There were many key factors attributing to the failed annulments plans, some were as result of Henry, such as the contrasting bible quotes presented and the diplomatic revolution caused by Henry’s thirst for European influence, other factors could be ofcourse contributed to the opposition of Catherine of Aragon who was continually persistent that her marriage to Henry was valid and the other main argument against the annulment was from the Catholic church. These combined factors essentially caused the break with Rome however one was predominantly more significant than the others.

Source 4 makes reference to one of the reasons Henry’s claims were so flawed, “Wolsey worried about Henrys' reliance on biblical arguments.” This shows that Henry clearly had little other evidence to support his reasons for an annulment due to his “reliance” which rightly worried Wolsey as they were constantly being questioned by the Catholic Church. In 1527 Henry presented the case that his marriage to Catherine of Aragon was void due to the fact she had previously been married to his brother who had died. Leviticus claims that “Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife.” Henry claimed that the dispensation that he had fought for was infact invalid afterall as it went against divine law. A dispensation that had gone against clerical teachings yet granted none the less by the pope, supporting the claims in Source 5 that the “pope would have been happy to please someone as important as Henry.” However it was not the dispensation that caused concern, it was a text from Deuteronomy that claimed Henry was infact right in marrying Catherine as Deuteronomy claimed that if a mans brother dies and he and his wife are without child, then it is the brother’s role to raise his widow. This essentially proved Henry’s claim wrong, weakening his case.

However, despite the opposition based on biblical teachings, this was not a large concern as Source 2 and 3 highlight, Wolsey claims “if the pope were free, I have no doubt that he would easily be persuaded to do what you want.” Which contrasts directly with the suggestion that the failure of annulment was down to Catherine’s opposition and simultaneously the claims in Source 4 stating that Catherine was “by no means powerless.” This clear lack of opposition from the pope was further shown through Pope Campeggio’s suggestion mentioned in source 1 that Katherine “enter a convent, which would offer her an honorable retirement,” until she died, after which an annulment could be appointed. This attempt to please the king through offering suggestions to help him gain an annulment shows that the pope was not entirely against the annulment. On paper the power lay in the Pope’s hands as the Catholic church had shown they had the power to slow down proceedings by ensuring the case at Blackfriars was a failure after Pope Campeggio received orders against granting an annulment, along with using his power to adjourn court proceedings for a long period of time however there was a greater force acting over the pope restricting him and therefore Henry’s actions.

Despite the claims in Source 2 and 3 that the Pope fundamentally could have brought on an annulment if he were able to, without any worry for opposition from Catherine is contrasted in Source 1 through the fairly strong minded portrayal of Catherine that shows “Henry’s bullying only increased her determination.” And that she was “by no means powerless,” support the clam that she was the cause of the failed annulment. Catherine continually claimed that she had married Henry a virgin, despite Henry’s insistent claims otherwise which, had they have been proved true, would have allowed him to gain his annulment by claiming his marriage to Catherine had never been properly consummated and therefore did not exist under the eyes of god. Catherine also posed great opposition as she had the support of many people in England, including that of important men such as Sir Thomas Moore. It is true that Catherine had a link with Charles V as she was his aunt and therefore it is claimed that Charles V disallowed the pope from granting an annulment in order to save his aunt the humiliation as presented by Lockyer and O’Sullivan, however the main incentive it presented in sources 5 and 6.

As mentioned in source 5, Charles V had led an attack on Rome resulting on the capture of the pope, “ the pope was under the control of Charles V.” this claim is fairly legitimate as this was essentially the case: Charles restricted the pope from granting any kind of annulment as long as he had the pope under his control as shown in source 6 “for that, he must be freed.” Exemplifying the extent of control Charles had and the influence that was at his disposal. Despite the evidence brought forward by source 5 claiming that Charles was reluctant to grant an annulment due to not wanting to cause humiliation to his aunt, this was not the case. Charles still resented Henry for forming an alliance with France in the field of Golden cloth and therefore losing the Roman Empire as an ally. This decision is the main reason Henry was not able to gain his annulment as he was lost the allegiance of the king that had supreme power over the one man that could grant his marriage to Catherine void; the pope.