Welsh law.
England was official language in Wales
Reform was to tackle disorder in Wales
