Tudor Revolution

Elton stated that Cromwell brought in a series of reforms at government level that moved Tudor government from being steeped in medieval practice, which a man like Cardinal Wolsey could exploit, to a modern form of government.

One major reform introduced by Cromwell was the Privy Council. Before the reform a council had existed that was made up of up to 100 men, brought there to advise the king. However, very few of them ever attended and the system usually ended up with one strong man dominating, such as Wolsey. Lotherington backs this view, he says that this council was a threat to his position. Cromwell altered it so that the Privy Council was now made up of twenty men who were specifically chosen to have responsibility for the everyday running of government. The ability of these men and the exclusivity of the Privy Council meant that, in theory, no individual could dictate it.

AGR Smith in his book refers to "Cromwell's reformed Privy Council." However "Guy" claimed that the reform of the Privy Council was not something that happened in a few years, it took until 1603. It was finished under Lord Burleigh." The historical debate is about whether he reformed the Privy Council. There is no denying that the numbers were reduced dramatically to 19. The tightening of the system meant that the Star Chamber was free to dedicate itself to legal matters alone.

The events of the 1530's influenced Parliament in a number of different ways. Its composition, procedures, power and functions were all affected by the part that parliamentary statute played in enabling Henry to take control of the church. There was the constitutional revolution where Henry became the head of the church and state and there was also the extension of royal authority over Wales and semi-independent regions. However the crown already had a significant influence over church appointments and emergency taxation.

The Political revolution went from being "King and Parliament" and then became "King in Parliament" and the importance of Parliament was increased and there was the legislating of the Reformation. However Parliament developed because the King needed its support. It was used less under the later Tudors. There was also the Bureaucratic revolution where the role of the King's principal secretary as co-ordinating minister, rather than the Lord Chancellor and there was also the development of specialised departments of governments. However Government remained essentially personal, reflecting the personality and interests of the monarchs. Some specialisation had already taken place in the medieval period and not all of Cromwell's reforms were to survive in the long term.

The Court was a place and a group of people from the household. The Chamber and the Lord Steward assumed major political importance over the Kings money and kept it in the Privy Chamber. The Privy Chamber had greater importance at court and in government in 1518. By 1515 there was a group at Court called the King's Minions. They came from the ranks of the upper gentry, became very intimate with Henry and became regular members of the Privy Chamber. In 1518 Henry made them Gentlemen of the Chamber, and the number was reduced from twelve to six. Cromwell still needed a foothold in the household to remain close to the King and this prevented the destruction of