Sunday, March 1, 2015

The Just, Corrupt, Fair, and Tyrannical Lord Thomas Cromwell

The First Earl of Essex, Lord Great Chamberlain, Governor of the Isle of Wight, Lord Privy Seal, Master of the Rolls, Secretary of the State and Chancellor of the Exchequer are some of the many titles that Thomas Cromwell (1485-1540), a common born man, earned for himself. He appeared in the court of King Henry VIII as Cardinal Wolsey’s apprentice. This time in England was of great discord. A marriage to Catherine of Aragon for over twenty years had only produced one Tudor heir: Princess Mary. Henry was troubled at the lack of a male heir and believed the root of this problem was due to the fact that he married his brother’s wife after he passed away. Henry now sought another marriage in hopes of producing a male heir but he had to work around the Pope who refused to grant the annulment.
 As King Henry VIII’s chief minister, Cromwell ascended to his positions through determination, eloquence, and intellect. His rise to favor in the royal court transpired when he purposed the Protestant idea of the Pope not being superior to kings. This feat attained the annulment of King Henry’s marriage to Queen Catharine of Aragon and subsequently caused England to break away from the Church in Rome and Henry to be head of the new English Church. As a result of this success, Cromwell became the chief administrator for organizing the newly reformed Church of England. From 1534 until his downfall in 1540, Cromwell would be Henry’s main minister for nearly all matters. Cromwell was the most powerful man in the realm, save the king. While it is evident Cromwell had vast influence in England, it is not evident as to whether or not he used that influence for the benefit of the realm, himself, or the king. Through an examination of the dissolution of the monasteries, the reformed methods of preaching, the fall of Anne Boleyn, and the king’s marriage to Anne of Cleves, I will argue that Lord Cromwell used his power to advance both himself and his Protestant faith while securing the souls of the English people.
Many historians have debated the extent of Cromwell’s influence and for what purpose he used this influence. There are two main portrayals of Cromwell: one, a just ruler who became a martyr, and two, an ambitious and ruthless counselor to the king. Paul van Dyke notes the origins of these portrayals; John Fox categorized Cromwell as a martyr while Reginald Pole describes him as a “false counselor who helped the descent of a once innocent and pious king into tyranny, crime, and irreligion by flattering evil passions for his own gain.”[1] While Pole’s Catholicism led to this biased description of Cromwell, some historians have agreed with him in that Cromwell was indeed treacherous and deceitful. Historian Ethan Shagan, remarked that Cromwell was a stark heretic who ruled the king.[2] Contrarily, Charles Carlton considers Cromwell as one of England’s greatest statesmen.[3] G. R. Elton portrays Cromwell as a kind and caring, results-oriented minister who sought to be remembered through history.[4]
Thomas Cromwell, as the king’s chief minister, helped Henry VIII establish a Church of England independent from Rome based upon a Lutheran reformation of the English Church. Carlton views Cromwell as the “architect of the Reformation and the Tudor Revolution in government.”[5] G. R. Elton also argues that the underlying Reformation ideas emerged from Cromwell rather than the king and that those ideas embody his (Cromwell’s) view of Church and State.[6]  Elton claims that Cromwell was a devout man of the gospel and that his religion leaned on Protestant ideas that were neither desperate nor extremist but heavily emphasizing the supremacy of scripture.[7] Elton also decrees that Cromwell was sincere and sought to better the commonweal of the English.[8]
G.W. Bernard contends that Cromwell’s intentions were to benefit the king and himself rather than the realm. Bernard argues that the dissolution of monasteries, for Henry was a means emphasize royal authority, while for Cromwell it was a means to further religious change.[9] Elton agrees that there were economic incentives to the dissolution of monasteries, but that it was also a central element of Lutheran reform[10] In contrast to Carlton, Elton declares that neither Cromwell nor the king planned on retaining all the seized properties for the crown.[11] Elton believes the intentions behind the dissolution were Cromwell’s way of bringing the commonwealth to the gospel based faith.[12]
In his article, “Thomas Cromwell’s Patronage of Preaching”, Joseph Block argues that Cromwell’s control of preaching was a major part of the ecclesiastical policy that created the Church of England, and helped reform the ecclesiastical institutes and religious life of the commonwealth. Cromwell vigorously wielded his authority as a patron to fortify the voice of the government all through the kingdom.[13]  Elton enlightens us to Cromwell’s soft approach to reorganizing the realm. He says Cromwell “preached moderation, especially in innovation”[14] and warned the bishops against preaching the new teachings too radically. Elton describes Cromwell as less of a politician and more of a religious reformer.
While Elton describes Cromwell as a religious reformer, it is evident within the reform of canon law but it also required Cromwell to make political changes that enabled him to enforce the reforms; four historians have addressed the discussion of Cromwell’s involvement in the fall of Anne Boleyn. G. W. Bernard examines Cromwell’s reasons for the destruction of Anne and notes the possibility of a dispute over foreign alliance between the two; Anne favored a French alliance while Cromwell favored one with the Holy Roman Empire.[15] He also remarks that Cromwell not only brought Anne down, but also many members of the King’s Privy Council even though there was little evidence the condemned formed a coherent group.[16] E.W. Ives is certain that “Cromwell’s involvement remains a mystery” because the evidence from Chapuy’s letters is not sufficient enough to be determined as factual evidence.[17] Ives points out that there was “bad blood” between one of Anne’s accused fornicators, William Brereton, and Cromwell which could give us an explanation of why Brereton was accused. Ives also exposes the many political offices that Cromwell gained from pulling Anne out of power.[18] Retha M. Warnicke argues that Cromwell’s involvement with Anne’s fall was purely a political move toward bettering England’s imperial relations since both the King and Cromwell no longer favored King Francis, as Anne did.[19] Elton provides another prospective reason for Cromwell’s involvement with Anne’s fall.  He argues that Cromwell sought to eliminate the conservative faction at court – who were Catholics committed to a French alliance.  In the process, Cromwell could better promote an imperial alliance and Lutheran reform.[20]
            Advocacy of a German alliance prompted Cromwell to advocate Henry’s marriage to  Anne of Cleves, sister of the Duke of Cleves, after the death of Henry’s beloved Jane Seymour. Warnicke indicates that Cromwell was not Anne of Cleve’s friend and the reason for favoring the marriage was merely for the religious alliance. Cromwell sought to advance and solidify his religious ideas.[21]  Elton also agrees that Cromwell sought to create a grand northern alliance against Rome.[22]      
 Ultimately, it appears Cromwell’s own passion for religious reform and the needed alliances to advance this was the source of his downfall. Thomas Cromwell was a self-made lord with immense influence in the English realm. The fact that he controlled much of England is not disputable, but his motives for his actions while in power are. Did Thomas Cromwell use his power just to better himself? Yes, he did. Did he use it to better the king? Yes, he did. Were his choices in favor for the realm? Occasionally, yes they were. Was he a fair ruler or a corrupt tyrant? That is still open for debate. Lord Cromwell used his power to elevate himself, strengthen the king’s authority, and bring the English people to what he believed was the true faith.
Throughout this paper, there are three discussion topics: the Cromwell that helped himself, the Cromwell that asserted royal authority, and the Cromwell who was a reforming religious man. Each of these topics will be dissected by examining the four main aspects previously discussed within this paper: the reform and patronage of canon law, the Dissolution of monasteries, fall of Anne Boleyn, and arranged marriage to Anne of Cleves. By examining all of these, it is determinable that Cromwell was indeed a just, ambitious, fair religious reformer.
Because of his successful endeavor in annulling the marriage of Henry to Catherine of Aragon by creating a new church, it is only right that Cromwell was appointed to reforming the canon law in England. He assumed the posts of vicegerent in spirituals and vicar-general. These posts gave him immense power. It is typical of people in power to crave more. He assumed these positions and performed well in order to gain more promotions. He achieved the submission of the Clergy in May of 1532 and promised “in verbo sacerdotii” that the clergy would no longer attempt or create any canons or ordinances without leave of the king or his chief minister.[23] Other various reforms and proclamations were announced following this achievement which ordained that the clergy do submit to the new religious and not catholic rule of the Church in England. The royal proclamation “Enforcing Statutes Abolishing Papal Authority in England” was decreed in June 1535 which declares that the clergy of the realm have indeed agreed with the new reforms and renounced their ties with the Bishop in Rome. The end of this proclamation ends with a promise to the people of England that if they disobey and reject the king as their head of the church, they will be made and example of and punished by the just and lawful king.[24] With the official submission and proclamation to the people, Cromwell and Henry began the Dissolution of monasteries.
Cromwell was charged with the Dissolution of the monasteries to bring in more revenue. Cromwell transformed Royal supremacy into Parliamentary terms, causing Church lands to be property of the King, which in turn included the removal of many medieval features of central government. The Dissolution of monasteries was a display of power and an action to dispose of the Catholic clergy along with their wealth and power. If Cromwell achieved this for Henry, it would indeed impress the king, pushing Cromwell higher into favor. With more favor, came more responsibility. Cromwell was now charged with patronizing the preachers so they only preached what they were supposed to preach.
Even before Cromwell sought out to patronize the preachers, he was known to them. In a letter from Sir John Barkar, a priest, to Cromwell in 1531, the priest begs Cromwell for favor and offers him the price of a gelding for his assistance.[25] Later, during the final part of the Dissolution (January 1536), Thomas Prior of Christchurch in Canterbury wrote to Cromwell in thanks for restoring his brother as warden of their manors and that they have granted Cromwell as annuity of ten and if that is not what Cromwell wants, he may change it.[26] This letter is proof that Cromwell had power with the clergy of the realm. They have submitted to Cromwell and realize that he has the power to do what he wishes, so they may as well submit and let Cromwell know he can change the annuity if he wishes. On the 6th of January 1536, Roland Lee, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield wrote to Cromwell pleading for Cromwell’s help and permission to hang twenty unlawful men.[27] This is evidence that Cromwell had immense control, power, and respect of many of the clergymen in the realm. They sought to please him, get advice from them, and get permission from him to do things in the realm.
Because the much of the clergy respected Cromwell, he could use their respect to his advantage. In his letter to the Bishop of Llandaff, he writes explaining that the “people may be taught the truth, and not charged at first with overmany novelties... and remove out of their hearts the corrupt teachings of the bishop of Rome.”[28] This letter is very blunt in showing that Cromwell patronized preaching and made the clergy preach what he approved.
The parliamentary proclamations show Cromwell’s patronage of preaching and also the amount of power that Cromwell was gaining through them. His success is passing this proclamation in November of 1538 degreed there is to be no unlicensed printing of religious documents, Anabaptists could no longer be exiled, and St Thomas a Becket from the calendar.[29] This was a large feat in religious reform, which brought with it great success for Cromwell. After he wrote these laws, but right before they were passed, he was appointed to approve the new translation of the bible that would become known as the Great Bible and placed within every church.[30] This was one of Cromwell’s last great achievements before his downfall in 1540.
With one achievement after another, Cromwell gained power, reputation, and wealth. His great achievements in reform allowed him to become a great lord and without them, he may not have rose as high as he did. He used the reform to elevate himself. The letters from various clergy prove that Cromwell had power in the realm and that power was exercised in his reply to the Bishop of Llandaff. He not only used the Dissolution of monasteries and reform of canon law to elevate himself, for he also seized the opportunity when the king asked him to dispose of Anne Boleyn.
 Allied together, Cromwell and Anne climbed the courtly ladder, obtaining influence and the king’s trust. Because Cromwell secured Henry’s annulment to Queen Catherine, Henry was free to marry Anne. In time, Anne’s relationship, with both the King and Cromwell, turned sour. Imperial ambassador, Eustace Chapuys’ letters to Charles V divulge that he, Cromwell, and others used several means to promote the matter of exposing Anne’s disgrace.[31] Cromwell’s involvement is also evident in his letter to Gardiner and Wallop five days before Anne’s execution. In this letter he explains the exposure of Anne’s dirty lifestyle and his certainty that she and her brother will be found guilty. This letter is also evidence of the rewards to those who assisted in her downfall. Gardiner and Wallop are both receiving a large sum of money as well as Sir Francis Brian. Cromwell is essentially paying them off for helping him defeat the queen.
Chapuys’ letters describe the manner of the fall of Anne and what it meant to Henry. Rejoicing, feasting, and marrying Jane Seymour, was how Chapuy’s described the event.[32] Because Henry was so pleased with his new marriage, he wanted to thank Cromwell for the successful disposal of Anne. Cromwell gained personal advantage through the fall of Anne and the accused men of the privy chamber. Anne’s fall, intended or not, created a more powerful Cromwell. After her fall, he succeed her father, who had also fallen out of grace, as the first Earl of Wiltshire. He had also gained the titles of Lord Privy Seal, gave up the title of Master of the Rolls, and was raised, in yet another way, as a baron. Upon Anne’s death, he is now referred to as Baron Cromwell of Wimbledon, First Early of Wiltshire, Lord Privy Seal, as well as the other titles that he had acquired before his death. Because of the titles he received it is evident that Anne’s death created a strong Cromwell. It elevated him, which is why he brought down not only her, but her brother, father, and other men of the chamber as well. He gained their titles after they, too, had fallen out of grace with the king.
Cromwell’s involvement in the arrangement of the marriage of Henry to Anne of Cleves was very prominent. In his letters, he writes to Christopher Mont and Thomas Paynell charging them with the duty of delivering messages to the Duke of Cleves.[33] His is in charge of this matter and it is not disputable. The failure of the marriage of Henry to Anne of Cleves is seen as Cromwell reaching too far for himself and his religious reforms. Although, during the first few months of the marriage, while it was still successful, Cromwell was appointed as Great Chamberlain of England, Earl of Essex.[34] This initial success aided Cromwell, yet again, and had him promoted to the highest status in England, save the king. Many historians debate whether or not it was the failure of this marriage that was Cromwell’s ultimate demise. Warnicke blames Cromwell’s fall and execution on the fact that he exposed the king’s sexual problems to the lord chamberlain and, indirectly, Anne herself.[35] Elton states that Cromwell’s downfall came not from the mistake of arranging this marriage, but from the exposure of many other things he had done wrong.[36] The marriage did ultimately fail and create a domino effect that allowed Cromwell’s enemies to expose him of high treason and heresy, causing him to lose his head.
Whether all this evidence was intended to create a more powerful, self-risen Cromwell, it did. After Cromwell’s success in gaining revenue with the Dissolution and reform of canon law, he was appointed to approve the new translation of the Great Bible and titled vice-gerent in spirituals and vicar-general. The fall of Anne Boleyn created three new, prestigious titles for Cromwell: Baron of Wimbledon, Earl of Wiltshire and Lord Privy Seal. Finally, the achievement of arranging the marriage to Anne of Cleves and Protestant alliance that came with the marriage, he was awarded the titles Great Chamberlain of England and Earl of Essex. These titles proved the Cromwell was elevated by his success in all of these matters and he did not accept the titles and pay to appease others. It brought his family wealth, land, and respect, for a time.
Thomas Cromwell was a loyal servant of King Henry. He aided Henry in all matters, especially in asserting royal authority. Henry was a king that required the attention and respect of all the great kings in history. Cromwell helped him achieve this goal through his reforms, the Dissolution, fall of Anne Boleyn and marriage to Anne of Cleves.
If anything, the Dissolution of monasteries and reform of canon law was an assertion of royal authority. With the submission of the clergy,[37] Henry’s royal authority was higher than any king before him. Because Cromwell was the chief minister in getting the clergy to submit, he is responsible for this assertion of authority. Later that year, Cromwell called a parliament and passed the Treasons Act of 1534.[38] Within the act he truly asserted and defined royal supremacy.
“if any person or persons…do maliciously wish, will or desire by words or writing, or by craft imagine, invent, practise, or attempt any bodily harm to be done or committed to the king's most royal person, the queen's or the heirs apparent [Elizabeth], or to deprive them of any of their dignity, title or name of their royal estates, or slanderously and maliciously publish and pronounce, by express writing or words, that the king should be heretic, schismatic, tyrant, infidel or usurper of the crown.”[39]
This act stated royal supremacy and decreed that anyone speaking out against the king, queen, or heir in any sort of way would be found guilty of treason. Cromwell truly affirmed the king’s absolute authority and supremacy that cannot be spoken against because of this act.
The Dissolution, too, was a mighty show of strength. Cromwell brought forth much revenue for Henry to fund his passions: wars and new buildings. Not only was the Dissolution a show of strength and authority, but the reaction to the rebels who opposed the Dissolution. Henry’s authority and command crushed them. Because Cromwell was the vice-gerent of spirituals, it was his duty to get the canon law reformed and make sure the preachers preach what was approved by the king.  Through these spiritual affairs, Cromwell not only gained for himself political power and respect, but he also elevated and exposed Henry’s royal authority in the realm.
Through the Dissolution, the king’s coffer grew exponentially. In Chapuy’s letter to the Emperor, he explains to the Emperor that the king and council are suppressing over 300 churches that should “bring in revenue of 120,000 ducats. The silver plate, chalices, and reliquaries, the church ornaments, bells, lead from the roofs, cattle, and furniture belonging to them” will all come to the king.[40] Cromwell succeeded in gaining much wealth for Henry, which allowed Henry to live a lavish lifestyle that a king should live. Although, because the money from the Dissolution went to the king’s coffer rather than education and charity, as Henry’s new Queen, Anne, caused a conflict between the king, his minister, and the herself.
Anne Boleyn reached too far, had humiliated Henry in multiple ways and was about to become a hopeless cause. After Anne Boleyn fell out of grace with the king, Cromwell was appointed to dispose of her. The power that the king bestowed upon Cromwell to perform this action was immense. He charged Cromwell with proving to the country and world that the king can do as he pleases. He will destroy anyone who does not satisfy him. Chapuys’ letters describe the manner of the fall of Anne and what it meant to Henry. Immediately, the king feasts and rejoices and only a few months later, officially marries Lady Jane Seymour. He is rejoicing because he and his family have “escaped the hands of that accursed whore, who had determined to poison them.”[41] Through his success in disposing of Anne, Cromwell showed everyone the power of the king. This power extended with the arrangement of a new royal wedding a few years later.
In 1539, King Henry VIII was now working on getting his fourth wife. It was Cromwell’s duty to find a suitable, royal match. Henry had tired of non-royals for wives and wished to find a wife that was. Anne of Cleves was Cromwell’s chosen candidate after two French women declined the offer. Upon Anne’s arrival to England, the King, according to Chapuys did not show any evident distaste or annoyance with the future queen. He depicts their wedding as a lush and lavish affair with “gowns of rich clothe of silver adorned with stones and pearls.”[42] The wedding itself spoke of the king’s wealth and naturally, Cromwell had to have planned it. Because the king chose to marry a woman who is over royal birth, it shows that the king is not a ditz or lustful man. He is not seeking for his own pleasure but for the pleasure of his realm’s peace and prosperity. Cromwell chose a royal alliance to elevate the king highness’s reputation in the realm and rest of Christendom.
Through all of his actions, Cromwell elevated and assisted the King Henry in many ways. He took charge of the newly reformed church canons, made sure the preachers preached what was approved to be preached, and asserted authority in the Dissolution of monasteries. These actions proved that Henry’s power in England was immense and that he intended to reform the church for not only personal reasons, but religious reasons as well. Cromwell covered Henry’s tracks in the reformation as well as in his displeasure with Anne Boleyn. Her downfall allowed the world to see the power that Henry had. That power extended yet again when Cromwell assisted Henry in finding a royal bride. While Thomas Cromwell aided the king profoundly and helped him create a powerful reputation in England and Europe, he also extended his arm to reform the religious law in England.
Above all things, Cromwell was a religious reformer. He may have been ambitious and helpful to the king, but his main purpose was religious reform. It is indisputable that Cromwell was a reformer. His reform of canon law and patronage of preachers is obvious proof of his reforms. He used the power Henry gave him to reform in protestant and nearly Lutheran ways. With the Submission of the Clergy in 1532, Cromwell was able to instate and regulate all of the reforms in the Church of England. He enforced this submission with the Treasons Act of 1534.[43] As Vicegerent and Vicar-General, Cromwell had the power to reform.
Cromwell started his process by investigating the monasteries in accordance with the Acts of Parliament. He sent envoys to “inquire into their condition both in spiritual and temporal matters.”[44] When they returned with news of misbehavior Cromwell removed and punished them accordingly. And so began this Dissolution of monasteries. The Dissolution of monasteries was started to eliminate prevalent corruption and inactivity of reformation. Cromwell asserted the power of the king and the power the king gave him in order to make sure the protestant reformation in England prevailed. The Ten Articles written in 1536 defined the new religion the country would live by under the new supreme head of the Church, the king.[45] With his new articles in tow, Cromwell proceeded in establishing the parliamentary acts. The Act Suppressing the Smaller Monasteries in 1536 suppressed all the small monasteries and ordered that the monks live a more humble life, accept and teach the supremacy of the king, and repudiation of papal claims. Overall, through the Dissolution and the reforms, Cromwell asserted his power in order to gain reform within the realm, dispose of bad clergy and instate policies that he approved of. One thing he eventually did not approve of was Anne Boleyn.
Anne began to interfere with Cromwell’s plans for reformation and revenue. Her dissatisfaction with him lead her to request her chaplain to give a sermon preaching against the kind’s ministers and council.[46] He warned the council on giving the king advice in altering ancient things and ceremonies, among other things against the council. A month and some days later, Anne was dead. Cromwell could not afford for people to speak out against him or his reforms. He got rid of her and continued on reforming as usual and officially publishing The Ten Articles. After Anne’s death he proceeded with the Dissolution, reforms and finding a new wife for the King.
It was two years after the death of the beloved Jane Seymour that Henry agreed to Cromwell’s suggestion to marry again. A royal match would be best suited for this marriage which followed two rather unsuccessful non-royal ones. Cromwell hoped the alliance with the Lutheran German princes would secure a protestant religious alliance as well. The treaty defined the marriage and alliance between England and the duchy of Cleves and promised the safe arrival of the Lady Anne, as well as her dowry provisions.[47] While this would have been a safe political and religious alliance for Cromwell, it ended six months after it was created. The end of the marriage was not hostile, for the Lady Anne humbly submitted to the king’s request for a divorce. Her response letter was gracious and understanding, yet appropriately disappointed.[48] Because of her response and the easy divorce, it is curious as to why some historians blame this failed marriage for Cromwell’s death. While it may or may not have been the cause, it was indeed enacted to retrieve a protestant alliance for England that would secure Cromwell’s reform’s, elevate him higher and assert royal authority.
  As Henry VIII of England’s chief minister in all matters from 1532 until 1540, Thomas Cromwell reformed the English Church, destroyed English monastic life, assisted in the execution of Anne Boleyn, and arraigned a royal failed marriage to Anne of Cleves. All of these events created a minister that England had never seen before. He was a powerful, self-risen, authority proving, religious reformer. He was no more a power hungry, selfish man than he was a royal brown nosing, religious tyrant. The significance of this finding is to clarify the man behind the names. Many believe Cromwell was a heretic, a tyrant, a selfish, horrible person, a terrible minister, or any of these more than the other, but in truth, he was merely a fantastic minister who did work for himself, his realm, and his religion.
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[1] Paul Van Dyke, “Reginald Pole and Thomas Cromwell: An Examination of the Apologia ad Carolum Quintum,” The American Historical Review 9, no. 4 (July 1904): 696.
[2] Ethan H. Shagan, Popular Politics and the English Reformation (Cambridge: University Press, 2003): 57.
[3] Charles Carlton, “Thomas Cromwell: A Study in Interrogation,” Albion 5, no. 2 (Summer, 1973): 116.
[4] G. R. Elton, Reform and Renewal; Thomas Cromwell and the Common Weal (Cambridge: University Press, 1973):
23.
[5] Carlton, 116.
[6] G.R. Elton, “The Political Creed of Thomas Cromwell,” Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, no. 6 (1956): 70.
[7] Elton, Reform and Renewal, 35-36.
[8] Elton, Reform and Renewal, 36.
[9] G. W. Bernard, "The Dissolution of the Monasteries," History 96, no. 324 (October 2011): 395-6.
[10] G. R. Elton Reform and Reformation: England 1509-1558 (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1977), 237.
[11] Elton, Reform and Reformation, 244.
[12] Elton, Reform and Renewal, 36.
[13] Joseph Block, “Thomas Cromwell’s Patronage of Preaching,” Sixteenth Century Journal, (1977): 37-8.
[14] Elton, “Political Creed,” 76.
[15] G. W. Bernard, “The Fall of Anne Boleyn,” The English Historical Review 106, no. 420 (July 1991): 593.
[16] Bernard, 594.
[17] E. W. Ives, “The Fall of Anne Boleyn Reconsidered”, The English Historical Review 107, no. 424 (July 1992): 662.
[18] Ives, 652.
[19] Retha M. Warnicke, “The Fall of Anne Boleyn Revisited” The English Historical Review 108, no. 428 (July 1993): 661.
[20] Elton, Reform and Reformation, 219.
[21] Retha Warnicke, "Anne of Cleves, Queen of England," History Review no. 51 (March 2005): 39. 
[22] Elton, Reform and Reformation, 282.
[23] Newton Key and Robert Bucholz, ed., Sources and Debates in English History: 1485-1714 (Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2009) 60.
[24] Paul L Hughes and James F Larkin, ed., Tudor Royal Proclamations (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1964) 229-232.
[25] Sir John Barkar to Cromwell, London 10 January 1531, in British History Online: Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, ed. Institute of Historical Research (London: University of London, 2014).
[26] Thomas Prior of Christ Church to Cromwell, Canterbury 2 Jan 1536, in British History Online.
[27] Roland Lee to Cromwell, Lichfield, 6 Jan 1536, in British History Online.
[28] Cromwell to Bishop of Llandaff, London, 7 Jan 1536, in British History Online.
[29] Proclamations, 270.
[30] Proclamations, 286.
[31] Eustace Chapuys to Charles V, London, 2 May 1536, in British History Online.
[32] Chapuys to Charles V, London, 19 May 1536, in British History Online.
[33] Cromwell to Christopher Mont and Thomas Paynell, London, 10 March 1539, in British History Online.
[34] Edward Hall, Chronicle Containing the History of England (London: J Johnson, 1809) 383.
[35] Retha Warnicke "Anne of Cleves, Queen of England." History Review no. 51 (March 2005): 40. 
[36] G. R. Elton “Thomas Cromwell’s Decline and Fall,” Cambridge Historical Journal 10, no. 2 (1951): 169-170.
[37] Sources and Debates, 60.
[38] Treasons Act of 1534, in Documents Illustrative of English Church History, ed. Henry Gee and William John Hardy (London: Macmillan, 1914).  247-251.
[39] Treasons Act of 1534, in Documents Illustrative of English Church History.
[40] Chapuys to Charles V, London, 1 April 1536, in British History Online.
[41] Chapuys to Charles V, London, 19 May 1536, in British History Online.
[42] Chapuys to Charles V, Jan 1540, in englishhistory.net.
[43] Treasons Act of 1534, in Documents Illustrative of English Church History.
[44] Visitation of the Monasteries, London, 21 January 1535, in British History Online.
[45] The Ten Articles, in Luminarium: Encyclopedia Project, ed. Anniina Jokinen (2010).
[46] John Skip’s Sermon Notes, King’s Chapel, London, 2 April 1536, in British History Online.
[47] Treaty, 6 October 1539, in British History Online.
[48] Anne of Cleves to Henry VIII, London, 11 July 1540, in englishhistory.net.

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