To what extent was Cromwell responsible for a revolution in government?
See flashcards for paras 1 and 2
Paragraph 1 Paragraph 3: Bureaucratic revolution
1. Cromwell oversaw creation of specialised departments – e.g. in 1536 the Court of 4. Cromwell oversaw creation of specialised departments – e.g. in 1536 the Court of
Augmentations was established to process income from the dissolution of the monasteries. Augmentations was established to process income from the dissolution of the
Crown income increased from £150,000 to £300,000. Elton’s thesis suggested that the monasteries. Crown income increased from £150,000 to £300,000. Elton’s thesis
business of government became less centred on the household –carried out in rooms near suggested that the business of government became less centred on the household –
the King and by his household staff – and more independent and bureaucratic. carried out in rooms near the King and by his household staff – and more independent
2. The Court of the Wards (1540) processed feudal revenues. and bureaucratic.
3. Central to Elton’s interpretation was the restructuring of the Council. An informal bod of
5. The Court of the Wards (1540) processed feudal revenues.
around 70 people, variable in number, was transformed in the 1530s (according to Elton). By
6. Central to Elton’s interpretation was the restructuring of the Council. An informal bod
1536, a select body of trusted ministers and office holders, about 19 in number, conducted
its business – distinct and permanent institution of government. The Privy Council emerged of around 70 people, variable in number, was transformed in the 1530s (according to
as the engine of government. The judicial functions of the Council were transferred to the Elton). By 1536, a select body of trusted ministers and office holders, about nineteen in
Court of the Star chamber and the Court of Request, which functioned as distinct number, conducted its business – distinct and permanent institution of government.
institutions. The Privy Council emerged as the engine of government. The judicial functions of the
Council were transferred to the Court of the Star chamber and the Court of Request,
which functioned as distinct institutions.
1. Starkey has argued that Cromwell was far less concerned with models of government, with 4. Starkey has argued that Cromwell was far less concerned with models of government,
the efficiency of the Household administration, than with its implications for his own tenure with the efficiency of the Household administration, than with its implications for his
of power. When he had control of Household procedures, as he had between the fall of own tenure of power. When he had control of Household procedures, as he had
Anne Boleyn (1536) and the beginning of his own fall (1539-40), he was content to allow between the fall of Anne Boleyn (1536) and the beginning of his own fall (1539-40),
them a leading role in government. he was content to allow them a leading role in government.
2. Guy has argued that Cromwell’s aim was not so much efficient administration, but effective, 5. Guy has argued that Cromwell’s aim was not so much efficient administration, but
personal control of state finance. Once he had fallen from power, it became increasingly
effective, personal control of state finance. Once he had fallen from power, it became
clear that, as Starkey notes, Cromwell had created ‘a complex, even chaotic financial
increasingly clear that, as Starkey notes, Cromwell had created ‘a complex, even
machine’ – in 1553-54 it was felt necessary to restore the authority of the Exchequer to
restore the efficiency of the financial system. chaotic financial machine’ – in 1553-54 it was felt necessary to restore the authority of
3. Guy has argued instead that the transition had its origins in the crisis of 1536, generated by the Exchequer to restore the efficiency of the financial system.
the fall of Anne Boleyn and the Pilgrimage of Grace. King’s most trusted ministers met as an 6. Guy has argued instead that the transition had its origins in the crisis of 1536,
‘inner council’ as a pragmatic measure at a time of intense political danger – not generated by the fall of Anne Boleyn and the Pilgrimage of Grace. King’s most trusted
premeditated by Cromwell. (Such reforms also existed in Wolsey’s administration: he ministers met as an ‘inner council’ as a pragmatic measure at a time of intense political
enhanced the judicial role of the Start Chamber and proposed a similar reconstruction of the danger – not premeditated by Cromwell. (Such reforms also existed in Wolsey’s
Council in the 1526 Eltham Ordinances.). Elton’s argument is also undermined by the administration: he enhanced the judicial role of the Start Chamber, and proposed a
See flashcards for paras 1 and 2
Paragraph 1 Paragraph 3: Bureaucratic revolution
1. Cromwell oversaw creation of specialised departments – e.g. in 1536 the Court of 4. Cromwell oversaw creation of specialised departments – e.g. in 1536 the Court of
Augmentations was established to process income from the dissolution of the monasteries. Augmentations was established to process income from the dissolution of the
Crown income increased from £150,000 to £300,000. Elton’s thesis suggested that the monasteries. Crown income increased from £150,000 to £300,000. Elton’s thesis
business of government became less centred on the household –carried out in rooms near suggested that the business of government became less centred on the household –
the King and by his household staff – and more independent and bureaucratic. carried out in rooms near the King and by his household staff – and more independent
2. The Court of the Wards (1540) processed feudal revenues. and bureaucratic.
3. Central to Elton’s interpretation was the restructuring of the Council. An informal bod of
5. The Court of the Wards (1540) processed feudal revenues.
around 70 people, variable in number, was transformed in the 1530s (according to Elton). By
6. Central to Elton’s interpretation was the restructuring of the Council. An informal bod
1536, a select body of trusted ministers and office holders, about 19 in number, conducted
its business – distinct and permanent institution of government. The Privy Council emerged of around 70 people, variable in number, was transformed in the 1530s (according to
as the engine of government. The judicial functions of the Council were transferred to the Elton). By 1536, a select body of trusted ministers and office holders, about nineteen in
Court of the Star chamber and the Court of Request, which functioned as distinct number, conducted its business – distinct and permanent institution of government.
institutions. The Privy Council emerged as the engine of government. The judicial functions of the
Council were transferred to the Court of the Star chamber and the Court of Request,
which functioned as distinct institutions.
1. Starkey has argued that Cromwell was far less concerned with models of government, with 4. Starkey has argued that Cromwell was far less concerned with models of government,
the efficiency of the Household administration, than with its implications for his own tenure with the efficiency of the Household administration, than with its implications for his
of power. When he had control of Household procedures, as he had between the fall of own tenure of power. When he had control of Household procedures, as he had
Anne Boleyn (1536) and the beginning of his own fall (1539-40), he was content to allow between the fall of Anne Boleyn (1536) and the beginning of his own fall (1539-40),
them a leading role in government. he was content to allow them a leading role in government.
2. Guy has argued that Cromwell’s aim was not so much efficient administration, but effective, 5. Guy has argued that Cromwell’s aim was not so much efficient administration, but
personal control of state finance. Once he had fallen from power, it became increasingly
effective, personal control of state finance. Once he had fallen from power, it became
clear that, as Starkey notes, Cromwell had created ‘a complex, even chaotic financial
increasingly clear that, as Starkey notes, Cromwell had created ‘a complex, even
machine’ – in 1553-54 it was felt necessary to restore the authority of the Exchequer to
restore the efficiency of the financial system. chaotic financial machine’ – in 1553-54 it was felt necessary to restore the authority of
3. Guy has argued instead that the transition had its origins in the crisis of 1536, generated by the Exchequer to restore the efficiency of the financial system.
the fall of Anne Boleyn and the Pilgrimage of Grace. King’s most trusted ministers met as an 6. Guy has argued instead that the transition had its origins in the crisis of 1536,
‘inner council’ as a pragmatic measure at a time of intense political danger – not generated by the fall of Anne Boleyn and the Pilgrimage of Grace. King’s most trusted
premeditated by Cromwell. (Such reforms also existed in Wolsey’s administration: he ministers met as an ‘inner council’ as a pragmatic measure at a time of intense political
enhanced the judicial role of the Start Chamber and proposed a similar reconstruction of the danger – not premeditated by Cromwell. (Such reforms also existed in Wolsey’s
Council in the 1526 Eltham Ordinances.). Elton’s argument is also undermined by the administration: he enhanced the judicial role of the Start Chamber, and proposed a
