Thomas Cromwell : Machiavellian statecraft and the English Reformation

Thomas Cromwell, chief architect of the English Reformation, served as minister of Henry VIII from 1531 to 1540, the period during which more political and religious reform was accomplished than at any other time in Henry's thirty-seven-year reign. Thus the momentous events of the 1530s are generally (but not universally) attributed to Cromwell's agency. Cromwell has been the subject of close and continuous attention for the last half century, with positive appraisal of his work and achievements as the scholarly norm. In this classroom biography_the first in a generation and the only one now in print_that judgment is largely accepted, though it is combined with earlier and more critical assessments that view Cromwell as a disciple of Machiavelli. One distinguishing feature of this study is its overview of Machiavellian thought, along with its overview of Marsilian thought. Marsilius of Padua, fourteenth-century political philosopher and author of Defensor Pacis, is widely recognized as the source of Cromwell's reformation ideas; but nowhere is Marsilius explicated. The same is true of Machiavelli_never explicated though said to be (by Reginald Pole, cousin of Henry and cardinal of the church) the source of Cromwell's ideas on statecraft. A second distinguishing feature of the book is its inclusion of an introductory chapter that situates Cromwell in the sixteenth century and shows his connection to important events, characters, and ideas. Thus, while the book is a biography, its focus is broader and its uses more various. Front Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Cromwell Timeline......Page 12 1. Introduction: Thomas Cromwell and the Sixteenth Century......Page 14 1. BREAKING FROM ROME......Page 17 2. STATE-BUILDING......Page 18 3. RELIGION, REFORM, REBELLION......Page 21 4. STATECRAFT AND DIPLOMACY......Page 26 1. MARSILIUS IN ENGLAND......Page 30 2. DEFENDER OF THE PEACE, DISCOURSE I......Page 31 3. DEFENDER OF THE PEACE, DISCOURSE II......Page 37 4. MACHIAVELLI IN ENGLAND......Page 44 5. THE PRINCE......Page 48 6. DISCOURSES ON LIVY......Page 52 1. ADVENTURER, MERCHANT, LAWYER, PARLIAMENTARIAN......Page 58 2. IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE CARDINAL......Page 62 1. MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC BACKGROUND......Page 66 2. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND......Page 68 3. DOCTRINAL AND DYNASTIC BACKGROUND......Page 71 1. OLD LOYALTIES AND NEW......Page 80 2. KING’S SERVANT......Page 84 3. FACTION: POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, PERSONAL......Page 87 1. SESSION ONE—NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 1529......Page 92 2. THE 1530 PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT......Page 95 3. SESSION TWO—JANUARY–MARCH 1531......Page 98 4. SESSION THREE—JANUARY–MAY 1532......Page 102 5. SESSION FOUR—FEBRUARY–APRIL 1533......Page 106 6. SESSION FIVE—JANUARY–MARCH 1534......Page 111 7. SESSION SIX—NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 1534......Page 117 8. THE 1535 PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT......Page 119 9. SESSION SEVEN—FEBRUARY–APRIL 1536......Page 121 10. CROMWELL’S PROGRAM......Page 123 1. TRAVAILS OF A QUEEN......Page 130 2. SETTING THE STAGE......Page 133 3. CROMWELL’S COUP......Page 135 4. THE AFTERMATH......Page 142 1. THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE......Page 144 2. REGINALD POLE, CARDINAL AND PROVOCATEUR......Page 157 3. THE EXETER CONSPIRACY......Page 158 4. THE GERALDINE REVOLT......Page 160 1. THE DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES......Page 164 2. THE BISHOPS’ BOOK......Page 166 3. THE ENGLISH BIBLE......Page 168 4. OVERTURES TO GERMANY......Page 170 5. THE HERESY TRIAL OF JOHN LAMBERT......Page 171 6. THE 1539 PARLIAMENT AND THE ACT OF SIX ARTICLES......Page 173 10. Matrimonial Diplomacy......Page 176 1. WIFE SHOPPING......Page 177 2. WAR FEVER......Page 179 3. THE CLEVES ALLIANCE......Page 182 4. HENRY AND ANNE......Page 186 11. The Fall of Thomas Cromwell......Page 192 1. MISCHIEF-MAKING AT ROYAL COURTS......Page 193 2. SECTARIAN FOLLIES......Page 195 3. THE 1540 SESSION OF PARLIAMENT......Page 196 4. TIPPING THE SCALES......Page 198 5. IN THE TOWER AND ON THE BLOCK......Page 202 1. CHARACTER......Page 206 2. REPUTATION......Page 209 3. LEGACY......Page 211 Glossary of Terms......Page 214 "Thomas Cromwell, chief architect of the English Reformation, served as minister of Henry VIII from 1531 to 1540, a period that saw more political and religious reform than any other time in Henry's thirty-seven-year reign. Thus the momentous events of the 1530s are generally (but not universally) attributed to Cromwell's agency. In this classroom biography, the first in a generation and the only one now in print, that judgment is largely accepted, though it is combined with earlier and more critical assessments that view Cromwell as a disciple of Machiavelli. One distinguishing feature of this study is its overview of Machiavellian thought, along with its overview of Marsilian thought. Marsilius of Padua, fourteenth-century political philosopher and author of Defensor Pacis, is widely recognized as the source of Cromwell's reformation ideas; but nowhere is Marsilius explicated. Thus, while this book is a biography, its focus is broader and its uses are more varied."--Jacket Thomas Cromwell, chief architect of the English Reformation, served as minister of Henry VIII from 1531 to 1540, the period during which more political and religious reform was accomplished than at any other time in Henry's thirty-seven-year reign. This biography_the first in a generation and the only one now in print_looks at his work and achievements during this period, and includes earlier and more critical assessments that view Cromwell as a disciple of Machiavelli. Introduction : Thomas Cromwell and the sixteenth century Sources : Marsilius and Machiavelli The pre-ministerial years Henrician England To Parliament and the court The Reformation Parliament The fall of Anne Boleyn Rebellion Henrician protestantism and the return to orthodoxy Matrimonial diplomacy The fall of Thomas Cromwell Conclusion : Cromwell, the man and the record.