How far was Henry in
control of court politics and
faction from 1536 to1547?
Henry controlled faction
Henry did not appoint a chief
minister to replace Cromwell
Led 48,000 men to battle
in France in June 1544
His appointment of "new men"
showed he did not rely on just
the gentry and nobility
Christmas speech in 1545 argues against
factions and wanted to find a middle path
for religion
Plot against Parr - Henry played
both sides against each other
Earl of Surrey's execution
showed once people were no
longer useful they were
disposed off
Henry put forward the Act
of Six Articles rather than
Gardiner of Norfolk
But may have been steered by conservatives
as the Act was predominantly Catholic-based
Henry treated John Lambert harshly by
burning him at the stake in 1538, shows he
is in control of religious matters
But Gardiner was present at Lambert's address
and so was an integral part of the prosecution
The Cleves marriage showed that Cromwell's
intentions to increase reformist influence over
the King was disregarded by the King's wishes
Catherine Howard's adultery meant Norfolk
and his son removed themselves from court
as they had fallen out of Henry's favour
Henry executed up to 150,000 people
(out of a population of 2 million in 1520)
The plot against Cranmer showed Henry
had learned from his mistake with Cromwell
Gardiner's refusal to hand over ecclesiastical lands to
Henry in late 1546 resulting in his exclusion from court
Quotes
P Gwyn argues "Henry was not
someone who could be easily
manipulated"
P Gwyn argues factions "were never able
to manage him to any significant extent"
Factions controlled Henry
Cranmer delivered accounts of Catherine Howard's
adultery in mass - the conservative faction had
compiled evidence against her behind the King's back
The plot against Catherine Parr shows
the conservatives trying to get rid of her
reformist influence
Denny's appointment as Chief Gentleman of the Privy
Chamber meant he had more access to the King and used
his access to the dry stamp to improve the reformist cause
Henry's will was changed/ignored before he was even buried
Cromwell's downfall
Norfolk accused Cromwell of being a heretic
Robert Barnes (a reformer) was put under
pressure by Gardiner to turn on Cromwell
He was convicted by an Act of Attainder which
was steered through the Lords by Norfolk
Quotes
Scarisbrick: "Catherine Howard...
had been placed before a ready
King, and the bait worked quickly"
Henry needed factions, but they were a risk
Henry's Christmas speech
against factional rivalries was
only in the last two years of
Henry's reign when he was ill
and weak
Marriage to Catherine Howard was
liked by Henry but also benefitted
Duke of Norfolk and the
conservative faction
Factional struggles could be controlled
during the majority of Henry's reign but it
was during the last two years, when Henry
was sick and weak, that they became a risk
as he could not control them