"Henry VIII was a conservative, but the results of his policies were revolutionary" Discuss this statement in relation to English government policies in the 1530's.

His secretary, the Protestant reformer Thomas Cromwell, succeeded him. Cromwell reorganised the government, the Church and the map of Wales, replacing the Principality and the Earldom of March with Standard English counties. His downfall was Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves in 1540, arranged in hopes of allying England with German Protestant princes. Henry had the marriage annulled on the grounds of non-consummation, then had Cromwell executed as a heretic.  Henry VIII, who had indulged in endless diplomatic squabbles and foreign wars, left no grand achievement beyond his own borders.  Vast amounts of money were spent on these foreign entanglements - and many lives lost - but, in the end, nothing changed in the European balance of power.  England, constantly pulled between the two great continental powers of France and the Holy Roman Empire, nearly bankrupted itself in an attempt to become respected and feared.

    Why did Henry ultimately fail in those tasks normally reserved for monarchs?  Ultimately, he was a victim of his times.  The 16th century was a confusing mess of changing loyalties, betrayals, near-constant fighting, and most importantly, a rising scepticism of that great institution of the fading medieval world, the Roman Catholic Church.  With the advent of the printing press a century before, literacy and intellectual debate grew rapidly.  The High Renaissance in Italy occurred during the first 20 years of Henry VIII's reign.  It was a time of unparalleled scientific experiment, intellectual fervour, and spirited debate.  In such a time, traditional views of kingship were bound to change for both the ruler and those he ruled. So from an early age it is apparent that he does posses conservative views.

Cromwell’s reforms actually made the Tudor state more powerful "but this advance was weakened by minority" Henry did his best, before his death, to set up a Privy Council which he could trust to guide and inform his young heir. He chose advisors who were closest to him to take on the task, and by doing this hoped to avoid any emerging power struggles. Henry wanted all members to have equal power and thought that they should govern until Edward reached the age of eighteen. By balancing the power between the Radical and Conservative factions Henry believed he had created what would function as a balanced and fair Government.

The "king himself was the mainspring of the state machine, and under his hand he kept all the apparatus of administrative despotism" Henry was always involved in his government and it worked effectively and efficiently, the administration council easily supported the new style government. His Privy Council, whose role was to advise, administer and adjudicate, were trustworthy and he was not to become manipulated by them until the last months of his life.

The Government under Henry had been strong and he managed Parliament relatively well. This ability to manage well could be put down to his personality and a system where the Monarch was based in the Parliament. Although the system worked well for Henry it was not suitable for a young King with no experience. Henry's Government functioned well.

        By looking at historians, we can see their views on weather Henry VIII were a conservative. So far the evidence has said that is some ways Henry was a traditionalist and had quite strong conservative views, another view is that Henry had the views of a conservative but was a revolutionary when it suited him (e.g. changing the Church so he could get divorced). For Sir Geoffrey Elton, Henry VIII was a weak man who needed his ministers, and especially Thomas Cromwell, to tell him what to do. Elton first set out his interpretation in 1955. According to his view, Wosley’s ministry was the last phase of medieval government in England, whereas Cromwell became the architect of the break with Rome and of an administrative revolution in the 1530s, without which Henry would have lost his way.

By 1977, when Elton's final textbook, Reform and Reformation, appeared, court faction, rather than an administrative revolution, was regarded as the main force during the reign. Elton argued that Bureaucracy was introduced so the country could be run without the need for a monarchy. This does not mean the permanent loss of monarchy, but a backup when the king is absent on visits etc. Which is a administrative revolution and not a conservative, traditional way of running the country. Many historians have accepted Elton and few can challenge his way of thinking. They accept that the Monarchs power has certainly increased with his supremacy over the Church, wealth and dissolution of the monasteries.

Another key point that Historians agree on with Elton is that parliaments role had increased slightly yet significantly because they played a vital role in the reformation.  The other way in which there was reformation was within the Government, this controversial change was in the extension of royal sovereignty (complete control) by the religious changes without opposition (that we know of).

Other historians such as Joel Hurstfield and John Guy, both argue (bravely against Elton) that parliaments power did not increase and the roles of parliament didn’t change. They back up their statement by saying that Cromwell basically held parliament in “contempt” to be used to pass laws that Henry told them to do. To some extent parliament didn’t exist as a mainframe in Government as Henry created a Privy Council of those he trusted.

My opinions lye towards arguing with Elton because Henry VIII’s reign was revolutionary due to major changes in European policy and English policy. Once separated from Rome, Henry could see his sovereignty over the people. Which brought back sovereignty, which is party of a conservative monarchy re-instating power over the masses. Elton’s theory is not one that should be ignored as it does prove to be significant when studying a mixed view subject. I believe that is some elements of Henry’s reign his ministers were more powerful than himself and perhaps his ministers were controlling the country at one point, but overall Henry disposed of the powerful ministers, Wolsey, was used as a scapegoat when Henry wanted a divorce, this caused ex-communication from Rome and Cromwell abused his position and was punished for it. Henry, once again showing Sovereignty and diminishing Elton’s theory.