HENRY VIII FACTION + NOBILITY

Wolsey's attitude to nobility

felt they had too much power in court but needed their support to a certain extent

Wolsey's actions against the nobility

began using the star chamber to try and remove corrupt nobles 1516

brought enclosures to court 1517- had to suspend this in order to gain support of nobles in the House 1523

oversaw Edward Stafford's arrest and execution for treason 1521

Faction's role in Wolsey's fall

Boleyn's growing influence- Howard didn't like Wolsey anyway and began using his position with the King to influence him, Anne didn't like him because she felt he was purposefully blocking the divorce

Nobility's role in Wolsey's fall

hated Wolsey and used his loss of status with the king to lobby his removal but ultimately had hated him since 1515- not huge amount of influence

Cromwell's attitude to nobility

saw them as problematic because of religious differences (lots of the old families were Catholic) limited a lot of their power

Nobility's attitude towards Cromwell

hated him- saw him as disrespectful and didn't like his high status despite his low birth, didn't like his efforts to control them

Cromwell's actions against the Nobility

Law passed limiting the no. sheep someone could own 1534

Act of Liberties and Franchises 1535

Took hereditary titles of Earl of Essex and Lord Chamberlain 1540

dissolved the Norfolk Priory at Thetford 1540

Role of Faction in the fall of Cromwell

HUGE

Conservatives (led by Thomas Howard) able to poison Henry's image of Cromwell, and his execution warrant had been signed before Cromwell had the opportunity to speak to the king

Henry's Marriage to Katherine Howard

July 1540, the same day as Cromwell's execution

Fall of Katherine Howard

1541

Henry marries Catherine Parr

1543

Conservatives fail to oust Cranmer

1543

Reasons for failure to oust Cranmer

Henry's strong relationship with Cranmer- gave him a ring as a sign of trust and loyalty

Reformers failed plot against Gardiner

1544, following the execution of Gregory Gardiner (Bishop's secretary and relative) for treason

Conservatives fail to oust Catherine Parr

1546, Conservatives accused her of Heresy, presenting the King with evidence of her protestant writings but the Queen managed to convince Henry of her innocence and when guards came to arrest her, the king was furious

the fall of Stephen Gardiner

late 1546, for refusing to cede land to the King, he was imprisoned until Mary I released him

the fall of the Howards

end of 1546, Earl of Surrey executed for treason (placed the royal emblem on his insignia) Duke of Norfolk arrested, but his execution warrant wasn't signed before Henry's death

Henry's death

January 1547

Anthony Denny becomes Chief Gentleman of the Privy Chamber

1546

Denny and Gates gain control of the King's Dry Seal

1546

Impact of Henry's health on Faction + Decisions

until the summer of 1546, the King had large amounts of control in court, only being persuaded as he had historically by faction (ex. Parr and Cranmer plots failed bc of Henry's control of faction)

into the Autumn of 1546 Henry became very ill and was much more easily manipulated, by the end of the year, reformist control of the Dry Seal meant very little about succession went through the King