‘Cromwell’s fall from power was due to ….’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks]
Paragraph 1: Marital affairs Paragraph 2: Religion/ ideological reasons
The catalyst for Cromwell’s downfall, as with Wolsey, was his failure to manage the king’s marital 1. The religious conservatives were universally dissatisfied w/ Cromwell’s evangelical reforms.
affairs satisfactorily. Conservatives Duke of Norfolk, Reginald Pole, and Stephen Gardiner leading proponents of
1. In 1537, Henry’s third wife – Jane Seymour – had died, after giving birth to the long-awaited the 1539 Six Articles Act – direct refutation of Cromwell’s 1536 Ten Articles Act. Upheld the
male heir, Prince Edward. In 1540, Cromwell persuaded a reluctant king to seek marriage doctrine of transubstantiation, private masses etc. Equally, the 1543 Act of the
with a German noblewoman in order to reconcile with the Protestant League of Advancement of True Religion tempered injunction issued by Cromwell ordering every
Schmalkalden – arranged German Protestant princess, Anne of Cleves. Henry had, in part, parish to buy a copy of English Bible – restricted the reading of the Bible to rank above
been persuaded by portrait – Elton: ‘Holbein, who painted a flattering portrait [..] deceived yeomen. Drove retreat in religious reforms.
both king and minister, bears an ironical share of the resp for Cromwell’s downfall’. 2. Heresy accusations leveraged against Cranmer (by Norfolk, Gardiner, Pole) – coincided with
2. This was an unhappy partnership: when Anne arrived in England, the original reason for the Cromwell’s fall. Demonstrated hostility of religious conservatives. Cranmer only regained
political union diminished (Six Articles Act was passed, tempering threat of invasion as favour by accepted retreat from reform.
Henry was reversing policy/ driving regression). Disillusioned with her physical appearance
and rift from cultural and linguistic differences. The marriage was quickly annulled, negating
Cromwell’s credibility w/ king and affording enemies opportunity to engender downfall.
3. Elton: ‘[Cromwell] had forced the King into a distasteful policy (i.e. allied to Lutherans in
Germany) and even more distasteful marriage)’
4. Annulment w/ Anne of Cleves and execution of Cromwell both occurred in July 1540 –
suggests direct link.
Paragraph 3 Opposition from enemies at court/ nobility – personal circumstances
1. Cromwell was deeply unpopular amongst the nobility – particularly the Duke of Norfolk, Possible evaluations:
whom he had humiliated by dissolving Thetford Priory in 1539 where his ancestors were
buried. From thereon Norfolk harboured/ pursued a personal vendetta against Cromwell – - The Duke of Norfolk’s personal vendetta was insufficient in itself to engender fall –
led/ spearheaded circle of nobles who persuaded Henry that Cromwell was a traitor. relied on the support of other enemies e.g. Gardiner – their hostility stemmed from
2. Norfolk (and other nobles) also resented that Cromwell had rose from a pub landlord’s son ideological/ religious disagreements w/ Cromwell.
(like w/ Wolsey as butcher’s son) to Earldom/ Garter – resented Cromwell’s earldom. - Religion in itself insufficient reason: Cranmer had also been a leading proponent of
3. The rise of Catherine Howard was also very much entangled in the fall of Cromwell and the Protestant reforms, but remained in Henry’s favour despite heresy accusations
reclaiming of influence by the Norfolk faction. Henry was ensnared/ embroiled in a romantic leveraged against him by Gardiner, Norfolk, Pole in 1540. Argue, then, that it was
affair with Howard, who, similar to Anne, would feed king w/ misinformation on Cromwell. distasteful marriage which led to downfall. See box 1 for direct link.
4. Henry and Catherine married on the day of Cromwell’s execution (July 1540), suggesting - Nuanced eval: can argue that triangulation of these factors – but probably sensible to
direct link. argue that marital affairs engendered downfall, particularly as it was this which
enemies capitalised on/ exploited in to bring about Cromwell’s downfall – this gave
them chance/ opportunity.
