Black - Thomas Cromwell: A Very Brief History

Only a yearlater, Cromwell found himself in the service of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, KingHenry VIIIs chief minister. Cromwells government career began in earnest whenhe was made secretary to Cardinal Wolsey. He sought to cultivate the seniormans respect, thereby becoming his most trusted companion and main secretary.He was energetic, goal-oriented and ambitious. He was able to ingratiatehimself to Wolsey.

His greatestaccomplishment at that time was helping Wolsey to shut down almost twenty-ninemonastic houses. This freed their assets so that Wolsey could successfullyestablish the Cardinal College in Oxford and the Kings School at Ipswich. Forhis effective service, Cromwell received a council position from Wolsey in1526. Three years later, Cromwell had risen to become Wolseys most valued,reliable and senior adviser.

Later, Wolseyfell from favor and power, in one of the kings mercurial changes of mind.Cromwell had managed to cultivate many personal enemies during his closure ofthe monasteries for Wolsey. Despite this, he worked to ensure that he would notbe pulled down along with his mentor. After Wolsey fell, Cromwell rose quicklyonce more, becoming the burgess for Taunton and maintaining a firm hold ongovernment.

Cromwell managedto distance himself from Wolseys disgrace. He left the shadow of Wolseysdecline behind him and secured a seat in Parliament in November 1529, whilemanaging to catch the keen eye of the king. Cromwells climactic rise to powerparalleled Henry VIIIs urgent need for a minister with phenomenal leadershipabilities. The king needed someone who was immune to the arguments of hispersonal council, and determined to uphold the machinery of the state.

Cromwellenlisted in the royal service in 1530, and quickly climbed from there. It didnot take long for Cromwell to draw the disapproval of Wolseys old enemies,including some powerful nobles. These nobles had worked closely with Wolsey,and when the Cardinal fell, some felt it was the opportunity for one of them totake his place. Instead, they were forced to watch a commoner, Cromwell, passthem all in his rise to power.

The King hadalso treated Wolsey well, piling honor on honor with unmitigated generosity. Heeven went so far as to send a recommendation to the pope for Wolseysadvancement within the Church. Eventually though, the King felt betrayed byWolsey. The cardinal had grown arrogant in his pride and accumulated grossamounts of wealth. Over time, he turned treasonous. In a similar vein ofgenerosity from the king, Cromwell was made an earl, though he would not livelong enough to enjoy it.

In many ways,Wolsey and Cromwell were quite similar. The old noble families hated them both,envious of the way they could influence the king. They were both within thesphere of the kings favor for a long time. They were both knowledgeable ininternational affairs and issues, and they both worked hard to alter andimprove the medieval organization of the Tudor government. Later, both of theirstars flashed and burned out because of the kings wavering moods. The realitywas that, when push came to shove, the king remained fixed firmly on the sideof the nobles.

But for alltheir similarities, Wolsey and Cromwell were also very much opposites in oneimportant way. Cromwell played a key role in Englands reformation, whileWolsey continued to serve two authorities, the king and the Pope, leading tohis eventual downfall.