Cromwell's Domestic Policies

Thomas Cromwell succeeded Wolsey as Henry VIII's chief minister from 1532-1540. As a skilled lawyer, Cromwell was instrumental in achieving the break with Rome and establishing royal supremacy through acts of Parliament.

Cromwell modernized government administration by creating specialized departments with defined procedures. For example, he established the Court of Augmentations to manage income from dissolved monasteries. He also reformed the Privy Council, reducing it to 20 members responsible for government business.

A key aspect of Cromwell's work was passing a series of parliamentary acts to establish Royal Supremacy:

• 1533 Act in Restraint of Appeals - Prevented Catherine from appealing to Rome • 1534 Act of Succession - Made Princess Mary illegitimate • 1534 Act of Supremacy - Removed papal authority in England • 1534 Treason Act - Made it treasonous to call Henry a heretic • 1536 Suppression Acts - Allowed confiscation of church lands

Definition: Royal Supremacy refers to the king's position as supreme head of the Church of England, replacing papal authority.

Quote: "Cromwell's policies revolutionised government as he achieved the royal supremacy through Acts of Parliament."

Government in Henry VIII's Later Years

After Cromwell's fall in 1540, Henry VIII's government returned to a conciliar form dominated by conservative factions at court. Key developments in this period included:

• The emergence of the Privy Council as the main governing body • A focus on halting further religious changes • Factional rivalries at court influencing policy

Some historians view Henry as weak in his later years, falling prey to competing court factions. However, the king remained the ultimate source of authority.

Highlight: The fall of Cromwell marked a shift back towards more conservative governance in Henry's final years.

Vocabulary: Conciliar government - Rule through a royal council rather than a chief minister.

This period saw the culmination of Henry's break with Rome and the establishment of the Church of England. The Act of Supremacy had made Henry the head of the church, fundamentally altering England's religious landscape.

Wolsey's Domestic Policy

Cardinal Wolsey wielded immense power as Henry VIII's chief minister from 1514-1529. His domestic policies centered on two key areas: strengthening royal authority and raising finances for the crown.

To enhance royal authority, Wolsey expanded the use of prerogative courts like the Court of Chancery and Court of Star Chamber. These courts allowed the crown to uphold justice and hear cases outside the common law system. Wolsey also appointed local law officers and extended crown authority over regional councils.

For raising finances, Wolsey established a network of royal commissioners to assess wealth for taxation. He attempted to implement the Amicable Grant of 1525, though this proved highly unpopular. In 1526, Wolsey introduced the Eltham Ordinances to reduce royal expenditures.

Highlight: The Eltham Ordinances Wolsey introduced aimed to reform the Privy Chamber's finances and reduce its influence.

Vocabulary: Prerogative courts - Special courts operating under the authority of the monarch rather than common law.

Example: The Court of Star Chamber allowed Wolsey to hear cases of alleged misconduct and private lawsuits outside the regular court system.